Coronation Street airs major stumble for Maggie Driscoll as secret almost rumbled in early ITVX release

*Warning: Spoilers for Friday 3 April 2026's episode of Coronation Street, available now on ITVX and YouTube.*

Coronation Street aired a major stumbling block for scheming Maggie Driscoll (Pauline McLynn) on Friday.

The ITV soap has already revealed to viewers that Rovers Return landlord Ben Driscoll (Aaron McCusker) is actually the secret son of the late cobbles icon Jim McDonald (Charlie Lawson) after he had a brief liaison with Maggie years prior.

This also means that Ben is actually the half-brother of his new close friend Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson).

However, Ben has always believed that his dad, Alan Driscoll (Aidan O'Callaghan), was his biological father. Fans also know from a special flashback episode that Maggie was also responsible for Alan's death.

During Friday's episode, Maggie attempted to get through to her grandson Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale) following his suffering at the abusive hands of his teacher, Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon). However, a brainwashed Will would not betray Megan - even though Maggie came close to getting her grandson to open up to her.

Yet, Ben interrupted Maggie's attempts to get through to Will, and an explosive argument ensued between mother and son.

Blaming Ben for stopping Will from opening up to her, Maggie also accused Ben of failing to protect his own son from Megan.

In response, a furious Ben told Maggie that he often wished it were she who had died instead of his dad, Alan.

Ben proclaimed Alan to have been a "good man", which Maggie questioned and said he never really knew Alan as she did.

Maggie then exclaimed: "And here you are, taking his side over mine, your own flesh and blood!"

Of course, the implication here is that Alan is not Ben's flesh and blood, and this immediately piqued Ben's interest. Maggie rowed back on the meaning and explained she meant because Alan was dead and she wasn't, before storming out.

Towards the end of the episode, a saddened Ben spoke with his partner Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) about the row, and she maintained that Maggie was just winding him up and they would all come through this together.

However, with Ben's son Ollie and Steve's daughter Amy growing romantically closer as secret cousins, will this force the truth out?

Coronation Street continues on Easter Sunday on ITV1, ITVX and YouTube.

Read more:

• 7 Coronation Street spoilers next week: Carl Webster double-crosses Theo Silverton and Maggie confesses
• Coronation Street airs huge discovery for Gary Windass as Theo Silverton caught out in early ITVX release
• Coronation Street airs heartbreaking scenes as George tries to save Todd from evil Theo in early ITVX release

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm and from 7am on ITVX.

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