Devoted viewers of Coronation Street have expressed that they have "had enough" after an episode that depicted a harrowing escalation in the ongoing abuse storyline involving fan favourite Todd Grimshaw and his boyfriend, Theo Silverton.
A Disturbing Pattern of Control and Violence
The narrative, which has been unfolding on the world's longest-running TV soap, has seen Todd become a victim of systematic coercive control. Theo's manipulation has primarily been psychological, isolating Todd from his friends and making derogatory comments about his appearance.
However, the abuse turned violently physical in a recent, hard-to-watch scene where Theo smashed Todd's face into a mirror. In a further act of control, Theo then forced Todd to lie about the injury's origin, claiming it happened on a trip to London, and subjected him to the humiliation of eating a cold dinner.
Friday's Episode: A False Dawn and a Shocking Self-Harm Scene
The drama continued in the Friday, 5th December 2025 instalment of the Manchester-based serial. A brief respite, where Theo took Todd for a lunch in town, quickly soured upon their return to the flat. Theo presented Todd with an exercise bike, explicitly stating he wanted to track his progress and see his heart rate hit 160BPM.
The tension skyrocketed with an unexpected visit from Theo's ex-wife, Danielle (played by Natalie Anderson). She announced plans to take their children to Tenerife for Christmas, revealing Theo had bought her a similar exercise bike in the past. An argument erupted, with Todd defending Theo's right to see his kids, only for Danielle to retort, "Theo lost his right when he shacked up with you!"
After Danielle left, Theo twisted the situation, blaming Todd for interfering. When Todd threatened to walk out, Theo performed a shocking act of self-harm, slapping himself repeatedly in the face while declaring, "It's my fault, I'm stupid." This left Todd, once again, in the position of comforting his abuser.
The Clever Twist: Todd Fights Back with Technology
Amidst this turmoil, a glimmer of agency emerged for Todd. After a concerned chat in the pub with his best friend Billy—whom Theo has forbidden him from seeing—Todd returned to the flat with a framed photo of the couple.
When Theo popped out for wine, Todd seized the moment. In a brilliant tactical move, he picked up the digital photo frame, which concealed a camera, and hit record. This action suggests Todd may be gathering evidence of Theo's behaviour, potentially setting the stage for a dramatic confrontation.
Viewer reaction on social media was intense and divided. Many shared their distress, with one writing, "Had enough of this evil theo," and another stating, "Theo manipulating everything to make Todd feel guilty, this is awful to watch. Poor Todd."
However, the episode's final twist was met with praise. One impressed fan commented, "Tonight’s ending was brilliant, wow. Todd is smart!" indicating that audiences are eager to see the victim begin to reclaim power.
Coronation Street airs on ITV1 on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8pm. All episodes are available to stream on ITVX.
