Coronation Street fans 'work out' Joel Deering's real killer after spotting clue

Coronation Street fans believe they've uncovered the 'true' murderer of Joel Deering, and it's neither Ronnie Bailey nor Mason Radcliffe. The wicked solicitor, portrayed by Calum Lill, was recently revealed to have been killed, with everyone on the cobbles being a suspect.

Earlier this week, it was announced that in the upcoming episodes, a sequence of dramatic flashbacks will assist viewers in solving the mystery as the ITV soap revisits the night of 27 September when Joel vanished, marking one of the street's most significant whodunnits. On Wednesday night (16 October), soap enthusiasts witnessed the initial flashbacks for characters Ronnie (Vinta Morgan), who is the uncle of Joel's aggrieved fiancee Dee-Dee Bailey (Channique Sterling-Brown), and Mason (Luca Toolan), the notorious bully who appears to be reforming his ways recently.

During the episode, officer Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) informed DS Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) that Joel had died from two blows to the head, likely inflicted with a crowbar. Later, DS Swain was shocked to discover from Yasmeen Nazir (Shelley King) that she had evicted Mason from her home because he possessed a crowbar.

The situation deteriorated for the young lad when Kit spotted him discarding the contentious crowbar, leading to his detention and questioning at the station. Mason confessed to Kit that he had disposed of the crowbar after declining to participate in a burglary orchestrated by his brothers, and that he was alone in Speed Daal on the night Joel met his end.

However, a flashback revealed that Mason may not have been entirely truthful, as DS Swain's daughter, Betsy, paid him a visit. She was visibly upset and fearful that Joel would seek revenge, while Mason pledged to safeguard her, reports the Liverpool Echo.

Later in the episode, Dee-Dee informed her uncle Ronnie that the authorities suspect Joel was assaulted with a crowbar. This triggered a memory in Ronnie of retrieving a crowbar from the builder's yard on the fateful night.

Despite this revelation, he maintained his composure at the pub, quietly nursing his pint.

Social media users are convinced that the flashbacks involving Ronnie and Mason are merely distractions, and they believe they've identified the 'real killer'. Soap fans fear that the beloved character, DS Swain, could be implicated in the murder due to her daughter Betsy being targeted by the antagonist.

One viewer speculated on the twisty plot, tweeting: "WHAT IF! ! The night of the murder, when Betsie went to Mason because she thought Joel would go to her house, he actually did and it was only Lisa in and that is how she is involved. Oh this is making me feel sick #Corrie".

While another fan pondered: "So, Swain has a mystery injury and Joel turns up with a whack over the head #Corrie @itvcorrie". Another Corrie enthusiast expressed hope for a character's future, saying: "I'm praying Lisa is a permanent character, I'm scared now everyone's saying she's involved in Joel's death? Everything's just got good #Swarla #Corrie."

In another corner of the Corrie fandom, suspicion falls on Joel's father, Gus Deering. A social media user shared their theory: "Just had a revelation. I reckon Joel's dad murdered him. Do you remember Joel telling Lauren how his Dad used to hurt him. Just a thought."

This prompted agreement from others, with one replying: "I said dad as well," and another chiming in with: "I do too! " Meanwhile, another viewer threw in a different angle: "...or his mum because he's fallen off that pedestal and ruined her life?".

Coronation Street is on ITV at 8pm Monday, Wednesday and Friday and available to stream from 7am on ITVX