Coronation Street fan favourite to face fire horror in shocking storyline next month
The dramatic storyline puts one of Corrie's finest in serious danger.
Beloved Roy Cropper (David Neilson) could lose both his home and his livelihood in Coronation Street, as flames tear through the iconic Roy's Rolls cafe.
Radio Times understands that the upcoming storyline, which will air in April, will see the fan-favourite fall victim to a horrific arson attack.
The greasy spoon, then called Jim's Cafe, was acquired by Roy in 1997 after one of the owners, Alma Baldwin (Amanda Barrie) sold up to support her husband Mike (Johnny Briggs). With new business partner Gail Platt (Helen Worth), he soon put his own stamp on the place – his first move being to rename the eatery.
After transferring to a different property a year later, he covered the walls in his railway memorabilia and it effectively became an extension of his adjoining flat. Losing everything, and the precious memories of his late wife Hayley (Julie Hesmondhalgh), would completely and utterly break him.
There'll also be concern for his own health following the fire, as smoke begins to flood out of the windows, and the locals realise that he's trapped inside.
Roy is hospitalised, but will he live to serve up another bacon sarnie?
eBay charity initiative ITV Reloved recently flogged the room divider from the front of the cafe, meaning that a makeover could be on the cards for one of the soap's longest-serving sets.
As one of the serial drama's most legendary characters, it's safe to say that Roy's neighbours won't take the matter lightly, as the finger begins to be pointed towards who might be responsible.
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In next week's episodes, it becomes clear that Bernie Winter-Alahan's (Jane Hazlegrove) – who has worked for Roy for a number of years – is unable to escape her stalker, Mal Roper (Tim Treloar).
He's spent weeks in a coma after being assaulted by her son Kit Green (Jacob Roberts), but takes great pride in being able to taunt her once again and is the first person to land on her doorstep. Dev (Jimmi Harkishin) warns him off, but later in the week, the tables turn.
Mal reckons he's had a sudden flashback to the night of his attack, and Dev is hauled into the police station for questioning.
When Bernie fears that she might have to dob her own son in to save her hubby, Kit reassures her that there's very little evidence to support Mal's claims and they should be OK. However, that night, she heads to his hotel room to listen to the vile ultimatum that he deals her.
Could Mal now be out to target one of her dearest friends? It certainly seems like he's now just out to upset her, after he knocked back his advances earlier in the year. It was also because of Roy that Bernie first met Mal, as he believed he was having an affair with his wife.
Or could it be enigma Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances Brown), who was recently taken on to cover her sister Shona Platt's (Julia Goulding) maternity leave?
She's hiding a lot of secrets, but could she really be an arsonist?
Read more:
- 5 Coronation Street spoilers next week: Theo Silverton stuns Todd Grimshaw with surprise wedding
- Coronation Street to reveal shocking secret sibling twist for Steve McDonald
- Coronation Street airs explosive Megan Walsh argument as her comeuppance nears in early ITVX release
Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
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Authors
Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at Radio Times, covering all of the hot gossip and spoilers from Weatherfield to Walford, Emmerdale to Hollyoaks and everywhere in-between. He joined the team from Metro, where he spent two years as a Soaps Reporter and previously worked on the sets of both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.
