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Coronation Street fans have already seen multiple deaths, a dramatic kidnapping plot and plenty of betrayal on the soap in the lead up to the festive period. 

And it seems things are only set to get worse on the cobbles, with the ITV soap preparing to air VERY dramatic scenes for its New Year storylines, which will finally see resident villain Pat Phelan get his comeuppance and David Platt sexually attacked in a first for the soap. 

According to The Sun, viewers will also see Bethany Platt turn to lapdancing in the wake of her grooming ordeal, Carla King strike up an unlikely romance and a blast from the past returns for Michelle Connor. 

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Pat Phelan gets his comeuppance

He has been plaguing the street with murder and violence ever since his arrival, but it's believed Pat Phelan will finally be caught out for his wrongdoing, as he targets Seb Franklin as his next victim. 

Explosive: Coronation Street is preparing to air VERY dramatic scenes for its New Year storylines, which will finally see resident villain Pat Phelan get his comeuppance

Seb begins to have his doubts about Phelan's characters, after he presents the teen with a gun when Seb is drunk. Phelan does so in a bid to frame him for murder by ensuring the weapon is covered in Seb's fingerprints. 

Growing concerned, Seb will warn Phelan's wife Eileen Grimshaw that her husband is not the loving, kind-hearted beau he comes across and as her suspicions get the better of her, Eileen begins digging and finds a discovery that prompts her to join forces with Anna Windass - who is in prison after Phelan had framed for the attempted murder of Seb. 

Anna tells Eileen everything she knows about Phelan and how dangerous he is, with their conversation pushing Eileen to doubt her husband and seek out his stashed gun. Will she finally uncover the real Pat Phelan? 

Worried: Growing concerned, Seb will warn Phelan's wife Eileen Grimshaw that her husband is not the loving, kind-hearted beau he comes across and as her suspicions get the better of her, Eileen begins digging

David Platt is sexually assaulted

In a show first for Coronation Street's 57-year history, the soap will address male sexual assault, as soap viewers will see David sexually assaulted in harrowing scenes. 

Hard-hitting: In a show first for Coronation Street's 57-year history, the soap will address male sexual assault, as soap viewers will see David Platt sexually assaulted in harrowing scenes.

The character, played by Jack P. Shepherd, will be drugged and raped after enjoying a drunken night out with new boy on the block Josh, a personal trainer and mechanic. 

According to reports, explicit scenes between the pair will not be show and the storyline will focus on David's reaction to the assault, as he wakes up in Josh's bed and realises what has happened to him.    

An insider told The Mirror: 'There won’t be any sexually explicit scenes, what has happened to David will be implied by his reaction and behaviour when he wakes up the next day and starts to remember some of what happened.'

They added: 'With Josh still on the street, David struggles to deal with the shame of what has happened to him. This is a big storyline for Jack and everyone is determined to get it right.'

Bethany Platt becomes a lapdancer 

Taking control: In the wake of her grooming ordeal, Bethany Platt is set to secretly become a lapdancer as she sees it as a way of gaining control over men.

Last year, Bethany was at the centre of a traumatic grooming scandal on the soap, after getting involved with ex-beau Nathan Curtis. After finally managing to escape his clutches, Bethany was then kidnapped and violently attacked by Nathan's friend Mel in her bid to get revenge on the teen for sending him to prison. 

In the wake of her ordeal, Bethany is set to secretly become a lapdancer as she sees it as a way of gaining control over men. 

An insider told The Sun: 'She feels she has the power over the punters she's dancing for because they are paying to watch her, but they can't touch her.

'She pities them for wanting her and the fact she refuses to take all her clothes off helps her feel like she's the one calling the shots.' 

Dramatic: Bethany was then kidnapped and violently attacked by Nathan's friend Mel in her bid to get revenge on the teen for sending him to prison after he groomed the teen

Michelle Connor is reunited with her son Alex

Michelle, played by Kym Marsh, will be left shocked to see her biological son Alex turn up on her doorstep in upcoming scenes. However, his return isn't without drama as he initially arrives without telling his mother. 

Comeback: Michelle Connor, played by Kym Marsh, will be left shocked to see her biological son Alex turn up on her doorstep in upcoming scenes

Alex last appeared on the soap 10 years ago in dramatic scenes that saw the teen revealed to be her son, after it was revealed he had been swapped at birth in a hospital mix up with Ryan, the boy she believed to be her child and had brought up. 

The Sunday People claims Alex will return to Wetherfield on getting a new job at the medical centre, but viewers will be kept guessing as to why he has made a comeback to the area where his mother lives, as he is reluctant to let her know he is now back. 

His arrival will come after a troubled year for Michelle that saw her suffer a tragic still birth, split from her ex-partner Steve McDonald on finding out he had fathered Leanne Tilsley's baby, and was stalked by her ex Will Chatterton. 

While she did find romance with Robert Preston, Michelle suffered another blow when he was jailed for assault and later revealed he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer.  

