The mystery is finally solved and the Grim Reaper’s scythe has finally swung: the victim of Coronation Street’s murder week has been revealed.

Yes, the beast has finally been slain, and after nearly a year of abusing Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) in just about every conceivable way, Theo Silverton’s (James Cartwright) time finally ran out, with his corpse being found in the closing moments of tonight’s episode by Betsy Swain (Sydney Martin), after somebody had taken the ultimate revenge.

Theo, alongside child abuser Megan Walsh (Beth Nixon), femme fatale Jodie Ramsey (Olivia Frances-Brown), sleazy Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard), and killer Maggie Driscoll (Pauline McLynn) had all previously been named as potential characters who could be meeting their maker.

The five villains had all had their heinous behaviour exposed over the past few weeks. Megan’s sexual abuse of schoolboy, Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale) and psychological torture of Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) became public knowledge, leading to a showdown with Maggie, who Megan had discovered to be a murderer.

Carl’s manipulation and torment of Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) reached new heights and those he’d spent months making miserable finally reached the end of their tether, while Jodie’s bold move to finally destroy her sister Shona (Julia Goulding) left her out in the cold.

All the other baddies managed to escape with their life intact, however. Unlike Theo…

The five villains had all had their heinous behaviour exposed over the past few weeks. Megan’s sexual abuse of schoolboy, Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale) and psychological torture of Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) became public knowledge, leading to a showdown with Maggie, who Megan had discovered to be a murderer.

Carl’s manipulation and torment of Debbie Webster (Sue Devaney) reached new heights and those he’d spent months making miserable finally reached the end of their tether, while Jodie’s bold move to finally destroy her sister Shona (Julia Goulding) left her out in the cold.

All the other baddies managed to escape with their life intact, however. Unlike Theo…

While seriously unhinged, dangerous and deeply disturbed, Theo had always managed to present a well put together veneer to those who weren’t privy to his true nature. That veneer was cracked however, as Todd’s loved ones discovered the extent of the abuse he’d been enduring, and completely fell away after he beat Todd to a pulp, leaving him requiring hospitalisation for a lacerated spleen.

With no further need for his mask, Theo let loose with the chaos.

Becoming aware of Todd’s plan to escape Weatherfield for Thailand and a holiday with his mum and brother, Eileen and Jason (Sue Cleaver and Ryan Thomas) this week, Todd was shaken as he packed his suitcase and he heard a window smash in the bedroom. Theo had ascended the scaffolding and was hiding behind the door.

Emerging with Todd’s suitcase, Theo eerily attempted to force Todd to share a final meal with him. Only the intervention of worried George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley) diverted Theo’s attention, though violence ensued when George and Todd forced Theo into the bathroom, attempting to lock him in.

George did everything in his power to get Todd to the airport, but in the end, Todd’s lost phone prevented him from getting off the Street. As he headed back to retrieve it, he came face to face with Theo and it was painfully clear that Todd was in mortal danger.

A fatal game of cat and mouse then ensued, with poor Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) becoming entangled and when all was said and done, Theo was left on the ground, dead.

But who was it that finally brought an end to his reign of terror? According to Gareth Pierce, it could be a number of people!