Coronation Street’s Hope Stape is already best known as the ITV cobbles’ resident arsonist, but she might have gone a step further in the latest whodunnit…

Coronation Street fans reckon they know exactly who killed Joel Deering – and it’s one of the youngest members of the ITV cobbles family.

Fingers are now pointing to Hope Stape as a potential murderer after she became tangled up in a vape plot, which saw her take disposable e-cigarettes to school in order to flog them to fellow students. Now fans think the “only way” for Joel’s death to make sense is if Hope is responsible.

Hope was the one who found Lauren’s necklace in Joel’s car, but fans think he went a step further to quiet his victim – by bribing her with vapes. Hope had a stash even though she was caught stealing from the corner shop.

Over on Reddit, one user argued: “The only way this storyline will work is if it’s Hope. Joel tried to manipulate and control Hope by sneaking her vapes, but then he ends up out of his depth with her and eventually, of course, dead.

“Next episode, Fiz falls out with Tyrone. ‘It was Joel who started it Ty, don’t go too hard on her!’” they quipped.

Other users were inclined to agree, with one writing: “I’d believe you if he burned to death…” and another saying: “Oh my god, this is actually brilliant and not surprised if it was a storyline at all.” While a different social media user chimed in: “I need this to happen!”

Over on X, formerly Twitter, one fan said: “I hope Corrie remembers that Hope and Ruby were the ones who cleaned Joel’s car when Lauren disappeared… [side-eye emoji].”

It comes after some fans suggested Joel might not actually be dead at all. Celebrity sleuth Fern Britton suggested Dee-Dee has her ex chained up in the basement – and is feeding him on snacks bought from Dev’s shop.

Joel might not be dead after all(Image: ITV)

She said: “Just been having a catch up with Corrie , over lunch. So, what is going on? Who murdered Joel? Is he actually dead? Who identified the body, Kit? Why did Dee-Dee buy a tin of spaghetti hoops and a some custard? Feeding a chained up Joel in a basement? I’m exhausted…”

Someone else said: “Wish they would hurry up and reveal that Joel is still alive. If he was dead then why didn’t they show him getting whacked over the head with a crowbar at the start? This isn’t how a whodunnit is done!”