Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) is potentially the most toxic soap character that ever did exist. With a tongue as sharp as a machete and mean streak a mile wide, many a Coronation Street resident has wanted to lamp the nasty cow one over the years and next week, Abi Webster (Sally Carman-Duttine) follows through!

Abi is currently locked in a divorce battle with her ex-husband, Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) after she broke up with him when she came to realise that she couldn’t stay in a loveless marriage. The fact she’d been knocking off his brother, Carl Webster (Jonathan Howard) didn’t help matters, either.

Though they remained amicable before the reveal of the affair, things havebeen fraught ever since as Kevin has struggled to process the betrayal, while Abi sought refuge with Carl in his hotel, much to his chagrin.

You see, Carl is nowhere near as devoted to the fantasy of a rosy future with Abi as she is, and upon realising that the presence of her and her infant son, Alfie would ruin his fling with his side piece, James Bailey (Jason Callender), he sent them to live with Roy Cropper (David Neilson).

Following Carl’s romantic gesture next week, designed to keep Abi on side after she expresses her (quite accurate) doubt that Carl isn’t happy with their life together, Abi once again finds herself across the battlefield from Kevin, as the two come to blows over her parenting.

Later, in the Rover’s, Abi opens up to Carl over her very real doubts about her capabilities as a parent. Unfortunately, she chooses to do so in the presence of Tracy, who has a less than kind response.

Viewers will remember that Abi and Carl’s affair had previously been discovered by Tracy, with her going on to demand cash in exchange for her silence. Though Carl eventually dealt with her by having her shop smashed up and threatening her dad, Ken Barlow (William Roache), Tracy still has the knives out for the pair.

Tracy lets loose with the poison, slamming Abi as a terrible parent and an even worse human being. Though Abi initially warns her off, like a shark that smells the blood of wounded prey, Tracy continues to rattle off insults, all capped off with her trademark smug grin.

At the end of her tether, Abi responds to throwing a fist right at Tracy’s face, fixing her grin and shutting her up. The only problem with her method of quietening Tracy? Kevin walks in at the opportune time to witness the violence.