Coronation Street is once again preparing to stir up romantic chaos on the cobbles, as the ITV soap confirms that Carl Webster is about to embark on yet another controversial love interest —

and this time, the fallout promises to be explosive. Following months of scandal, betrayal, and questionable decisions, Weatherfield’s most notorious heartbreaker

is turning his attention to a mysterious newcomer whose arrival already carries more secrets than answers.

Carl Webster has never been a stranger to trouble, but his recent run of storylines has cemented his reputation as one of the Street’s most unpredictable figures. From fractured relationships to dubious financial dealings and tangled affairs, Carl’s personal life has been a mess long before romance even enters the equation. Now, just as the dust begins to settle, Coronation Street is throwing another curveball into his orbit — and it comes in the form of Jodie Platt.

Jodie, the newly arrived sister of Shona Platt, is set to make waves in Weatherfield almost immediately. In scenes airing on Friday, January 23, viewers will see her step into the familiar surroundings of Roy’s café while Nina heads off to the wholesalers. What begins as an innocent offer to help quickly becomes something far more charged when Carl drops in — and sparks fly almost instantly.

The chemistry between Carl and Jodie is unmistakable. Their conversation crackles with flirtation, curiosity, and the kind of reckless energy that usually spells disaster on the cobbles. But while Carl is clearly enjoying the attention, not everyone is fooled by his charm. Watching the exchange from a distance is Abi Franklin — a woman who knows better than most just how dangerous Carl Webster can be.

Abi’s reaction is steeped in painful experience. She once tore her own life apart, blowing up her relationship with Kevin Webster in order to be with Carl — only to discover that his promises were empty and his loyalty nonexistent. The betrayal left deep scars, and Abi has little patience left for Carl’s familiar pattern of seduction followed by devastation.

Crucially, Abi isn’t short on evidence. She knows about Carl’s shady financial dealings. She knows about his affair with James. And she knows that beneath the charming exterior lies a man who rarely considers the damage he leaves behind. Determined not to see another woman fall into the same trap, Abi prepares to warn Jodie — but whether that warning will land is another matter entirely.

Because Jodie Platt is not the kind of woman who can easily be steered.

According to Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks, Jodie is very much a character with her own agenda. Played by Olivia Francis Brown, she arrives in Weatherfield with a spark of mischief, a sharp sense of independence, and a past that is far from straightforward. While Abi may attempt to paint Carl as a walking red flag, Jodie is described as someone who prefers to make up her own mind — even if that choice leads her straight into danger.

“Jodie is a really interesting character,” Brooks has teased. “She’s a bit of a troublemaker. She’s got a bit of mischief in her eyes. All is not what it seems with her.”

That sense of mystery is no accident. Jodie was first introduced during the dramatic Corrie crossover storyline, where viewers were stunned to see her tied up in the back of a van driven by Emmerdale character Graham Foster. Her brief but unforgettable introduction raised immediate questions — questions that Coronation Street is now ready to answer.

After crossing paths with her estranged sister Shona, Jodie made the decision to stick around, ostensibly to keep an eye on Shona and her husband David Platt. But as producer Kate Brooks has hinted, Jodie’s motivations run far deeper than simple family concern. Her presence in Weatherfield is set to unleash a cascade of secrets that will ripple through the Platt household and beyond.

“We’ll find out exactly why she was in that van,” Brooks confirmed. “We’ll find out what her link to Graham is. She’s going to bring an awful lot of drama.”

That drama looks set to collide head-on with Carl Webster’s already volatile life. On the surface, Carl and Jodie may appear well-matched — both rebellious, both unapologetically bold, and both seemingly unafraid of chaos. But long-time viewers know that Carl’s romantic entanglements rarely end well, and the introduction of a woman with her own hidden agenda only raises the stakes.

What makes this pairing particularly intriguing is the power dynamic. Unlike Carl’s previous partners, Jodie is not portrayed as naïve or easily manipulated. She has secrets of her own, a past she’s clearly running from, and a willingness to stir trouble rather than avoid it. This raises the possibility that Carl, for once, may not be the one in control.

For Abi, that possibility offers little comfort. Watching Carl flirt so effortlessly — as if the wreckage he’s left behind never existed — is a painful reminder of how easily he moves on. Her concern for Jodie is genuine, but it’s also laced with unresolved hurt and anger. The tension between Abi’s warnings and Jodie’s defiance promises emotionally charged scenes as the storyline unfolds.

Meanwhile, the Platt family is bracing itself for impact. Jodie’s arrival alone is enough to unsettle an already fragile household, and her growing connection to Carl only complicates matters further. With David Platt never far from confrontation and Shona caught between loyalty and suspicion, the stage is set for conflict on multiple fronts.

Kate Brooks has emphasised that Jodie is a character who will reveal herself slowly. “There are a lot of layers to her,” she explained. “The audience are going to have a lot of fun unpeeling those.” That gradual unraveling suggests that what begins as a flirtatious subplot could quickly evolve into something far darker — and far more consequential.

For Carl Webster, this new romance may represent another attempt to outrun his past. But Coronation Street rarely allows characters to escape without consequence. Whether Jodie becomes his next victim, his equal, or his undoing remains to be seen.

One thing is certain: with secrets simmering, loyalties tested, and old wounds threatening to reopen, Carl’s next love interest is anything but straightforward. As Weatherfield prepares for yet another storm, viewers can expect passion, betrayal, and revelations that could change the Street forever.