Evelyn’s upcoming absence means no one’s keeping an eye on her dodgy daughter Cassie. This could spell trouble for Ken, as Cassie is poisoning the Barlow patriarch to make him ill enough to need her to continue as his carer – she even drugged his festive sherry… “Ken and Cassie’s friendship is genuine but Cassie has had a bad life,” says Brooks. “She’s made mistakes and it’s hard to shake off that persona. She’ll be struggling with the good angel and the bad angel on her shoulder, which way is she going to go? It’s going to get good!” With Tracy and Amy both suspicious of Cassie’s motives, could they expose her poisoning plot, or become her next victim?

Drama for Dee-Dee

Dee-Dee was at the centre of the drama in 2024 thanks to her doomed romance with the villainous Joel, but even after his death the bad boy continues to cause chaos. Having decided to continue with her unplanned pregnancy in the hope the baby could be a donor for Lauren’s sick son Frankie, Dee-Dee is adamant she doesn’t want to raise Joel’s child and plans to have it adopted. But Brooks confirms there’s a curveball coming… “Just when you thought the Joel story had come to an end, there is another chapter that is completely going to upend Dee-Dee’s life!”

Love is in the air for Todd

Romance is on the cards for one of the street’s singletons, bringing a new element to one of Corrie’s most loved clans. “There might be a new man for Todd coming in 2025,” grins Brooks. “He’s been single for donkey’s years and he’s fantastic. This new relationship will come with its own tests and trials, but I’m eager to explore the Grimshaws a bit more.”

Comings and goings

As well as Rob’s confirmed comeback and Evelyn’s imminent exit, Brooks hints there could be a revolving door of mysterious comings and goings on the street throughout the year, with old faces returning and more departures in the pipeline. “There are a few unexpected exits in 2025 that will cause shockwaves. And you’ll see some other familiar faces returning to cause their own forms of chaos, which I will not disclose just yet…”

Alya tames Adam?

There’s a smile a mile wide on Adam Barlow’s face these days thanks to his burgeoning romance with Alya, who recently returned after actress Sair Khan’s maternity leave, and Brooks promises there’s more to come from the cute couple. “Alya and Adam are definitely a slow burn, I think it’ll be really interesting to see that develop in the solicitors’ office.” With a chequered history as a womaniser, can Alya tame her fellow legal eagle into a one-woman man?

New family exposes Kit’s past

Finally, Brooks confirms a new family are arriving in February who promise to shake things up with some rough and ready charm. “Mick, Lou and their kids will be living on Mawdsley Street, at the back of Chesney’s house across the ginnel. They are livewire ruffians who come in all guns blazing to cause a lot of damage and chaos! There is a link to Chesney initially but they are coming in to unpack Kit’s past. It’s really interesting and dynamic stuff. Lou and Mick are overfamiliar, likeable with a bit of charm, but you wouldn’t want to get on the wrong side of them – especially Mick!”