There’s a rare trip away from the cobbles next week, as the Coronation Street residents head to court.
The Driscoll clan are supporting teenage son Will (Lucas Hodgson-Wale) when he delivers a testimony against paedophile teacher Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon).
The cross-examination proves too much to bear, and in tearful scenes, he tells confidant Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) that he fears she will walk free. In a nearby mental health unit, Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) discovers that his parents have chosen not to tell him about the trial, and frets that Megan will seek revenge on him if she’s found not guilty.
Elsewhere, after pressing Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances Brown) for answers about the night she was attacked, Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) becomes suspicious of her behaviour.
Meanwhile, when Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) enjoys a night of passion with Idris Nazir (Junade Khan), her sister Toyah (Georgia Taylor) becomes concerned about her sudden absence.
5 Coronation Street spoilers for next week
1. Megan Walsh faces court – will she be found guilty, or not guilty?
There’s a major shock in store when Megan’s mother, Janine Walsh (Melissa Jacques), suddenly turns up in the pub. Maggie (Pauline McLynn), Ben (Aaron McCusker) and Eva (Catherine Tyldesley) are stunned by her arrival, but Janine insists she’s deeply sorry for her daughter’s actions and wants to offer whatever support she can. Her words fall on deaf ears, however, as the furious trio quickly order her to leave.
Back at Megan’s car, Janine admits she’s failed to track down Will. Seizing the opportunity, Megan breaks down and tells her mother that Will took advantage of her during a vulnerable period in her life and that she could now be facing prison because of it. Convinced by her daughter’s emotional account, Janine decides to take matters into her own hands and approaches the teenager herself.
Later, Will overhears his family discussing the upcoming trial and is left carrying an enormous burden as the reality of the situation weighs heavily on him.
The day of the hearing arrives and nerves are running high.
Inside the courtroom, Will’s pre-recorded evidence is played to those present, leaving his family overwhelmed with emotion. But when questioning begins, Will finds himself staring directly at Megan, whose icy gaze threatens to unsettle him.
As proceedings continue, Ben is called to the witness stand and subjected to a gruelling cross-examination from Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson). Megan presents a very different version of events, portraying herself as the victim and even turning her attention to Ben’s parenting.
Later, a distraught Will seeks out Tim at No.4 and tearfully admits he feels responsible for the chaos that has unfolded. Unsure how to put things right, he confesses he’s running out of answers.
Soon afterwards, Will makes a dramatic decision. Telling his family that he wants to testify again if the judge permits it, he explains that he’s determined to reveal the full truth about what happened.
By the end of the week, the Driscolls return home and inform Ollie (Raphael Akuwudike) that the case is no longer in anyone else’s hands. Megan’s future now rests entirely with the jury.
2. Jodie Ramsey’s lies begin to unravel
Determined to finally get some answers, Sarah approaches Jodie and presses her for information about the night she was attacked. Before the conversation can gather momentum, Lisa Connor-Swain (Vicky Myers) arrives and reveals she’d like to revisit the events of that evening as well.
As Sarah once again recounts what happened, she remains adamant that the attack occurred at precisely 9.10pm and insists that David the dog was barking continuously at the time.
However, Jodie soon points out flaws in Sarah’s timeline and suggests that her recollection may not be as reliable as she believes. She even floats the possibility that Sarah could have been with Gary Windass (Mikey North) instead.
When the discussion turns to the mysterious trinket box, Jodie is visibly thrown. Fortunately for her, the conversation is interrupted when David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) storms in, furious that the gate has been left open and the dog has disappeared.
Later, Kit and Sarah stop by the café, but Sarah’s unease is impossible to miss when a cheerful Jodie approaches them. David subsequently quizzes Sarah about the apparent tension, sensing there’s more going on than she’s willing to admit.
Concerned by her behaviour, David later confides in Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) at the Rovers, admitting he’s worried about Sarah and the way she reacts whenever Jodie is around. He promises to keep a close eye on the situation.
3. Sam Blakeman fears the worst outcome from Megan’s trial
Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) and Toyah receive welcome news when they learn Sam is expected to be discharged from the mental health unit before the week is out. However, a fresh dilemma soon arises when the teen reveals he’d like to attend Megan’s trial, believing it could help him draw a line under recent events.
As the case progresses, Nick becomes increasingly anxious about how developments in court might affect Sam’s recovery. Keen to shield him from further distress, he insists everything went smoothly at the hearing, despite harbouring serious concerns.
A visit from Hope Dobbs (Isabella Flanagan) changes everything. When Sam asks about the trial, she is noticeably reluctant to discuss it, immediately alerting him that something isn’t right.
Once he uncovers the truth, Sam is furious and confronts both Nick and Toyah for keeping him in the dark.
4. Summer Spellman displays some worrying behaviour and Asha Alahan has a promising new romance
Summer Spellman’s (Harriet Bibby) friends begin to worry when they find her already tipsy at the bistro and socialising with a group of lads they only recently met. Their concerns deepen when Summer announces she’s heading into town with her new companions, leaving Asha Alahan (Tanisha Gorey), Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher) and Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) suspicious about where her behaviour is heading.
Later, Summer is summoned back to the bistro, where her friends stage an informal intervention. The girls explain that they’re concerned she’s been taking things too far lately and urge her to take action
The conversation is soon interrupted by the arrival of paramedic Sienna, distracting Asha from the issue at hand. When it emerges that Sienna has been stood up by her date, the others quickly encourage Asha to make her move.
5. Toyah Battersby fears for sister Leanne when she goes ‘missing’
Romance is firmly on the agenda for Leanne when Idris invites her out for lunch followed by a pampering session at the Chariot Square Hotel. The pair enjoy themselves so much that they decide to stay overnight, and things only get better when a leisurely breakfast in bed leads to Idris booking a second night.
Back on the Street, however, alarm bells are ringing. Sam tells Toyah that Leanne never arrived for a planned visit, leaving her increasingly concerned about where she is.
Meanwhile, blissfully unaware of the growing panic, Leanne and Idris continue enjoying their hotel stay. But trouble is brewing. As Leanne heads into the bathroom, her phone starts ringing with a call from Toyah. Rather than alerting her, Idris quietly silences the phone.
The deception is short-lived, though, as an angry Toyah eventually tracks them down. When she arrives at the hotel and starts pounding on the door, Leanne may be about to discover exactly what she’s missed.
