ITV Coronation Street Lauren flashback ‘reveals real kidnapper’ as fans point out ‘forgotten’ link

Coronation Street offered another Lauren Bolton flashback on Wednesday night.

Only recently, Roy Cropper has found himself arrested, charged and the number one suspect for the supposed murder of missing teenager Lauren. Soap fans will recall that troubled youngster Lauren abruptly left the cobbles earlier this year and her friend Bobby has been left concerned after he found her flat unlocked with Lauren nowhere to be seen.

Viewers never saw Lauren leave and it seems she told no one close to her of her plan to leave Weatherfield aside from Roy. Bobby reported Lauren as missing to the police and Roy has found himself under suspicion due to his kind nature, especially after he was caught innocently cleaning Lauren’s flat, which some people thought proved he was guilty and internet sleuths have since made his life a misery with a barrage of online abuse.

On Monday night, Roy had a flashback of Lauren approaching the café counter with Max Turner but couldn’t figure out what was significant about their conversation. However, before he could get to the bottom of it, Roy collapsed in his prison cell and was rushed to hospital as all the stress of recent weeks caught up with him.

During Wednesday’s episode, Mary visited Roy in hospital as he admitted he was struggling to remember a conversation he overheard between Lauren and Max. After giving him advice on how to remember, Roy started writing things down of significance to which he suddenly remembered the interaction, where Max grilled Lauren about her mystery boyfriend and she kept holding onto an expensive gold necklace.

Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers are convinced this proves the mystery boyfriend is Joel Deering as they pointed out a “forgotten” storyline. Soap fans will recall that earlier this year, Dee-Dee Bailey was left confused to find a jewellers receipt fall from Joel’s wallet as it was dated December and Joel had clearly spent a lot of money. Joel found Dee-Dee, Adam Barlow and Alya Nazir discussing the receipt, where he claimed he had bought himself some cufflinks. However, Joel was hiding something at the time, as it was later revealed he had a secret estranged family.

With Joel being caught with an expensive jewellers receipt earlier this year and previously lying about his family, could it be just a coincidence or is it proof he is behind Lauren’s necklace? Soap fans seem to think so as one wrote on social media: “My guess is the jewellery receipt that Dee Dee found at Christmas will turn out to be Lauren’s necklace, well that’s what I think anyway”, another person put: “Joel!!! £300 on cufflinks? Nah mate he bought her that necklace!” while a different fan added: “It’s Joel! Joel bought her that necklace and told people he bought himself cufflinks!!! #Corrie.”