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Manchester Evening News
Manchester Evening News
Entertainment
Jessica Sansome

ITV Coronation Street shock as Spider is revealed as undercover officer as actor teases 'powerful' backstory

Coronation Street fans may have thought that Spider Nugent being married was the big secret he was hiding, which he revealed to a furious Toyah Habeeb last week. However, that was only the tip of the iceberg as his real secret was revealed during the latest trip to the cobbles.

Viewers of the ITV soap were stunned when it was revealed that the recently returned character, played by Martin Hancock, is actually working undercover for the police. In recent weeks, a lonely Toyah has been nervously awaiting her trial for Imran’s murder earlier this year.

They have seen her growing closer and closer to ex Spider as she attempts to distract herself from her grief - and her guilt as it has already been revealed that Toyah will confess all about deliberately crashing the car before Imran went into cardiac arrest and died at the scene.

READ MORE: ITV Coronation Street's Mikey North 'proud' amid Millie Gibson's exit as he shares what's next for her

She has also been throwing herself into activism once more, and it wasn’t long before the couple fall into each other’s arms and despite both trying to pull away, they soon begin a complicated, secret relationship. But when an already suspicious Saira stumbles across this she threatens to blow the lid in court.

Leanne warns her sister off falling for someone so soon and risking the outcome of the trial, and viewers have now seen that Spider is not all he seems. Meanwhile, Spider begged Toyah to cut ties with Griff, revealing he’s in love with her and his marriage is over. As they kissed on the balcony, agreeing to keep their relationship under wraps until after the trial, a furious Saira stares up at them.

Speaking about whether he was surprised by Spider’s big secret, Martin said: “It’s a strange one because there comes a point where you think, can I get more done inside the system? I did wonder what the backstory and I can’t give it all away but there’s quite a powerful backstory as to why Spider joins the police and in my mind, it works even though he’s had a few run-ins himself. He hasn’t exactly been an angel.”

Toyah has got close to Spider once again (ITV)

But he did tease that it wasn’t exactly the reason he came back to Weatherfield, particularly now he’s rekindling his old feelings for Toyah. “It’s very difficult for him,” the soap star said. “The one person in the world he really doesn’t want to mislead or hurt in the world is Toyah. The truth of the matter is, he absolutely adores her but he’s also got his work to get on with but it’s difficult and it’s a fine line it’s treading.”

He then added when asked how hard he is being pushed by the no-nonsense DS Swain: “It’s really tough, she really turns the screw on Spider and places him in an almost impossible position and the cliffhanger is, does he crumble or does he not?”

And it was hard to keep it from everyone, especially as Corrie fans started to work Spider out. It’s been hilarious trying to keep it to myself, “ Martin admitted. “The amount of sleuth work my friends have been getting up to trying to work out what it is and all the little games they do to try and get it out of you… it’s been quite difficult. But it has been fun. I’ve enjoyed some of the speculation as well.”

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