Coronation Street fans have said they 'cannot buy' what they believe is a change to Tracy Barlow's character, as they expressed concern about her new love interest's next target.
Fans of the ITV soap, which is filmed in Salford, know and love Tracy, played by Kate Ford since 2002, for her spiky personality and various ups and downs over the years, with the character having been born on-screen during the episode broadcast in January 1977.
But Corrie viewers have recently been left confused as Tracy, who has had an interesting love life over the years, was seen starting a new romance with Ross Wilkes, the long-lost father of Weatherfield mechanic, Tyrone Dobbs.
Ross's identity revealed
The big reveal of Ross' identity came after Tyrone's children surprised him with a birthday present: they found his father through a DNA database. But it came as an uncomfortable shock to Tyrone's mother, Cassie Plummer, as she had earlier flirted and made a pass at Ross, not knowing who he was, as she drowned her sorrows at the Chariot Square Hotel bar following a failed proposal to her partner, Steve McDonald.
Despite his initial shock, Tyrone has since been keen to get to know his dad, and even Tracy has since been seen growing close to Ross, while Cassie tried desperately to get rid of him. But her last attempt left her with no going back when it came to her son.
Determined to see the back of Ross, last week, Cassie was seen spiking his drink with some of Tyrone’s painkillers, only for him to spot her, swap the drinks with Tracy, who collapsed and ended up in hospital following a drug overdose.
Cassie's exit and Ross's confession
As the truth came out, Cassie pleaded she had been set up, claiming she had only used a couple of the tablets so that Ross would fail a drug test at his new prison job, and that the empty pill packet had been planted in her pocket. Tyrone refused to make amends with her, and with Steve also pushing her away, Cassie announced she had landed a job on a cruise ship and would be leaving Weatherfield.
Later, after an emotional farewell to her family, Cassie headed to the precinct where she planned to meet Steve McDonald, but Ross got there first. He told Cassie that he’d give her a lift to the train station before confessing that he framed her over Tracy's collapse. Cassie threatened to go to the police, but Ross wouldn't let her out of the car, and as he took off, it was the last time Corrie viewers saw her.
In scenes since, it's become clear that Tyrone's wife, Fiz Dobbs, doesn't trust Ross, while Tracy seems blindsided by her new man, despite knowing what happened between him and Cassie when she was a teenager, which led to her becoming pregnant with Tyrone.
Fans fear for Fiz
And it's left Corrie fans having their say on social media, whilst also worrying Fiz will be Ross' next target. @lbozza17 said: "Tracy would not look twice at Ross…cannot buy into this at all #corrie." @Sjl170 commented: "I can only assume Tracy has her beer goggles on for this Ross story to work. #Corrie."
@ThomasR14336083 shared: "I really want Fiz to expose Ross. Tyrone is totally blinded where he's concerned, as is Tracy who is normally much wiser to men like Ross. #Corrie." @fitness_makeup cried: "Nooo Fiz don’t go there please be careful #Corrie." @WhoPotterVian added: "'It'll be nice to spend some time together' - Ross says, whilst plotting to kill Fiz like he's Weatherfield's Sideshow Bob. #Corrie."
