Coronation Street viewers are set to witness disturbing new developments in Theo Silverton's campaign of abuse against Todd Grimshaw, with the manipulative character deploying increasingly calculated tactics to control his partner.
Theo's Deliberate Sabotage
In upcoming episodes airing from November 16th, 2025, Theo spots Todd fast asleep on the sofa and deliberately fails to wake him for work. Theo then takes matters further by removing the clean white shirts from the laundry basket and leaving the flat, ensuring Todd has no suitable work attire.
At the funeral parlour, George Shuttleworth panics when Todd fails to appear for work. Christina Boyd heads to the flat to investigate and finds a horrified Todd in a dishevelled state, desperately claiming his alarm didn't go off. The situation escalates when Todd realises his white shirts remain in the washing machine, and George delivers the devastating blow that his services are no longer required.
Psychological Manipulation Intensifies
Theo's abuse takes increasingly psychological turns as he prepares breakfast for Todd while criticising his partner's dietary choices. Theo tells Todd that his fondness for junk food contributes to his poor decision-making, adding another layer to his control tactics.
Matters become deeply awkward when Theo invites the man he previously cheated on Todd with over for dinner, creating further emotional confusion. The manipulation continues the next morning when Theo presents Todd with pastries for breakfast, despite having criticised his eating habits previously.
After they finish the pastries, Todd refuses to go running with Theo, insisting it would make him feel unwell. When Theo heads out alone, he encounters James Bailey, who offers to become his new running partner. Though Todd later messages to say he'll join the run after all, Theo cruelly informs him not to bother, revealing that James has replaced him.
Cast Insights into the Abuse Storyline
Gareth Pierce, who portrays Todd Grimshaw, provided insight into his character's deteriorating mental state. 'Todd has really anchored his own moods to what mood he's going to get from Theo day to day,' the actor revealed. 'He's trying constantly to anticipate things that Theo might get riled about to avoid a situation like the kebab scene where it really boiled over.'
Pierce elaborated on the physical threat Todd now perceives: 'That kebab moment was genuinely scary for Todd, and he's tried to communicate that to Theo. There's definitely a sense now that Theo is a more physically imposing character than Todd is as well, so he's definitely scared of him physically but there is still love there somewhere in the relationship.'
The actor also highlighted how Todd's behaviour changes around different people: 'I think the audience will already be noticing the ways that Todd is briefly relaxed with his friends and his close confidants like Sarah, George and Billy. Then when Theo enters the room, straight away he's back in that tense, people pleasing, anticipatory kind of headspace.'
Pierce compared Todd's experience to 'that horrible feeling, like when you go into school and you haven't done your homework and you have that feeling in the pit of your stomach.'
With Theo hellbent on isolating Todd from his support network and systematically undermining his confidence and career, this harrowing Coronation Street storyline continues to explore the devastating reality of coercive control and emotional abuse in relationships.
