If there is one thing I love more than anything, it’s coming up with theories for upcoming soap storylines, and Corriedale has given me the perfect opportunity to do just that.
As the Coronation Street and Emmerdale universes collide for the first time in history, the possibilities are endless.
That certainly became evident when I posted my theories for the episode on TikTok, and was met with countless comments from other soap fans sharing their own suggestions.
But just how many of these theories from Metro readers could actually turn out to be correct?
I’m donning my detective’s badge once more and sifting through the evidence to bring you the ultimate guide to your Corriedale theories!
Becky is involved in Celia and Ray’s gang
Becky Swain (Amy Cudden) miraculously rose from the dead earlier this year, giving wife Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) a massive shock.
It transpired that she had been working undercover, infiltrating a major gang operation before her supposed death, and when it went wrong, she was rushed off to Spain to live under a new identity.
Now, Metro readers are theorising that the gang Becky is now in hiding from is actually Celia Daniels (Jaye Griffiths) and Ray Walters’ (Joe Absolom) gang.
‘Perhaps Becky is part of the Celia/Ray gang and they are the ones she got to beat up Costello?’ Ells said in reply to my TikTok post on the subject.
This could certainly be the case, as we’ve seen Ray throw his weight around under Celia’s command on more than one occasion.
We’ve had an inkling that Becky is a dodgy cop for a while now, so could she actually be working in tandem with Celia and Ray and using them to take down Costello (Daon Broni)?
‘I think Becky is another boss in Celia and Ray’s gang,’ VainityfanEmmerdale replied, while kathycooke442 agreed: ‘I think Becky could be a boss of the gang with ray and Celia. or somehow involved.’
Becky has done some dastardly things since her return in a bid to get what she wants, and an operation the size of Celia and Ray’s would surely have more people involved.
Is Becky the missing piece?
We know that Lisa is familiar with the gang Becky had supposedly been investigating, as she knew that one of the major players, Curtis, had been shot and killed.
At this point, it doesn’t seem as though Celia and Ray are on the police’s radar at all, which does suggest that it’s a completely different gang. This is certainly a theory I’ll be keeping an eye on, though.
Celia is Alice
We’ve delved into this theory before on the Metro Soaps page, but it is definitely one that is still on my radar.
Corrie fans will know that Roy Cropper (David Neilson) has been writing to prisoners as part of a pen pal scheme, and is also in contact with one of their mothers – a woman called Alice.
Some fans are convinced that this woman is Celia, given that ‘Alice’ is an anagram of her name.
Of course, as far as we know, Celia doesn’t have a son in prison, but could she be writing to Roy under false pretences for more sinister reasons?
In a similar vein, others are wondering if Kev Townsend (Chris Coghill) is one of the prisoners Roy has been writing to.
‘Roy is writing letters to prisoners so I’m wondering if it will be revealed that one could be Kev even though he’s out of prison now or mabye someone else from Emmerdale,’ hazzmataz03 said.
To be honest, there are so many Emmerdale characters that have been in prison that this is a very plausible theory. Kev or Robert Sugden (Ryan Hawley) could both be options.
Although, we’ve heard Roy talk a lot about his letter writing, but no one in Emmerdale has mentioned something similar. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they won’t before Corriedale rolls around.
Becky survives Corriedale
While there has been plenty of speculation over who will die in the crossover (we’ll get to that shortly), there has also been the opposite.
Metro readers are convinced that Becky Swain will make it through to the other side of the disaster, with swarlalaland commenting: ‘I don’t think they’ll kill off Becky either, putting Lisa and Betsy through her death again would be too cruel, more likely she’ll be on the run, maybe presumed dead???’
I agree that killing Becky off so soon after her resurrection seems unlikely, but not entirely impossible, given that we’re talking about soap.
However, when we spoke to Amy Cudden, who plays the cobbles’ latest villain, she spoke as if Becky is set to be around for a while.
‘Swarla are the most extraordinary couple, and I hope people see Becky as a virus they’re going to immunise themselves against and get stronger from,’ she told us.
To me, this sounds like she’s going to continue terrorising Lisa and Carla Connor (Alison King) for quite a while yet.
Having said that, there are still just over two weeks to go until Corriedale airs, and a lot can happen in soap in that amount of time…
David’s dead!
The latest Corriedale trailer hinted at even more drama, and led several Metro readers to believe that David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) could be in danger.
The trailer shows Shona Platt (Julia Goulding) screaming in a hospital corridor, while being comforted by Emmerdale legend Charity Dingle (Emma Atkins), and though it isn’t clear what she’s screaming at, fans suspect that it could be to do with David.
‘Sadly I think David platt will die,’ Mablethecockapoo wrote.
At hearing this, other Metro readers were horrified, with Claire writing: ‘They cannot kill David platt surely.’
