Coronation Street fans spot clue Lauren Bolton's alive amid Joel Deering's next victim 'named'

Coronation Street fans think they have spotted a clue that proves Lauren Bolton is alive as Joel Deering's next victim is 'named'. It has been a couple of weeks now since viewers of the ITV soap discovered it was Joel behind the teen's disappearance - and suspected murder.

Lauren was last seen on the cobbles on February 23 after being sacked from her job at Roy's Rolls by Roy Cropper. The café owner later visited her with her wages and some extra cash to tide her over and his kindness was later taken as evidence that he was to blame for Lauren's death

However, weeks later and after a number of episodes shown the same day from different characters' perspectives, Roy was rightfully released from prison and the truth was finally revealed - but only to those watching at home - as Hope Stape presented him, unknowingly, with Lauren's necklace from his car before a flashback clip, Joel was seen brutally attacking Lauren with a chair leg.

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The residents of Weatherfield are still none the wiser that Joel was Lauren's 'secret boyfriend' who had showered her with expensive gifts but also left her shockingly bruised and is now the reason she has disappeared, with Bethany Platt's former abuser Nathan Curtis now charged with her death.

Joel, meanwhile, has been carrying on as normal, even proposing to Dee-Dee Bailey following a failed first meeting with his parents. But Corrie fans belive Bethany is on to Joel, despite him offering to help her after she discovered someone has been fraudulently using her old company credit card.

It was frenemy Daisy Midgeley who advised her to obtain copies of the statements in a bid to prove she couldn’t have made the purchases and soon after, she sought advice from Joel, not knowing what he was hiding. And recalling Lauren was sacked from her job for stealing from Bethany's purse, fans think they have discovered the truth about Lauren.

@34JJBeGone said: "Calling it now... last scenes of Lauren was her in Bethany's purse. Did she take a picture of Bethany's work credit card or somehow clone it? Bet the £5 fell out and she was putting it back. #Corrie." @MrAlParr added: "It’s definitely Lauren who’s been using Bethany’s credit card isn’t it, good on ya gal #Corrie."

In the meantime, it's been revealed that Joel will continue to pull the wool over his loved ones' eyes. In upcoming scenes, he opens up to Dee-Dee Bailey about his sadness at keeping their engagement from his parents. Joel then spots Sabrina Adetib in a state of distress outside the police station and learns her brother has been arrested. Joel hands her his business card and tells her to give him a call.

But as Sabrina’s friend joins her, Joel heads inside, pleased to have found a new target. Then, in scenes to air next week, Sabrina's mate reckons Joel's a creep and she should steer well clear and Sabrina realises she's been naïve. But later, while Dee-Dee gets ready for their engagement lunch, Joel furtively takes a call from Sabrina’s mate, telling him he has to meet her or he’ll regret it. What do they want?