The return of Coronation Street’s sickest ever villain Nathan Curtis has been confirmed with the evil abuser set to be seen lurking in Weatherfield in upcoming scenes.
Groomer Nathan (Chris Harper) will be released from prison in the coming weeks in a dark new plot for his victim Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon), who herself returned to the soap at the beginning of this year.
Nasty Nathan groomed then-teenager Bethany by plying her with booze and drugs, before raping her in harrowing scenes that aired in 2017.
Despite trying to escape, Nathan came dangerously close to selling Bethany into sex work abroad, but she was able to call the police and escape his clutches.
While Nathan, and his gang of attackers, were thrown behind bars, Bethany will be left terrified next month when she learns that he’s been released.
The return of Coronation Street ‘s sickest ever villain Nathan Curtis (centre) has been confirmed with the evil abuser set to be seen lurking in Weatherfield in upcoming scenes
Groomer Nathan (Chris Harper, pictured) will be released from prison in the coming weeks in a dark new plot for his victim Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon )
Bethany discovers Nathan had actually been freed some time ago and tracks him down to a building site where he’s been working.
Knowing his chequered history, and his concerning activities around younger girls, Bethany suspects he may have been involved in Lauren Bolton’s (Cait Fitton) murder.
Determined to bring justice to Lauren’s attacker, Bethany forces herself to confront Nathan.
On being asked to return to the soap, actor Chris Harper said: ‘I was emotional when I was told about Nathan’s potential return.
‘During the 18 months he was in it before, hundreds of people shared with me how the storyline reflected something they, or someone they loved, had lived through.
‘It remains important to keep them in mind as we continue Bethany’s story.
‘Once again, I am grateful for the ongoing support of Barnardo’s, NSPCC, S.H.E.UK, and all the people who trusted me last time.
‘We have another chance to raise an issue that affects so many lives, so often shrouded in shame.’
Nasty Nathan groomed then-teenager Bethany (right) by plying her with booze and drugs, before raping her in harrowing scenes that aired in 2017
Despite trying to escape, Nathan came dangerously close to selling Bethany into sex work abroad, but she was able to call the police and escape his clutches
While Nathan, and his gang of attackers, were thrown behind bars, Bethany will be left terrified next month when she learns that he’s been released
Knowing his chequered history, and his concerning activities around younger girls, Bethany (left) suspects he may have been involved in Lauren Bolton’s (Cait Fitton) murder
On the character of Nathan, Chris revealed: ‘I do love playing Nathan though. He is funny, deceitful, slippery, manipulative and ruthless.
‘Now he is also under a lot of pressure too. This new storyline is absolutely full of twists.
‘It’s really is good to be back on the hallowed cobbles. So much has happened since we saw Nathan sent to prison, but Coronation Street is a constant. I feel like the cast, crew and the whole team are old friends.’
Coronation Street fans were incensed as Roy Cropper was jailed after being charged with the murder of missing teen Lauren during an episode of the ITV soap earlier this month.
Café owner Roy, played by David Neilson, 75, has spent weeks as Detective Sergeant Lisa Swain’s (Vicky Myers) prime suspect since he foolishly deep cleaned Lauren’s (Cait Fitton) flat after she mysteriously disappeared.
The situation got more complicated for Roy when a woman pretending to be Lauren’s mother visited the cafe and ended up in a tussle with him, before falling and hitting her head.
When the hunt for Lauren became a murder inquiry, Roy was taken in for questioning and found himself a victim of internet trolling, and at the centre of much lurid speculation from armchair sleuths.
Earlier this month, DS Swain questioned Roy about the incident and delved deep into his history, with solicitor Dee Dee at his side.
Coronation Street fans were incensed as Roy Cropper was jailed after being charged with the murder of missing teen Lauren during an episode of the ITV soap earlier this month
Roy, played by David Neilson, 75, has spent weeks as Detective Sergeant Lisa Swain’s prime suspect since he deep cleaned Lauren’s (Cait Fitton, right) flat after she disappeared
Dee Dee then returned to Roy’s cafe – Roy’s Rolls – where she broke the news that he had been charged with Lauren’s murder and was being held in police custody.
Back at the police station a terrified and confused Roy sat alone in a dark cell, dreading his pending court hearing.
Viewers of the episode were left seething, branding the storyline ‘ridiculous’ while threatening to abandon the soap altogether.
One person wrote on Twitter: ‘Catching up with #Corrie, the Roy Cropper storyline is their most ridiculous yet.’
Someone else wrote: ‘Oh wow…… Coronation Street are RUINING a show that’s been on decades. What is going on with the writers of this show!? Arresting ROY CROPPER for murder!? Why not arrest Santa, the Easter Bunny and the Tooth Fairy while you’re at it?’
While someone else posted: ‘This Roy Cropper storyline is ridiculous, how can he be charged with murder without a shred of evidence presented! I am sorry, but it really is a horrid story, out of all the men in the street and you choose the least likely man!’
Another viewer commented: ‘Gone right off #corrie & stopping watching. Why go down this track ? #RoyCropper didn’t do it …Lauren is probably down in London as that’s where most of them go!’
‘Free Roy Cropper, he is innocent. Shame on @itvcorrie for thinking that this is a good storyline, it’s not. #FreeRoyCropper,’ demanded another audience member at home.
Viewers of the episode were left seething, branding the storyline ‘ridiculous’ while threatening to abandon the soap altogether
While someone else remarked: ‘This @itvcorrie storyline with Roy is so weak. Why are the police so dumb and so against Roy in the first place? It’s just so unbelievable. #corrie #itv #roycropper.’
Another former fan protested: ‘My wife and I have decided to cease watching what is probably the worst storyline ever based around Roy Cropper. Proper scraping the barrel, irritating and unrealistic are only two words of many I could choose.’
And someone else wrote: ‘An all-time low for the show I fear.’
With no information on Lauren’s whereabouts and no other real suspects for the crime, Roy’s family need to get to the bottom of what really happened to Lauren.
Actor David, said: ‘Roy is innocent in every respect, he is innocent of the crime, but he is also an innocent soul.
‘He never thought for one minute it would come to this, he truly felt that if he simply answered everything honestly it would all be okay and he was naive to assume that being innocent meant that he would be seen to be innocent.
‘What I like about this storyline is the way it has gone back 29 years to 1995 when Roy first arrived.
The situation got more complicated for Roy when a woman pretending to be Lauren’s mother visited the cafe and ended up in a tussle with him, before falling and hitting her head
‘It is reminiscent of that early Roy Cropper when people were suspicious of his behaviour and thought he was creepy.
‘And all this history will be used against him, things that have happened in the past like abducting their foster child.
‘All that makes this storyline interesting to play and to watch it unfold.’
Coronation Street continues on Monday 29 April on ITV1 and ITVX at 8pm.
