Coronation Street fans are certain they know what is really wrong with Roy Cropper and it’s truly heartbreaking.

The beloved character (David Neilson) made his debut way back in 1995 – rocking up as the neighbour of Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride) in a block of flats. And it didn’t take him long to quickly become a hit with fans.

Over the course of his 30-year stint on the long-running soap, the café owner has been at the forefront of many major storylines.

Most notably, his marriage to wife Hayley (Julie Hesmondhalgh). The pair got together in the late nineties and became one of TV’s most loved and enduring couples.

However, fans are now convinced that a heartbreaking twist is in store for Roy following a series of health issues which fans think could foreshadow something serious.

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Recently, he has been complaining about a bad back and was told by Carla Connor (Alison King) to get it checked out, especially as she wants him to walk her down the aisle, following her recent engagement to Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers).

Roy later ended up visiting the hospital for an appointment. But now, fans can’t help but think that the soap could be set to kill Roy off in what would be a truly devastating twist.

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On a Coronation Street Facebook fan page, one person wrote: “Roy’s back pain is going to turn into something serious isn’t it?” A second chimed in: “I thought this. They’re killing him off probably.” A third mused: “Probs cancer.” Another also wrote: “OMG I hope not!”

With Roy being a soap legend, it came as no surprise earlier this year that actor David Neilson took home a British Soap Award for Outstanding Achievement for the role of Roy Cropper.

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His former co-star Julie presented the award and gushed about her acting partner: “Thanks to David Neilson’s gentle brilliance, Roy stayed and slayed and has been one of the most loved characters in soap ever since.”

Julie also described working with David as “one of the great privileges of my career.”