Devoted fans of Coronation Street have erupted in anger, pointing out a glaring and 'crazy' plot error that sealed the fate of beloved vicar Billy Mayhew. The character met a tragic end during the soap's historic crossover event with Emmerdale, which aired on Monday night.
A Tragic End in the Corriedale Crossover
The dramatic episode, dubbed 'Corriedale', featured a multi-vehicle pile-up. A minibus carrying several Weatherfield residents back from Debbie Webster's wedding crashed and flipped over. Billy Mayhew, played by Daniel Brocklebank since 2014, was shown trapped in the driver's seat as flames engulfed the vehicle.
In a heartbreaking twist, the villainous builder Theo Silverton—who Billy had crossed after discovering Theo was abusing his best friend Todd—returned to the burning wreck. Billy initially believed Theo was there to save him, but instead, Theo buckled his seatbelt tighter, trapping him, and left him to perish in the ensuing explosion. This left Billy's adoptive daughter, Summer, without a father.
Viewers Blast 'Poor Writing' and Character Oversight
Following the shocking scenes, viewers quickly took to social media to highlight a significant inconsistency. They noted that while other characters, including Todd, Shona and David Platt, Tracy Barlow, Cassie Plummer, and Steve McDonald, escaped the minibus, no one attempted to check on or rescue Billy.
Fans were baffled that the group immediately rushed to help free Lisa Swain from another car but seemingly forgot Billy was still inside the burning van. One fan on Reddit wrote: "Anyone else kinda confused as to why nobody was trying to save Billy? They all pulled together to move an entire car for Lisa but no-one even mentioned that Billy was still inside."
Another agreed, stating: "It was shocking no one cared that he was still inside... He’s been in Corrie for 20 years or so and friends with just about everyone. Even Todd's reaction was muted." A third viewer called the oversight "crazy", criticising the fact that the characters didn't notice the fire or leaking petrol sooner.
Daniel Brocklebank Reflects on 11 Years on the Cobbles
Meanwhile, actor Daniel Brocklebank has spoken about his departure from the iconic soap after more than a decade. He admitted he would miss the friendships forged on set but vowed to stay in touch with close colleagues, including Harriet Bibby, who plays his on-screen daughter Summer.
Following tradition, Brocklebank took several mementos from his character's home, including Billy's leather chair and photos from his wedding to Paul Foreman. "I've got 11 years worth of memories as well," he said. "The relationships on a job like Corrie are far deeper cemented, purely and simply because of time."
Coronation Street continues on ITV at 8pm on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, and is available to stream from 7am on ITVX.
