The boss of Coronation Street has teased the end of Stephen Reid as viewers watch him set his sights on another victim. Viewers of the ITV soap have been left screaming at their TV's over Weatherfield's newest serial killer after he claimed his second helpless victim last month.
The character, played by Todd Boyce, returned to Weatherfield with plans to fleece his much-loved mother, Audrey Roberts as he drowned in his own money woes. In desperate need to pay back his ex Gabrielle, who he stole from in the past, Stephen planned to swindle his own family, including plotting to sell his mum Audrey's property in order to steal the equity.
But in a bid to keep his plans a secret, Stephen found himself an unintentional killer when he watched Leo Thompkins topple to his death after he got to the truth of why Stephen was back on the famous street before getting rid of his body and trying to convince Leo's fiancee Jenny Connor and his dad Teddy that he had fled to Canada as planned.
However, last month, Leo's dad, Teddy, was back on the scene and after being knocked over on the street, was nursed back to health by Jenny. Stephen also showed a keen interest in his recovery as he tried to make out that Leo told his dad he didn't want anything to do to with him following his trip to Canada.
But after his memories of before his accident were triggered following a conversation with Billy Mayhew, Teddy told Stephen that he remembered everything and vowed to report him to the police. However, he never got the chance as Stephen whacked him over the head and killed him before putting Teddy’s body in Audrey’s car roof box and disposing of it in the river.
Now, Stephen has set his sights on soap favourite Carla Connor. After being double-crossed by Stephen, his niece Sarah Barlow and Michael Bailey, who plotted a deal behind her back, the Underworld boss told Sarah that she can finish working on her designs in return for an apology.
Meanwhile, Carla told Stephen to resurrect a deal with Rufus, a big player in the region's fashion industry, and in return, he’d receive 15 percent commission and a permanent contract. At Rufus’s hotel, Rufus made it clear he wasn't interested but offered him some cocaine and the hallucinogenic drug LSD. Suddenly, Rufus collapsed clutching his chest.
For a moment viewers wondered if Stephen might leave Rufus to die. But as the paramedics arrived to attend to him, it was clear that Stephen had hatched another plan and he assured Carla over the phone that her contract was in the bag. Stephen then later pocketed the LSD and used the sex worker who showed up at the hotel room to blackmail Rufus as he recovered in hospital.
But during fresh scenes, Carla called a meeting with Sarah and Stephen and explained that Sarah is now Head of Design whilst Stephen will nowbe Office Manager. Determined to have his revenge on Carla, Stephen slips into the Underworld office with the vial of LSD from Rufus’s briefcase and slips the drug into Carla’s coffee.
Carla heads onto the factory floor, clearly confused and woozy. In the Rovers, Stephen spikes Carla’s red wine with another vial of LSD. Peter calls at the pub and immediately realises Carla isn’t well. Carla stares at the factory girls, her paranoia growing by the second and is helped out of the pub by Peter who is worried sick that her psychosis is returning.
Appearing on Loose Women on Wednesday (February 15), Iain MacLeod chatted to the panel as the ITV show takes part in its own 'super soap month'. Panellist Denise Welch told the ITV soap's producer that the show had had ‘an unprecedented amount’ of messages asking about Stephen and if he will finally be caught for his crimes.
"Oh, it’s almost like being on a pantomime! Is he behind me?" Iain laughed after the audience booed in response to the mention of the character. He went on to say: "Of course he is. It’s a soap, bad guys always get their comeuppance in the end, don’t they? So yes, 100%. There’s a lot of fun to be had between now and then I will say."
Teasing what is to come and when viewers may see the end of Stephen, Iain added: "As we’re starting to see this week, he’s developing a new feud with one of our most popular characters, a feisty female character Carla. So he’s going to go head-to-head with her for a while, which I think I’m really going to enjoy. There’s a little way to go yet. He’s going to get up to more mischief, to put it mildly, but yes, in the end all bad guys meet their fate."
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