Coronation Street Reveals Why Todd Grimshaw Was Chosen for the Abuse Storyline
Todd’s Relationship Turns Dark
What began as a hopeful romance has spiralled into one of Coronation Street’s most distressing storylines. Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) appeared to have finally found love with Theo Silverton, but the truth behind their relationship is far darker than anyone expected.
After initially hiding his marriage and children, Theo’s manipulative tendencies began to surface. Todd now finds himself trapped in a coercively controlling and emotionally abusive relationship, unaware of just how dangerous Theo truly is.
The Slow Unraveling of Todd’s Confidence
Producer Kate Brooks explained to the Manchester Evening News that the team intentionally approached the storyline as a slow burn.
“We’ve seen Todd fall for this guy who’s complex and has got issues. By the time the story really gets going, Todd’s in a place where he feels indebted to Theo because he’s given up everything for him,” Brooks said.
As the story progresses, Theo’s true colours will be fully revealed — a man who thrives on control, gaslighting, and psychological manipulation.
“Theo’s a dark character. He’s good at gaslighting Todd. It’s fundamentally a story about domestic abuse in a same-sex relationship,” Brooks confirmed.
Why Todd Was the Right Choice
The decision to centre this story on Todd was deliberate. As Brooks explained, “We wanted to take a character like Todd — someone funny, wily, a bit morally skewed — and see what happens when he meets a man who bulldozes his way into his life.”
The once-confident undertaker will be stripped of his humour and self-assurance as Theo isolates him emotionally. Viewers will witness Todd questioning his worth and even blaming himself for Theo’s cruelty.
“He’s controlling,” Brooks continued. “He uses many tactics to make Todd second-guess himself, to make him wonder if he’s good enough, or if it’s his fault.”
Love, Manipulation, and Denial
Despite Theo’s vile behaviour, Todd remains convinced he can change him. Brooks highlighted this painful realism:
“He loves this man. He feels he can fix him. It’s very easy for viewers to say, ‘Todd, run!’ but people in abusive relationships rarely see the danger until it’s too late.”
The show’s writers worked closely with domestic abuse charity Galop to ensure authenticity in portraying abuse within a same-sex relationship — a subject rarely explored on television.
What Comes Next
A special standalone episode will delve deeply into Todd and Theo’s relationship, using experimental storytelling to put viewers inside Todd’s world as his reality fractures under Theo’s control.
As the abuse intensifies, those closest to Todd — including Sarah Barlow and George Shuttleworth — will begin to notice something is wrong. But by then, Theo’s hold over Todd may already be too strong.