Coronation Street fans have been watching Todd Grimshaw’s romance with Theo Silverton take a darker and darker turn. What started as a new relationship full of promise has quickly spiralled into a situation that leaves Todd more trapped than cherished and things are about to get even more shocking.
Storm Clouds Over Todd and Theo
Earlier this year, Todd and Theo’s connection blossomed, but the spark didn’t last long before Theo’s true colours started to shine through. Instead of being supportive, Theo grew possessive and began to tighten his grip on Todd. The behaviour has been increasingly hard for viewers to stomach as Todd finds himself caught under his partner’s control. Next week, the storyline is set to crank up the tension even further.
Theo’s jealousy boils over, and Billy Mayhew is suddenly in his firing line. This moment pushes Todd closer to the painful truth that his relationship isn’t just difficult, it’s abusive. Actor Gareth Pierce, who brings Todd to life, admitted that his character will soon realise exactly what’s happening. He pointed out that coercive control and domestic abuse have been explored in Corrie and other soaps before, but said it feels fairly unprecedented for the show to give this much attention to an abusive same-sex relationship.
Coronation Street: Gareth Pierce Lifts the Lid on “Unprecedented” Plotline
Pierce explained that the themes of control and abuse are universal, but the team wanted to make sure they depicted how abuse can look slightly different in a same-sex relationship. He revealed that Todd is still at the stage where he can convince himself that Theo’s behaviour might be an exception, but sooner or later the penny will drop: this isn’t a one-off, it’s an abusive relationship.
Unfortunately, realising the truth and finding the strength to leave are two very different things. The actor admitted he feels a huge responsibility with issue-led storylines like this. He shared that Corrie has worked with charities including Stonewall and Gallop to get the story right. One major challenge highlighted in their research is how hard it can be to convince authorities that coercive control is happening, especially in a same-sex relationship.
What’s Coming Next for Todd and Theo
If you thought Theo’s behaviour couldn’t get worse, brace yourself. Pierce previously confirmed that the controlling behaviour will soon escalate even further. He teased that Theo will cross a devastating line when he becomes physically abusive for the first time, warning that these scenes will be difficult to watch.
And that’s not all. Further down the road, Theo will tighten his grip through financial control, creating an even bigger barrier for Todd. Pierce acknowledged that this storyline might be deeply frustrating for viewers because they can clearly see what’s happening long before Todd does. Stay tuned to Soap Opera Daily for every twist, turn, and tear from Coronation Street.