Coronation Street is bringing back a guest star from January as part of Theo Silverton’s murder investigation, Digital Spy can confirm.
Fans can expect a shake-up at the police station this week as senior officers decide to remove DC Kit Green from the murder case.
DS Lisa Connor-Swain will remain on the investigation, but she’ll now be ably assisted by a character that viewers have briefly seen before.
Back in January, guest star Michelle Tate appeared as a detective who questioned Debbie Webster following the deadly road crash on the night of her wedding.
At the time, Michelle was credited only as ‘Detective’ — but this week’s episodes see her role expanded with more scenes, plus a name in the closing titles to match: DC McLaughlin.
“Kit is furious when he’s taken off the investigation,” explains our Corrie source.
“He’s been determined to get the killer sent down for a while now — still convinced that Gary Windass was the culprit.
“There are a few factors behind the decision — including other cases now requiring Kit’s attention. But of course, the fact that he has a personal vendetta against Gary doesn’t help matters as he’s not seen as an impartial figure anymore.”
As Kit licks his wounds, Lisa and McLaughlin head off for the latest step in the case, visiting Gary’s wife Maria Connor at the salon to go over her statement again.
Maria previously provided Gary with a false alibi for the time of Theo’s death, which has prevented the police from pursuing him as a suspect more aggressively.
“McLaughlin is still only a guest character, but it’ll be interesting to see if the fortunes of the investigation change with her involved,” continues our insider.
“The police have hardly looked at Kit’s partner Sarah as a suspect, so they’re oblivious to the fact that she’s the real killer!”
Corrie revealed Sarah’s guilt in a tense hour-long episode two weeks ago, and subsequent episodes have seen her continue to cover up her secret with support from Gary.
Tina O’Brien, who plays Sarah, recently said: “I was really shocked [when I found out], but for me personally, I completely understand how it happened and why it happened. In that moment, she didn’t feel like she had any other choice.
“There was a lot of debate in the green room as soon as we were told there was going to be a murderer. A lot of people were playing Cluedo — first off, some of the cast got told that they were involved in the storyline, but they weren’t the murderer. So by the time it got to me to go for my meeting, I was a bit like: ‘I think it’s me!’
“But I genuinely didn’t worry. At the end of the day this job is incredible, but to be an actor is not necessarily a job for life. So, I just was really excited to be given the honour of being the murderer, and then hopefully, however it plays out, I’ll enjoy Sarah’s arc.”
