Coronation Street legend disowns own brother after discovering huge deceit
Coronation Street's Kevin Webster disowned his brother Carl as various truths began to come out on Friday's episode.
The legendary character, who has been played by Michael Le Vell on ITV's flagship soap since 1983, was dealt a surprise earlier this year when his long-lost brother Carl (Jonathan Howard) arrived in Weatherfield, and has since employed him in his garage. The mechanic was diagnosed with testicular cancer some months ago and managed to beat the disease but amid suspicions that Carl is growing more and more attracted to his wife Abi (Sally Carman), he had decided to let everyone think he was still suffering.
Amongst all of this, Carl has been using the garage to do some dodgy deals with Fiona Morley (Sara Poyzer), and the pair were discussing their plot to steal a £30,000 car whilst they tried to stand away from prying eyes in the ginnel. He warned her that the chance to take it was 'now or never' and she soon snuck into the unlocked garage, took the car and sped off. But unfortunately for them, Kevin had overheard the entire conversation when he came out of number 13, and watched on as the con woman drove off. Kevin chased after the her, but struggled to catch his breath and had to stop. He was seen by Glenda Shuttleworth (Jodie Prenger) and the Rovers barmaid insisted on taking him off to hospital, unaware that he is lying about his cancer diagnosis.
Carl rushed to see Kevin in the hospital, where the pair ended up having a confrontation as various truths began to come out. Kevin began to tell Carl that he felt 'like an idiot' and told his brother to 'drop the act' when he pretended to be exasperated at the news that a car had been stolen. When Kevin accused Carl of lying to him, Carl knew exactly how to hit back. Just before entering Kevin's room, Carl had asked the doctor if his sudden deterioration had anything to do with his chemotherapy, to which the doctor had informed him that such treatment had finished 'weeks ago'. Having worked out that Kevin had lied to him and everyone else, Carl asked Kevin how he could possibly lie about having cancer, he tried to insist that he did it to save his marriage.
Viewers will remember that Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall) previously rumbled Kevin's secret, having been familiar with how treatment works thanks to his daughter Hope's own battle several years ago. Abi believes that Kevin 'isn't responding' to the treatment, and when she tried to discuss the idea that Jack (Kyran Bowes) needed to be told more about his dad's condition, he tried to throw her off the subject.
And in one final scene, Carl arrived at Kevin's house to try to have it out with him but was warned to 'make it quick'. Carl protested that Abi deserved to know about Kevin's condition, but the mechanic insisted that his brother will become part of the lie and go along with it because he has the power to 'shop' him at any time.
In making things absolutely clear, Kevin told Carl: "I felt like I should've done more, being the older one, made you feel like you belonged. I could've done something about it, but I was too wrapped up in my own world. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for freeing me from all that guilt. Part of me started to believe that you didn't exist. Now I can go back to that. You are dead to me. Never had, never will."
Fans of ITV's flagship soap opera will know that Kevin was right to have his suspicions when it came to Carl and Abi, and that the pair are set to give into temptation and embark on an affair. In the days before Kevin's brother arrived on the cobbles, he was famously married to Sally Metcalfe (Sally Dynevor) and they had daughters Rosie (Helen Flanagan) and Sophie (Brooke Vincent) together. They initially split up when Kevin had an an affair with Natalie Barnes (Denise Welch) but they remarried in 2002. Their marriage survived numerous infidelities on both sides, but ultimately crumbled when Kevin fathered Jack with Molly Dobbs (Vicky Binns) before she died in the 2010 tram crash as part of the programme's 50th anniversary.
Carl is the son of Kevin's dad Bill Webster (Peter Armitage) and his second wife Elaine (Judy Gridley) and spent most of his life in Germany with his parents until he arrived on the Manchester backstreet earlier this year. In real life, Jonathan spent 10 years in LA and working alongside big-name stars including Brad Pitt and Anthony Hopkins, but the 38-year-old actor ranks landing a part in Corrie among his greatest achievements.
