Major prison update leaves Coronation Street favourites reeling – but it’s good news for Roy

Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) faces a traumatic time in Coronation Street soon as she comes face to face with Nathan Curtis (Christopher Harper), the man who groomed and abused her.

Nathan Curtis will return to Weatherfield as part of Lauren Bolton’s (Cait Fitton) storyline.

Discussing reprising the role, actor Chris Harper told us: ‘I certainly didn’t expect the call because I didn’t think Nathan would be let out of prison, but unfortunately he has and I knew that people like Nathan do tend to go back to the place where they carried out their crimes. So once the call came it all made sense.

‘I checked with some contacts at S.H.E.UK and Voicing CSA, as well as the teams at both Barnado’s and the NSPCC, to check in with them about whether they thought it was a useful representation and they were thrilled that the representation through Bethany’s story is continuing. We’re going to see her living life as a survivor and we’re going to see Nathan’s continued impact on her.’

In upcoming episodes of the ITV soap, Bethany decides to head to the precinct to watch the reconstruction of Lauren’s last known movements.

As she glances across the path, she is horrified to spot Nathan within a crowd of people.

Back at the flat, Bethany tells Daniel (Rob Mallard) that she saw Nathan, but he remains adamant it’s Bethany’s mind playing tricks on her, because Nathan is still in prison, right?

Wrong.

After DS Swain (Vicky Myers) tells Bethany that Nathan was released months ago, she manages to track him down at a building site near the precinct.

As Nathan rounds the corner, Bethany is shocked to come face to face with her abuser and wastes no time in accusing him of murdering Lauren.

But is this theory correct?

And what will that mean for Roy Cropper (David Neilson) if so?

‘I really don’t think prison has reformed him in the slightest, in some ways I think he’s even more clever and more manipulative’, Chris explained.

‘He’s hardened, he’s aware that he can take a kicking and he’s aware of the advantages of getting other people into trouble so he plays people off against the law. He’s hardened, he’s trickier, he’s starting again so the stakes are higher for him because he knows if he makes one mistake he’ll be back inside.

‘He’s furious at having got caught rather than being repentant.’