Coronation Street stars James Cartwright and Beth Nixon ‘are in real-life romance’

We found love in a villainous place…or whatever Rihanna said (Picture: Farrell/Backgrid) While their Coronation Street alter-ego’s never really crossed paths, too busy abusing their way across the cobbles, off-screen, James Cartwright and Beth Nixon appear to have developed a bit of a romance!

James, of course, played Theo Silverton, who’s dark side was, at first, very well concealed.

While initially sympathetic as a victim of sick conversion therapy, soon morphed into one of the mostcruel, sadistic and vicious villains Weatherfield had ever seen as he unleashed a multi-faceted campaign of stomach-turning abuse on boyfriend Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce).

Beth, meanwhile, played Megan Walsh, an abuser who took a much different approach.

She was a predatory paedophile who continuously groomed her young victims with wicked mind games, ultimately sexually abusing Will Driscoll (Lucas Hodgson-Wale), while psychologically torturing Sam Blakeman (Jude Riordan) once he discovered who she truly was behind her façade of a saccharine school teacher.

In reality, of course, James and Beth are absolutely lovely, and according to sources, have struck up a relationship recently.

James and Beth recently appeared together on the red carpet for the Cure Usher ball, later taking a snap alongside Corrie boss Kate Brooks and her wife, Emmerdale star Michelle Hardwick.

They were also pictured together at a special event for BBC Radio 4 soap The Archers, on which James plays Police Constable Harrison Burns, celebrating 75 years with the Liverpool Philharmonic.

A source revealed to The Sun: ‘They’re keeping things low key but they really like each other.’

Theo’s torture of Todd was eventually discovered by his loved ones, who tried everything to get Todd to realised what he was being subjected to was abuse and leave.

Theo finally unleashed a beating on Todd so brutal it forced him into hospital, before which he finally reported Theo to the police, leading to his arrest.

The games weren’t over, though, and Theo continued to terrorise Todd, including chasing him across Weatherfield after stealing his phone, though, at the end of the night, Theo was found dead on the cobbles.

After a massive whodunnit, Todd’s best friend, Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) was unmasked as the killer who, after cruel taunting about the baby that she and Todd lost over twenty years ago, smashed him in the head before pushing him off the scaffolding to the street below.

Megan, meanwhile, used Will’s blinding love for her to her utmost advantage.

Despite his family discovering what she’d done to him, his refusal to make a statement confirming the abuse kept her at arm’s length from the law.

When he did ultimately tell all, she continued to try and get into his head, contacting him via his games console, and he collapsed under cross-examination.

Returning to the stand later, though, he told the court the truth about what’d happened between them, and she was sentenced to five years in prison.

Megan will be back, with the ITV soap keen to explore another chapter of Megan and Will’s grim story.

A source told The Sun: ‘Beth Nixon, who played paedo teacher Megan Walsh, is already back on the ITV set filming this week.

‘Megan might have been sent to jail back in June but her former pupil Will Driscoll will be shocked when she returns. Beth has been filming this week and will be on screen later this year.’

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