Poor Roy Cropper (David Neilson), he’ll do anything to have his normal life back in Coronation Street.
The beloved face was sent to prison earlier this year for the murder of Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton), a crime he absolutely did not commit.
In May, during a special week of episodes, we discovered that solicitor Joel Deering (Calum Lill) was responsible for attacking Lauren, but successfully managed to frame Nathan Curtis (Christopher Harper) which ultimately led to Roy’s release.
Earlier this week, the ITV soap delivered another plot twist that allowed us to learn Lauren was actually alive. In an instalment that revealed more about Lauren and Joel’s toxic relationship, it was established that Joel had been manipulating Lauren since September last year, when they first met.
What came next was a dark few months for the young character. Joel would give her money so she could afford basic necessities such as food and electric, but also expected sex in return.
Back in the present day, as well as dealing with her trauma, Lauren is also experiencing an overwhelming sense of guilt. She grew close to Roy prior to her disappearance and was very grateful for his kindness so of course, being aware he was going through hell while she hid away from the world for months has made her desperate to apologise.
‘It isn’t until she hears that Roy is in hospital, this has not just affected him mentally but now physically. She says right I’ve got to go back and I’ve got to put things right, no matter what the consequences I’ve got to do it’, Cait Fitton explained.
‘Roy was so important to her, she’s scared of letting people down as well, she knows she’s going to get backlash off people because Roy’s adored by everybody on the street – she knows that’s something she’s going to have to face. She’s in survival mode, always has been, been brought up to be in that mode she’s a survivor herself. That contributes to it a lot.’
Coming up, Roy is delighted to think that Lauren appears to be alive again but Nina (Mollie Gallagher) is furious that she’s left it this long to return and clear his name.
In the week, Nina arrives at the hospital to collect Roy after his heart attack. He tries to cover his nervousness at the thought of leaving and when they eventually return home, Roy can’t help feel a little suffocated at how much Nina is fussing over him.
Roy’s behaviour is eventually picked up by his niece, so she suggests he leaves the cobbles for a while to catch up with his ex-partner and friend Cathy (Melanie Hill) in Scarborough.
But before Roy can leave for some respite, Lauren arrives a the café hoping to apologise to him.
Will this impact Roy’s plan to depart Weatherfield?
Melanie Hill played Cathy from 2015-2022. You can now see the actress in BBC One’s Casualty, where she plays new Clinical Lead and nurse Siobhan Mackenzie.
