Coronation Street - has Bethany Platt's huge new story been revealed?
Coronation Street spoilers follow.
Coronation Street appears to be quietly setting the scene for a "blockbuster" new storyline involving Bethany Platt and newcomer Bobby Crawford.
Show bosses announced last year that Bethany and Bobby would take centre stage in a huge new plot – but exact details were kept under wraps.
Producer Iain MacLeod shared the first teasers in late October, shortly after the announcement that Britain's Got Talent star Jack Carroll had been cast as Carla Barlow's nephew Bobby.
MacLeod confirmed the plans for Bobby's chaotic introduction, but warned of a darker storyline to come.
He said at the time: "As a slightly more long-range tease, he's going to end up surprisingly in the centre of perhaps our biggest story next year [2024]. I can't say too much about it now, but he's got a brilliant classically Coronation Street role to play at the start, as this loveable sarcastic classic Corrie feckless male.
"Then he abruptly finds himself in the middle of this huge story so I'm really excited about the casting, the part and his role in the next 12 months and beyond."
MacLeod also cryptically teased that Bethany would feature in the same storyline.
He said: "Bethany is coming back with this clear romantic purpose in the Daniel story, but then will fairly quickly find herself in the midst of this massive story that's going to span most of next year. It's really exciting stuff."
Further information was revealed in December, when Bobby's first episode aired just after Christmas.
Jack Carroll told Digital Spy and other press: "I only found out yesterday the nuts and bolts of what the story is. It is very, very exciting. I would even go so far as to say 'blockbuster'. There's always a little bit of apprehension – I'd only been there a couple of weeks and then found out that I was going to be part of this massive storyline.
"After that dissipates a little bit, then you're just very excited to get stuck in, so that's where I'm at now. I can't wait to get working and expand on the character and see what craziness they put me in. I'm very excited."
In early January, Jack added that there'd be a romantic link to Bobby's big story.
When asked on ITV's This Morning about potential love interests for Bobby, Jack replied: "Well, I think that will develop over the coming weeks.
"We will kind of see where it takes him, I think those developments will be very interesting going forward into this year and they really develop into, I found out recently, a big blockbuster kind of storyline. It's really exciting!
"We've filmed some of them, so I think it will be over the next few months, those seeds will start developing. Very exciting indeed!"
For most of January, Bethany was caught up in dramas with Daisy Midgeley and Daniel Osbourne, while Bobby was settling in at the factory and befriending Simon Barlow.
There were few clues on what could ultimately bring Bethany and Bobby together into the same storyline – but a clearer picture now seems to be emerging.
Bobby's main love interest in the show has been revealed as troubled Lauren Bolton, who'll disappear from Weatherfield in Wednesday night's episode (February 21).
It's Bobby who realises that something isn't right with Lauren's absence from the cobbles and he files a missing person's report in next week's episodes.
How Bethany plays such a central role in this saga remains a mystery for now, although she did recently share scenes with Lauren in her capacity as a local journalist.
Lauren wanted to sell the story of how she was brainwashed by a far-right gang, but was put off when she learned that the payment would be just £30.
One possibility could be that Lauren's disappearance is linked to the far-right group, which might ultimately involve Bethany after her recent conversations with Lauren about exposing their activities.
Other fans have speculated that Lauren's mystery boyfriend could be Nathan Curtis, the man who groomed and abused Bethany a few years ago. Could there be a link here to Lauren going missing?
Whatever happens, we can be sure that Lauren's disappearance won't just be a short-lived storyline that's hastily resolved.
Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.
Read more Coronation Street spoilers on our dedicated homepage
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