STEPHEN Reid continues his murder spree this week in the cobbles – but who will be targeted?
Elaine Metcalfe’s life is in danger in Coronation Street, although the serial killer may have another potential victim in mind.
Elaine has fallen head over heels for Stephen – but could it be her downfall?
Owen is also putting his life on the line by upsetting Stephen
1. Next Stephen Reid victim revealed
Todd Boyce‘s ITV alter ego has three murders under his belt and isn’t afraid to make a new victim.
In recent scenes of the Manchester-based program, he decided to embark on a romance with Elaine Metcalfe (Paula Wilcox), and even proposed to her.
Little does she know he had accidentally spiked himself with LSD after trying to drug Carla Connor (Alison King) in an attempt to get his hands on the Underworld factory.
Despite being under the influence of LSD when he proposed, Stephen kept his word and remains by Elaine’s side – all in an effort to get wealthy.
But Elaine is in mortal danger next week when Stephen is desperate to buy Carla’s share of Underworld with her money.
It all begins when Owen (Ben Hull) strides over to Stephen and reveals that after a frank discussion with Jenny Connor, they’d both like to know why he told them each a pack of lies.
As Stephen scratches about for a plausible reason, Owen tells him that once he takes over the factory, he’ll be out of a job.
Stephen warns Carla against selling the factory but she insists that she has to for the sake of her mental health.
Carla has no clue she was drugged by Stephen earlier this year and believed, much like her husband Peter Barlow, that she was having another psychotic episode.
Stephen kicks himself, knowing his actions have led him straight towards a dead-end.
The frustrations of the day getting the better of him, Stephen trashes the factory floor.
Arriving to witness his meltdown, Michael Bailey (Ryan Russell) wonders what’s going on.
Unpacking in their new flat, Stephen suggests again to Elaine that they should buy Carla’s share of the business.
When Elaine snaps at him and spells out that she will never invest a penny in the factory and they should simply enjoy their retirement, Stephen masks his fury.
In later scenes, the villain hatches a plan that could make Elaine his fourth victim in Weatherfield.
Unaware that Stephen has replaced her blood pressure pills with caffeine pills, Elaine’s exhausted and jittery.
Handing her a glass of water, Stephen reminds her it’s time for her pills.
Feeling the pressure when Carla tells him if he doesn’t come up with the money quickly, she’ll sell to Owen, Stephen laces Elaine’s tea.
As Elaine admits she doesn’t feel well, Stephen feigns concern and offers to get some food.
Alone and overcome by dizziness, Elaine stumbles and hits her head.
Stephen returns to find Elaine unconscious on the floor and he quietly backs out of the flat.
While Elaine’s life may hang in the balance, Stephen’s hit list is growing longer with Owen remaining in the cobbles.
Could Stephen plan to murder him after harming Elaine?
Will Tim be another one of Stephen’s victims?
2. Tim finds out shocking truth
Stephen’s list is growing longer and Elaine’s son Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) could join it if he’s not careful.
The Weatherfield cab driver tried to stop the businessman from tying the knot with his mother Elaine but he eventually backed out of trying to keep them apart.
Yet when Elaine falls unconscious in her new flat, Tim suspects Stephen isn’t as innocent as he claims to be again.
Tim shares his suspicions about Stephen with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) and decides to confront him.
He demands details about what happened to his mother – how will Stephen react?
Could Tim be stepping too close to the truth?
Will Stephen try to silence him?
Amy gives up the fight against Aaron this week
3. Aaron comes clean
Amy (played by Elle Mulvaney) struggled for weeks to come to terms with her rape ordeal but after a trip to hospital, she finally realised what Aaron had done to her.
In an attempt to make peace with her pain and bring justice the authorities failed to bring her, Amy exposed the lad in a social media post.
While she had the full support of her parents, Steve McDonald and Tracy Barlow, Amy was immediately issued with a legal threat by Aaron’s father Eric.
Despite what a libel case could cost them, Steve and Tracy (portrayed respectively by Simon Gregson and Kate Ford) have agreed to fight it all the way through.
But finances are growing scarce for the pair and, next week on ITV, Amy suggests she could use her inheritance from her grandmother Deirdre to fund her legal fees.
Steve won’t hear of it, adamant that he and Tracy will find the money.
As Steve discusses the sale of the flower shop flat, Amy feels terrible as this would mean Billy Mayhew, Paul Foreman and her own friend Summer Spellman will lose their home.
Going through the details of the libel case with Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson), Amy feels the pressure, aware her family could lose everything.
Meanwhile, Summer (Harriet Bibby) tears a strip off Aaron, pointing out that because of his failure to admit the truth, Amy and her family are risking everything.
Amy’s worried sick at the thought of Mary Taylor losing her job at the flower shop and Billy, Paul and Summer being made homeless.
Abi Webster (Sally Carman) is then troubled to hear that Steve and Tracy are selling up to do battle with Aaron.
After a heart to heart with Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon), Amy announces she’s going to write a retraction as too many people are suffering.
Amy shows Aaron her written retraction but when he points out that it doesn’t make sense, Amy sees red, telling him it’s hard to make sense of a pack of lies and if he doesn’t like it, he should write it himself and she’ll sign it.
As he struggles to write the retraction, Aaron goes back over that night.
With the reality of his actions potentially setting in, could he decide to come clean about raping Amy and face the music?
What will his father say?
Coronation Street airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8pm on ITV.