He told The Mirror: "Being in Coronation Street is just as big a thrill as being in a Hollywood film or an American TV series. It's all the same, everyone's telling stories, whether it's a big $200m movie or a soap like Corrie. As a Lancashire lad born and raised, the dream was to be in Coronation Street – that was the ceiling, so it feels wonderfully surreal to now be acting with people like Kevin Webster that I watched religiously as a kid. My friends ask me, 'what you have been up to today?' and I reply 'I took Tracy Barlow for a drink in the Rovers Return!' It's just incredible to say these things."
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
3 hours ago
- Daily Mail
The Downton Abbey-style love story between a maid and valet that ended in tragedy: Photos, letters and mementos reveal 'below stairs' romance in shadow of WWI
As a relationship that defied convention, the romance between valet John Bates and maid Ann Smith in Downton Abbey warmed the hearts of millions of viewers. The love story was, of course, all the invention of the hit ITV show's creator, Julian Fellowes. But now, a trove of photos, letters and mementos shed light on a real-life romance between servants in the shadow of the First World War. Valet Alf Edwards and kitchen maid Caroline Palmer married in 1916 after meeting when both were on the staff at the palatial Brodsworth Hall in South Yorkshire. The couple had three happy years and two sons together, before Palmer died from tuberculosis, leaving Caroline a widow for nearly 50 years. The objects telling the story of their relationship have been donated to English Heritage by the couple's grandson. They include Alf and Caroline's war registration cards, their marriage certificate and several photographs. With hundreds employed at the Brodsworth, it would not have been a surprise had Alf and Caroline never gotten to know each other. But, in the course of indulging his passion for photography, Alf had taken to using a staff kitchen as a makeshift studio to dry his images, and it was there that he and Caroline crossed paths. Being of fighting age, Alf would ordinarily have followed most of the men employed at Brodsworth into being conscripted in the war. But because of his poor health, he remained working at the estate, which was the home of Charles Thellusson and his wife Constance Alf and Caroline began courting and then quickly became engaged. They did briefly separate after Caroline was advised against marriage due to Alf's poor health. But the couple could not stay apart for long. They reunited and got married on July 17, 1916. The pair then took a honeymoon and had professional photographs taken in a studio in Chichester. The couple later lived in a cottage on the Brodsowrth estate, and Alf took on the additional role of chauffeur. But their happiness was cut short when Alf's precarious health took a terminal turn. He died aged just 34 in September 1919. Alf's death came just months after his boss had passed away. The day after Alf died, Thellusson's widow expressed her condolences in a letter to Caroline. She also tried to comfort her and shared her own grief. Caroline, aged just 30, was left with their two sons, who were only two and five months old. The widow lived until 1968, when she died not long before her 79th birthday. By then, she had two grandsons. The registration cards that have been donated to English Heritage list Alf's and Caroline's respective job titles and Brodsworth Hall as their place of work. Alf was a keen craftsman, as evidenced by the carved wooden picture frame he made for Caroline. Housing a photo of her, it also boasts a 'good luck' message and has a horseshoe affixed to it. Alf also made a small wooden stool using oak felled on the estate. The stool features a carving by the valet of the hall and is dated 1915. Alf's camera was made by legendary New York firm Eastman Kodak (now better known simply as Kodak). It is believed he bought the camera during a trip he took with the Thellussons to the east coast of the USA in 1914. The valet used it to take many photos of Brodsworth staff, as well as images of the hall's interior and gardens. Also given to English Heritage is Caroline's gold wristwatch, which can be seen in her wedding photograph. For the rest of her life, Caroline kept a photo of Alf in shooting attire on display. It features in a silver frame. Both frame and photo have been donated too. The couple's romance was not the only one between staff at Brodsworth. At the start of 1916, cook Martha Lockey had married chauffeur George Raper. Brodsworth Hall was built between 1861 and 1863 for Charles Sabine Thellusson, on the estate his great-grandfather had bought in the late 18th century. It was given to English Heritage in 1990, when it had fallen into disrepair. This year marks the 30th anniversary of the building being open to the public. As part of the anniversary celebrations, objects linking to the official opening by Princess Margaret will be displayed. Caroline and Alf's grandson, Gordon Edwards, said: 'My family has cared for these significant items reflecting our family history and the history of Brodsworth for many years, and it has always been a fascinating record for us to look back on. 