CORONATION Street viewers have predicted a sickening twist that Lauren Bolton might be related to abuser Joel Deering.
It comes as villainous solicitor Joel (Calum Lill) has been tormenting troubled teen Lauren (Cait Fitton) for months.
During Monday’s (August 5) episode, a conversation between the pair left fans unsettled.
After Lauren gave birth to their newborn son, villain Joel made an appearance at the hospital.
During their conversation, Lauren asked: “Have I told you what I’m calling him?”
As an indifferent Joel responded “What?”, which prompted her to reveal: “Francis, well Frankie for short, after my grandad.”
This revelation seemed to pique Joel’s interested, as he added: “That was my grandad’s name too.”
Viewers were left wondering if Joel and Lauren might turn out to share a family tree, having already shared an intimate connection.
Taking to X, one wrote: “Are Joel and Lauren actually related #Corrie”.
Another added: “Are Joel and Lauren related then? Same Grandad? #Corrie.”
While a third commented: “Apparently, Lauren and Joel’s grandfathers were both named Francis. #Corrie”
“Joel and Lauren are cousins?”, a fourth person speculated.
Joel had visited the hospital to ensure the new mother didn’t forward an incriminating email to the police exposing his vile abuse.
Ultimately, she went along with the plan and deleted the contentious email during Joel’s visit.
Should Lauren and Joel turn out to be related, it would be the latest twist in a long-running storyline.
Lauren disappeared under mysterious circumstances at the start of the year and was presumed dead.
In May, fans saw a flashback of Joel brutally attacking the young woman with a chair leg and leaving her for dead.
The villain is engaged to an oblivious Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown) and has been secretly holding Lauren in his previous flat.
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 (Peter Ash) 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 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 Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.
He had plotted to send Lauren off to Ireland, therefore removing her from the picture.
Lauren had been isolated and trapped until being rescued her by friend Max Turner (Paddy Bever) and taken to the hospital, where she gave birth prematurely.
What direction will the story go in next?
Coronation Street airs on ITV and is available on ITVX.
