Coronation Street exit ‘sealed’ for villain following violent twist

Coronation Street viewers were left in shock when kidnapping ordeal took a sudden turn on Monday evening

Coronation Street viewers were left stunned by an “unexpected twist” during Monday night’s gripping episode as Carla Connor’s kidnapping storyline took centre stage.

The factory owner, portrayed by Alison King, found herself trapped in Becky Swain’s (Amy Cudden) wardrobe after the dodgy police officer made a shocking return from the grave, resorting to desperate measures to reclaim her wife, Lisa (Vicky Myers).

Just over a year ago on the ITV soap, Carla embarked on a romance with DS Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers), a relationship that captivated audiences and turned them into social media darlings, dubbed ‘Swarla’.

Their happiness was shattered when Becky, presumed dead whilst on duty in 2021, casually strolled back into number six, having been secretly residing in a Spanish villa as part of an elaborate cover-up.

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The strain of maintaining her romance with Lisa became unbearable for Carla after Becky wormed her way back into their lives, prompting her to end things between them.

Whilst Carla announced plans to escape to the Canary Islands for Christmas, fans discovered she’d actually been imprisoned by Becky, who was determined to clear the path for a festive reunion with Lisa.

In the most recent episode of the Manchester-based soap (December 29), Becky locked herself in the wardrobe to administer Carla’s medication, and was enraged when Carla tried to negotiate with her.

Carla proposed: “You let me out of here, you tell Lisa what you’ve done, and let’s see who she chooses,” but Becky retorted: “You’re nowt but a rebound. On the scene five minutes. I’m her wife!”

However, when Carla pointed out that Becky’s only chance with Lisa involved keeping her captive, Becky lost her temper, crying out: “You ruined my life!” and hurled a plate at her.

Adding another layer to the drama, Lisa’s boss, DI Costello (Daon Broni), is somehow involved in the entire cover-up, but was recently hospitalised after an attack by Becky.

Before her abduction, Carla visited him in an attempt to gather information, managing to get only the words ‘rhubarb’ and ‘hill’ from him, reports the Mirror.

Just before Christmas, Becky allowed Carla to phone her stepdaughter, Betsy, while under threat of a knife, and out of desperation, she pretended everything was fine and claimed she was staying at the Rhubarb Hill Hotel.

Back on the cobbles, Carla’s Underworld colleague Sarah (Tina O’Brien) was growing increasingly worried about an order. When Sarah and DC Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) encountered Betsy in the pub, the teenager nonchalantly dropped the name of the bogus hotel, which immediately raised red flags, as Kit knew about Carla’s earlier encounter with Costello.

However, to their astonishment, a swift Google search uncovered a website and telephone number for the establishment.

Becky subsequently marched back to her flat in a fury, and during a cryptic phone conversation, it emerged she had orchestrated the entire scheme herself.

She declared: “Sounds like he took the bait. No, don’t take the website down yet. You need to keep an eye on that phone line, too. We need everyone to believe that the hotel exists!”

She then ended the call, grumbling about the expense of creating the website, but just as she pulled open the wardrobe door, Carla pounced on her and rendered her unconscious, having successfully freed herself using fragments of the smashed plate. Will Becky now make a dash out of Weatherfield?

Fans celebrated Carla’s initiative in breaking free, though many suspect there might be another twist on the horizon as they brace themselves for the soap’s forthcoming crossover with Emmerdale.

One supporter posted on X: “Carla knocking Becky out at the end. Yass, hunny, yas!” whilst another quipped: “Carla Connor WWE legend.”

A third penned: “This is an unexpected twist, but I don’t think she’ll escape! ! Or able to escape and there Kit rescues her,” whilst a fourth commented: “Carla’s not going to run is she? She’s going to check on Becky first because she’s a good person, and Becky will overpower her again.”

Another added: “Well wasn’t that thoroughly satisfying! Carla nearly launching Becky into next week!!”

However, some viewers were convinced that, despite being uncertain of the exact details, this could mark Becky’s demise in some shape or form.

One viewer posted: “That Becky loser is definitely gonna flee put herself first,” whilst another declared: “If that little push and Becky falling felt that good, imagine what her downfall will feel like.”

Soap enthusiasts will recall that this isn’t the first occasion businesswoman Carla has found herself in such a perilous predicament.

Back in 2010, Carla’s now-deceased husband Tony Gordon returned to Underworld following his prison stint and, hell-bent on revenge, he trapped Carla alongside beloved Street icon Hayley Cropper in the factory before setting it ablaze.

Both managed to escape with their lives moments before the building went up in flames, though earlier this year, Carla found herself held captive by her brother, Rob Donovan, at number one, who had broken free from prison after nearly ten years locked up for murdering Tina McIntyre.