Coronation Street’s executive producer Kate Brooks has revealed that the ongoing domestic abuse storyline between Theo (James Cartwright) and Todd (Gareth Pierce) will get darker still.
Arriving on the cobbles in March, Theo initially claimed to be straight when Todd tried it on with him, but before too long they had entered into a full-on relationship, with Theo ending his marriage, and recently they have moved in together.
Over time Theo’s behaviour towards Todd has grown increasingly manipulative, controlling and aggressive, yet despite the sea of red flags and his own concerns, Todd has chosen to stay in his relationship.
“We’ve still got quite a bit of a journey to go on with these two,” Brooks told reporters. “There are some quite dark episodes, but very important episodes and very raw episodes, very authentic episodes.
“We have played about with the format a little bit to tell these stories. I’ve just been in a viewing this morning and it’s a really, really brilliant episode, a really powerful episode, focused primarily on their relationship. And I don’t think it’s ever been done before. In fact, it hasn’t been done before.
“I don’t think anyone’s ever told a story in this format in this way and the impact it has… I’ve just watched it, and been quite stunned by it. I’ve got to go back and re-watch it again, just to digest what I’ve just watched on screen, because it really is powerful. It’s really emotive.”
Brooks went on to admit that the storyline is “a hard watch” but revealed that it will “naturally progress” with the hopes that Todd will eventually realise the nature of the situation that he is in.
“This is a story that’s been told before, but it’s not been told quite in this way before – and I think that’s what will keep the audience really invested,” she explained. “We’re not rooting for this couple. We’re rooting for Todd. We’re rooting for Todd to see the light.
“As we take in George (Tony Maudsley) and Christina (Amy Robbins) and Sarah (Tina O’Brien), all these people who care about and love Todd, they are absolutely oblivious to what’s going on between the two behind closed doors. And it’s going to be really interesting to watch what happens when people do get a peek inside at what happens behind closed doors.”
Coronation Street continues Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 7am on ITVX and at 8pm on ITV1.
