Corrie star says Roy arrest twist is 'going to get worse' as first look unveiled

11 March 2024 , 07:00

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Coronation Street legend David Neilson has spoke about his character's shock new storyline (Image: ITV)

Coronation Street legend David Neilson has spoke about his character's shock new storyline.

In upcoming episodes, Weatherfield icon Roy Cropper finds himself under suspicion and wrongly arrested for the possible murder of former employee Lauren Bolton. Only recently, troubled youngster Lauren abruptly left the cobbles and love interest Bobby has been left concerned after he found her flat unlocked with Lauren nowhere to be seen after her earlier claims that she was going to flee Weatherfield.

Soap fans never saw Lauren leave and it seems she told no one close to her of her plan aside from Roy given she immediately vanished. In recent episodes, a concerned Bobby called at Lauren's flat again to find no answer, so he headed to the police station to report her missing. On Friday night, Bobby only got more and more suspicious of Roy, especially when he found him cleaning Lauren's flat despite the character innocently trying to help.

Coronation Street legend David Neilson has spoke about his character's shock new storyline (ITV)

In upcoming scenes things only get worse for Roy as DS Lisa Swain returns to the cobbles and becomes a soap regular, fans will see the finger of suspicion fall upon both Daniel Osborne and Roy with the latter wrongly arrested for Lauren's possible murder.

This week, on Friday 15 March, Roy is taken in for questioning by the police. In a cruel twist, when news of his arrest hits the internet he finds himself a virtual prisoner in his own home, as social media sleuths and vigilantes become intrigued by the case and the local café owner's alleged involvement.

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Things go from bad to worse when Roy decides to attend a vigil for the missing teenager, where he is heckled by a baying mob who are filming him on their phone. In a bid to protect Roy, his nearest and dearest beg him to keep a low profile. However, Roy soon finds himself unsafe everywhere, even in his beloved Roy's Rolls as two thugs lock him inside and demand to know what he has done with Lauren.

Coronation Street legend David, 74, has opened up about his character Roy's new storyline, which will air throughout spring and summer, as the beloved café owner struggles to come to terms with a situation that he doesn't understand. David said of Bobby's suspicions of Roy, which lead to his arrest: "He knows that Bobby has a sort of crush on Lauren, I think he understands why Bobby has acted in that way.

Things go from bad to worse when Roy decides to attend a vigil for the missing teenager, where he is heckled by a baying mob (ITV)

"I don't think he puts any blame on anyone. It's just that he keeps making crucial errors which I enjoy because I mean, there's got to be a sort of comic side to something so dark. But when you see somebody doing something they shouldn’t the audience is going to be shouting no at the screen! He is complex, he does these things without giving any thought to it causing him a problem. It is fun to play."

Things only get worse for Roy due to his honesty, which leaves him looking more suspicious. David said of Roy's truthfulness causing his downfall: "Obviously this is the issue but his truthfulness is something I've always tried to establish. This is because he cannot cope with grey areas or with subterfuge, his brain wouldn’t be able to cope. So it's easier if it's better for him to know what he feels is right and wrong.

"He can be corrected and will discuss things, but it needs to have values, it's something about him. I think he'd just go mad otherwise. I always feel he is just hanging in there anyway. He doesn't do things to make people like him, he is just him. He is his own worst enemy. That's really what it is."

Talking about playing Roy and feeling protective over his character, David said: "I respect the character a lot, I think he's made a difference and I put a lot into it. He came in as 'Creepy Cropper'... I remember when I first came into the show and I was in York somewhere and there was a couple chatting and one said to the other: 'There’s that weirdo from Coronation Street' and I thought: 'Wow!'

Coronation Street legend David Neilson, 74, has opened up about his character Roy's new storyline

"Then of course over time he sort of evolved and people seem to like him and I love him. I think what people love is his struggle with life and this is part of his struggle. He's sort of on the ropes with this one. But he hasn't got any choice, it has happened to him again. He continues to do what he thinks is the right thing, he can't do any other.

"Now that's the problem. If he could, I think he would. That's what everyone around him is telling him to do, to behave like others, be more what other people would consider 'normal' but he's not like that. He can't be like that. Otherwise he wouldn't be in this situation and it is only going to get worse."

Olivia Wheeler