CORONATION Street has revealed a bombshell twist after Lauren Bolton returned from the dead.
The troubled teen – who is played by actress Cait Fitton in the ITV soap – was revealed to be alive in last night’s episode but that was nothing compared to the shock given to viewers in tonight’s edition.
Lauren emotionally apologised to the stirring Roy before being interrupted by a nurse.
He mistook her for Nina and Lauren played it off before saying goodbye to Roy and leaving.
But as she tried to leave, Joel emerged and grabbed her, dragging her into the family room next to Roy’s.
Trapping her in the room, Joel lied to her and said he just wanted to help her.
Flashbacks reveal the moment the pair met as Joel was assigned to her after she was arrested.
He interviewed her and discovered she was almost completely alone and he set about grooming her, using his money and influence to manipulate her.
In sickening scenes Joel broke her down so she would accept his money – and then manipulated her into thanking him by sleeping with him.
The flashbacks continued as Joel kept his control over Lauren by plying her with booze and leaving her cash before eventually turning threatening she tried to escape him.
Viewers saw the violent attack on the day Lauren disappeared as he viciously beat her for trying to end things.
He taunted her that no-one would believe her even if she reported him to the police – but when she hit back and said Dee Dee would believe her, he flew off the handle.
Throwing her to the floor he picked up a broken chair leg and began beating her around the head – and he thought he had killed her.
But as he went to calmly clean the scene and leave to get a bag to dispose of her body, he was interrupted by the arrival of Bobby.
It emerged that Lauren recovered and fled, terrified for her life and had remained hidden ever since.
Back in the family room Joel was lying about why he did what he did – trying to manipulate Lauren once more but she told him she wasn’t scared anymore – or alone.
And then she revealed that she didn’t have a boyfriend – she was pregnant and it’s Joel’s baby.
The shock knocked Joel off his feet as he realised that the baby is evidence of what he did to Lauren.
Joel then told her that he tried to save her but she disappeared – but flashbacks revealed the truth – that he wanted to get rid of her body.
But Lauren didn’t fall for it – instead telling him that she sees what he is and that he has no place in her baby’s life.
She tried to make a run for it but he grabbed her and she fought him off, clawing at his face to flee the hospital.
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap:
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite, portrayed by Peter Ash, was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Eileen Grimshaw is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour.
She’s had to leave the Street immediately after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Lauren managed to get into a cab and drive off just as Joel followed trying to stop her.
He failed and Lauren sobbed in the back of the cab having escaped – for now.
