Theo Silverton’s (James Cartwright) behaviour has become increasingly more alarming in the weeks and months since the revelation that he’d been the victim of sick conversion therapy in Coronation Street.
Coming into his relationship with Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) with more baggage than Heathrow, the two have attempted to stand united as bomb after bomb dropped.
Todd learned Theo was married to a woman who had no idea that he was anything other than straight and was also the mother of his two children.
Then followed Theo’s daughter, Millie and her fake pregnancy designed to bring her father home.
Though Theo knew that Millie had made up the entire thing, trying to frame Todd for forcing her into an unwanted abortion, he used the situation as means to manipulate Todd initially.
Todd later sought comfort with James Bailey (Jason Callender), who misread the sign, leaning in for a kiss just as Theo re-entered.
Theo again used the situation to exert power over Todd, darkly threatening James, too.
Speaking about Theo’s outbursts, star Gareth Pierce told us previously: ‘I think at this point, we’re starting to spot some anger management issues on Theo’s part, at the very least. There’s some flashes of anger that have left Todd shocked but equally, because he’s had that insight into the conversion therapy and where Theo is coming into this new life from, he’s perhaps willing to guide him through it.
‘He’s trying to be understanding of Theo. He’s been suppressing his sexuality for so long, Todd is trying to encourage him towards being someone that can be comfortable in their new gay identity.’
On whether Todd is fully aware of Theo’s controlling behaviour, Gareth said: ‘I think Todd has spotted many things from Theo, but he still has the mindset that he can fix this and because of the love that’s there, he’s thinking they will get through it.
‘Our audience are probably also spotting some of those flashes of jealousy and perhaps a kind of need to control that maybe Todd is not currently spotting or doesn’t want to spot.’
After a series of violent clashes with both twisted conversion therapy practitioner Noah Hedley (Richard Winsor) and even Theo’s own family, fans concerns grew for Todd when Theo insisted he sleep on the couch while he took the bed, despite it being Todd’s house.
Gareth further elaborated on just how much Todd was willing to take: ‘He knows there are very valid reasons for Theo’s confusion and probably some internalised homophobia, but that doesn’t mean you can excuse all of the less healthy approaches to navigating the relationship. That will be, in many ways, Todd’s biggest challenge, how to steer the relationship to somewhere healthy’
Things got increasingly strange for Todd when Theo was questioned regarding an incident in the precinct, with this coming with the revelation that Theo had a history of violence.
Upon his return to the Street, Theo is sickened to see that his family is pictured on promo materials for Noah’s church and, cancelling a lunch date with Todd, he retreats to the builders yard.
We get a glimpse inside Theo’s head in this new clip, as while he repeatedly flicks an elastic band against an already-injured wrist, he hears the voices, all hurling a sadistic volley of abuse toward him.
Looking into the mirror, Theo is finally completely broken as he catches his reflection. Disgusted by what he sees, he proceeds to trash the builder’s yard in a fit of rage.
