Coronation Street’s Gareth Pierce warns of villainous return for Todd amid major exit story
Coronation Street star Gareth Pierce has called for the return of his character Todd Grimshaw’s ‘devilish’ side after the exit of his on-screen mum Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver).
Sue is departing her role as Eileen in the coming months, which will leave Todd living on the Street without his mum for the first time in 25 years.
Her exit will undoubtedly shake things up in Weatherfield, with Gareth wondering if it could lead to a darker side to Todd reemerging.
Asked how he will fare without Eileen to keep him in line, Gareth replied: ‘I know, yeah, that’ll be interesting, won’t it?
‘That would be a good experiment to see whether the devilish side of Todd emerges more, or less, without his mum keeping an eye.’
The actor continued: ‘Love is absolutely at the core of Todd and Eileen’s relationship, but it is heavily masked by that sarcastic banter and they do absolutely go at each other like vipers sometimes, but it’s because they’re so alike.
‘Todd is very much who he is because of who his mum is.’
While fans have seen a softer and also comical side to Todd since Gareth took over the role in 2020, the actor admitted he likes to be able to play many different facets to his character.
He said: ‘That’s the great variety of Coronation Street is that you can commit fully to playing darkly comic banter in the Undertakers, then some high emotion in the motor neurone disease storyline last year.
‘I don’t think we should lose that villain either,’ he continued.
‘I don’t know whether we call it villainy anymore with Todd, but certainly his ability to manipulate people –that hasn’t left him. It’s just that he has been in a period now where he’s really trying to be more open, be more genuine and he values his friendships and the people that he loves around him a bit more.’
Corrie fans will also see Todd back in the dating game in to coming weeks, following the arrival of new love interest scaffolder Theo Silverton, played by James Cartwright.
Although it will not be plain sailing for the pair after a spark is ignited between them next week, Gareth believes Todd could have something more long-term in mind.
He revealed: ‘You get this sense that Todd’s a little bit fed up with the dating game. He’s a bit fed up with the apps and the empty hookups. And actually he is looking, I think, for something a little more lasting.’
However, when Theo and Todd are set up by Julie Carp (Katy Cavanagh) in a new spoiler video, Todd’s hopes are dashed when Theo insists that he isn’t gay, and warns Todd to stop flirting with him.
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 or stream first from 7am on ITVX.
