Todd covered in blood as Theo loses absolute control in early Coronation Street ITVX release
This article contains spoilers for tonight’s Coronation Street, which has not yet aired on TV but is available to watch now on ITVX.
Theo Silverton’s (James Cartwright) aggressive behaviour toward partner Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) reached new extremes tonight.
Poor Todd has already faced horrible treatment from boyfriend Theo, who is constantly making comments about his appearance and isolating him from his friends.
With Theo having caused a huge rift between Todd and George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley), Todd has found himself jobless and more reliant on Theo than ever.
In tonight’s episode, Theo continued to push his fitness agenda, insisting that Todd needed more training ahead of their marathon.
Eager to please, Todd allowed personal trainer James Bailey (Jason Callender) to teach him how to fight off delayed onset muscle soreness.
Todd, Theo and James in the flat in Corrie
Theo accused Todd of flirting with James Bailey (Picture: ITV)
Unfortunately, Theo didn’t take well to the intrusion, and what he perceived as flirting, and made sure Todd paid the price.
‘It’s another escalation, and it’s both shocking and terrifying for Todd,’ actor James Cartwright explained. ‘Theo just blows up when he doesn’t seem to be able to talk about his feelings. He can’t express himself so he loses his temper, and he becomes very volatile to be around.’
In a horrifying scene, Theo grabbed hold of Todd and slammed his head into a mirror, causing it to shatter and leaving Todd needing medical treatment.
His injuries were enough to spark suspicions in the nurse treating him, but Todd gave her a cover story that protected Theo, and soon they both headed home.
Theo, James and Todd in the flat in Corrie
Theo’s violent behaviour has escalated (Picture: ITV)
As if his actions hadn’t been vile enough, Theo continued to gaslight Todd, insisting that he had fallen on the mirror and been saved by Theo.
Though Todd knew what had really happened, he was clearly too afraid to argue back.
In a final act of cruelty, Theo gave Todd a meal, but when he pointed out that it was cold, Theo launched into a barrage of abuse, belittling Todd and making himself the victim.
When Theo ordered Todd to eat, he had no choice but to obey.
‘He does these things in that moment of rage and then the cycle of self hatred starts, where he loathes himself, he starts drinking, and then the cycle continues again,’ James said of Theo’s behaviour.
Todd looks at his facial injuries through a smashed mirror in Corrie
Will Todd escape Theo? (Picture: ITV)
‘Very often he blames Todd for it. He’s made Todd the scapegoat for all the things that have gone wrong in his life since he met him.
‘In the space of 10 months he’s been through more than a lot do in 10 years, he’s got divorced, lost his children, his business has failed and these are enormous life events. The person he’s decided he can hold responsible for all this is Todd as he left what appeared to be this wonderful life to be with Todd.
‘So then when it’s all gone wrong, he’s turned around and decided this is your fault. When he loses his temper, he just erupts, and then he has to live with the consequence of what he’s done which is where the self loathing then comes in.’