The sweetest undertaker in Weatherfield, George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley) is determined to save Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) from the evil clutches of Theo Silverton (James Cartwright), and Coronation Street fans are here for it.

For months, poor Todd’s nightmare has seemed endless as his manipulate fiancée has subjected him to every kind of abuse imaginal – emotional gaslighting, sexual coercion, financial control and terrifying bouts of violence. This has all happened behind closed doors, with Todd’s nearest and dearest being oblivious to the danger he’s in thanks to the wholesome ‘perfect boyfriend’ image Theo revels in portraying.

Last night, that all came crashing down in flames.

The morning after their shotgun ‘wedding’, Todd was understandably feeling delicate and wanted to sleep off the kind of hangover you only get when you’ve just married the Devil himself.

However, Theo suggested they hit the bedroom for some ‘exercise’. When Todd gently rejected his advances, the raging egomaniac slunk out for a run with his tail between his legs… but not before making a nasty remark about Todd’s weight.

Returning from his run, Theo still wasn’t satisfied and gave Todd a barrage of vile abuse through the bathroom door. ‘I’ve just run off the bad mood that you put me in, you joyless little porker’. He spat. ‘FYI the old wounded bride routine, it’s boring my leg off. Are you going to look like a wounded hippo every time we fall out? Dearie me. I really am the luckiest groom in the world!”

When Todd walked through the front door, Theo’s face was a picture. But not as much as when George walked out of the bathroom door. He’d just popped round for a cuppa, and Todd had nipped out to get milk. It wasn’t Todd that Theo just gave a barrel full of verbal abuse too – it was George. The monster was finally exposed.

Caught, Theo tried to backtrack and dismiss his comments as banter. But George wasn’t buying it.

‘Funny, isn’t it?’ He mused, staring Theo right in the eye ‘You can go to bed with Doctor Jekyll, and wake up with Mister Hyde.’

Defensive, Theo ordered a conflicted Todd to defend him and explain it’s just banter, which did not go down well with George. ‘Stop telling him what to say!’ he barked at Theo, before assuring Todd that he was always here for support. ‘No need to tell me anything’. George promised. ‘You know where I live. Mi casa and all that.’

Later, George reported back to the closest thing Todd’s got to a daughter, Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby), who is horrified to hear that Theo might be an abuser. The revelations from George make her reflect on the couple’s recent nuptials, where Theo led a blindfolded Todd into a wedding.

‘That wasn’t a wedding.’ George feared. ‘That was a kidnapping. Who did Todd have for his big day? Gary and Maria. He would have wanted us there! Me and you!’

Shaken, Summer wondered if George believes that Theo has actually hit Todd. ‘I’m afraid I do.’ George admitted. ‘I’m afraid I do. If he hasn’t already. Cast your mind back. Five or six months. Todd’s been over the shop. I’m sorry, love. I know this is a lot to put on young shoulders. But round here, we’re the only family he’s got.’ When Summer despaired over what they could do to protect Todd, George’s reply was simple. ‘Get him away from that monster’.

A nation full of Corrie fans cheered. Many of them took to the Metro Soaps Facebook page to cheer George on.

One user, Rosia D’alessandro wrote ‘George knows the signs as he got bullied and mocked in school in he’s younger days, I am so glad he was there.’ 

Thomas Merry commented ‘George is one of Corrie’s best characters played so well by an obviously talented actor…I like him with Christina too, she’s really grown on me.’

Some fans even guessed where the story was going, sharing theories that George and Summer will soon enlist the help of Gary Windass (Mikey North) , Theo’s mate and professional Coronation Street bad boy.

Mary Clarke Quinn wrote ‘Theo always has the upper hand. George and summer are no match for him they should tell Gary he won’t mess with him’

Kath Kilcommons agreed, sharing her own thoughts. ‘Sarah or Summer might tell Maria, and she tells Garry. He starts watching Theo with Todd, his actions and belittling him… That’s my theory anyway’

Recruiting Gary as an ally may be something of a double-edged sword. As Theo’s friend, mentor and employee on the building site, he’ll surely be livid to hear that someone he trusted so much is capable of such vile disgusting… and we know what happens when Gary gets livid.

Fans may remember that he’s already killed two people in the show. Unleashing the reformed wrong’un on Theo might make things worse.

Nevertheless. It’s a good theory. Will it come to pass?

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