Coronation Street's newest villain Mason Radcliffe has quickly stolen the spotlight from the show in recent months, providing a new antagonist for storylines following Stephen Reid's dramatic departure last October.
Mason, played by Luca Toolan, was introduced to the show in September 2023 but began to take on a more central role a few weeks later when an emotional storyline about school bullying began.
The newcomer has cruelly targeted Maria Connor's young son Liam, who is now terrified of going to school after repeated incidents. Sean Tully's son Dylan Wilson is also heavily involved and regularly succumbs to peer pressure from Mason and his cronies.
Does the story still have a while to go or will it all be over in a flash? Here's the lowdown.
When will Coronation Street's Mason Radcliffe be caught?
While Corrie fans are hoping Liam's ordeal comes to an end soon, the sad news is that his storyline still has a while to go.
In an interview last year, the show's producer Iain MacLeod confirmed that Mason and Liam's storyline will continue in February or March.
This reflects how cases of bullying can last for a long time in practice.
Speak with Digital spy and other media in October 2023, MacLeod noted: "I just read some scenes that go much deeper into the story, so they will air in February or March.
"It is heartbreaking when it comes to the reaction of the children who are on the receiving end of the bullying, and the feelings of powerlessness for the parents, because they know what is going on, but they cannot break through the wall of secrecy surrounding it. because the victims don't want to talk.
"It pushes Gary and Maria's characters into some pretty extreme territory in terms of their emotional response to what they think is happening. It's desperately sad."
The story continues
Luca Toolan, who plays Mason, spoke exclusively Digital spy about the future of last year's storyline.
The young actor told us: "Corrie has said it will probably last at least a few months, if not longer. That's really nice because it gives the three of us some time to settle into the characters and grow as actors.
"We'll see a different side to the characters involved. The longer the story the better, because it just means you get more to play with."
The good news is that Corrie bosses have already promised a happy ending for Liam in the long term.
MacLeod recently said: "We want it to have a positive message as well. So the outcomes for the people in the worst case will be good - and if they seek help, they will receive it and then they will be on a positive trajectory. moving forward.
"But before that, it's an in-depth investigation into teen mental health and bullying. If we do as well as it seems, I'll be really proud of it."
Mason, Liam and Dylan's Coronation Street storyline so far
Coronation Street launched its bullying storyline in October 2023, when Mason befriended Dylan and a reluctant Liam.
Mason had problems from the start when he forced Dylan and Liam to try some vaping, causing Liam to have an asthma attack. Mason went for a run, while Dylan made sure Liam got the help he needed at the hospital.
As news of the incident spread, Liam's stepfather Gary became concerned. It was revealed that Mason is part of a notorious family - the Radcliffes - who are known to be dangerous figures in the local community.
Following in his family's footsteps, Mason revealed to Liam and Dylan that he was responsible for a hit and run incident that injured Stu Carpenter's granddaughter Eliza Woodrow.
Mason shared the truth while looking for a false alibi in case police suspected him.
A few weeks later, Mason's vape obsession continued when he forced Dylan to start selling them on his behalf to some other kids at school.
When Dylan's father Sean found out, he threw away the fumes to punish his son. Mason was furious about the lost products and demanded compensation by confiscating Dylan's new expensive trainers. Liam was charged with the stolen footwear when the school investigated the incident.
Mason later threatened Liam with a knife after his attempt to trap the vulnerable schoolboy did not go as well as he had hoped.
Dylan witnessed the scary encounter, but felt too intimidated to intervene and defend his friend. He also agreed to sell vapes for Mason at a new location after landing a job at the kebab shop, which is regularly visited by schoolchildren.
Recently, Liam McCheyne - who plays Dylan - spoke about his role in the storyline: 'I think my whole description of Dylan is that he just wants to fit in. He wants to make friends anyway, probably because of his previous encounters. in London.
"He wants to fit in with the cool kids and be like them. He doesn't want to be what he was in London - it's a total change from who he was before. It's almost like a fresh start for him and he can do a bit freedom, so I think that would make him very easily influenced.
"I think Sean realizes how dangerous Mason's influence is, but Dylan ignores him quite often. Mason isn't a real friend of Dylan's, but like I said, he's very easily influenced, so I don't think he realizes what He's getting himself in."
Coronation Street gave the on-screen storyline a break in the run-up to Christmas, but revisited Liam's ordeal in January.
It was shown that Liam skipped school to avoid Mason's bullying, but his mother Maria and stepfather Gary soon discovered what he was doing.
When he returned to school, his phone was stolen by Mason. When Mason pinned him against a wall and threatened to become violent again, Liam set off the school fire alarm to get away from him.
Mason refused to give the phone back unless Liam agreed to meet with him. Despite his younger stepbrother Jake's concerns, Liam vowed to go ahead with the meeting and stand up to Mason.
Meanwhile, Liam also broke his silence to tell Maria and Gary that he is being bullied, but refused to reveal the full details or who was responsible.
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