Coronation Street fans are convinced they have worked out the identity of Mason Radcliffe’s violent older brother after he was brutally attacked in the ITV soap

Coronation Street fanss reckon they’ve cracked the mystery surrounding Mason Radcliffe’s older brother. The character, played by Luca Toolan, recently returned to the cobbles looking worse for wear after a spell in jail.

Bill Fellows’ character, Stu Carpenter, has since taken the troubled lad under his wing, offering him employment at Speed Daal and a roof over his head. Mason has confided in Stu about his turbulent family life, revealing that one of his brothers is violent towards him.

Hints have been dropped that one of Mason’s brothers is behind bars, while another was spotted at his court trial. However, Mason hasn’t yet revealed the identities of all his siblings, but Corrie fans believe they’ve sussed out who his violent brother is – Joel Deering, played by Calum Lill.

The villainous Joel is known for causing Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton) to vanish after he distressed the financially burdened teen and fathered her newborn child.

Joel, a solicitor, has kept his son hidden from his fiancee Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown), who is gradually becoming suspicious of his strange behaviour, reports the Liverpool Echo.

In the meantime, Mason has formed a bond with Betsy (Sydney Martin), the daughter of DS Swain (Vicky Myers). The detective has been probing into the circumstances of Lauren’s abuse and even insisted on a DNA test being conducted on her baby.

Daring Betsy’s in deep as she tries to blackmail bad boy Joel on the Cobbles, cheekily calling him a “perv” and demanding a grand for her silence. Things took a dark turn when a furious Joel dragged her into an alley with a chilling threat.

But could Joel be related to Mason, using Betsy to get back at his rough sibling? Fans are buzzing on a Corrie-lovers’ Facebook group, where one eagle-eyed viewer suggested: “Mason disclosed that he once lived with his brother and was often bullied.”

Pondering the possible connection, they ask, “He became homeless around the time Joel let Lauren stay in his apartment. Could Joel be Mason’s brother?”

The theory got other fans going, with replies like “This could be right” and “They look alike.”

While some are ready for a twist, saying “Oohh what a surprise that would be”, others are convinced, adding: “I think so.”

Coronation Street airs Monday, Wednesday and Friday on ITV1 and ITVX