Coronation Street Viewers Voice Displeasure Over Off-Screen Attack Revelation
Coronation Street finally unveiled the identity of Mal Roper's assailant during Friday night's broadcast, but the long-awaited disclosure left many dedicated fans feeling underwhelmed and dissatisfied. The pivotal moment, which resolved a central storyline, occurred entirely off-screen, prompting a wave of criticism from the soap's loyal audience.
Bernie Winter's Wrongful Arrest and Kit Green's Confession
The dramatic plot unfolded as Bernie Winter, portrayed by Jane Hazelgrove, became the target of stalking by newcomer Mal Roper. Earlier this month, while grieving the death of her son-in-law Billy—a character who perished in a crossover event with Emmerdale—Bernie indulged in a night out involving drugs. During this escapade, she encountered Mal at the Chariot Square Hotel, where he had just confronted Roy Cropper about his pen-pal relationship with a woman he claimed was his wife.
Mal subsequently secured employment alongside Bernie at Roy's Rolls, where he began to terrorise her relentlessly. In a heated exchange on the street, Bernie threatened to kill him in response to his taunting. The following day, Mal was discovered brutally attacked and rushed to intensive care, leading to Bernie's wrongful arrest despite her complete innocence.
DC Kit Green's Shocking Admission
During Friday's episode of the Manchester-based serial, DC Kit Green—revealed in 2024 as Bernie's long-lost son—confessed to his girlfriend Sarah Platt that he was partially responsible for the incident. Kit explained, "Bernie was terrified. She didn't know what this guy was capable of. I didn't kick him or hit him or anything like that. I grabbed him, gave him a shove and warned him off. He's had a heart attack. He would have had one anyway."
An enraged Sarah demanded to know why he had withheld this information until now. Kit justified his silence by stating he was caught in an impossible dilemma: Bernie lacked an alibi, and confessing would have cost him his job as a police officer. Sarah urged him to do the right thing and come clean, but ultimately, it proved unnecessary. Upon arriving at the police station, Kit learned that CCTV footage from Dev's shop had already exonerated Bernie.
Viewer Backlash and Social Media Reactions
As audiences discovered that Kit was the individual who confronted Mal, many expressed frustration that the altercation was not depicted on screen. One disgruntled fan posted on X, "Wish we'd have actually seen the altercation between Kit and Mal!" Another speculated, "Could we be made to believe Kit attacked Mal but it ends up being someone else?" to which a third replied, "Absolutely. It does seem like it’ll be Kit, so it probably wasn't."
A fourth viewer commented, "Okay today’s #Corrie is quite captivating. I enjoy Kit a lot and the Bernie stuff (I do agree it’s a bit fast but I think they’re catering to newbies like me). My only gripe is that they could do with a couple of extra takes, like Dev was talking at the speed of light!" Meanwhile, another fan predicted, "Now that Bernie’s out, Kit won’t tell the truth!"
Ongoing Tensions and Future Implications
Kit attempted to cover his tracks by claiming he had visited the station to check if the CCTV had been reviewed. However, Bernie grew suspicious at home, reminding him that she had never informed him she was near the shop. Far from resolving the situation, DS Lisa Swain reassigned Kit to the case now that his mother was no longer a suspect, much to his horror and dismay.
Coronation Street continues to air weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITV X, with fans eagerly awaiting whether Kit's secret will be fully exposed and how the repercussions will affect his relationship with both Bernie and Sarah.
