Three shock ITV Coronation Street theories: secret life ruins romance and resident left in mortal danger

DEE-DEE Bailey has been canoodling with Joel Deering for a handful of months – but does she really know everything about him?

Elsewhere in Coronation Street, one couple is headed towards the rocks just as another resident risks his life to fix his marriage.

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1. Resident leads double life

Throughout his months in the ITV cobbles, Joel Deering (played by former Hollyoaks star Callum Lill) has been the subject of many theories and rumours online as viewers of the long-running program try to figure out if he really is who he claims to be.

Like many other newcomers in Weatherfield, the duty solicitor is suspected of hiding a sinister secret that could see him share a link with some of Corrie’s villains, in the likes of Damon Hay and Harvey Gaskell.

Some soap watchers even speculated that he could be teen Lauren Bolton’s secret boyfriend.

But this week, Joel’s big secret is slowly coming to light and it could mean the end of his relationship with Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown).

It all begins when Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) asks Dee-Dee and Joel about a firearms case he’s taken on and wonders if they’ve dealt with anything similar.

As Damon Hay (Ciarán Griffiths) hands out shots to Audrey Roberts, Gail Platt, Bethany Platt, Nick Tilsley and raises a toast to Sarah Barlow’s birthday, Adam shoots him daggers.

But when Dee-Dee and Joel arrive at the Bistro to tell him that they might have cracked his case, is Adam’s luck about to change?

In later scenes, when Dee-Dee complains that she’s snowed under with work, Joel offers to meet a new client on her behalf and pass on notes.

Joel meets up with Dee-Dee’s client in the Bistro but they’re interrupted by the arrival of Emily who’s clearly angry.

In a panic, Joel steers Emily out, determined to not cause a scene.

Unfortunately for Joel, Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) watches, intrigued, wondering who this woman is.

One common theory about Joel online has left many viewers to think he may be hiding a secret wife and family away from the cobbles, like undercover copper Spider Nugent did before him.

Another theory suggests that he may have rocked up the Street in an attempt to wreak havoc in Adam Barlow’s law firm for Damon Hay or even Harvey Gaskell’s benefit – before unintentionally falling for Dee-Dee’s charms.

But what is really going on with Joel?

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2. Adam pays the price

Speaking of Adam Barlow, more trouble will be in his way as his alliance with dangerous criminal Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor) continues.

The solicitor was devastated when he found out his wife Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) had been having an affair with Damon Hay behind his back and things only got worse when she learned she was pregnant with her illicit lover’s child.

Despite ending his marriage with Sarah himself, Adam has been keen to reconnect with her, but she has had other ideas.

This week, Sarah is celebrating her birthday but Adam is seething to see her helping Damon move his things into the flat.

In other scenes, urged on by Damon, Sarah suggests to Adam it’s time they discussed their divorce.

Struggling to hide his emotions, Adam tells Sarah he wants the flat sold as he doesn’t want Damon living in what was once his home.

Adam takes things a step further and visits Harvey to run through his grounds for appeal.

He points out that the only way to be sure of success is if they can pin Natasha Blakeman’s murder on someone else.

Harvey later calls Adam, telling him a man called John Perry is willing to confess to Natasha’s murder.

Adam tracks down John to Weatherfield General and he’s horrified to realise he’s a cancer patient.

Will Adam really go along with Harvey’s scheme?

Viewers have been fearing for Adam’s life as Harvey never makes a deal without any bloodshed ensuing.

The thug proved he was capable of murder when he shot Natasha Blakeman in late 2021, as mentioned above, but could a similar fate await Adam if he refuses to do Harvey’s bidding ?

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3. Devastating breakup

Leanne Battersby and Nick Tilsley (respectively played by Jane Danson and Ben Price) have never been able to stay away from one another for very long.

After eloping a first time in 1997, Leanne and Nick’s romance crumbled when he forced her to have an abortion.

What could have ended many couples permanently failed to keep the lovers apart as they’ve tried to give their relationship several chances throughout the years.

With multiple reconciliations under their belt, which even led to the breakdown of Leanne’s marriage to Peter Barlow, the pair embarked on their own business venture by taking over the Viaduct Bistro as a couple.

But this week, Nick decides it’s time for them to do things right, the way they had hoped to do so during their first wedding.

Coming up, Nick takes a shopping trip with Leanne’s sister Toyah Battersby.

The pair return from their excursion in other scenes and admire the engagement ring Nick has chosen for Leanne.

Unfortunately, history often repeats itself in Coronation Street and the couple may be set for yet another separation.

Since his father Peter Barlow’s exit from Corrie, without a single goodbye to him, Leanne’s legal son Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has been spiralling out of control and taking a page out of his father’s book by drowning his sorrows.

This week, the lad discovers his new addiction has a series of harsh consequences.

Simon arrives for work hungover and after pointing out he’s still drunk, Nick sends him home to give him the chance to sober up.

Instead, Simon turns up at the Rovers and, tipsy, he orders another pint.

Realising Simon has the hangover from hell in later scenes, Leanne covers with Nick, telling her adoptive son to take the day off.

However, Leanne won’t enable Simon as she admits she’s worried and reckons he’s drinking too much.

Bobby then tells Nina Lucas and Summer Spellman that he plans to throw a party to cheer Simon up.

When he asks them to invite Lauren Bolton, they guess correctly that he fancies her.

After the party takes place, Simon wakes up on the sofa with a banging headache.

As Bobby clears away the empties, Simon surreptitiously takes a swig of vodka.

Back at home, Nick tells Toyah that he needs her help shopping and asks Simon to drive his son Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) to his chess competition.

But as they set off, Simon loses control of the car on a bend and crashes into a road sign.

As his son Sam’s life is in danger, could Nick go head to head with Leanne, blaming her for Simon’s poor behaviour ?

Could this then lead them to the conclusion they’re better off apart ?

Could a single Carla Connor (Alison King) then take advantage of the situation by rekindling her own romance with Nick ?