This article contains spoilers for tonight’s Coronation Street, which has not yet aired on TV but is available to watch now on ITVX.
Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) has been walking on eggshells for the past few months in his relationship with Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) in Coronation Street, thanks to Theo’s unpredictable behaviour.
Since they started dating earlier this year, Theo has become increasingly controlling and aggressive toward Todd. He has been pushing him to exercise beyond his limits and even recently smashed his head into a mirror during an argument.
When Todd tried to get Theo to take responsibility for his actions, Theo turned the situation on its head and tried to gaslight him into believing that it had been an accident.
He then went even further to cover up his actions by manipulating Todd into staying in the flat, instead of meeting Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) like he’d planned.
He made out that he didn’t want anyone asking awkward questions, but it was clear that this was simply another means of exerting control over Todd.
He also bought Todd a fitness tracking watch, which on the surface seemed like a nice gift, but in reality was another way for Theo to keep track of Todd’s lifestyle.
In tonight’s episode, Todd was using his new watch and exercise bike to try to reach the target Theo had set him when he was interrupted by the appearance of Theo’s ex-wife, Danielle Silverton (Natalie Anderson).
Danielle had come to tell Theo that she was taking the children on holiday for Christmas. Knowing how much Theo loves his kids and would want to be close to them over the festive period, Todd fought his corner, and he and Danielle ended up rowing.
When Theo arrived and interrupted the fight, Todd was shocked when he took Danielle’s side.
As their disagreement intensified after Danielle left, Todd declared that he couldn’t take any more of Theo’s behaviour and attempted to leave.
However, manipulative Theo then changed tactics and began deliberately hurting himself in a bid to emotionally blackmail Todd into staying.
Though Theo finally appeared to take responsibility for his actions, it was clearly just another tactic to manipulate Todd, who now felt obligated to stay and help make Theo feel better.
Later, Todd managed to leave the flat to go shopping, though he was waylaid while in the pub waiting for takeaway hot pots by the arrival of Summer and Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank).
Sensing that he was feeling down, Billy and Summer encouraged him to stay for a drink, but when he hugged Billy on his way home, he had no idea that sinister Theo had been watching.
When he got back to the flat, Todd showed Theo some photos of them he’d printed and framed to make his partner feel better.
Later, once Todd was alone in the flat, he took the first steps toward exposing Theo’s abuse.
We won’t spoil exactly what he did, but it looks like a sure-fire way to catch Theo in the act.
Will he get away with it without Theo catching on?
