ONE of ITV’s head honchos has appeared to leak the ending of one of the soap’s longest-running stories despite the show going to great lengths to keep up the mystery.
John Whiston works as the Managing Director for continuing drama at ITV but he has appeared to let slip just exactly what is going on with Lauren Bolton amid his disappearance.
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He has made a very telling comment which appears to signal a harrowing storyline for the teenage girl.
When asked to respond to a story about declining quality in Coronation Street by The Guardian, John appeared to confirm Lauren was being “groomed” and that was the reason behind her mystery disappearance.
So far, fans only know she disappeared in mysterious circumstances and while she was known to have an older boyfriend, it was never revealed or suggested that the character was a victim of grooming.
In his statement to the publication, John said: “Coronation Street is, and always has been, a mixture of characters you love, earthy humour and stories that matter such as the current Liam bullying storyline or the Lauren grooming storyline.”
It is the first time that anyone has linked Lauren’s disappearance to a potential grooming scandal.
His very telling words comes just days after The Sun exclusively revealed that Nathan Curtis, a character famously involved in the harrowing grooming of a teenage Bethany Platt, would be back on the soap within weeks.
Fans have already begun to predict that Nathan could in fact be linked to Lauren and be the one that has groomed and kidnapped her.
Viewers have been left convinced that Lauren, who had been working in the sex industry on OnlyFans at the time of her disappearance, could be one of his latest tragic victims.
Commenting online, one fan theorised: “I wonder if he has Lauren if he is the boyfriend?”
Another then added: “He is keeping Lauren hostage I think.”
A third went on to say: “Bet he is Lauren’s secret boyfriend! Another cheery storyline.”
Whilst a fourth insisted: “He kidnapped Lauren.”
During his first soap stint, Nathan targeted Bethany, played by Lucy Fallon, 28 — plying her with booze and drugs before abusing her in harrowing, award-winning scenes in 2017.
She tried to escape after being raped by Nathan and his gang, at which point he attempted to sell her into sex work abroad.
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Her attackers were jailed but Bethany will be terrified to discover next month that Nathan has been released.
A source said: “Nathan’s easily the worst villain Corrie’s ever produced.
“The grooming storyline was one of the soap’s most important. The hope is that revisiting it will boost the show.
“It’s a risk but it’s one that producers hope will pay off.”
Show legend Roy Cropper has since been jailed for her murder after DS Swain was hellbent on getting him locked up for the crime.
He has seen a baying mob come to his door after social media vigilantes targeted the innocent Roy and branded him a “pervert” and “twisted” despite only ever being a friend to Lauren.
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