As Coronation Street finally reveals who killed Theo Silverton, actor James Cartwright has expressed relief that his evil character met his end. "Thank God he's dead," Cartwright told the Mirror. "He needed to die. He had to go. We need less Theos in the world."
Cartwright on Theo's death: 'It was the right thing to do'
Cartwright explained that the decision to kill off Theo was a deliberate creative choice. "When they told me they were going to kill Theo off, I thought it was wonderful. We had talked about what was going to happen and it was either going to be a court case or killing him off. And I think killing him off was absolutely the right thing to do. You don’t want Theo walking around forever."
He added that soap operas operate on a moral code. "Soap is a very moral medium. We need our underdogs to triumph and we need our villains to meet their end. It was time for him to go."
Who killed Theo? Dinner party flashbacks reveal all
The killer will be unmasked during a dinner party attended by police officer Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) and his girlfriend Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien), Theo’s husband Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce), his daughter Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby), Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon) and her husband Gary Windass (Mikey North). The truth emerges through a series of flashbacks revisiting the April night when Theo's body was discovered.
Cartwright teased that viewers will be surprised by the reveal. "I can’t say who killed Theo, but I can say that it’s juicy. It’s not who you expect. It’s a brilliant story - if you’re a Corrie fan, don’t miss a single episode because the great stuff is just getting going."
Theo's storyline highlighted same-sex domestic violence
Scaffolder Theo was found dead earlier this year, having long struggled with his sexuality. He had previously been married to a woman and even tried conversion therapy. After getting together with Todd, they married in March when Theo blindfolded him and led him to the registry office. Two weeks later, viewers were horrified when he beat his new husband senseless. Todd reported him to the police, but Theo continued to stalk him until being found dead outside their flat.
Cartwright said he was proud to highlight the issue of same-sex domestic violence. "A lot of people have talked to me and said they’ve been in that situation or a friend has been in that situation. It always feels incredibly satisfying to do work that helps people. Same-sex domestic violence had never been done before. People often think men hitting men is them having a fight, but it might not be. It can be domestic violence."
The storyline, nominated for an award at this year's Rainbow Honours, plays out in an hour-long ITV special. Viewers will hear grievances aired before it descends into chaos with a smashed glass and overturned chair. Maria wastes no time in accusing Gary of having an affair with Sarah, while Kit also notices their strange behaviour and demands answers. As secrets are exposed, the explosive revelation over who has Theo's blood on their hands unfolds.
Coronation Street’s hour-long special airs at 9pm, Monday June 22, on ITV.
