Coronation Street viewers were left shaken after Friday night’s episode, which ended with deeply uncomfortable scenes involving Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) and his abusive partner, Theo Silverton (played by newcomer James Quinn). What began as a tense relationship marked by control and manipulation has now escalated into outright humiliation and emotional torment — a storyline that fans have called “horrible” but important.

Theo’s Control Tightens Over Todd

Todd’s relationship with Theo has been rocky from the start. The funeral director initially fell for the builder despite his complicated past — Theo was still married and had previously been involved in a religious cult. Though Theo has since separated from his wife, his behaviour toward Todd has grown increasingly toxic over the past few months.

In recent weeks, viewers have seen Theo’s coercive behaviour intensify. He’s demanded that Todd cut ties with his ex, Billy Mayhew, and has started dictating everything from his social life to his day-to-day choices. What seemed like affection quickly turned into control.

From Love-Bombing to Humiliation

This week, Theo appeared to try and make amends with a grand gesture — buying Todd an expensive car out of the blue. But the gift soon became another weapon in his psychological game.

After Todd accidentally scraped the car, Theo’s anger boiled over. Despite Todd’s attempts to hide the damage and smooth things over, Theo saw through his lies. What followed was a frightening display of temper: Theo threw a dinner table’s contents across the room before storming off, leaving Todd visibly shaken.

Moments later, when Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) dropped by to apologise for an earlier milkshake spill in the car, Theo flipped the switch again, pretending to be kind and understanding. But once Sarah left, his darker side resurfaced in one of the soap’s most disturbing moments of recent months.

Theo calmly walked over to Todd, told him to “close your eyes,” and then poured an entire bottle of milk over his head — a chilling act of degradation that left viewers horrified.

Viewers React to the “Horrible” Scenes

Fans took to social media to share their reactions, many praising Coronation Street for tackling coercive control and domestic abuse from a rarely depicted angle — one involving a same-sex male relationship.

“Such a hard watch today, horrible scenes for poor Todd, but well done to #Corrie for highlighting what often goes on behind closed doors,” wrote one viewer on X.

Another added: “Please tell me someone heard Theo shouting. Todd needs to escape this man now.”

The episode follows previous incidents of abuse, including a September episode where Theo force-fed Todd a kebab during an argument — another moment that revealed the terrifying unpredictability of his character.

A Disturbing Yet Vital Storyline

While distressing, the storyline has been praised for shedding light on the emotional and psychological realities of coercive relationships. By showing how love can turn to fear behind closed doors, Coronation Street continues its long tradition of using drama to reflect real social issues.

As Todd’s ordeal continues, fans are hoping the character will soon find the strength — or the support — to break free from Theo’s control.