Coronation Street 's Robert Preston is reportedly set to die on Christmas Day in a dramatic showdown.
The character, played by Tristan Gemmil, is set to be gunned down after villain Gary Windass' puppet Derek Milligan attempts to take revenge on his master.
Gary (Mikey North) has been using Derek (Craige Els) - one of his loan shark customers - in his scheme to take over the knicker factory.
Derek has been posing as a wealthy investor who stepped in to save Underworld from closure, when really is was Gary putting up the cash.
At Christmas, it's said Derek will get drunk and burst into the Rovers Return, waving a gun around and threatening Gary's life.
But the firefight, on December 25, will end with Robert's death, according to The Sun .
Another Weatherfield resident will also be wounded.
A source told the newspaper: "Derek gets drunk and starts waving a gun around the pub. There's a tense stand-off then a massive fight between the two men and two people are shot, including Robert, who dies on Christmas Day.
"He make it to hospital but suffers a heart attack and dies off-screen in a bit of a snub to Tristan. It's left to Michelle to tell everyone he's dead."
Gary and Derek's relationship turns sour after the loan shark finds out his patsy has been romancing his ex Izzy Armstrong (Cherlylee Houston) despite his warnings.
Meanwhile, Robert has been weaving a tangled web.
He's engaged to Michelle but also accidentally proposed to Vicky Jefferies (Emme Kearney), who is pregnant with his child.
Robert has been secretly seeing both women, and it's not currently known if he'll be found out before or after he's killed.
Mirror Online has contacted ITV for comment.
Do you have a story to sell? Get in touch with us at webtv@trinitymirror.com or call us direct 0207 29 33033
