CORONATION Street fans have pointed out a major blunder as Roy Cropper is finally released from prison and Lauren Bolton’s real killer is revealed.
The troubled teen – who was played by actress Cait Fitton in the ITV soap – disappeared in February leaving signs of being brutally attacked and murdered.
And in tonight’s episode viewers finally discovered who was responsible.
It began with Sarah Platt being caught about to plant evidence – Lauren’s hair – in Nathan Curtis’ van by police detective Kit Green.
He stopped her before searching Nathan’s van himself and finding some dodgy USB data drive – and some further evidence.
With Nathan arrested, Roy Cropper’s friends and family became hopeful that he could be freed.
Though when the duty solicitor turned out to be Joel Deering, Nathan looked to have a decent defence on his side – until DS Swain and Kit revealed their evidence.
They had found Lauren’s hair in Nathan’s van and with the other evidence stacking up, they charged him with Lauren’s murder.
Kit told him: “Nathan Curtis, in consultation with the CPS we have been advised to charge you with the murder of Lauren Bolton.”
Nathan was outraged, shouting: “This is a set up, someone planted that hair. This is Sarah Platt. I caught her snooping around my van, you were there.”
A flashback then revealed that Kit purposely pulled out a hair from the bag he’d taken from Sarah and planted it in Nathan’s van.
Joel demanded to know if Nathan’s claims were true, and Kit insisted that he saw Sarah and she didn’t go near his van – insisting he called DS Swain but she didn’t pick up.
Swain checked her call log and saw he had called so Joel said he accepted that Nathan was lying.
But there was an intriguing look between him and Kit that Swain appeared not to notice.
Meanwhile in prison Roy was being forced to hang himself by evil Griff at knifepoint, before begging to be able to call Nina and say goodbye.
When they spoke, Nina told him that he was being released as Nathan had been charged and Griff was stunned.
Police then stormed the cell and Roy was freed from Griff’s vile plan – and released from prison.
At his welcome home party in the café, Evelyn gave a touching speech and Joel was there to support Dee-Dee.
Evelyn thanked the Weatherfield residents for sticking by Roy and Dee-Dee for working hard to get Roy out of prison and prove his innocence.
Joel then told he had had a long day and needed to go home, but when he went outside he was met with Hope Stape who handed over a necklace she found in his car while cleaning it for him.
Another flashback revealed that Joel brutally attacked Lauren in her flat and took the necklace Hope found from her.
However, viewers have called out a huge blunder as there are many staple characters and Roy’s friends who are missing from the party.
Taking to a fan forum, one viewer wrote: “Where the hell were Ken, Mary, Stu, Brian, Shona, Bernie, Fiz etc.?”
Another added: “About 20 year ago if a much loved character like Roy had got out the nick the whole street would be at the party.
“Ken used to be one of his best pals and him and Brian were always good mates.”
Meanwhile, actor Calum Li has spoken for the first time about the shock twist – and how he’s struggled to keep the secret for a year.
He said: “I’ve known this for over a year. It was last May that I got sent the breakdown for Joel saying that he was a charming character who’s got a dark side.
“When I got the screen test they said, ‘Okay, this is what Joel is going to be doing’. I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, like this is a really terrible person. And I’ve got to hide in plain sight for a year.’”
The actor added: “I felt a huge weight of responsibility on my shoulders to do well and not give it away and not play some cliché, because the things Joel has done have happened to people in real life.
“So I had meetings with charities and did research. I watched documentaries and read psychological papers to create as much truth as possible.
“The thing that I kept in my mind was I would never want anyone who’d experienced anything like that to be watching something on screen that didn’t feel authentic and feel offended.”
Coronation Street's shock exits 2024
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.
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays from 8pm on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.
