In the aftermath of Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank)’s death on Coronation Street, Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) is feeling more isolated than ever as the victim of his partner Theo Silverton (James Cartwright)’s coercive control and abuse.
At Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney)’s wedding, Todd had finally managed to reach out to Billy for help to get away from Theo after Billy saw bruises on Todd’s body that Theo had inflicted. Unfortunately Theo appeared just as they were about to drive away in the minibus with other wedding guests.
Then the vehicle was involved in a horrific pile-up. As everyone else escaped, Billy was left trapped inside. As a fire started, Billy managed to free himself – only for Theo to appear and re-attach his seatbelt, condemning Billy to instant death in the explosion that followed. To everyone else, Theo was the hero who tried to save Billy, but viewers know he’s a killer.
While Todd has been grieving the loss of Billy, Theo has been putting on a front of being his kind and supportive boyfriend. But he’s taken every opportunity to try and put the blame for Billy’s death back on to Todd, reminding him that if he hadn’t have wanted to leave the wedding early they wouldn’t have been involved in the crash in the first place.
This vile behaviour continues even at Billy’s funeral. Todd has volunteered to deliver the eulogy, but when it gets to the moment when he has to step forward and say the words he’s written he looks across at the people assembled in the church and he’s too overcome with emotion to continue.
So Theo steps up to give the eulogy – and makes sure that his words deliver the message to Todd that Billy’s death was down to him.
As the storyline progresses, Corrie producer Kate Brooks told us that it’s important that the show is realistic in its depiction of this abusive relationship.
‘We wanted to play the truth of this story. It’s not something that’s wrapped up after a couple of months, this is ongoing,’ she insisted. ‘Todd and Theo are still front and centre of the show as we continue to tell the story about this domestic abuse truthfully and realistically.’
We’ve seen Theo controlling who Todd sees and speaks to. He’s taken control of his diet and his fitness, using a tracker to monitor his whereabouts and his activity levels.
In the days following Billy’s funeral he extends his control over Todd’s life to his financial affairs. When he opens Todd’s post and sees a final demand from a credit card company, Todd is embarrassed and says it’s in hand.
But Theo insists that Todd cuts the card up and makes him agree that, from now on, he’ll only use cash. While Theo no doubt frames this as trying to be supportive of Todd and looking out for him, it’s financial abuse – and another way that Theo has assumed control over Todd’s life.
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‘It’s a hard watch at times, I’m not going to lie,’ Kate Brooks said of the ongoing story.
‘But it’s an important story to tell.’
