Coronation Street fans are predicting Todd Grimshaw is heading for a heartbreaking new storyline, with many expecting an alcohol addiction plot after his recent spiral.
Todd (currently portrayed by Gareth Pierce) has been a cornerstone of the soap since making his debut in 2001, and throughout his time on the show he has been central to numerous landmark moments.
Particularly over the past 12 months, Todd found himself at the heart of a harrowing storyline that shone a light on abuse within a same-sex relationship. Todd's boyfriend Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) manipulated and controlled Todd in an attempt to dominate every aspect of his life.
Theo's death and Sarah's arrest
In April, however, the abuser met his end after his campaign of terror against Todd was uncovered, triggering a major whodunnit on the ITV soap. It was ultimately revealed that Todd's closest friend Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien) was responsible for Theo's death.
Sarah struck him with a metal pole atop the scaffolding, sending him plummeting to the ground below. She subsequently sought the assistance of former flame and ally Gary Windass (Mikey North) to conceal the crime, reports the Daily Star.
Despite the efforts of copper boyfriend Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) to help her evade justice, Sarah was arrested on suspicion of Theo's murder and has since been remanded to prison. In recent weeks, Todd has visibly been unravelling and struggling to cope with the fallout.
Todd's spiral and fans' predictions
He travelled to visit his mum Eileen (Sue Grimshaw) in Thailand, but has since returned to the cobbles. Nevertheless, the much-loved character has been hitting the town frequently, turning to alcohol to numb his recent anguish.
Todd has also been engaging in one-night stands with strangers, and last week he ended up in bed with Fraser (Chris Grahamson), despite being fully aware that Glenda Shuttleworth (Jodie Prenger) was developing feelings for him, under the impression he was heterosexual. Upon discovering the truth, Glenda was left heartbroken and the two have since had a serious falling out.
Now, fans are forecasting further turmoil and heartache for Todd. On a Coronation Street Facebook fan page, one viewer wrote: "I can definitely see a Todd alcoholic storyline coming soon." Another agreed: "I thought that too." A third chimed in: "Has Todd not been through enough with the whole Theo saga."
While a fourth declared: "It's going to be like Billy's alcohol storyline," drawing comparisons to Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank). Supporting these views, a fifth fan commented: "They are definitely going down a self-destructive path for Todd. He's drinking too much and having random sex. And now being snappy at people who care."
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
