Natalie Anderson is set to make a dramatic return to Coronation Street next month as Danielle Silverton. Danielle is the ex-wife of Theo and was last seen on the cobbles back in September.

The Sun reports that the actor is reprising the role in the aftermath of her ex-husband being exposed as a ‘serial abuser’.

The news comes just over a week after it was confirmed James Cartwright would be exiting the soap after a year of playing evil Theo.

Fans know that Theo has been abusing boyfriend Todd Grimshaw for months, with the couple’s friends and neighbours unaware of his dark side.

Theo was also responsible for the death of Billy Mayhew during the Corridale crossover episode earlier this year.

Theo and Todd recently ended their relationship, but the couple got back together earlier this week, much to the dismay of Todd’s boss George Shuttleworth.

Upcoming spoilers have shown that Theo will surprise Todd with a wedding ceremony after ‘forgetting’ to cancel their previously planned nuptials.

But it won’t all be happily ever after for Theo, as next week, Gary Windass will become the latest character to witness his abusive behaviour towards Todd.

Theo’s upcoming exit puts him firmly in the frame as one of the five characters who could be killed off in the soap’s big episode on 23 April.

The episode will see Carla Connor and Lisa Swain’s wedding take place before Betsy Swain discovers a dead body. A flashforward, which aired last month, saw Betsy being interviewed by police in the aftermath of her gruesome discovery.

Carl Webster, Jodie Ramsey, Maggie Driscoll and Megan Walsh are the other four residents under threat in the storyline.

Meanwhile, Cartwright recently spoke about Theo’s evil plans, ahead of him ambushing Todd with a wedding ceremony.

Explaining his character’s motives, Cartwright said: “Essentially he’s presenting it as this romantic grand gesture, but in springing it on him, he’s making sure that he doesn’t have a choice. He’s absolutely painting him into a corner.

“Another reason he’s springing it on him is so nobody else can torpedo the whole thing and talk Todd out of it. For Theo, the quicker it’s done, the less can be said, it’s almost too late if they’re already married.

“He knows he isn’t popular, he knows Summer’s onto him, he knows George and Christina are onto him, he knows Sarah is a bit suspicious and he doesn’t want anybody to get the opportunity to offer some clarity.
 So the quicker he rushes it through, the better.”