Coronation Street to reveal Gary Windass’s attacker in a dramatic flashback
Coronation Street spoilers follow.
The truth about how Gary Windass ended up in a coma is finally revealed on Coronation Street next week – as frantic Maria Connor searches for her missing husband.
While fears grow that something sinister has happened to him, Gary’s nearest and dearest still have no idea he’s fighting for his life in hospital.
A series of dramatic flashbacks explain what put him there, but who is the mysterious visitor at his bedside?
After Maria reports Gary as missing to the police early next week, Kit Green does some digging and discovers there’s been a report from the hospital of an unidentified coma patient. Could this be missing Gary?
Meanwhile, Maria shares her concerns with Sarah Barlow, informing her that Gary hasn’t made any kind of bank transaction in almost three weeks.
Earwigging on the conversation is nervous Nina Lucas, whose blood runs cold as she listens to the details of Gary’s disappearance. Putting the pieces together, she seeks out Summer Spellman and reveals she’s concocted a theory…
Gary’s last known banking activity was the same day as the ill-fated midsummer party where Nina and Summer took drugs. The girls have a hazy memory of a disturbing encounter with a mystery man that ended with Nina pushing him in self-defence before fleeing the scene.
Nina is convinced she hurt somebody while high on LSD, and surmises to Summer it might have been Gary. Was he a casualty of Nina and Summer’s hallucinogenic drugs trip? And will the girls come clean to the cops or keep quiet for fear of reprisals?
The investigation into Gary’s whereabouts continues, and Kit’s enquiries lead to a dead end – or so he thinks…
“Kit tells Maria that Gary isn’t the coma patient that was brought in,” explains Samia Longchambon, who plays Maria.
“It’s bittersweet for Maria – of course she’s glad Gary isn’t in a coma, although little does she know he actually is! At the same time, she’s worried even more now because he could be in a worse condition – or even dead.”
But why was Gary not identified, when viewers know he’s the one fighting for his life? An explanation begins to emerge when a nurse tells a woman visiting Gary that ‘Chesney’ is making progress – why are they calling the patient by a different name?
At this point Corrie turns back the clock for flashbacks that fill in the blanks between Gary storming out on Maria to being kept alive by machines.
Who was responsible for the brutal attack, and which kind soul made sure he got medical help? Is Nina right, and could she and Summer be in serious trouble for leaving a defenceless man for dead?
Who is the female visitor keeping vigil at the hospital, and why have they lied to doctors about Gary’s true identity? Is her presence putting him in more danger?