Coronation Street has never shied away from dark villains or devastating twists, but few arrivals have left such scorched earth behind them as Carl Webster. In a matter of months, Carl has carved out a reputation as one of Weatherfield’s most manipulative and dangerous figures, leaving fractured families, shattered trust, and physical devastation in his wake. And now, with his brutal car assault on Lisa Swain looming large, the walls appear to be closing in at last.

From the moment Carl arrived on the cobbles, trouble followed. His betrayal of brother Kevin Webster was swift and merciless, stealing Kevin’s wife Abby Webster and detonating a marriage without a flicker of remorse. Yet even that wasn’t enough. Carl soon betrayed Abby as well, embarking on a secret affair with James Bailey while spinning lie after lie to keep his double life intact. Anyone who crossed his path quickly learned that loyalty meant nothing to him—only survival and self-interest.

His criminal reach extended beyond affairs and emotional wreckage. Carl dragged young locals Dylan Wilson and Brody Melis into a dodgy car theft ring, exposing them to serious danger while shielding himself from the consequences. Worse still was the hit-and-run that left Tyrone Dobbs with life-changing injuries, a moment that confirmed Carl wasn’t just reckless—he was lethal. Yet even those crimes pale beside the calculated cruelty he inflicted on the one person still standing by him: Debbie Webster.

Debbie’s dementia diagnosis should have been a moment for compassion. Instead, Carl saw opportunity. Exploiting her confusion, he hid his affair with Abby and convinced Debbie she had arranged a holiday, granting him unchecked access to hotel accounts. Thousands quietly vanished as Carl siphoned off her money, all while presenting himself as the devoted brother. It was gaslighting at its most insidious—and it paved the way for his most horrifying act yet.

Following Debbie’s wedding to Ronnie Bailey, Carl climbed behind the wheel while drunk, with Debbie beside him, desperate not to leave things on bad terms. What began as a tense drive through country roads spiraled into catastrophe when they encountered the aftermath of a horrific multi-vehicle crash. The Swaines’ car had collided head-on with Aaron Dingle and John Sugden, while a minibus carrying wedding guests lay overturned. Instead of stopping safely, Carl ploughed straight into the chaos, sending the minibus crashing into the Swaines’ vehicle and knocking Debbie unconscious.

What followed chilled viewers to the bone. In a cold, calculated move, Carl dragged Debbie into the driver’s seat, staging the scene to make it appear she had been driving. Later, he twisted her memory, insisting they had agreed to swap seats because she was worried about his drinking. Despite Kevin’s desperate protests, Debbie—confused and vulnerable—accepted Carl’s version of events. The result was devastating: Debbie was charged with causing death by dangerous driving and driving under the influence, while Carl walked free.

As Debbie faced police questioning, Carl attempted to flee Weatherfield, only to discover his escape plan had collapsed. Abby had already taken the stolen cash, and karma struck swiftly. When Carl confronted her, Abby coolly revealed she had cleared her debts and donated the rest to a hospice. Furious, Carl tried to rewrite history yet again, claiming Debbie had willingly handed him the money. Abby wasn’t convinced—and decided to challenge his lies publicly.

In a tense confrontation at the Rovers, Abby asked Debbie directly about the cash. To everyone’s shock, Debbie confirmed she had given Carl the money. Carl’s manipulation had worked once more. Even when Abby exposed his affair with James, devastating Ronnie, Carl emerged protected. A guilt-ridden Abby apologized to Debbie, who instantly forgave her and refused repayment, asking only that she return to work at the garage. Once again, Carl seemed untouchable.

But while Abby failed to bring him down, a new force is quietly stepping into the frame. Ryan Connor, long underestimated, has promised Kevin that Carl will finally face justice. Refusing to reveal his full plan, Ryan’s calm certainty suggests a reckoning is coming—and this time, Carl may not wriggle free.

Carl’s reign of terror unfolds against the lingering shadow of another infamous villain: Becky Swain. Becky’s explosive return last summer tore apart Lisa’s carefully rebuilt life. Believed dead for years after a supposed line-of-duty killing, Becky resurfaced alive in Spain under a false name, claiming an undercover operation gone wrong. But as her story unraveled, so did her sanity.

Learning of Lisa’s engagement to Carla Connor triggered Becky’s obsession. Through manipulation and emotional blackmail, she forced her way back into Lisa and Betsy’s lives, deliberately driving a wedge between Lisa and Carla until their relationship collapsed. Desperate to hide her criminal past, Becky orchestrated brutal attacks, kidnapped Carla, and left her without vital medication while fleeing to Spain with Lisa and Betsy.

Fate intervened in a devastating head-on collision before Becky could escape. Though all survived, the truth finally surfaced. Lisa arrested Becky for fraud, kidnapping, and more, and after a harrowing prison confrontation with Betsy, Becky unexpectedly pleaded guilty. Her 12-year sentence brought relief—but also unease. Fans remain convinced her story isn’t over, pointing out that early release could see her back on the cobbles far sooner than expected.

Now, with Carl Webster’s brutality echoing Becky’s reign of chaos, Weatherfield stands at another crossroads. Will Ryan Connor succeed where everyone else has failed? And as the past proves, can any villain in Coronation Street ever truly be gone for good?

Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8:00 p.m. on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.