Lauren rushed to hospital in Coronation Street as predator Joel closes in for the kill

It’s been many months since she was last in Coronation Street, but previously missing and supposedly dead Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) is forced back in Wednesday 16th’s episode, with predator Joel Deering (Calum Lill) soon closing in.

We recently saw Lauren visit an ill Roy Cropper (David Neilson) in hospital after he suffered a serious heart attack weeks after being released following accusations he had killed the teen.

In a tense showdown, Joel cornered her and she dropped the bombshell that she is pregnant before then escaping him, having insisted she wants nothing to do with him and isn’t scared of him anymore.

But with Roy confirming that she is alive, Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) and Bethany Platt (Lucy Fallon) are on her tail – and track her down to a squat, living rough.

Lauren’s terror is clear and Dee-Dee is stunned to find that she is expecting a child, so rushes her to the hospital.

But Lauren is far from safe as unsuspecting Dee-Dee puts fiancé Joel in the picture.

And Lauren will also be quizzed by DS Swain (Vicky Myers), who wants some answers in the case, given she thought she was investigating a murder.

With Joel looming at her bedside and willing to do anything in his power to keep his victim silent, can he persuade Lauren to keep quiet when DS Swain probes her about her attacker?

Can he even manipulate her into trusting him again, preying on her fears and vulnerability?

Or will Lauren bravely speak out?

‘It’s got a long way to go,’ Cait Fitton told Metro.co.uk. ‘I can’t say too much about what’s going to happen, but I do think that Lauren has always been on her own because she’s had to survive on her own.

‘I think, having something that she can love unconditionally, and for that thing to love her back, it’s something she’s never had.

‘For that to be a second chance at life type of thing, I think it’s going to be the best thing for Lauren moving forward.

‘I think her being a single parent, it is going to be hard but it’s possible. She has a lot of support around her but hopefully, moving forward, we will see what sort of a mum she’ll be. I’m sure she’ll be a brilliant mum.’

Picking up the story, Calum Lill continued while chatting to me: ‘One thing we definitely know from this is that he is very selfish. He puts his own self-interest above all else, and he seems to lack the empathy that regular people have.

‘So, when you add all of them together, I don’t think we’ve seen the worst of him yet. And who knows where that’s going to go?

‘I obviously can’t say, but my ideal outcome would be drag it out as long as possible because it’s such a nice place to work and everyone’s so amazing! So, I’d just rather it take as long as possible, whatever it is, and spend more time with amazing people.

‘Everyone here has been incredible, in front and behind the camera. I obviously can’t say – I don’t know how it ends! But they can take as long as they want, I’m happy with that!’

And Channique Sterling-Brown absolutely wants Dee-Dee to be a part of Joel’s comeuppance, adding: ‘Now Lauren is found, it’s a really weird chapter of it because she’s been gone all this time, she’s caused so many problems, I think there’s going to be an element of friction for Dee-Dee.

‘This girl, who she has so much empathy for, has caused the street so much trouble. I think that chapter will be interesting because obviously, in the background, the audience know the truth and actually it’s a lot more closer to home than Dee-Dee knows.

‘I think that’ll be interesting – uncomfortable to watch – but an interesting chapter for the audience.

‘I’m definitely excited for when Dee-Dee finds out the truth about Joel. There’s something so exciting about having this character who, on the surface, is this fun and bubbly woman but she’s also very strong and powerful.

‘She has a very strong moral compass so I think, what’s in the dark will come to light, I think when the truth comes out for Dee-Dee, it’s going to completely change the course of her life but also the story, I think that’s really exciting.’

And of course, it would be remiss of me to contemplate the outcome of this story not including Vicky Myers’ hapless but lioness-like detective also being a part of the villain’s downfall.

‘I could only begin to imagine how Lisa would feel about that what with Joel being in a similar profession, and a position of trust,’ the star mused. ‘That abuse of trust and power, targeting vulnerable women – including her own daughter – she would be fierce with that. Not solely for the women he’s groomed but the women he’s abused full stop like Dee-Dee and Emily.

‘There’s a whole host of women. I feel that female empowerment and the rise up from that, the unity it will bring, will be terrific. For him to get his comeuppance either individually or collectively. I’m really looking forward to it which sounds ridiculous given the nature of the storyline!’