Coronation Street airs another huge drama for Daniel Osbourne next week, as his life is turned upside-down when Hope Dobbs accuses him of assaulting her.
Already under intense pressure due to his short-lived relationship with predator Megan Walsh, Daniel faces more scrutiny after an incident unfolds in the classroom.
With rumours swirling about Megan and what’s happened to her, Daniel is already consumed by misery. However, things get even worse after he loses his temper with Hope while at work…
“Hope loves to push people’s buttons, and Daniel is a man all out of patience,” warns our Weatherfield insider.
“This is a potentially career-ending combination for Daniel because instead of dealing with Hope being cheeky and provocative, he loses it.
“He goes to grab a piece of paper from her, but the action leaves space for a terrible accusation, and Hope doesn’t think twice about making it.”
Everything kicks off when Daniel pulls Hope up for overusing AI while working on a poetry assignment.
Convinced that she’s outsourced her homework to robots, Daniel demands she redoes the piece, but he lives to regret it. Not only does Hope fully exercise her creative talents, but she also takes inspiration from Daniel’s doomed romance.
The finished poem is a masterclass in spite, with Megan at the heart of it. While nobody can blame Daniel for being furious, his actions are the very definition of unprofessional, and Hope shouts that he’s assaulted her.
Unfortunately for Daniel, that’s when head teacher Mrs Crawshaw walks in and demands answers.
“Obviously, this isn’t something that the school can ignore, and Daniel has to face the consequences,” continues our source. “But the fallout leaves him absolutely raging, which is deeply unpleasant for everyone in his orbit. Poor Bertie is genuinely scared by his daddy’s anger, which adds another layer of shame for him.”
Daniel decides the only thing to do is stay as far away from other people as possible. Telling Ken and Adam he is going to the Lakes for breathing space, Daniel packs Bertie’s belongings and sends him to his grandad’s for a stay.
However, instead of leaving for his trip, Daniel shuts himself away with only a bottle of whisky for company.
Can Daniel find a way through his work nightmare and rebuild his life without Megan, or will he spiral deeper into despair?
