Sally and Tim Metcalfe have been enjoying a quiet life on the cobbles, but that is about to change in a profound way.
Coronation Street is about to take a dark turn, as Tim discovers that his cousin, Richie, may have done something terrible.
Richie is a new face arriving in Weatherfield this week.
While out working, Tim is surprised to pick up his relative, who he has not seen for years.
With Sally away from home, Tim invites Richie over and gets the lads round as well.
Over drinks, Tim and Richie talk about their childhood, but Steve McDonald starts to feel left out of the conversation.
It all seems innocent enough, at least for now.
But things begin to shift when Richie gets a text from his wife, Rachel.
She makes it clear that he is in trouble for staying out all night.
Richie heads off, but returns to Weatherfield a few hours later with a holdall.
He explains that Rachel has thrown him out, and Sally is forced to agree to Tim’s idea of letting Richie stay.
Sally quickly grows annoyed at Richie’s presence in her home.
She tells Tim that Richie needs to leave.
Richie packs up his bag and jumps in a cab, telling Tim that he will go and stay with a mate in Liverpool.
After Richie has left, Tim finds his wallet down the sofa.
He heads to Richie’s home, hoping that he is there talking things through with Rachel.
Tim knocks on the door, and those few seconds will ultimately change everything.
When Richie answers, Tim discovers that he is covered in blood.
Looking inside, Tim quickly calls the police.
The next day, DS Lisa Connor-Swain arrives and shares the news that Richie has been charged with killing his wife.
Lisa also shares that Richie is claiming that he acted in self-defence.
His daughter, Lucy, has been taken into care.
Ruth the social worker then calls Sally, who informs Tim and Brody Michaelis that Lucy’s foster placement has fallen through.
They are struggling to find another suitable family.
Desperate to help, Tim arranges for Lucy to move in with them.
But he fails to ask Sally first.
Lucy enters, and Ruth explains that she needs reassurance because of the grief and trauma she is experiencing.
Just as Sally heads upstairs to fetch Lucy for tea, she discovers that the youngster has legged it out of the house.
Fortunately, Sally and Tim find Lucy at the bus stop and attempt to bring her back home.
This is an awful lot for one family to handle.
How will Sally and Tim navigate the next few weeks?
