Coronation Street newcomer Idris Nazir (Junade Khan) has been established as a villain, from parking his flash car on the Cobbles to menacing money out of a stranger. He has exhibited controlling behaviour towards Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) and is a slumlord whose neglect of black mould in tenant Abi Webster's flat caused her son Alfie to become seriously ill. He even recruited criminal protege Brody Michaelis to threaten Abi's lawyer, Adam Barlow.
Sam Finds an Unlikely Ally
Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) has endured trauma, including being tormented by paedophile Megan Walsh, which triggered a psychotic break causing him to hallucinate an evil version of Roy Cropper. In upcoming scenes, Sam suffers a heartbreaking rejection due to his mental illness. When David won't let him hold Harper, Sam confides in Idris about his worry that David thinks he's mentally unstable and doesn't trust him.
To Sam's surprise, Idris opens up about his own anxieties as a teen and how he overcame them. After their chat, Sam feels much better, but his dad Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) is unlikely to feel the same way about the bond.
Nick's Reaction
Ben Price spoke to Metro about Nick's feelings: 'I think he finds it very difficult. Idris has come in, you will see Sam opening up to him, or that's potentially on the cards, and I think Nick then feels quite lost, and then also gets angry and a bit protective.'
