Coronation Street enthusiasts reckon they’ve solved the puzzle of who is the actual father of Lauren Bolton’s baby, and it’s not Joel Deering or Max Turner.
Lauren gave birth prematurely to baby Frankie in August after being drugged by Joel (portrayed by Calum Lill) in a bid to end both their lives.
Audiences will recall that Joel was the one who manipulated and mistreated Lauren for months, leading to her pregnancy. Thankfully, both Lauren and Frankie survived the ordeal, although Frankie spent several months in hospital following his birth.
Meanwhile, Joel met his demise in September, sparking a major ‘whodunnit’ storyline in the soap. The plot later unveiled that it was Lauren who killed Joel, Plymouth Live reports.
Now, Lauren and baby Frankie are living together in a mother-and-child unit in prison as they await Lauren’s trial. However, recent episodes have brought worrying news about Frankie’s health.
Medical experts informed Lauren that Frankie could be suffering from severe aplastic anaemia, a rare but serious blood disorder caused by the bone marrow’s failure to produce enough blood cells. Additionally, there was a warning that the infant might have leukaemia.
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Lauren was devastated to discover she couldn’t donate blood due to a previous Hepatitis C diagnosis. Meanwhile, Joel’s parents, Gus (played by Chris Garner) and Anthea (portrayed by Carol Royle), have entered the fray as their grandson Frankie faces a health crisis, seeking full custody.
A recent twist in the tale came when Gus confided in Anthea: “They’d never have agreed [to let them see Frankie] if they knew the truth. You know that as well as me.”
This has sent Coronation Street fans into a frenzy of speculation, with many suspecting that Frankie may not actually be Joel’s biological child.
The rumour mill is churning on social media, with one Corrie enthusiast suggesting on a Facebook fan page: “I’m thinking that Joel’s parents will do a test for Frankie’s transplant and it will be proved he is not Joel’s”.
Others chimed in with theories about a possible unknown twin brother of Joel’s being the real father of Lauren’s baby.
One fan theorised: “I’ve said for ages that Joel has a twin who got Lauren pregnant and died! ” Another speculated: “His long lost brother? ” And another fan cast doubt, saying: “I don’t think it’s Max’s.”
Some fans are speculating that Joel’s parents might be in on the secret and part of a bigger plot. One viewer proposed: “Are they hiding the fact they know Joel is alive?” while another agreed: “Yes I think he has a twin who died! “.
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