Coronation Street boss Iain Macleod says the soap’s cast are so paranoid about becoming the next victim of killer Stephen Reid, they fear every meeting he calls.
The villain, played by Todd Boyce, 61, has murdered Jenny Connor’s fiance Leo Thompkins and almost bumped off his mother Audrey Roberts.
Now he’s gearing up to strike again – and no one wants it to be them.
Producer Iain said: “Whenever you’ve got a killer on a soap, the whole cast is worried – is it going to be me? When I call an actor in for a chat, they think ‘That’s it! Todd Boyce is going to do me in!’ Lots of people should be worried.
“I love Todd. He sees Stephen as a very desperate man backed into a corner – a very enlightened view of who he is!”
Viewers know Stephen killed Leo (Joe Frost) after he found out the truth about his financial situation and threatened to expose him, dumping his body in a bin.
But Iain added: “Needless to say, in a soap, no bodies ever stay buried for long.” The killer will soon encounter a challenge in the form of Leo’s dad Teddy, who realises Stephen might have something to do with the disappearance.
Iain said: “We know what Stephen did last time he was backed into a corner. So the question is to what lengths will he go to rid himself of this new threat?”
Stephen is desperate to present himself as successful, despite being broke, and is going to continue with his downward spiral in 2023.
The producer compared him to one of the ITV soap’s best-ever baddies.
Iain said: “He has shades of Richard Hillman for me – that kind of pomposity and refusal to accept you’re on the bones of your behind. His need to be top dog drives him into increasingly desperate acts over the next 12 months.”
A prime contender to be his next victim is Carla Connor (played by Alison King), as Stephen wants her job at Underworld.
Iain reveals: “When Carla belittles Stephen and makes him make the tea in front of clients, she is unwittingly poking this hornets’ nest.”
But the show boss said no one can predict how Stephen will react.
“At some point all the hornets come out but probably not in the way you expect. If anyone predicts what Stephen does to Carla, I’ll eat my hat.
“His plan is so out there and dark that I’d be surprised if anyone spots it coming over the hill.”
Other storylines for 2023 include Roy Cropper getting with his first smartphone, the grooming of Max Turner by a far-right group reaching its climax and Daisy and Daniel wanting very different things for their wedding.
Further drama will be brought to the cobbles by newcomer Damon Hay (Ciaran Griffiths), brother of jailed drug dealer Harvey Gaskell (Will Mellor).
The soap’s younger cast will be at the heart of one of the biggest storylines.
Iain said: “We’re hoping it’ll be one of those stories that shocks people a bit and provokes awkward conversations in front of the television.”
In another big plot, Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) is saved “from oblivion” by her “three dads” – Billy, Todd and Paul – after she agrees to sell her baby. Two of the father figures then become a couple.
Iain said: “I’ll leave you to try and guess which of them it might be.”