More trouble in store? His arrival will come after a troubled year for Michelle that saw her suffer a tragic still birth, split from her ex-partner Steve McDonald on finding out he had fathered Leanne Tilsley's baby, and was stalked by her ex Will Chatterton

Heartbreak: While she did find romance with Robert Preston, Michelle suffered another blow when he was jailed for assault and later revealed he had been diagnosed with testicular cancer

Carla King strikes up a romance with Daniel Osbourne

She is now back in Wetherfield after returning over Christmas and her decision to stick around and get to know her family will see romance blossom for Carla, as she grows close to Daniel Osbourne. 

Heating up: She is now back in Wetherfield after returning over Christmas and her decision to stick around and get to know her family will see romance blossom for Carla Connor, as she grows close to Daniel Osbourne

Their passionate encounter is far from simple, however, as he is the half-brother of her ex Peter Barlow, who had cheated on her with Michelle Keegan's former character Tina McIntyre.

Carla, who revealed she has kidney failure, will target her ex by sleeping with his sibling, with a source telling The Sun: 'Peter will find out when Daniel starts boasting about how steamy things got between him and Carla. 

'Peter tries to play it like he doesn’t care, but he clearly does and Daniel takes great pleasure in winding him up, knowing their history together.'

Stirring things up: Their passionate encounter is far from simple, however, as he is the half-brother of her ex Peter Barlow, who had cheated on her with Michelle Keegan's former character Tina McIntyre

Cunning: Carla, who revealed she has kidney failure, will target her ex by sleeping with his sibling

Aidan and Eva Connor bow out of Coronation Street

Their wedding was plagued with drama, after Eva found out about Aidan's affair with her best pal Maria Connor and later faked a pregnancy in order to get revenge on her beau. 

Saying goodbye: Soap insiders have teased an explosive exit for both Eva Price and Aidan Connor

Eva had enjoyed a steamy encounter with Adam Barlow after enlisting him to help her get revenge on her cheating beau Aidan, but their night of passion will provide complications for the character this year, as she finds out she is pregnant, but is unsure who is her baby's father. 

Eva, played by Catherine Tyldesley, is set to leave Coronation Street in 2018 and news of her departure came shortly after Shayne Ward, who plays Aidan, announced his exit. 

Soap insiders have teased an explosive exit for the pair, but have suggested their departure may not necessarily be together. They said: 'Nobody will see this coming. Viewers are going to be absolutely stunned. 

'It's going to be a blow for the fans - but also a massive TV moment.' 

Scandal: Eva had enjoyed a steamy encounter with Adam Barlow , but their night of passion will provide complications for the character this year, as she finds out she is pregnant but is unsure who is the father of her baby

Moving on: Eva, played by Catherine Tyldesley, is set to leave Coronation Street in 2018 and news of her departure came shortly after Shayne Ward, who plays Aidan, announced his exit

Chesney Brown and Sinead Tinker tie the knot 

After rekindling their romance, despite Sinead leaving him to embark on a romance with Daniel after their steamy affair, Chesney and his love are set to wed. 

However, in true soap form their nuptials won't be plain sailing, as Chesney's love rival Daniel is determined to ruin the wedding. Chesney had previously threatened Peter Barlow's step-brother to leave Sinead alone and was seen violently hitting himself with a brick, before framing Daniel for assault. 

I do: After rekindling their romance, despite Sinead leaving him to embark on a romance with Daniel after their steamy affair, Chesney and his love are set to wed

Having found CCTV evidence of Chesney's set-up, Daniel plans to unveil the footage in his bid to change Sinead's mind. 

It's set to be a turbulent time for Sinead until she makes her way to the church, as viewers will see her torn between her feelings for Chesney and ex Daniel. 

She had been in a relationship with Chesney, when she cheated on him with Daniel and later went on to date Ken Barlow's son before falling pregnant with his child.

Sinead had terminated the baby and following the breakdown of her relationship with Daniel, she has reunited with Chesney and is now playing family with her beau and his son Joseph - who is now in his care following the death of his former love Katy Armstrong in a car crash in Portugal. 

Unsure: It's set to be a turbulent time for Sinead until she makes her way to the church, as viewers will see her torn between her feelings for Chesney and ex Daniel

Complicated: Chesney's love rival Daniel is determined to ruin the wedding - having found CCTV evidence of Chesney's setting him up for a violent assault

Adam Barlow seeks out revenge on Billy Mayhew

He has been struggling to cope after learning that Billy was behind the death of his mother Susan and Coronation Street fans saw Adam attempt to commit suicide over Christmas, turning to painkillers and whiskey to help with his grief. 

Troubling: Adam Barlow is hell bent on getting revenge on Billy Mayhew, after learning he is responsible for the death of his mother Susan

He was found by Daniel Barlow and after recovering from his ordeal, Adam is hell bent on getting revenge on Billy for his loss. 

Currently Adam is helping Billy to recover, after surviving a terrifying cliff fall, following a night locked in Peter Barlow's car boot. Peter had kidnapped Billy as an act of revenge, after he admitted his involvement in the murder of his twin sister Susan.

However, Adam's intentions are far from pure, as he has made a private vow to ensure Billy pays for his past actions.  

Tragic: Coronation Street fans saw Adam attempt to commit suicide over Christmas, turning to painkillers and whiskey to help with his grief, following Billy's (above) confession

Intense: Peter Barlow had kidnapped Billy as an act of revenge, after he admitted his involvement in the murder of his twin sister Susan - Billy later fell off a cliff but survived the fall