'We're so pleased to be able to donate these objects to English Heritage so they can continue to be cared for, shared with the public, and help to tell the important stories of those people below stairs who lived and worked at Brodsworth Hall.' Eleanor Matthews, English Heritage's curator of collections and interiors, said: 'It is extremely rare to have such a collection relating to the lives of servants survive, and to have them return to Brodsworth Hall over 100 years later is truly astounding. 'Alf's photographs are incredibly important to the history of the site and have provided us with the earliest image of staff at the estate – hopefully in time we will be able identify them all. 'We've learned too that Alf and Caroline were very well liked by the Thellussons, with Charles appearing as Godfather on their first son's baptism card, and his wife Constance's correspondence with Caroline after Alf's death. 'These beautiful, poignant items tell a story largely unknown to us until now and, thanks to this donation, we are able to add another layer of understanding to the rich fabric of Brodsworth's history.'
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Endeavour star looks VERY different 13 years on from his debut on ITV detective drama with beard and cropped hair - but do you recognise him?
A British actor best known for his role in the detective drama Endeavour has been spotted filming for another project - but he looks very different with a rugged beard and cropped hair. Whereas fans know him as a fresh-faced inspector with tousled locks, he now steps out with a coarser look, sporting an all-black ensemble and moody sunglasses. He made his first ITV appearance in 2012, and starred in the very well received Endeavour for an impressive nine seasons before its conclusion in 2023. The 45-year-old is set to star in the upcoming ITV spy thriller Betrayal, where he plays a troubled MI5 officer named John Hughes. The four-part series explores the 'emotional and professional strain of modern intelligence work, particularly on relationships' as John's covert operations and personal life begin to unravel. But can you guess who it is? The actor is none other than Liverpool-born Shaun Evans, who played Endeavour Morse in the titular ITV drama. The father-of-two was pictured filming in Rusholme, Manchester, looking worlds away from his days as the sullen but charming Endeavour. In a black puffer jacket and straight-leg jeans, Shaun was captured grinning on set alongside crew members. Betrayal will see Shaun play a spy who was at the forefront of the war on terror. Now in his mid 40s and married with two kids, he's finding it difficult to adapt to modern security threats. But when he impulsively gets himself involved in a dark scheme, he'll have to redeem himself to save his career and reputation - all while struggling with the mental health effects of his murderous actions. Shaun has also played Coxswain Elliot Glover in BBC One's Vigil, and real-life murderer John Sweeney in ITV's Until I Kill You. This summer is ramping up to be an exciting one in British TV, with new dramas and reiterations of popular pre-existing series set to hit screens in the coming months. Line of Duty is one beloved programme that is 'definitely coming back' for a seventh season, according to a lead actor in the hit BBC drama. Northern Irish actor Adrian Dunbar, who played Superintendent Ted Hastings in the show, confirmed the much-loved series will be returning to UK screens. Fans have been begging for another installment for years, and Adrian has previously hinted at another run, but now he has spoken more definitively. 'Oh, it's definitely coming back,' the 66-year-old told the Sunday Telegraph. 'Some time next year. We're just waiting for the BBC to announce it.' He continued: 'I know Jed [Mercurio] is writing. And Martin and Vicky [Compston and McClure, who play Hastings's anti-corruption colleagues, Steve and Kate] are very keen.' And in a separate interview with The Times, the Enniskillen native said: 'We're really excited about getting our hands on a Line of Duty script, to see what happens to us. 'We've talked to the BBC. It is down to the BBC to make an announcement, but we're keeping our fingers crossed that next year we'll be working on a new series. 'No doubt Jed will think of some interesting twists and turns. We are as much in the dark as you are.' Adrian suggested that viewers were drawn to the series, and to his straight-laced character in particular, owing to a time of political instability during Covid. When the news of Partygate erupted - the political scandal that saw Tories dancing and drinking during a state-imposed lockdown - Adrian believes fans sought solace in Ted Hastings. He told the Belfast Telegraph: 'When the Tories were dancing and having parties, people saw Line of Duty and thought "Surely somewhere there are people who, despite what it might mean to their careers, are willing to do the right thing?" 'I think that's why so many people gravitated towards Ted.' According to The Sun, the cast will start filming the new six-part installment next January when their other commitments have come to a close. A TV insider told the publication: 'This is the news Line of Duty fans have been waiting for since the sixth season left them deflated when it aired back in 2021. 'The BBC almost immediately requested more episodes to continue the story, but the success of the show meant Vicky, Martin and Adrian were instantly snapped up for other projects.'
