Todd Grimshaw, once beloved by viewers for his warmth and vulnerability, became the center of one of the most heartbreaking stories on Coronation Street this year.

The relationship between Todd and Theo began seemingly perfectly, with Theo appearing strong, caring, and ready to support Todd through difficult times. But beneath that sweet facade lay a nightmare Todd couldn’t escape.

Theo began controlling Todd in every detail, from how he spoke and dressed to where he went to meet his friends.

Todd thought love could heal, but it turned out to be Theo’s way of consolidating his power.

In this week’s episode, Todd secretly installs a camera in his apartment to record evidence of the emotional abuse, but Theo discovers it and manipulates the video, making Todd the “wrongdoer.”

One particularly haunting scene is when Theo forces Todd to attend a “fake” Christmas party – where everyone around them thinks they’re a happy couple, while Todd smiles through his tears. Viewers are choked up as he gazes at his glass of red wine, imagining the free life he once had before meeting Theo.

Fans are buzzing with speculation that Billy – Todd’s former lover – might return to save him from this toxic relationship. Some viewers even suggest the writers are portraying Todd as a symbol of victims of psychological manipulation in love – a theme Coronation Street always handles with extreme realism.