Coronation Street fans think they have rumbled the future of Underworld as the latest scenes in the long-running show have left them heartbroken for factory boss Carla Connor-Swain.
It is almost 20 years since Carla burst into Weatherfield life as the wife of Paul Connor, who had bought Danny Baldwin's majority share of Underworld in the ITV soap, which is filmed in Salford.
Carla's Journey to Underworld Ownership
It soon became clear that the character was a keen businesswoman herself, and she ventured into selling children's clothes. However, that idea came crashing down when machinist Kasia Barowicz was killed on the job after Carla attempted to use the factory after hours. The tragedy led to the business being scrapped, and instead Carla joined forces with Leanne Battersby, buying an Italian restaurant.
It wasn't until 2007, when Paul died after being killed in a car crash while attempting to get his own back on Leanne, then his brother Liam Connor's girlfriend, as she exposed his time with sex workers, that he left everything in his will to Carla, and she became the majority owner of Underworld.
The rest, as they say, is history, and while Carla has previously come close to losing Underworld in the past, it seems business is the worst it has ever been, only made worse by Idris Nazir's underhanded tactics to get the factory into his own hands.
Idris's Scheme Unfolds
After a brief clash with Carla over car parking in an episode of Corrie last week, Idris told girlfriend Leanne that he'd been eyeing up the business. It was then, during Monday's (November 2) visit to Weatherfield, that Idris was seen overhearing Carla talking to her wife, Lisa Connor-Swain, about an important meeting at the hotel.
Later in the meeting, Carla and Michael Bailey were pleased with how things were going, but when the client headed to the loo, Idris stopped him. Idris told Carla's client that the businesswoman couldn't be trusted and that she wasn't the sort of person he should do business with.
And his words seemed to work, as later Carla was told the deal wasn't going ahead, and when speaking to Lisa, revealed that she was going to have to sacrifice her workers' Christmas bonus if she were to keep the factory afloat.
It's not until Tuesday's (November 3) episode of the soap that things go from bad to worse, as after Carla decides to take control of what's ahead by breaking the news to the devastated staff that she is struggling, Idris meets up with Brody Michaelis at the rear of the factory and, handing him a lighter, tells him he's got a job for him...
Fan Reactions and Hopes
While things look to have taken an irreparable turn for Carla, Corrie fans are hopeful that this isn't the end of her being at the helm of her beloved factory. @kelliebroono said: "I honestly can't wait for Idris and his plans to fall flat on its face. He's another character who gives off panto Villian and who doesn't work as well as people thought he would. #Corrie." @AliKingfan180 replied: "Carla will see him off like she usually does with people that stand in her way."
@Audz32129841 commented: "I'd love for Carla to find out what Idris is doing and sets him up instead of signing the Underworld sale contract he's signed his shares of Speed Dahl over to Carla #Corrie." @daisy_duguid responded: "I could actually see that happening. Idris [is] so cocky not checking paperwork, just signing."
@sarahlawson84 shared: "Idris is a slime ball. But bigger and badder have tried to take Underworld from Carla. If it's decided this one succeeds, it'll be a sad day for #Corrie." But @Lucy13yolo added: "Poor Carla. Please can Lisa suss Idris out, and please can Betsy invest in Underworld to save it and be a shareholder with Carla (assuming she still has Becky's money) #corrie."
