Trouble is closing in fast on Coronation Street’s most silver-tongued schemer, and this time, Carl Webster may finally be running out of places to hide.

Just weeks after arriving on the cobbles, Carl has already cemented himself as one of Weatherfield’s most dangerously deceptive characters — and in the coming episodes,

yet another dark secret threatens to blow his carefully constructed world apart. From the outside, Carl presents himself as charming, quick-witted, and endlessly persuasive.

But beneath that polished surface lies a man drowning in debt, desperation, and moral compromise. Since his arrival, Carl has spun an ever-expanding web of lies, dragging family, lovers, and colleagues into his orbit — often without them realising just how badly they’re being manipulated.

Carl’s financial desperation has driven him to increasingly reckless behaviour. Strapped for cash and unwilling to face the consequences of his choices, he has already sunk to extreme lows. Viewers have watched him fake banknotes, steal cars from his own brother’s garage, and exploit every opportunity to make quick money, regardless of who gets hurt along the way. Each crime has been justified in Carl’s mind as temporary — a means to an end — but the damage he leaves behind continues to pile up.

Perhaps most disturbingly, Carl’s latest scheme targets someone who should have been untouchable: his sister, Debbie Webster. In one of the soap’s most unsettling storylines, Carl has been deliberately manipulating Debbie into believing her dementia symptoms are worsening. Using subtle gaslighting and emotional pressure, he convinces her that she’s becoming increasingly forgetful and incapable of managing her business affairs. The result? Debbie reluctantly grants him access to her hotel business accounts, trusting her brother to “help” protect her interests.

In reality, Carl has been quietly transferring large sums of money into his own accounts, lining his pockets while his sister’s health and confidence deteriorate. It’s a betrayal that cuts deeply, not only because of the financial theft, but because of the cruel emotional manipulation involved. For many viewers, this marks Carl’s most unforgivable act yet.

But has Carl finally flown too close to the sun?

In scenes set to air on Wednesday, December 31st, cracks begin to form in his plan. Carl is still reeling from the sudden and shocking death of his estranged mother. Overcome with grief and unresolved guilt, he decides he needs to see her body to say a final goodbye. Debbie’s fiancé, Ronnie Bailey, offers to accompany him, unaware that Carl’s secrets are already on the verge of exposure back home.

While Carl is distracted, events at the hotel take a dangerous turn. Debbie’s trusted right-hand man, Ryan Connor, steps in to manage things in Carl’s absence. When Ryan receives a call chasing up an unpaid invoice, he attempts to access the business accounts to resolve the issue — only to find himself locked out. The passwords have been changed, and alarm bells immediately begin to ring.

Ryan is no stranger to trouble, but even he senses something is seriously wrong. The sudden change in account access, combined with Carl’s recent behaviour, raises red flags that are impossible to ignore. Suspicion hardens into concern as Ryan realises that Carl may be hiding far more than he’s letting on. The question now is whether Ryan will confront Carl directly — or take his findings straight to Debbie, potentially detonating a family bombshell.

And this is only one front in Carl Webster’s rapidly collapsing double life.

Elsewhere, the walls are closing in from another, deeply personal angle. Carl’s already messy love life has taken a scandalous turn after his shocking affair was recently uncovered by Abby. Having embarked on an official relationship with his brother’s wife, Carl initially appeared to be embracing domestic life. But predictably, boredom soon set in. Craving excitement and validation, he reignited his passionate fling with James Bailey, plunging himself into yet another dangerous secret.

The affair has been unfolding right under Abby’s nose. Carl and James have been sneaking around behind her back, even hooking up in Carl’s new flat — a betrayal that adds insult to injury. Their reckless behaviour suggests a man who believes he’s untouchable, convinced that his charm will always provide an escape route.

Last week’s episodes delivered a chilling turning point. Already suspicious, Abby decided to check Carl’s phone while he slept. What she discovered left her devastated. Flirty, intimate messages between Carl and James confirmed her worst fears: Carl had been cheating, lying, and playing both sides all along. Shockingly, Abby chose not to expose him immediately, opting instead to keep the discovery to herself — at least for now.

That silence may prove far more dangerous than confrontation.

Abby is known for her fiery temper and emotional intensity, and viewers know she rarely lets betrayal go unpunished. The question hanging over Weatherfield is not if Abby will confront Carl — but how. Will she explode in public, exposing Carl’s infidelity to everyone at once? Or will she bide her time, plotting a more calculated form of revenge that could destroy Carl’s relationships one by one?

As these storylines collide, Carl Webster finds himself under siege from all sides. His financial crimes are on the verge of exposure. His emotional manipulation of Debbie could soon come to light. His secret affair has been discovered. And his carefully maintained image as the charming rogue is beginning to crack.

What makes Carl such a compelling — and deeply unsettling — character is his refusal to take responsibility. Even in moments of grief, even when faced with the consequences of his actions, Carl’s instinct is to deflect, deceive, and manipulate. He believes he can always talk his way out of trouble. But Coronation Street history tells us that no secret stays buried forever.

For Debbie, the fallout could be devastating. Learning that her own brother exploited her illness for financial gain would be a betrayal unlike any other — one that could permanently fracture their relationship and leave her questioning her own reality. For Abby, Carl’s infidelity threatens to unleash a storm of rage and heartbreak. And for Carl himself, the coming weeks may mark the beginning of a long-overdue reckoning.

So, can Carl Webster talk his way out of this one? Or has his luck finally run out?

As grief, greed, and betrayal collide, Coronation Street is setting the stage for an explosive unravelling — and when Carl’s secrets finally come crashing down, the damage may be irreversible.