Ed Bailey’s gambling addiction returns as Ronnie makes a big mistake in Coronation Street

Ronnie Bailey has betrayed his own brother Ed in a scheme he came up with a little help from Debbie Webster. But how will he react when Ed's gambling addiction creeps up on him again next week in Coronation Street?

The Betrayal

Vinta Morgan‘s ITV alter ego began his secretive move against Ed Bailey (portrayed by Trevor Michael Georges) after his on-screen nephew Michael was embroiled in an altercation between newcomer Cassie Plummer and drug dealer Dean Turnbull.

A Startling Scheme

Ronnie was on the scene in the hospital when Michael (Ryan Russell) was struck by Dean and he urged him to call the police. However, a terrorised Cassie (Claire Sweeney) managed to convince them to keep the authorities out of the situation.

Exploiting a Weakness

But when Michael admitted this was a frequent occurrence for his nurse mother Aggie Bailey (Lorna Laidlaw), Ronnie decided to use it all to his advantage. In a shocking financial scheme, Ronnie convinced his brother Ed to invest under the guise of using profits to help Aggie retire earlier.

A Slip-Up

As Ed's nerves seemed to get the best of him, Ronnie reassured him before being seen heading off to the Rovers and filling Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) in on all the details. Unfortunately for the pair, their plot could spiral out of control next week as Ronnie tells Debbie he slipped up and admitted to Henry Newton that he knew about the Waterfords deal before it was announced. Despite this, Debbie keeps a level head and tells him not to worry as she deleted the picture of the contract from her phone.

Triggering Past Trauma

In later scenes, Ronnie presents Ed with his own bank card for the business account and, when the builder takes the card, he masks his unease due to his troubled past with money. Regular viewers of the Manchester-based drama will remember that Ed struggled with a gambling addiction that landed him in severe debt. He eventually received help in 2019 but could Ronnie's scheming lead to a relapse?

Can He Be Trusted?

This remains to be seen as, in later scenes, Ronnie tells Ed he’s transferred half of the share money into his personal account so that Aggie never gets wind of it. Ed assures him he can trust him – but is he trying to convince his brother or himself?

Coronation Street airs every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 8pm on ITV.