Coronation Street fans have predicted Theo Silverton’s downfall and some believe he will be dealt a grim fate after leaving Billy Mayhew to die in the soap’s Emmerdale crossover

Coronation Street fans have predicted Theo Silverton’s downfall after he murdered Billy Mayhew in the programme’s historic crossover with fellow soap Emmerdale. The builder, who has been played by James Cartwright for just under a year, had made an enemy of Billy (Daniel Brocklebank) after the kindly vicar became the only one to realise he was abusing his boyfriend Todd.

Things came to a head in Corriedale on Monday night as Billy drove the minibus carrying Theo, Todd, and other Weatherfield residents along the M62 back from Debbie Webster’s wedding. The vehicle was involved in a multi-car pileup and Billy was trapped in the driving seat. Any hopes of survival were dashed when evil Theo appeared and buckled his seatbelt, leaving him to die in the explosion.

Viewers of the world’s longest TV soap have witnessed Theo subject Todd to all sorts of psychological and physical abuse over the last few months, and it has gone from bad to worse. But fans have now wondered whether Billy’s death will ultimately play a part in Theo’s comeuppance, and believe that the character could be about to meet a grisly end himself.

Shortly after Corriedale aired, one fan wrote on Reddit: “In a few months’ time, Todd and Theo will have a raging argument somewhere perilous (maybe a clifftop). Todd will say something along the lines of ‘It’s always been about control for you. You don’t love me, you’ve never loved me.’ Theo will blurt out that he loves Todd so much he got rid of Billy to save him.

“Todd will be horrified. Theo will try to justify himself by saying that Billy had poisoned Todd against him, and that he had no choice but to kill him so they could be together. Todd will call Theo a murderer and Theo will lunge at him – but will lose his footing and fall to his death.”

Another fan wrote: “Grr Theo needs a longer painful death than poor Billy,” whilst a third joked: “I’m wanting Theo to get haunted by Billy’s ghost.” A fourth said: “I was kinda hoping there’s some revelation about the autopsy that implicates Theo having walked away (at least) while Billy was still alive. I can’t wait for the guy to die though. Couldn’t happen anyone more deserving!”

But others are not convinced that Theo will be killed off at all, with one viewer insisting that the programme cannot just “keep killing off” abusers, especially after a similar storyline during the programme’s 60th anniversary ended with Geoff Metcalf falling off the roof after months of abusing wife Yasmeen.

Others also believe that Theo will face a full trial for his actions, especially as it has been established on the programme that he has a history of this sort of behaviour.

One fan wrote: “I’d like to see Theo actually go to prison for this, they can’t keep killing off abusers,” whilst another said: “As it is an issue-based storyline developed with input from an outside charity to protect DV/DA victims, I expect we will see a proper trial and sentencing in court.

“Todd and Theo are planning a wedding. Did Theo and Danielle even get a proper divorce? I guess Danielle will return and testify against her ex-husband (?) in court during the trial.”