Todd Grimshaw’s whereabouts have been a mystery to Coronation Street residents and viewers alike since he took off with adopted daughter Summer at Christmas.
But in last night’s episode, his mum Eileen revealed she’d had a phone call from her other son Jason who’d said his brother was doing fine.
She reported back to Billy, and said Todd told Jason that he and Summer were avoiding the police and lying low for a while.
Billy, who’s about to come home from hospital, asked when they might be coming back to Weatherfield, and Eileen said she wasn’t sure.
But then she added: “I’m sure it’s not going to be long.”
And later she told Phelan: “With any luck we could have Todd, Billy and Summer all home soon.”
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After Eileen’s announcement, social media went wild with fans speculating that Todd could return – played by a different actor.
“Are they putting in a new actor to play Todd or what?” one fan demanded. Another asked: “Is there going to be another actor replacing Todd?”
And some viewers assumed it was already happening. One said: “They must be interviewing as I tweet.”
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And another said: “The casting must’ve been done by now surely.”
Bruno Langley, who played Todd, was sacked by Coronation Street after he admitted groping two women in a Manchester nightclub. The actor is currently rebuilding his life and his career, but it’s unlikely he’ll be back in Corrie any time soon.
So if Todd is going to return – it looks like the fans could be right and he’d need to be played by a different actor.
Soaps are no strangers to recasting important roles. EastEnders has recast Martin and Michelle Fowler, Johnny Carter, Sam Mitchell, and Lauren Branning in the past.
Hollyoaks recast GlennDonovan recently, and Emmerdale has recast youngsters Gabby Thomas and Sarah Sugden.
Corrie has done its own recasting in the past. Tracy Barlow has been recast more than once, and Nick Tilsley was recast too.
Bringing back Todd would certainly tie up a lot of loose ends left dangling when Bruno was written out, and we’d love to see Todd, Billy and Summer become a proper family once more.