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‘Coronation Street': Justice for Seb at last as Corey is charged with his murder

Nina Lucas and Seb Franklin are set to be attacked on Coronation Street. (ITV/Danielle Baguley)
Nina Lucas and Seb Franklin are set to be attacked on Coronation Street. (ITV/Danielle Baguley)

It’s been a harrowing six months for Coronation Street’s Abi Franklin (or Webster now, as she and partner Kevin have tied the knot).

In May, Abi’s (Sally Carman) son Seb was murdered in a brutal hate crime that also targeted his girlfriend Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher) because of her gothic style.

Months later the soap revisited that night in flashbacks which included Seb’s last conscious moments, in a haunting final performance by Harry Visinoni.

Read more: Sally Carman: I always end up playing down and outs

During Friday’s hour-long episode, his killer Corey Brent (Maximus Evans) was finally brought to justice.

And it was worth the wait.


FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Tuesday 26th October 2021

Coronation Street - Ep 10470

Monday 1st November 2021 - 1st Ep

Corey Brent [MAXIMUS EVANS] demands Stu Carpenter [BILL FELLOWS] hands over the contents of the backpack. Stu feigns ignorance. 

Picture desk contact - David.crook@itv.com

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on  www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Maximus Evans as Corey in Corrie (ITV)

It’s been a distressing storyline recounting a very real, senseless crime. Seb’s death also became the catalyst for a true ensemble piece, as several characters were immediately drawn in.

From Nina’s uncle Roy Cropper (played by David Neilson, who provided some of the year’s most stand-out scenes) to the usually-comical Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin), the plot made an impact across the Street and raised important conversations about acceptance.

The attack left Nina a shell of her former self as she pulled away from her signature look and hid away. Mollie Gallagher gave poignant performances throughout as Nina slowly regained her sense of self, unwilling to let what happened change who she was for good.

FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Tuesday 31st August 2021

Coronation Street - Ep 10424

Friday 10th September 2021 - 1st Ep

Back in court the verdict is in, will justice be served? Pictured Roy Cropper [DAVID NEILSON] and Nina Lucas [MOLLIE GALLAGHER]

Picture contact David.crook@itv.com 

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on  www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Roy and Nina waited a long time for justice to be served (ITV)

When the soap aired the murder trial back in September, fans were outraged when Corey was acquitted while accomplice Kelly Neelan (Millie Gibson) was found guilty. Kelly was by no means the innocent party here, but she didn’t deserve to be framed.

Yet Corey was merely on borrowed time. Over the past year, Coronation Street has tackled terminal illness and coercive control with great sensitivity; so the show certainly wasn’t going to let itself down now.

Read more: Corrie stars played volleyball during dramatic scenes

Recently, Abi very nearly gunned Corey down in revenge. While he escaped unscathed, his blood-stained clothes from the attack were found soon after. With crucial evidence at last, the race was on to make another arrest.

This week, it looked like Corey was going to flee the country alongside dad Stefan (played by soap veteran Paul Opacic).


FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Tuesday 26th October 2021

Coronation Street - Ep 10474

Friday 5th November 2021 - 1st Ep

Stefan Brent [PAUL OPACIC] orders Corey Brent [MAXIMUS EVANS] to pack his things as Christian is on his way with a van and some cash. Christian pulls up at the office in his van. Stefan and Corey climb in the back. 

Picture desk contact - David.crook@itv.com

Photographer - Danielle Baguley

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on  www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Stefan (Paul Opacic) and Orey (Maximus Evans) plotting to escape the street (ITV)

But tonight their luck finally ran out when Gary Windass (Mikey North) intercepted their getaway vehicle and drove them straight to the police station. “End of the road, boys,” Gary declared.

It was a clever and dignified resolution; and the perfect contrast to the way soap sinners often get their comeuppance — kicking and screaming and inflicting more violence. It was the best example of soap justice we’ve seen since Geoff Metcalfe was verbally annihilated in court last year.

Detective Swain, played by Vicky Myers, gave Corey a grilling worthy of a prime time drama. Sure, all she got back was “no comment”, but this didn’t actually matter as the police had more than enough evidence to seal his fate.

FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Tuesday 24th August 2021


Coronation Street - Ep 10420

Friday 3rd September 2021 - 1st Ep

Outside court, Abi Franklin [SALLY CARMAN] rails at Stefan Brent [PAUL OPACIC] and suggests itÕs time his son started telling the truth. 

Picture contact David.crook@itv.com 

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on  www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Sally Carman gives an electrifying performance as Abi Franklin (ITV)

Upon walking free all those weeks ago, Corey had cruelly winked at Abi and now she got the chance to return the favour. When she later triumphantly punched the air over his incarceration, Abi had the support of the nation.

As realisation dawned on Corey, he switched from callous to quivering wreck for the second time in as many weeks. Through his chilling portrayal, Maximus Evans has surely earned his character a place on the list of Corrie’s most notorious villains.

Actress Sally Carman’s dedication to the story has kept us gripped, too. The memory of that electric showdown between Abi and Corey during ITV’s ‘Super Soap Week’, in which Sally exuded every ounce of Abi’s pain and trauma, is still fresh in my mind.

FROM ITV

STRICT EMBARGO - No Use Before Tuesday 12th October 2021

Coronation Street - Ep 10460

Wednesday 20th October 2021 - 1st Ep

Trapped in the sewer and with the water rising around them Abi Franklin [SALLY CARMAN] and Corey Evans [MAXIMUS EVANS] have a face off 

Picture contact David.crook@itv.com 

Photographer - Danielle Baguley

This photograph is (C) ITV Plc and can only be reproduced for editorial purposes directly in connection with the programme or event mentioned above, or ITV plc. Once made available by ITV plc Picture Desk, this photograph can be reproduced once only up until the transmission [TX] date and no reproduction fee will be charged. Any subsequent usage may incur a fee. This photograph must not be manipulated [excluding basic cropping] in a manner which alters the visual appearance of the person photographed deemed detrimental or inappropriate by ITV plc Picture Desk. This photograph must not be syndicated to any other company, publication or website, or permanently archived, without the express written permission of ITV Picture Desk. Full Terms and conditions are available on  www.itv.com/presscentre/itvpictures/terms
Corey and Abi faced off during Corrie's super soap week (ITV)

She has won glowing acclaim for her captivating portrayal, and tonight will no doubt see another outpouring of well-deserved praise.

Ultimately, Coronation Street delivered another unmissable instalment. It was a strong and satisfying conclusion, and the pay-off viewers were hoping for.

Coronation Street airs four nights a week on ITV.

Watch Sally Carman talk on White Wine Question Time about Corrie