Coronation Street fans already know he's killed once, but will Stephen Reid kill again? Well, 'everyone should be worried' according to the ITV soap's boss. Viewers have been left infuriated by the character's storyline following his return to Weatherfield from Italy.
As well as covering up the murder of Jenny Connor's fiance Leo Thompkins, rogue businessman Stephen has spent months covering up the dire state of his finances while swindling his own family. He's return to the street saw him plotting to sell his mum Audrey Roberts' property in order to steal the equity and pay back his ex Gabrielle, who he stole from in the past.
But after Leo eavesdropped on Stephen's conversation with Gabrielle, following his drunken snog with his girlfriend Jenny Connor, before threatening to expose his plans, the desperate conman shoved him to his death off the edge of the Underworld factory. He has since done everything he can to try and cover up Leo's death by pretending that he still went to Canada.
However, on Boxing Day, sister Gail Platt realised Stephen had re-gifted his present of a hip flask from Elaine Jones to pass off as nephew David Platt's birthday present and started asking questions. After an enlightening phone conversation with Gabrielle, Gail confronted Stephen in front of Elaine, who shared her theory that Stephen is being coercively controlled by his ex which he went along with to gain sympathy.
With Gail keeping his financial state a secret, Stephen took his near-miss and landed himself a job in Underworld, replacing his own niece Sarah Barlow after she walked out on her role as manager at the factory. But he was soon back under pressure when Leo's dad Teddy came strolling back onto the street.
And in a shock twist, Teddy was knocked over as he rowed with Stephen on the cobbled street. As the New Year celebrations began Tim, Sally, Elaine and Stephen were seen watching the fireworks and Stephen told Elaine that he had a feeling 2023 is going to be a good year. But after the celebrations are over and the new year begins, Jenny and Stephen visit Teddy in the hospital to find him still unconscious, but when Teddy suddenly opens his eyes, Stephen’s mounting panic is evident.
While in the hospital, Jenny assures Teddy that one day his memory will return and then they’ll all know the full story regarding Leo. Stephen privately hopes she’s wrong. When Jenny reveals that she’s invited Teddy to move in while he recuperates, Stephen’s quietly horrified. And it's not long before Jenny returns from the hospital with Teddy in tow and helps him into the pub while Stephen watches in despair.
While viewers will have to wait an see what Stephen does next, Corrie's producer Iain MacLeod has confirmed that there is more to come for the twisted character. But first, Iain laughed: "I know whenever you have a serial killer on a soap the whole case is worried as suddenly they’re like, ‘is it going to be me?’” he laughed. “If I ever ring and actor and ask them to pop in for a chat they say, ‘that’s it, Todd [Boyce, who plays Stephen] is going to do me in!'"
He went on: "So it’s quite funny in that respect but yes, lots of people should be worried. We know now he did away with Leo - partly out of necessity, partly out of male pride when he called him an ‘old man’ - but needless to say in soap, no bodies stay buried for long so it counters some really serious jeopardy in form of Leo’s dad, Teddy, who turns up an has a whiff of suspicion around Stephen and thinks he may have something to do with Leo’s disappearance. And we know what Stephen did last time he was backed into a corner so the question is, to what lengths will Stephen go to rid himself of this new threat."
As for what viewers can expect, Iain added: "There’s lots, and lots to come. If you were to compare him to our esteemed bad guys of the past he’s got an air of Richard Hillman about him for me. That kind of pomposity and that refusal to accept you’re on the bones of your behind and the desire to present this image of a successful guy."
As previously mentioned, viewers have already seen, Stephen has got himself a new job in Underworld with Carla Connor. And it isn’t looking good for the factory boss. "He sees his first step back on the ladder to the top of the international rag trade as getting the gig at Underworld and trying to topple the current queen of the pile, Carla," Iain said.
"When Carla is in there belittling him, making him make the tea and undercutting him in front of clients, she’s just unwitting poking this hornet's nest and at some point, all the hornets do come out but not in the way you’d expect. I reckon if anyone predicts what Stephen will do to Carla I’ll eat my hat. Luckily I don’t have one so that will never come to pass but honestly, the plan is so out there and so dark I would be incredibly surprised if anyone spots it coming over the hill.”
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