Oronation Street star Jonathan Howard has spoken about a soap ‘crush’ from when he was younger as his love life takes another twist on-screen.
Fans of the ITV soap will be aware the the actor, who has appeared in the likes of World War Z, Thor: The Dark World and Godzilla: King of the Monsters, made his Weatherfield debut earlier this year.
He arrived as the never-before-seen Carl Webster, who is the son of Bill and Elaine Webster and was born in Germany where his parents were living at the time.
When he was nine years old, his father Bill left Germany and returned to Weatherfield after his mother Elaine had an affair. But Carl had only ever been mentioned by name, before he was reunited with half-siblings Debbie and Kevin.
Coronation Street star Jonathan Howard(Image: ITV)
As those who follow the long-running show know, Carla first appeared amid a minor collision in Frescho’s car park with Abi Webster, who he then didn’t know was his sister-in-law.
There was instantly a spark between the pair, with Carl asking to take Abi out for a drink – despite her making it clear she had a husband, who was also sick.
She was then shocked when she was retelling the story in the Bistro to Kevin, Debbie, and Debbie’s partner Ronnie Bailey, only for Carl to appear and be revealed as her brother-in-law.
Jonathan Howard made his Corrie debut as Carl Webster earlier this year(Image: ITV)
The sparks have continued to fly between the pair and Carl wasn’t shy in trying to pursue Abi, despite her being married to his half-brother.
She continued to turn him down, until Kevin’s lie about his cancer pushed her into Carl’s arms and they’ve since been having an affair, which has just been rumbled by Tracy Barlow – who is now blackmailing them.
Amid the storyline, Jonathan spoke to Inside Soap, with the Webster family being up for Best Family at the Inside Soap Awards 2025, as he was quizzed about Carl’s feelings for Abi.
And it was then that he teased what’s to come for Carl, saying: “Carl is going to enjoy himself a little bit more, and he’s not going to include Abi in that enjoyment. Then when the truth comes out, it’s going to be pretty awful for everything involved…”
But he was also asked about the upcoming crossover between Corrie and Emmerdale, which ITV has devised to launch its new ‘soap power hour’ which will see the two soaps air for half an hour each from Monday to Friday.
“I used to watch Emmerdale in my teen years. Charley Webb [who played Debbie Dingle] is the sister of a really good friend of mate, Jamie Lomas [Hollyoaks’ Warren Fox]. She probably doesn’t remember me, but I used to have a massive crush on her!”
It comes as the latest episode of Corrie on Friday (August 29), which was already available on ITVX before it airs on ITV at 8pm, has delivered a shock twist for Carl as his head was turned.
Carl’s head was turned by James Bailey in the ITV soap(Image: Eamonn Holmes Instagram)
Whilst many might have been wondering if Tracy would get her claws into Carl in Abi’s absence, it was actually James Bailey who ended up under the covers with the two timing mechanic.
With Abi away on holiday with Kevin and Jack it seems Carl had no qualms about playing away with former footballer James and the pair agreed to see each other again. With Tracy already blackmailing Carl over his relationship with Abi, is he risking losing everything with this latest fling?
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Jonathan said of the twist: “Carl likes living life on the edge, he is a hedonist and a free spirit, he is attracted to a person regardless of their gender and if he sees something he wants he goes for it with no real thought to the consequences of his actions.
“He is frustrated that Abi has gone away with Kevin and he needs something to distract himself. There is a spark between him and James so he goes for it. Tracy was also offering herself to him but he isn’t stupid and he knows that would be a dangerous move, James on the other hand is less complicated and more fun.”
