ITV Coronation Street ‘lost for words’ as Leanne’s mystery ‘caller’ revealed in ‘sick’ Rowan twist

Coronation Street finally revealed Leanne Battersby’s mystery ‘caller’ on Friday night in a harrowing twist.

Soap watchers will recall that mysterious newcomer Rowan Cunliffe has targeted Leanne 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. During this week, Leanne has been sparking more concern by talking to a mystery person on her laptop. On Friday’s episode, Toyah spotted Leanne telling someone that she loves them to which she quizzed her sibling, who insisted it was just old videos.

Out of concern, Toyah told Nick what she had seen and later he returned home to find Leanne and Rowan holding hands. After thinking they were having an affair, the duo were forced to reveal the truth as they revealed an AI version of Leanne’s late son Oliver, who tragically died in 2020 after a battle with mitochondrial disease. The AI figure, who was the age he would be now, was seen telling Leanne: “Hello mummy.” Nick was left stunned at the discovery while Leanne exclaimed: “I’ve got my boy back, Nick, I can talk to Oliver again!”

Taking to Twitter, now X, viewers were quick to slam ‘sick’ Rowan for exploiting Leanne and her grief. One person said: “Oh that is cruel #Corrie”, a different account put: “#corrie im sorry but no that is just sick!”, another wrote: “Glad to see I’m not the only only thinks that’s just sick! I know it’s only a soap, but that’s going too far!! #Corrie”, a different viewer said: “No, I’m sorry, Leanne. Rowan’s playing on your grief. That’s far, far too creepy #corrie” while another added: “I’m lost for words…”

Later, Nick was left worried and concerned as he told Toyah what he had seen. Toyah was left livid as she fumed: “It’s sick, capitalising on a dead child, a grieving mother, brainwashing my strong, brave, clever sister” as she went and confronted a smug Rowan, threatening to report him to the police and press. However, Rowan threatened Toyah back, pointing out it was a “dangerous” path she was heading down.

Later, Toyah begged Leanne to open her eyes and see Rowan for what he really is but they were soon interrupted by the police as Kit arrested Toyah after revealing the body of a baby had been found buried in the park. Viewers will recall that earlier this year, amid the missing Lauren Bolton storyline, Toyah found Internet sleuths digging up a rose bed at the park.

Toyah lost it and smashed their car warning them off. Later, Nick was concerned about her behaviour as she burst into tears. It was then that Toyah told him that at 19 years of age, she gave birth to a stillborn baby girl. She kept it a secret and she buried her baby in the exact same place in the park where the group was digging.

Toyah then bravely told Nick that the baby’s father was her rapist Phil Simmonds, which was a controversial storyline in 2001, where teenager Toyah was attacked and raped, with her attacker initially not revealed. Corrie eventually revealed a man named Phil was behind the assault, and he was imprisoned months later, and the soap has now revisited the storyline after more than 20 years.

During Friday’s episode, at the police station, Toyah was grilled by the police as she emotionally and bravely revealed the truth about what had happened to her and her baby. Nick was suspicious that Leanne had told Rowan about Toyah, which resulted in her arrest. Meanwhile, Leanne was left panicked as she rung Rowan, asking if he had reported Toyah to the police in revenge to her threatening him. However, Rowan insisted he hadn’t said a word and whatever Leanne tells him is in strict confidence. Later, after the police station, a betrayed and hurt Toyah accused Leanne of telling the police and Rowan about her baby to which Leanne denied both. Has Leanne gone too far and who really reported Toyah to the police?