Coronation Street star Gareth Pierce reveals challenge of playing domestic abuse story – and why Todd felt Theo was “fixable”

by

Gareth Pierce has discussed the difficulties of acting out the storyline where his Coronation Street character, Todd Grimshaw, experiences domestic abuse.

Today’s episode featured a powerful storyline where Todd reported his husband, Theo Silverton (played by James Cartwright), to the police. He made the difficult decision after enduring months of verbal, emotional, and physical abuse.

Initially, the relationship appeared positive for Todd, but Theo gradually revealed a controlling and abusive side. He financially controlled Todd, criticized his looks, and demanded he lose weight. The abuse escalated earlier this year when Theo even threatened him with a knife.

Todd gathered hidden camera recordings to show what was happening, but Theo altered the videos to make it seem like he was the one being wronged.

Sarah Platt was shocked when a badly injured Todd arrived at her door earlier this week, pleading for help and asking her to go with him to the police. She had thought he and Billy had run away together to Northern Ireland, but she quickly realized that wasn’t what happened at all.

I was shocked to hear what happened to Theo. He’d been held captive in their bedroom, and when he tried to leave, he was brutally attacked. He then bravely shared everything with Kit Green and Lisa Swain, and it was really emotional listening to his story.

I enjoy the unpredictable nature of storylines in soaps – figuring out how a plot will unfold is always a fun challenge, especially since we don’t always know the complete story arc from the beginning,” Pierce explained to TopMob.

That’s always a really enjoyable part of the process. When you’re working on a longer series, like a six-part drama, you know the entire story arc and when to build to the most exciting or emotional moments. But with this show, each new script feels like a wonderful surprise – we’re discovering the story as we go.

Add TopMob as a Preferred Source on Google

Stay informed about the latest movies, TV shows, and celebrities with entertainment news from TopMob. You can find our exclusive content and interviews highlighted in the Top Stories section when you use Google.

I really enjoyed the difficulty of the role. But honestly, it was exhausting getting so deeply into the character’s emotions. It took a lot more energy than performing comedy.

Pierce also observed a shift in Todd’s personality. Previously, Todd had often been manipulative and resentful of others’ success, relentlessly pursuing his own goals at any cost.

Even with his past mistakes, the character has consistently been accepted back into the Weatherfield community, becoming an important figure there. This was especially true when an actor played the role in 2020, taking over from the previous actor who played Todd.

Maybe Todd’s past experiences led him to see some good in Theo, even when others didn’t.

Pierce thought it was a complicated mix of affection, and possibly a kind of trauma bonding – or the guilt that often comes with surviving when others don’t.

Over the past couple of years, Todd has become more understanding, and that’s likely why he’s been more patient with Theo than he probably should be. He overlooked some warning signs early on because he believed Theo could change, perhaps seeing a bit of his own journey to self-improvement reflected in Theo.

Since Theo is one of the residents at risk during the upcoming ‘Murder Week’, many viewers are questioning if Todd might be involved in his potential death.

“Perhaps,” Pierce added.

By now, I think viewers will definitely understand his reasons for acting the way he does, because they’re probably pretty frustrated watching it. It’s even possible they might understand if Todd took things a step further. I’m not sure, though.

I believe it’s much more compelling and frightening to consider that anyone could be capable of murder, rather than dividing people into simply ‘good’ and ‘evil’ categories.

The Coronation Street writing team collaborated with the LGBT anti-abuse charity Galop while developing the storyline.

If you need help with LGBT+ abuse or violence, you can reach Galop by calling 0800 999 5428, sending an email to help@galop.org.uk, or using the web chat feature on their website, www.galop.org.uk.

Coronation Street airs weeknights at 8:30pm and from 7am on ITVX.

Okay, so if you’re into British soaps like I am, you need to add Coronation Street to your watchlist on the TopMob app. Seriously, download it – it gives you daily TV recommendations, plus all sorts of cool features. It’s become my go-to for finding something good to watch!

Authors

Michael AdamsSoaps Editor

Michael Adams is the Soaps Editor at TopMob, providing the latest news and spoilers for popular shows like Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale, and Hollyoaks. Before joining TopMob, he worked as a Soaps Reporter at Metro for two years and also gained on-set experience with both Coronation Street and Emmerdale.

  • Visit us on Twitter

Read More

2026-04-16 00:05