Coronation Street's producer has revealed Stephen Reid is set to find himself in jeopardy as he teased the identity of his next victim.
The character, played by Todd Boyce, has caused havoc on the Cobbles as his desperate attempts to resolve his financial woes led him to kill Leo Thompkins. Stephen was concerned his sinister secret could be exposed when Leo's dad, Teddy, arrived in Weatherfield to find out what really happened to his son.
Stephen thought he was in the clear when doctors feared Teddy was braindead after being hit by a car. However, dramatic scenes in the final episode of 2022 saw Teddy wake up as Stephen looks set to have another turbulent year in Weatherfield.
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Corrie producer, Iain Macleod, told the ECHO and other press that Stephen is about to find himself in "serious jeopardy" as Teddy gets closer to the truth. He said: "We know what Stephen did last time he was backed into a corner so I guess what the question is, to what lengths will Stephen go to rid himself of this new threat."
Iain also joked every Corrie cast member should be worried as Stephen's reign of terror looks set to continue. He said: "If I ever ask an actor to come in for a chat they think, 'that's it, Todd's going to do me in' so it's quite funny in that respect."
Stephen has recently started a job at Underworld in the show and will soon become embroiled in a rivalry with Carla Connor. Iain explained the legendary character, played by Alison King, could be about to make a costly mistake by making an enemy out of Stephen as he warned a dark twist is on the horizon.
He said: "There's this really interesting psychological warfare that begins with those two. It's all freighted on our part as viewers because we know he has killed someone. When Carla is in there belittling him, making him make the tea and undercutting him in front of clients, she's unwittingly poking this hornet's nest.
"At some point all the hornets do come out but not in the way you'd expect. I reckon 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 incredibly surprised if anyone spots it coming over the hill."
Corrie is renowned for its villains and Iain said Stephen most resembles one infamous figure in particular. He said: "He's got shades of Richard Hillman with that kind of pomposity and refusal to accept you're on the bones of your behind and the desire to present yourself as this successful guy."
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