Coronation Street’s gay domestic abuse storyline takes violent turn

Coronation Street’s gay domestic abuse storyline is ramping up in tonight’s episode (9 March), as financial and emotional abuser Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) pulls a knife out on his partner Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce).

In scenes shown in tonight’s episode of the ITV soap, but available to watch on streaming service ITVX now, Theo ends up threatening Todd with a knife after his birthday celebrations flop.

The episode begins with Theo quietly expressing disappointment at the food processor birthday gift Todd has given him, before reminding his partner to bring his wallet to the Viaduct Bistro for his birthday meal later that evening.

As routine viewers of Corrie will know, Todd has been in financial trouble for a while, with Theo controlling the couple’s finances. 

After getting held up at his funeral services assistant job, Todd ends up being late to the meal and, by the time he arrives, a waspish Theo has invited neighbours Maria and Gary to sit with them – insisting that Todd will cover the cost of their whole meal. He even orders the most expensive wine on the menu.

At the end of the meal, Theo makes it known that he’s upset with Todd for his tardiness, and tells him to go and get the bill, knowing that Todd won’t have enough money to cover it. Theo steps in to pay it, once again making himself look like the hero of the relationship.

At home, Theo lambasts Todd for “embarrassing” him, calling him a “pathetic, useless waste of space”.

The scaffolder then tells Todd to go and get him wine, knowing still that Todd has no money. Todd begs his partner not to drink “as [he’s] in a really bad mood”, suggesting coffee as an alternative.

“You’ll probably screw that up as well,” Theo yells, before chucking mugs, coffee and sugar across the room. 

As Todd goes to stop him from trashing the flat, Theo pulls out a knife from the kitchen side. After months of escalating abuse, Todd screams that being stabbed would “put [him] out of [his] misery”.

“You gonna stab me? Are you? Well go on, do it,” he says, distraught.

“You think I care anymore? You think I wanna carry on? Do it. Put me out of my misery, do it,” he implores, before Theo puts the knife down and walks out of the apartment, leaving the aftermath of the incident still to come.

Coronation Street has been working with LGBTQ+ domestic abuse and discrimination charity Galop on its Todd and Theo storyline, exploring the prevalence and impact of coercive control and emotional, verbal and financial abuse in LGBTQ+ relationships.

Theo, who was previously in a relationship with a woman and experienced conversion therapy as a child, has been gradually amping up his abuse against Todd in recent weeks.

In early January though, he made his most villainous decision yet. While trying to save Todd’s former partner and vicar Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) from a van crash, Billy remarked about there still being “some good” in Theo, despite his abuse, which Billy had uncovered. As a result, Theo decided to leave him in the van to die.

Coronation Street airs on weekdays on ITV1 at 8:30pm. Episodes are available to stream early on ITVX from 7am.

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