Coronation Street's Roy Cropper Catfished by Mystery 'Alice' as Fans Speculate Murderer's Return
In a shocking turn of events on Coronation Street, the iconic character Roy Cropper has become the victim of a sophisticated catfishing scheme, with fans now speculating that a notorious murderer might be behind the deception. The gentle cafe owner, portrayed by David Neilson since 1995, has been eagerly corresponding with a woman named Alice for several months, only for the truth to be far more sinister than anticipated.
The Elaborate Cyber Deception Unfolds
Roy Cropper's cyber relationship with Alice began innocently enough, with the pair exchanging numerous text messages and lengthy letters discussing their shared passion for literature. The correspondence culminated in Roy inviting Alice to meet him in person later this week, a plan that initially seemed like a heartwarming development for the lonely character.
However, Roy's niece Nina grew suspicious from the outset, voicing her concerns during a quiet moment in the cafe. "It's when someone draws you in online by lying about who they are," she explained, as DC Kit Green coincidentally arrived and mentioned the alarming number of similar complaints handled by police.
Nina elaborated with a vivid example: "It's like... someone pretending to be a 15-year-old schoolgirl when actually they're a 50-year-old van driver typing in his pants from his parents' attic." Despite Kit's warning to verify Alice's identity, Roy remained uncertain about how to approach such verification while trying to build a genuine friendship.
Nina's Growing Concerns and Roy's Naivety
Later, Nina's apprehension intensified as she questioned Roy about potential financial motives. "She's not mentioned money, has she?" she probed. Roy responded by recounting what he found to be an amusing anecdote about Alice discovering Latvian currency in a cigar box after her husband's death, noting the irony since they had never visited Latvia.
Nina retorted sarcastically: "I bet that one had them rolling in the aisles of her book club!" before reluctantly conceding that a catfisher probably wouldn't bother writing eight-page letters or crafting stories about foreign currency. "I think you're safe," she concluded, though her doubts lingered.
The scene then cut to a modern smartphone screen displaying Roy's formal letter-style text message and a reply from Alice apologising for the delay and mentioning outrage at their book club regarding JG Ballard. The revelation came swiftly as the camera showed the phone being held by a bearded man, whose face remained partially obscured, confirming Nina's worst fears.
Fan Reaction and Murderer Theory Emerges
Viewers immediately took to social media to express their heartbreak for Roy, a character who has been a father figure to many on the Street since his marriage to the late Hayley Cropper and his mentorship of residents like Fiz Brown and Carla Connor. Speculation ran rampant about Alice's true identity and motives.
One Reddit user suggested: "I’d say Alice is a scammer looking for his money!" while another pleaded: "Why are we being mean to Roy, leave Roy alone!" Intriguingly, some fans proposed more dramatic theories, including that Weatherfield resident Kevin Webster might be behind the catfishing.
The most chilling theory came from a fan who suspected the return of Rob Donovan, Carla Connor's brother who murdered Tina McIntyre over a decade ago. They exclaimed: "Erm who’s texting Roy pretending to be Alice and why does it look like Rob?" This speculation gains weight given actor Marc Baylis's return to the soap in early 2025, when his character escaped prison and held Carla hostage.
Rob Donovan's Troubled History and Potential Comeback
Rob Donovan's last appearance saw him manipulated by his son Bobby into donating a kidney to his sister and attempting reconciliation with Tracy Barlow, only to end up back in prison. Marc Baylis previously described the character as "a middle aged man whose life hasn’t gone on the trajectory he thought it would" and "very troubled; he’s dark and ruthless" but not entirely evil, with prison life taking a severe toll.
This background makes the fan theory particularly plausible, suggesting that Roy's catfishing ordeal could be part of a larger, darker storyline involving Donovan's potential return to wreak havoc on the Street once more.
As Coronation Street continues to air weeknights at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX, viewers are left wondering whether Roy's kindness has made him an easy target and if a familiar face from Weatherfield's criminal past is indeed pulling the strings in this elaborate deception.
