Coronation Street’s Rowan Cunliffe made a huge mistake in Wednesday’s episode, as Nick Tilsley realised he had all the evidence he needed to bring him down.
Coronation Street viewers were in for an unexpected turn of events on Wednesday (August 14) as Nick Tilsley caught Rowan Cunliffe red-handed in his blackmail scheme. Leanne Battersby has been increasingly distant from her partner Nick due to her involvement with Rowan’s “self-improvement group” called The Institute.
Leanne’s fixation on the dubious organisation led to tensions mounting as Nick started to harbour feelings for her sister Toyah, eventually resulting in an affair. Rowan, seizing an opportunity, snapped a photograph of the illicit pair and wielded it as leverage, coercing Nick to cough up cash and pressuring him to dump funds into The Institute.
In a pivotal moment, Leanne began to extricate herself from the cult-like grip of The Institute, disregarding Rowan’s orders to visit Toyah in the hospital post-cancer surgery.
Amidst these trying times, Nick divulged his true sentiments to Toyah; he was in love with her and yearned for them to be together. Nonetheless, Toyah posited they suppress their desires for the betterment of Leanne caught in The Institute’s clutches, reports the Express.
The plot thickened when Rowan’s latest ploy spiralled out of control; he left a voicemail ordering Nick to invest £20k by midnight or face exposure over the tryst with Toyah. This backfired spectacularly when Nick shared the incriminating message with Toyah and hatched a plan to bring Rowan down.
Determined, Nick stood his ground, threatening to alert the police of Rowan’s extortion tactics, to which past offences would only add misery, and made it clear that The Institute wouldn’t receive a penny from him.
Nick was adamant as he confronted Rowan, declaring: “This voicemail proves you’re trying to extort me.” He then confidently stated: “Leanne is exactly where she belongs and that’s with me.”
Rowan felt unnerved by Nick’s bold stance and quickly devised a fresh scheme to reclaim Leanne for the cult.
Upon learning that Leanne planned to join Nick for a family event, Rowan tempted her with an exclusive session at The Institute, led by co-leader Willow.
Nick faced disappointment when Leanne opted for the Institute’s gathering over family time. But the question remains: Will Nick take his evidence to the authorities?
Coronation Street enthusiasts are sure that Rowan’s incriminating voicemail will be his downfall. On social media platform X, one fan commented: “Rowan is falling right into the trap.”
Another fan expressed disbelief on Twitter with the remark: “#Corrie can’t believe Rowan is so stupid as to leave so much obvious evidence of blackmail! He can’t go through with it without implicating himself!” (sic)
A third fan voiced their opinion bluntly: “Rowan leaving Nick a blackmail message was stupid.”
Adding to the chorus of disapproval, another viewer tweeted: “Bloody blackmailing scumbag, Rowan #corrie Ha he got you there Rowan #Corrie.” (sic)
Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 8pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
