Coronation Street's most chilling villain, Theo Silverton, is set to sink to even greater depths as the soap's boss confirms his next two targets. In a shocking twist following Billy Mayhew's tragic death, the narcissistic abuser will now turn his manipulative attention to Todd Grimshaw's closest allies.
Theo's Twisted Plan to Isolate Todd
Executive Producer Kate Brooks has revealed that Theo, played by James Cartwright, will begin targeting Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) and George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley) in upcoming episodes. Both characters represent Todd's primary support system outside the abusive relationship, making them direct threats to Theo's control.
Summer has long been like a daughter or adoring younger sister to Todd, while George serves as both his employer at the funeral parlour and a father figure. Their presence in Todd's life provides him with confidence and happiness independent of Theo – something the coercive partner cannot tolerate.
"We'll see Theo, who is obviously ravaged by his own guilt – yes he did something absolutely despicable but he justifies it as being absolutely necessary to keep hold of Todd," explained Brooks in an interview published on January 18, 2026. "Because he does, in his own very warped, very unhinged and tarnished way, deep down love Todd, he does everything he can to be an absolute pillar of support for Todd, Summer and George."
From Perfect Boyfriend to Manipulative Monster
Theo's strategy involves initially presenting himself as the perfect boyfriend to Summer and George, showering them with support to avoid suspicion. However, his inherent jealousy and need for complete control over Todd will inevitably surface.
Brooks detailed how Theo walks a dangerous line: "He's an absolute rock. Part of this is about masking his own guilt that he feels about his part in Billy's death, but he also knows how close he came to losing Todd so he wants to do everything he can to make sure he doesn't lose Todd again."
The producer confirmed that future episodes will show Theo becoming increasingly manipulative as he exploits Todd's vulnerability following Billy's death in the devastating minibus crash. "We'll see him starting to draw and pull Todd back into his fold as Todd needs him and needs that support," she said. "He feels like he needs somebody to keep him afloat and Theo is that person."
A Story of Realistic Domestic Abuse
Coronation Street has committed to portraying Todd's domestic violence nightmare with unflinching realism. The storyline, which follows the acclaimed coercive control plot involving Yasmeen and Geoff Metcalfe, has been developed to avoid frustrating viewers with last-minute escapes that are cruelly snatched away.
In December, the soap released a special "Behind Closed Doors" episode told exclusively through cameras, RING doorbell footage, and police bodycams to highlight the raw truth of Todd's situation.
"We wanted to play the truth of this story," Brooks defended. "It's not something that's wrapped up after a couple of months, this is ongoing. As we go into early new year, 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."
She praised the performances of Gareth Pierce (Todd) and James Cartwright (Theo), stating: "I think both actors are absolutely smashing it out of the park in terms of the nuance they're bringing to these roles. They're making the story unmissable and captivating and hard to look away from."
With Billy gone and Theo positioning himself as Todd's sole lifeline, the stage is set for one of Coronation Street's most intense and harrowing storylines to continue unfolding throughout 2026.
