Coronation Street is hurtling toward one of its most explosive festive chapters yet, as Carl Webster’s web of lies finally begins to unravel — with devastating consequences for Abi Webster and shockwaves rippling across Weatherfield. What began as a reckless affair has spiraled into violence, betrayal, and a dramatic arrest that could change multiple lives forever.

Abi and Carl’s relationship was doomed from the very start. There was never any illusion of a fairytale romance, no slow-burning love story rooted in trust or respect. Instead, their connection was built on betrayal — Carl’s betrayal of his own brother Kevin Webster, and Abi’s betrayal of a man who had stood by her through addiction, grief, and years of turmoil. Yet against all logic, Abi convinced herself that Carl, a man capable of such duplicity, could somehow offer her happiness.

When their secret relationship was exposed, the fallout was immediate and brutal. Kevin’s heart was shattered as Abi chose to walk away from her marriage and move in with Carl, Kevin’s unreliable, womanizing half-brother. For a brief moment, Abi clung to the idea that she had chosen passion over predictability. But the illusion didn’t last. In fact, it barely survived behind closed doors.

Unbeknownst to Abi, Carl had been playing a far more dangerous game. While sneaking around with her, he was also secretly sleeping with James Bailey. Carl’s ability to juggle multiple affairs might have been impressive if it weren’t so cruel. When James eventually discovered the truth, he tried to do the sensible thing and walk away. But Carl, true to form, refused to let go, reeling James back in with empty promises and manipulative charm.

Viewers have long waited for Carl’s duplicity to be exposed, and Coronation Street now seems ready to deliver. Tensions rise when Abi nearly catches sight of a drunken, flirtatious message Carl sends to James. Panicked and hungover, Carl rushes to contain the damage, insisting the text meant nothing and blaming alcohol for his lapse in judgment. But James, deeply hurt and fed up with living in the shadows, threatens to tell Abi everything.

Once again, Carl manages to smooth-talk his way out of trouble. Suspicion fades — temporarily. Before long, Carl and James are back together in Abi’s flat, indulging in another secret encounter, blissfully unaware that Carl’s phone is vibrating nearby. With Christmas fast approaching, the stage is set for a discovery that could shatter Abi’s world.

Yet Abi herself is far from oblivious. Behind her forced smiles and reassurances, she is crumbling. When she tells Carl she’s heading out shopping, she instead seeks solace with Tracy McDonald. Breaking down in tears, Abi confesses her growing fear that her relationship is falling apart. For perhaps the first time, she allows herself to voice what she’s been desperately trying to ignore: Carl cannot be trusted.

Those fears intensify on the long-awaited wedding day of Debbie Webster and Ronnie Bailey. While preparing to head to the hotel, Abi stumbles upon a bag stuffed with cash hidden in the boot of Carl’s car. Alarm bells ring instantly. Is Carl planning an escape? When they arrive at the venue and Abi checks the boot again, the money has vanished. Spotting Kevin nearby, Abi confides her suspicions, terrified that Carl may be preparing to disappear — and take her down with him.

It is this simmering tension that ultimately boils over into violence. As the truth edges closer to the surface, Carl lashes out, unable to maintain control over the narrative he’s so carefully constructed. In a moment of rage, he assaults Abi — a shocking act that forces her to finally confront the reality of the man she let into her life. The consequences are swift and severe: Carl is arrested, bringing a brutal end to his reign of manipulation.

The arrest marks a turning point not only for Abi but for the entire Webster family. Kevin, long sidelined and heartbroken, is pulled back into Abi’s orbit as she begins to reckon with the damage she’s endured — and inflicted. For Abi, the road ahead is uncertain, paved with guilt, trauma, and the daunting task of rebuilding her life.

Elsewhere on the cobbles, Coronation Street is laying the groundwork for another emotional bombshell, as Eva Price and Adam Barlow confront a secret that threatens to explode on Christmas Day. Eva’s festive week takes a painful turn when her young daughter Susie innocently wishes for a baby brother or sister. While Ben Driscoll laughs it off, the comment deeply unsettles Eva, forcing her to step outside and compose herself.

Adam soon finds her, instantly sensing her distress. It becomes clear that he already knows the truth Eva is struggling to carry. Tearfully, Eva admits she’s been “living a lie,” revealing that she once became pregnant and chose to have a termination without ever telling Ben. At the time, Adam was the only person she confided in, supporting her through an impossible decision and convincing her that silence was the lesser evil.

Adam remains adamant that telling Ben now would achieve nothing but destruction. Their relationship is stable, he argues — why risk blowing it apart? But their whispered conversation does not go unnoticed. Maggie, ever manipulative, begins to sense that something is being hidden, and viewers can expect her to seize the opportunity to expose Eva’s past, no matter the cost.

As if that weren’t enough, Coronation Street is also preparing to bid farewell to one of its most beloved characters. Daniel Brocklebank has admitted he’s barely had time to process his departure as Billy Mayhew after more than a decade on the show. Having filmed his final scenes in November, Daniel stepped almost immediately into rehearsals for Young Frankenstein: The Musical, describing the transition as intense and overwhelming.

Reflecting on Billy’s exit, Daniel hinted that the character remains deeply concerned for Todd Grimshaw, sensing that something isn’t right in his relationship with Theo Silverton. While a superhero-style rescue may be off the cards, Billy’s compassion and quiet strength will undoubtedly leave a lasting impression before he leaves Weatherfield behind.

With Carl’s arrest, Eva’s secret teetering on the edge of exposure, and Billy’s emotional goodbye looming, Coronation Street is delivering drama on an epic scale. This Christmas, the cobbles promise heartbreak, revelation, and consequences that will resonate long into the new year.

Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8:00pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.