Coronation Street’s Abi Webster (Sally Carman-Duttine) is set to have her head turned by brother-in-law Carl (Jonathan Howard) next month.
Last year, producer Kate Brooks teased the newbie’s arrival, saying: ‘We’ve got Carl Webster coming into the show, who is Debbie (Sue Devaney) and Kevin’s (Michael Le Vell) brother, to build up that Webster clan.
‘We’ve got big stories coming up for Debbie and Kevin. It’s about building that clan up. For me, the Websters, Barlows and Platts are the big clans.’
The character has been mentioned on a number of occasions over the years, but has yet to make an appearance.
Carl shares a dad – Bill – with Debbie and Kevin, though the siblings have a different mum. He’s also grown up in Germany, where he was born in 1986.
It has now been confirmed that he will make his first appearance on April 11th, when he clashes with Abi over a car parking space.
Before long, sparks begin to fly and the pair find themselves in a passionate embrace – both blissfully unaware of the family connection.
It’s been a tough old year for Abi, having faced horrific hallucinations of her late son Seb in the wake of Mason Radcliffe’s (Luca Toolan) death, and later discovering that Kevin has testicular cancer.
Metro also revealed that Debbie is set to be diagnosed with dementia, a storyline that will ultimately end Sue Devaney’s time on the show.
‘Carl is Kevin and Debbie Webster’s little brother, they have different mums so he’s a bit younger than they are’ star Jonathan explained.
‘He comes into Weatherfield to ostensibly be with his brother because he’s found out he’s got cancer but then we’ll discover Carl’s got some money issues back in Germany where he’s been living.’
He continued: ‘I don’t think Carl is going to be too bad but I don’t think he’s going to be good either, I think his heart is in the right place but he might be holding on to some resentment towards his brother because he’s left him to be on his own his whole life.’
‘He’s maybe a little bit selfish, especially between his trousers sometimes!’
How will Kevin feel about having his little bro in Weatherfield, and especially when (this is soapland, it’s bound to happen) he discovers the affair?
Carl is swanning onto the cobbles alongside two other new faces over the next month.
Jason Callender is set to arrive next week, taking over the role of footballer James Bailey.
‘James is determined, whatever he puts his mind to he absolutely goes for it’ he explained.
‘He’s a little brother so expect little brother pranks but more than anything he loves his family and he really wants to be a dad.’
Fans will undoubtedly remember that Nathan Graham was the original actor to play James between 2019 and 2022.
The trio is rounded off with another new face,as former Tracy Beaker and The Archers star James Cartwright will play Theo Silverton, a new love interest for Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce).
‘I think Theo is a good guy, he comes in with the best of intentions, as most people do, but he may upset some people with his behaviour’ he revealed.
