Devoted Coronation Street fans are expressing serious concern that legendary character Carla Connor could be killed off the iconic soap, as her latest terrifying kidnapping ordeal reaches a critical point. The fears have emerged as the Underworld boss, played by Alison King since 2006, faces a renewed threat to her life while being held captive by corrupt police officer Becky Swain.
A Desperate Situation Behind Closed Doors
The harrowing storyline saw Carla tied up inside Becky's wardrobe after the officer, who was presumed dead earlier this year, returned to win back her wife, Lisa, from Carla. A brief moment of hope flickered during Monday night's episode on December 30, 2025, when Carla managed to break free, knock Becky unconscious, and attempt an escape.
However, Tuesday's instalment cruelly dashed those hopes, revealing that Carla's escape was not successful and she was being restrained once more. The tension escalated when Becky, portrayed by Amy Cudden, chillingly informed Carla she would be "out of the picture soon." Carla defiantly retorted that she had no fear for her life, believing if she were to be killed, it would have already happened.
Becky's cold response highlighted the true danger: she reminded Carla that she needs kidney medication to survive, and withholding it would lead to her death "pretty soon anyway." This sinister detail has particularly alarmed the show's audience.
Fans Predict a Fatal Milestone
As Carla's fate hangs in the balance, fans on social media platform X have been quick to draw parallels with her traumatic past. This is notably not the first time Carla has been taken hostage. In 2010, her late husband Tony Gordon held her and Hayley Cropper captive in the factory before setting it ablaze. More recently, she was held by her brother, Rob Donovan, after his prison escape.
One viewer joked on X: "And the category is……HOSTAGE," while another advocated for a PTSD storyline, stating: "[Carla] needs a ptsd storyline, I really hope they don’t sweep all of her trauma under the carpet."
The most pressing theory, however, links the current plot to a major character milestone. One fan wrote: "The constant focus of Carla not getting her medication is making me very nervous that her 20th year on the cobbles is actually going to be her exit." This sentiment reflects a wider anxiety that the show might mark Alison King's two-decade tenure with a permanent departure for the character once hailed as a modern-day Elsie Tanner.
Twists, Turns, and an Unconscious Captor
In a surprising development, Becky's own health has now become a factor. After leaving Carla, she returned to her wife Lisa and daughter Betsy at Number Six, only to collapse on the living room floor as her head began to bleed. An ambulance was called, and in hospital, she deceitfully claimed to Lisa (Vicky Myers) that she was attacked by "Curtis' lot."
Earlier in the week, fans celebrated Carla's brief moment of empowerment. One viewer exclaimed on X: "Carla knocking Becky out at the end. Yass, hunny, yas!" while another humorously dubbed her a "Carla Connor WWE legend." Others were more cautious, predicting further twists. One fan speculated: "This is an unexpected twist, but I don't think she'll escape!! Or able to escape and there Kit rescues her."
Some believe the storyline may ultimately lead to Becky's downfall. A fan commented: "If that little push and Becky falling felt that good, imagine what her downfall will feel like." Meanwhile, supporters of the 'Swarla' pairing (Carla and Lisa) are holding out hope for a happier resolution, with one admitting the emotional performances left them "depressed as hell, hoping 4 a happy end."
With a highly-anticipated crossover with Emmerdale on the horizon, the drama on the cobbles shows no sign of abating. Coronation Street continues to air on ITV1 and ITV X on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8pm.
