The cobbles of Coronation Street are never short of drama, betrayal, and secrets lurking just beneath the surface—but next week, the chaos hits explosive new levels. At the center of the storm is Carl, whose reckless appetite for deceit and destruction has already shaken the Webster family to its core. But just when it seems like he can’t stoop any lower, viewers will watch in disbelief as Abi discovers Carl entangled in yet another shocking betrayal—this time with James.

Carl has long been painted as Weatherfield’s master manipulator, but his recent schemes have revealed a side to him that’s far darker than even his fiercest critics imagined. Not only has he been carrying on an illicit affair with his brother Kevin’s wife, Abi Webster, but he has also been dabbling in criminal activities that range from running dodgy car theft operations to intimidating rival families. His manipulation of Debbie Webster, who is struggling with dementia, proves just how cruel he can be. Instead of offering her comfort and stability, Carl twists her fragile reality, convincing her that her suspicions about him and Abi are nothing but figments of her illness.

Abi herself is far from blameless. Though she initially fought against Carl’s advances, her resentment toward Kevin only pushed her closer into his brother’s arms. The breaking point came when Abi uncovered Kevin’s deception about his cancer treatment. Believing he had been lying about ongoing treatments while secretly being in remission, she felt both betrayed and suffocated by his dreams of their future. It was then that Abi fully surrendered to Carl’s advances, meeting him in secret at the Chariot Square Hotel—the very place Carl seems to conduct much of his dirty business.

This web of lies spiraled further out of control when Tracy Barlow caught Carl and Abi together. True to form, Tracy demanded money for her silence. But Carl, unwilling to be blackmailed, retaliated with brutal force, wrecking her shop and terrifying her father, Ken Barlow. For Abi, that was a line too far, but the guilt of her choices left her trapped between exposing Carl or continuing the affair in silence. In the end, she chose to walk away from her marriage, leaving Kevin blindsided, though she never revealed the true cause—Carl.

Now, the fallout is coming faster than anyone expected. Next week, Debbie stumbles upon a hotel key in Abi’s possession—the same hotel Carl has been frequenting. Suspicious and unwilling to let the matter drop, Debbie confronts Abi in the garage. Abi stutters through flimsy excuses, claiming the key is from an old stay, but Debbie’s sharp instincts tell her otherwise. The tension escalates until Carl intervenes, spinning a twisted narrative that Debbie’s dementia is clouding her judgment. The cruelty of his manipulation shocks even Abi, who realizes just how ruthless her lover truly is.

But Carl’s deceit doesn’t stop there. In a jaw-dropping twist, Abi later walks in on him sharing a passionate kiss with James. The scene is as heartbreaking as it is scandalous. For Abi, who sacrificed her marriage and reputation for Carl, it’s the ultimate betrayal. Her world, already fractured by her choices, crumbles completely as she witnesses the truth she never anticipated. And for viewers, it’s another layer of Carl’s tangled web—proving he isn’t just duplicitous but dangerously unpredictable.

While Abi reels from the revelation, other storylines in Weatherfield add even more drama to the week ahead. Fans have been buzzing with theories about newcomer Ali, who has been growing closer to Dee Bailey. Their chemistry has been undeniable, but many viewers sense something sinister lurking beneath his charming exterior. Ali’s strange curiosity about other Weatherfield residents—especially during Carla Connor and Lisa Swain’s engagement celebrations—has raised red flags. And his secretive phone call after a tense double date with Dee only deepened suspicions. Promising to “dig for information” while eyeing Toya Battersby, Ali hinted that his arrival in Weatherfield might not be as innocent as it first appeared.

Meanwhile, another major storyline takes center stage when Bernie Winter takes bold action against Naomi, a malicious figure who previously subjected Asha Alahan to vile racist abuse. After discovering damning content on Naomi’s laptop, Bernie seizes the opportunity during a careers fair to publicly expose Naomi in front of a stunned audience. The explosive reveal leaves Naomi furious, vowing to retaliate with legal action against Bernie. For Asha, already deeply shaken by the trauma Naomi inflicted, the fallout creates fresh turmoil within the Alahan family, forcing them to brace for another battle.

These interconnected storylines highlight what Coronation Street does best: weaving together tales of betrayal, resilience, and shocking revelations that ripple through the community. Carl’s betrayal of Abi—compounded by his shocking kiss with James—has the potential to reshape multiple relationships across Weatherfield. Will Abi finally find the courage to expose him, even if it means admitting her own guilt? Will Debbie see through Carl’s manipulations, or will her illness leave her vulnerable to his schemes? And how will Kevin react if the truth about Carl and Abi ever comes to light?

Viewers are also left wondering about the true intentions of Ali. His obsession with Toya hints at a hidden agenda that could unravel in dangerous ways. Is he connected to someone from Weatherfield’s past, or is he here with motives that go far beyond romance? Dee’s heart may be softening toward him, but the storm clouds gathering suggest heartbreak—or worse—may be on the horizon.

And with Naomi’s feud against Asha escalating, Bernie’s bold intervention could either empower her stepdaughter or make her life even more difficult. Naomi’s threats of lawsuits and her vengeful streak mean this battle is far from over. For Asha, who has worked so hard to build her career as a paramedic, the risk of being dragged further into Naomi’s games could jeopardize everything she has fought for.

As all these threads collide, Weatherfield is set for one of its most dramatic weeks yet. From Carl’s shocking double betrayal, to Ali’s suspicious behavior, to Bernie’s fearless exposure of Naomi, the cobbles will be rattled with secrets, lies, and explosive confrontations. And at the heart of it all is one question: how much longer can these characters keep their secrets buried before the whole street learns the truth?

For Abi, catching Carl and James together is more than just a betrayal—it’s a devastating wake-up call. But whether she chooses to confront him, expose his lies, or sink further into the chaos, one thing is certain: the fallout will leave Weatherfield reeling.

Coronation Street continues to air on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays at 8:00 PM on ITV1 and streams on ITVX.