There’s six suspects for the murder of Theo Silverton (James Cartwright) but only one already has blood on their hands – Coronation Street’s reformed bad boy Gary Windass (Mikey North) might not be so reformed.

Evil Theo had his fair shame of enemies. Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce) suffered routine physical, emotional, financial and sexual abuse from the monster for the best part of a year.

Needless to say, Todd’s close friends George Shuttleworth (Tony Maudsley) and Christina Boyd (Amy Robbins) had reason to want Theo gone. So did Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby), whose adoptive dad Billy Mayhew (Daniel Brocklebank) was let to die by Theo.

Finally, hell hath no fury like the scorned ex-wife, Danielle Silverton (Natalie Anderson).

Then there’s Gary Windass, the only person on that list who could have been called Theo’s friend.

Gary does not like bullies. When his stepson Liam Connor (Charlie Wrenshall) was being tormented at school by the cruel, Garry attacked the teenager in amoment of fury.

This is Gary all over. Or at least it was. He might have mellowed a little since settling down with Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon), but there’s a couple of skeletons in his closet – literally.Not only was Gary responsible for the factory roof collapse that resulted in the death of Rana Habeeb (Bhavna Limbachia), but he shifted the blame to Carla Connor (Alison King). Then he killed ruthless loan shark Rick Neelan (Greg Wood) in self-defence, before taking over the criminal’s business and becoming just as ruthless.

Gary may have a trigger-hare temper, but most of his more destructive actions come out of a desire to protect the people nearest to him. He’s strong, loyal and does not like being taken for a fool.

Hence why he hated Theo.

The two started off as best mates.Gary shared a real camaraderie with Theo and even employed him as a scaffolder at the builder’s yard.

But Theo pulled the wool over Gary’s eyes. Just like he did everyone else. Gary didn’t see his so-called friend’s true colours even during Theo’s shotgun wedding, where poor Todd was practically marched down the aisle against his will. It wasn’t until Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) listed all the red flags in their relationship to Gary until the truth finally dawned.

Betrayed and furious, Gary not only fired Theo and ended their friendship but he implicitly threatened his life. After Theo brutally attacked Todd and put him in hospital, Gary drove the abuser to the police station under threat of being battered with a wrench if he didn’t come quietly.

Then when Theo refused to leave Coronation Street and flouted his protection order against Todd, Gary turned nasty and smashed his van with a sledgehammer… which was unfortunately caught on CCTV. Then there’s the small matter of the text he sent to Theo’s phone immediately after – I’M COMING FOR YOU. Eep.

This week, in the explosive aftermath of Theo’s murder,Gary is taking steps to eradicate the incriminating evidence that makes him look suspicious. Today’s trip to the Cobbles saw the bad-boy builder delete the CCTV footage showing him smashing up Theo’s van.

Unfortunately for Gary, Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) is on the case – and he’s already suspicious. Upcoming episodes of Coronation Street will see the Cobbles copper start to pursue Gary more and more in his quest to find Theo’s killer.

In next Monday’s episode, Kit and Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) agree that Gary’s alibi doesn’t stack up. But do they think Gary’s the killer?

It certainly seems that way on Wednesday, when the police call at the builder’s yard and start gathering potential evidence, including some scaffolding poles. Looks like Gary’s in ‘pole position’ as suspect number one.

But the investigation hits a dead end when Lisa tells Kit that they couldn’t retrieve the deleted CCTV footage from Gary’s computer and they’re back to square one in their search for Theo’s killer. But Kit’s not giving up, and later on the street, he approaches Gary and makes it clear that he’s still his number one suspect.

Did Gary do it? And will he get away with murder… again?