‘Nah David platt is the new Ken Barlow and there until he is 90+,’ Kirsten Balfour agreed.
However, I would argue that Corriedale would be the most likely time for a legendary character like David to be killed off.
It’s a history-making ITV soap first, and there’s no doubt that the production teams will want to go all out in terms of drama, stakes and shock twists.
Can't wait for the next twist?
Hi, I’m Maisie Spackman, a Soaps reporter at Metro. I cover all the latest spoilers and gossip from Weatherfield to Walford.
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So, unfortunately, that means that no character is safe, and there is every possibility that David could meet his maker as a major shock to viewers.
Tracy dies
That same argument can apply to Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford), who is another name fans are speculating could be at risk.
‘tbf its the combination of two soaps, go big or go home and Tracy is a character whose death would have a significant impact,’ Holly pointed out.
We’ve previously pointed out how a conversation between Tracy and Ken Barlow (William Roache) sounded like foreshadowing of one of their deaths, with fans worried that Tracy is in the firing line.
‘With some of the scenes last week I don’t think it’ll be David I think they’re foreshadowing Tracy’s death,’ Emma Louise said.
‘I still think it could also be Tracy Barlow because she’s definitely involved and is at the wedding so could be around the crash site and hasn’t been shown much to maybe throw us off the scent,’ Dan Howe agreed.
Other fans have pointed out that Tracy left for a while last year, when she moved away with Tommy Orpington.
‘The actress left didn’t she then returned so maybe it always was a short return,’ Lee Pedder suggested.
It wouldn’t be the first time a character has returned to be killed off soon after. A clear example would be Julie Carp earlier this year, who returned to Weatherfield with a terminal cancer diagnosis.
Could Tracy’s time on the cobbles be coming to an end?
Carl dies
Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard) is another name in the pot, with Emma saying: ‘I think Carl is a goner.’
It’s fair to say that in his short time on the cobbles, Carl has ruffled plenty of feathers.
He’s hurt brother Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) by sleeping with his wife, Abi Webster (Sally Carman), and has used sister Debbie Webster’s (Sue Devaney) dementia in his plot to steal money from her businesses.
Not to mention, leading Tracy on, having a secret affair with James Bailey (Jason Callender) and leaving Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) fighting for his life in a hit and run.
To the untrained eye, this may just look like Carl isn’t a very nice guy, but to soap experts, it’s the perfect recipe for a whodunnit.
With so many people hurt by Carl’s actions and a major episode ahead, there is every possibility that it could see Carl lose his life and the search for his killer stretch into next year.
‘I think Carl Webster and Dee Dee will die,’ TikTok user T2724601 threw into the mix.
Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) is certainly another possibility for a major death, given that her exit has already been announced. However, it is possible that she could leave before the Corriedale episode.
Billy dies
Another character whose exit has been confirmed and whose final scenes have already been filmed is Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank).
‘Billy has filmed his last scenes so I imagine it’s him,’ Judygrimes4 pointed out.
‘Think it’s billy who dies as he will have been part of the wedding….’ said amanda1972.
It is likely that Billy will be in attendance at Debbie Webster’s wedding to Ronnie Bailey (Vinta Morgan) – especially as it was recently pointed out that she’s trying to meet the minimum number of guests demanded by the venue.
The wedding has already been hinted at as a major part of the crossover, with Emmerdale’s Belle Dingle (Eden Taylor-Draper) supposedly the wedding planner.
Shortly after his final scenes were filmed, paparazzi pictures revealed the cast filming a funeral, which suggests that Billy does end up dying – though whether that will happen during Corriedale, or in the build up or aftermath, remains to be seen.
John Sugden is Andy Carver
My favourite theory of them all is the possibility that John Sugden is Andy Carver living under a new identity, and not just because I came up with it – something that actor Oliver Farnworth was very amused by when we caught up with him.
For those not in the know, Oliver played Andy in Coronation Street and John in Emmerdale.
‘He couldn’t believe it! He thought, “Which character am I going to play?”‘ Actor Ryan Hawley, who plays Robert Sugden, joked to us about Oliver learning about the crossover.
With so many characters having reappeared from witness protection in soap in recent years, could John actually be Andy, gone rogue after his ordeal with Pat Phelan?
We know that he is set to appear in the crossover, and his involvement has been hinted for several months, with wanted posters of him on the walls in Weatherfield nick.
‘been waiting for someone to spot John’s wanted poster and say it’s Andy Carver,’ Kellfire said.
‘Someone from Corrie has to see John and go “Andy?? I thought you were dead!“’ Kaeleighgray92 also suggested.
Maisiehargreaves2 was less convinced, pointing out: ‘Andy’s dead though.’
However, as we’ve seen with Becky Swain, and Andy himself, death is rarely permanent in soap! Could John Sugden just be an elaborate cover?
