Coronation Street Shock Twist: Father Ted Star Pauline McLynn Revealed as Soap’s Next Killer
Coronation Street fans are in for a festive shocker as Pauline McLynn, best known for playing tea-loving Mrs Doyle in Father Ted, is confirmed to take on a far darker role in the ITV soap.
The 63-year-old actress will star as Maggie Driscoll, the new matriarch of the Driscoll family — and according to ITV insiders, Maggie’s carefully crafted image as a sharp-tongued pub landlady hides a chilling secret.
A Murder Hidden in the Past
Maggie joined the cobbles only last month, moving into the Rovers Return with her son Ben Driscoll (Aaron McCusker), daughter-in-law Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley), and their children. But in a special flashback episode set to air over the festive period, viewers will discover Maggie is hiding a deadly past.
A source revealed:
“When viewers see whose death Maggie was behind, it will really send shockwaves through Weatherfield. Life will never be the same again for her.”
The murder took place before Maggie’s arrival in Weatherfield — meaning her unsuspecting family are completely in the dark. But the truth is set to surface just as Christmas celebrations begin, triggering chaos in the Driscoll household and beyond.
A Killer Behind the Counter
The upcoming storyline promises to intertwine the past and present in true Coronation Street fashion. While Maggie has been seen stirring up family tension and clashing with Eva over the pub’s future, the flashback episode will reveal just how far she once went to protect herself — or perhaps someone she loves.
When the truth emerges, insiders tease that Maggie’s actions will “tear her family apart” and leave the Rovers Return at the heart of one of Corrie’s darkest Christmas episodes in years.
From Mrs Doyle to Murderess
It’s a dramatic departure for McLynn, who became a TV icon playing Mrs Doyle in Father Ted between 1995 and 1998 — forever remembered for her catchphrase, “Go on, go on, go on!”
In contrast, Maggie Driscoll is a character full of contradictions: warm and witty one moment, calculating and cold the next. It’s a role that will allow McLynn to showcase a completely different side of her acting talent.
A Festive Season of Secrets and Shockwaves
With Coronation Street preparing for its 65th anniversary year, producers are promising some of the soap’s boldest storytelling yet. And with Maggie’s hidden crime coming to light just as the Driscolls settle into the Rovers, the cobbles are about to face another unforgettable Christmas.
As one insider teased, “This storyline will be the talk of Christmas — and it proves that in Weatherfield, no secret stays buried for long.”