Coronation Street viewers are renowned for their loyalty, but even the most devoted fans are reaching breaking point as Todd Grimshaw’s harrowing ordeal continues to unfold.

Across social media, a chorus of upset and anger has erupted, with many pleading for ITV to bring the traumatic storyline involving Todd and his manipulative partner

Theo Silverton to an end. The consensus is painfully clear: the drama may be powerful, but for some, it has become almost unbearable to watch.

At the centre of the storm is Todd, once the witty, resilient undertaker who always found a flash of humour even in the darkest situations. Now, fans say, they are witnessing a man systematically stripped of confidence, independence and hope.

The spiral intensified in the aftermath of the devastating crash that killed Billy Mayhew. In scenes that stunned audiences, Theo appeared to leave Billy to die in the blazing wreckage, a moment many believe revealed just how far he might be capable of going. While the character has since shown flickers of regret, his behaviour towards Todd has only grown more chilling.

Instead of comfort, Todd faces control.

In recent episodes, viewers watched in disbelief as Theo tightened his grip financially, wrecking Todd’s bank cards and limiting his access to money. The humiliation continued at the corner shop, where already fragile nerves were shredded by casual teasing about his relationship and a visible love bite that quickly became the subject of cruel attention.

What might once have been brushed off left Todd raw. When taunts escalated, his temper snapped – a reaction that said more about the pressure he is under than any words could.

But the true horror came later.

Billy tragically died in the episode

Arriving home shaken, Todd discovered Theo already knew about the confrontation. The implication that others were reporting back, that he was being monitored, sent a chill through viewers. As Theo questioned him, demanded explanations and subtly twisted the narrative of their intimacy, Todd’s resistance seemed to drain away.

By the end of the exchange, he appeared trapped all over again.

For many watching, it was the final straw.

Jake wound Todd up about it all with a series of bizarre insults but Gary took his side during the ITV show

“This is heartbreaking,” wrote one long-time fan, echoing thousands of similar comments. Others admitted they now fast-forward through the couple’s scenes because the emotional toll is simply too much. Some fear the programme risks losing the warmth that made Todd such a beloved figure in the first place.

Yet amid the distress, there is also recognition of the importance of the subject matter. The show is shining a light on coercive control, manipulation and the complicated psychology that keeps victims tethered to harmful relationships. It is uncomfortable because it is meant to be.

Still, viewers are begging for hope.

They want rescue, accountability, release – some sign that Todd will not be left indefinitely in this nightmare. They want to see the character they love rebuild, not just endure.

Todd Grimshaw and Theo Silverton in Coronation Street

What makes the plot especially painful is the isolation creeping in around him. With Billy gone and trust fractured, Todd’s support system feels perilously thin. Each time Theo reasserts dominance, it reinforces the fear that escape is drifting further away.

Insiders insist the story has been carefully crafted and that the emotional payoff will matter. But right now, fans at home are living week to week with a sense of dread, unsure how much more suffering they can witness before relief arrives.

One message sums up the national mood: please let it end.

Whether ITV will heed that plea remains to be seen. But as Coronation Street continues to push Todd deeper into darkness, viewers are holding onto the belief that, someday soon, the cobbles must offer him a way back into the light.