ITV Coronation Street ‘rumble’ true identity of Willow in new worrying Leanne twist

Coronation Street viewers are adamant they’ve figured out The Institute boss Willow’s true identity.

Soap watchers will recall that mysterious newcomer Rowan Cunliffe has targeted Leanne Battersby with his “self-improvement group” The Institute. Rowan has also been pulling Leanne away from partner Nick Tilsley and even her sister Toyah Battersby during her time of need.

Rowan has been encouraging Leanne to open up about her past and the trauma she has faced, using his tools and guiding her to speak aloud about parts of her life. In a shock twist, Rowan was recently revealed to be recording everything Leanne was saying without her knowledge. Of course, viewers will recall that Toyah has been concerned for Leanne and extremely sceptical of Rowan.

In recent scenes, Leanne even headed off to a retreat with The Institute and she didn’t even say goodbye to some of her family while on Friday night it was revealed that Rowan and The Institute had created an AI version of Leanne’s late son Oliver, who tragically died in 2020 after a battle with mitochondrial disease. During a recent episode, at a hotel restaurant, Rowan introduced Leanne to Willow the CEO of The Institute over video call.

And in yet another twist, Rowan told a flattered Leanne that she will soon be able to recruit new members herself. However, viewers were left distracted during the scenes as they’re convinced they’ve rumbled The Institute boss Willow’s true identity. Taking to Twitter, now X, soap watchers questioned whether Willow was in fact an AI illusion. One person said: “Is that Willow person also an AI?! #corrie”, a different account put: “Is Willow AI? #Corrie”, another said: “Oh Leanne, Willow is clearly AI generated. You are now recruiting for Rowan’s cult” while a different viewer added: “So Willow of the institute is clearly an AI character #Corrie.”

It comes as Rowan actor Emrhys Cooper has warned his character could recruit more cobbles’ residents to The Institute. Speaking to Inside Soap, actor Emrhys said: “I think that he really wants to open another resource centre, so he’s on a mission to raise the investment needed, however he can do that. And he wants to ‘help’ more people, so there might be some more characters he’s bringing into the organisation…”

Rowan Cunliffe has targeted Leanne Battersby with his “self-improvement group” The Institute

As Rowan continues to isolate Leanne from her family and shows more worrying signs, Toyah star Georgia Taylor recently teased the character’s downfall. Talking about Rowan being exposed, Georgia said: “It’s going to be so good to play”, adding: “But I have to say, I’m loving working with Emrhys [Cooper, who plays Rowan].

“We’ve had quite a few scenes now where they have a big stand off and they’re so delicious. Everything he’s doing is just so understated but really creepy at the same time, and subversive. He’s an absolute delight to be on set with, he’s such a nice man in real life so I don’t want it to be too soon but when he is taken down, I want it to be something massive and dramatic and humiliating.”