A Storyline That Stunned Even the Actor

Coronation Street viewers have watched Theo Silverton’s behaviour grow darker week by week—but it turns out fans aren’t the only ones reeling. James Cartwright, who plays Theo, admits that even he has been blindsided by the disturbing twists in Theo and Todd Grimshaw’s relationship.

He revealed that the scripts have left him “choking on [his] cornflakes,” with the storyline taking turns far more extreme than he ever expected.

“Not Just Complicated—Dangerous”

Reflecting on Theo’s progression from troubled partner to active abuser, Cartwright says the character has crossed a line he didn’t anticipate.

“We always knew he was complicated,” he explains. “But now you start to see he’s not just complicated. He’s dangerous.”

Cartwright says the damage inside Theo has begun to surface in ways that even the character can’t control. That loss of control is what makes him so volatile—and places everyone around him at risk, especially Todd.

Obsession Masquerading as Love

When asked whether Theo truly loves Todd, Cartwright doesn’t hesitate. “Oh, absolutely,” he says. But it’s not love in any healthy sense.

In Theo’s mind, Todd is his last tie to the world. His marriage is over. His children refuse to speak to him. Work has dried up. And that isolation fuels a toxic obsession.

“He clings on like fire,” Cartwright says. “That’s where the coercive control starts—the constant questions, the accusations, the demands.”

This dynamic mirrors real-life patterns, where possessive partners isolate their victims to maintain power. It’s a detail the show handles with deliberate care.

Violence Escalates

Upcoming episodes push the storyline into even darker territory. Theo forces Todd to train for a half-marathon as another tactic of control. Then, when he believes James Bailey has flirted with Todd, he lashes out violently.

For Cartwright, filming these scenes has been emotionally intense. “Domestic violence is real for a lot of people,” he says. “Around Christmas, it often gets worse. There’s a real level of respect on set.”

He notes that the cast and crew are careful to portray the storyline authentically without sensationalising it.

Walking a Careful Line

Cartwright stresses that the show must balance drama with responsibility. Many victims don’t realise they are experiencing abuse or excuse their partner’s behaviour. Rushing the storyline would undermine the reality of coercive control or overlook its slow, insidious nature.