As creepy Mal holds Bernie against her will, Coronation Street spoilers see villain get his comeuppance as he’s attacked
Bernie's arrested for Mal's attack next week
In tonight’s episode of Coronation Street (Monday, February 23), Bernie Winter was locked inside Roy’s Rolls by creepy Mal Roper.
Mal got aggressive and wasn’t taking Bernie’s rejection well, with oblivious Kit Green fortunately coming to the rescue to interrupt the tense exchange.
The villain’s concerning behaviour is punished later on in the week though when he’s attacked. But, who hurts him?
Mal Roper held Bernie against her will in Coronation Street
Tonight, Dev and Asha prepared to go away on a father and daughter trip for a few nights, with Dev telling Bernie Winter they’d be back on Wednesday.
She waved the pair goodbye before heading over to work. But, with Roy leaving Bernie in charge while he nipped out, Mal had her right where he wanted her. Alone.
Bernie encouraged Mal to leave and return to speak to Roy tomorrow. However, as he headed over to the door, he locked it instead of leaving. He then told Bernie to hear him out while getting agitated.
He explained that he had feelings for her, reminding her of their kiss in the hotel room while she was high. Bernie told him that she didn’t kiss him back and loved Dev. But, Mal wasn’t having it.
He then approached Bernie and cornered her, throwing all sorts of horrible remarks her way.
Luckily, he only backed off when Kit Green started knocking on the door.
After drinks with Kit and Gemma at the Rovers, Bernie returned home alone to find her face cut out of her and Dev’s wedding photo. Yes, Mal had been in the house… And, Bernie wasn’t going to risk sticking around.
Mal attacked in Coronation Street spoilers
In Coronation Street spoilers for the rest of this week, it seems that Mal Roper gets his comeuppance rather soon. This comes as someone attacks him and he heads to hospital. And, all fingers are pointing at Bernie.
This week, Bernie finally snaps and decides enough is enough, dragging Mal in for a showdown and slapping his latest calling card right in front of him – her vandalised wedding photo. To Bernie, it’s proof he’s crossed a serious line. Mal, of course, plays dumb, denying everything with a straight face. Bernie isn’t fooled for a second and lays down the law – pack your bags and head back to Inverness, or she’ll be dialling the police faster than you can say ‘restraining order.’
Things get even messier when Tracy casually mentions Ken’s on the hunt for a reliable electrician. Roy, blissfully unaware of Mal’s dark side, starts singing his praises. Until Bernie leaps in like a human hazard sign, warning Tracy to keep well away. Roy’s left baffled, but Bernie knows danger when she sees it.
Later, rattled by a knock at the door, Bernie grabs a golf club in full panic mode, only to find Kit on the other side. Shaken, she finally opens up, confessing about her night with Mal and the unsettling behaviour that followed. Unfortunately, Mal doesn’t take the hint. He storms into the café and kicks off in front of everyone, forcing Roy to throw him out.
Then comes the bombshell. Mal is found injured in the street and rushed to hospital in critical condition. Before Bernie can even process it, the police arrive and arrest her on suspicion of assault. Bernie swears she’s innocent, insisting Mal’s been stalking her, not the other way round. With Mal fighting for his life and Bernie facing serious charges, this twisted tale on Coronation Street is far from over.
Shakespeare & Hathaway Series 5 main cast
Co-created by Paul Matthew Thompson and the late Jude Tindall, the format is a tried and tested one; unlikely private eye pairing Luella Shakespeare (a former hairdresser) and Frank Hathaway (seen-it-all cop) take to the picturesque cobbles as murder solvers and case crackers.
This time, the 10-episode series opens with their partnership dissolved. Fear not though, because soon enough Lu, Frank and plucky assistant Sebastian Brudenell are brought back together by married social media influencers in strife.
Later, they'll encounter a corporate spy, a Murder Mystery School Reunion (where Frank faces an ex-girlfriend after many years), and Stratford's Horror-upon-Avon convention (a film director is killed on site). Series 5 will be particularly tough on Lu too, who returns from a holiday only to discover that her house has been mysteriously stolen.
Ahead of the return of Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators, which premieres September 24, 2025 on U&Alibi before launching on the BBC and iPlayer at a later date, let's reintroduce ourselves to the main cast.
Who plays Lu Shakespeare?
First breaking into the industry 25 years ago with a bit-part in medical drama Always and Everyone, actress Jo Joyner now co-leads Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators as Lu Shakespeare.
Before landing a major role in BBC soap EastEnders in 2006 as Tanya Branning - amassing a total of 679 episodes - Jo earned her stripes across various British TV institutions such as Heartbeat, Clocking Off, Spooks, Silent Witness, and Doctor Who.
As the character Lynda Moss, she appeared twice in Doctor Who, back when Christopher Eccleston and Billie Piper teamed up as the Time Lord and his companion Rose Tyler. 'Bad Wolf' and 'The Parting of the Ways' was a two-episode storyline airing in the summer of 2005, which also featured John Barrowman's Captain Jack Harness and the Daleks.
Jo has tried her hand at comedy too, in the shows Fat Friends, Trying Again, Mount Pleasant, Porters, No Angels, Hang Ups, and The Reluctant Landlord.
A four-year stint on Channel 4's Ackley Bridge commenced in 2017, in which she portrayed the eponymous high school's headteacher Mandy Carter. Her storylines included the breakdown of a marriage, becoming pregnant, and attempting to extract her mum from an abusive relationship.
Jo eventually joined the streaming revolution via Harlan Coben's thriller Stay Close; playing the ex-wife and police partner of James Nesbitt's DS Michael Broome in the Netflix drama.
Most recently, the TV star lead Channel 5's mystery thriller The Wives alongside fellow EastEnders alum Tamzin Outhwaite, before rubbing shoulders with Inglorious Basterds favourite Diane Kruger in the Paramount+ series Little Disasters as A&E doctor Liz.
Asked what she loves most about stepping into the shoes of Lu, the 48-year-old singled out her alter-ego's bold wardrobe choices.
"I've discovered there is actually a term for her style, she's a 'dopamine dresser', which means if it makes her smile then she wears it," Jo explained. "I would never be brave enough to wear all the bright colours and things Lu wears, because I wouldn't want to stand out as much, so I really enjoy playing that part of her."
On the subject of filming Shakespeare & Hathaway: Private Investigators in the Midlands, she also went on to comment: "It's just so beautiful. The countryside is so lovely and I'm a country girl at heart, so I loved that.
"We filmed the series in some great locations, including some big, beautiful manor houses and at The Other Place at the RSC in Stratford-upon-Avon, but I think my favourite place to film is always by the River Avon because you're really in Stratford-upon-Avon then and it's so beautiful - and the swans always come for a little visit, day or night!"
Read more: Here’s how old Coronation Street Jack Webster actor Kyran Bowes is