Daily Mirror
5 hours ago
- Daily Mirror
ITV Midsomer Murders fans say the same thing as Inspector Morse star makes appearance
Midsomer Murders fans were left distracted as they noticed a familiar face from the Inspector Morse series Midsomer Murders viewers found themselves thoroughly distracted on Tuesday evening after Kevin Whately popped up in a repeat episode of the ITV series. The star, renowned for portraying Lewis in both Inspector Morse and the ITV spin-off Lewis, stepped into the shoes of murder suspect Jeremy in the John Barnaby drama. Within moments of the episode beginning, fans flocked to Twitter to express their excitement over the Inspector Morse crossover. @NickStevenson63 wrote: "So... when worlds collide; Inspector Lewis in Midsomer Murders. It was bound to happen sooner or later given the number of strange and bizarre deaths in this otherwise quiet corner of Oxfordshire." @Suzy_H14 begged: "They can't kill #Lewis #MidsomerMurders," reports the Express. @ghostheart__ observed: "Lots of Morse/Lewis links in this episode of #MidsomerMurders - firstly Kevin Whately who was obviously Lewis in Morse/Lewis, Jane Bertish who was in Morse episode The Wolvercote Tongue and Alexander Hanson who was in Lewis episode Generation of Vipers." @dennison_shelly continued: "Fabulous collection of musical theatre actors in tonight's #MidsomerMurders and the universe-bending inclusion of Lewis aka Kevin Whately. Excellent fun. "Lewis better not get killed off in tonight's #MidsomerMurders that'd just be too weird," @neiltheshaker posted. @samjcstuff revealed: "My brain is not computing Lewis appearing in #midsomermurders." Kevin portrayed Robert "Robbie" Lewis in Inspector Morse from 1987 to 2000, and in Lewis from 2006 to 2015. In a 2023 interview, Midsomer Murders' lead actors Neil Dudgeon and Fiona Dolman graced the This Morning sofa to discuss the show's milestone 50th episode. The on-screen couple shared a light-hearted conversation with hosts Alison Hammond and Craig Doyle about the enduring appeal of the series. "So what's the secret to your on-screen success?" Alison inquired, prompting Neil to quip: "Sexual chemistry." He elaborated: "I think we've just got on very well right from the start, didn't we?". "We did," Fiona concurred. "Neil was already cast, so I had an audition, and I had to go in and read with him. "And yeah, I think we clicked right from the beginning." Reflecting on their long-running partnership, Fiona added: "We've done it for 12 years now which means all that kind of fear that you have as an actor when you join something and you have to pretend you have an intimate relationship with someone that you've never met, that's all just gone now, hasn't it?". "It is great, I always said we should have had Fiona in the show anyway," Neil, who plays John Barnaby, interjected.
