UPDATE: |Emmerdale star joins Coronation Street as Theo Silverton’s secret wife in soap twist News

Theo has been seen cosying up to Todd, but his secret has now emerged

A former Emmerdale star has made her first appearance on Coronation Street tonight (April 7) as Theo Silverton’s secret wife in a big soap twist. Corrie viewers have seen Todd develop a liking for Theo after their random meeting on the Street last last month.

On Thursday’s (April 3) episode of the ITV soap, one thing led to another and the pair ended up in a passionate embrace. After getting very, Todd and Theo spoke about a second date and both seemed keen on meeting up again.

But when Todd’s family arrived back at the house, Theo ran off out the back with no explanation. He later told Todd that his family were not as accepting of his sexuality, but little did viewers know he was hiding a big secret.

Just when Todd thought he’d finally found his dream man, viewers were left stunned on Monday as Theo appeared with his wife Danielle by his side.

Theo arrived at the undertakers with his wife to organise her mum’s funeral, and Todd got all the answers he needed. As Theo desperately tried to explain, admitting he’s been married for nineteen years but has known all his life that he’s gay, Todd was floored.

Theo’s wife Danielle is being played by ex Emmerdale star Natalie Anderson, who played Alicia Metcalfe in the ITV soap 2010 to 2015.

She also played the role as Stella Davenport in the medical drama The Royal from 2005 to 2008 and was more recently seen in the hit Netflix drama Fool Me Once.

Tonight marked her first appearance on the cobbles where it became clear that Danielle also knows nothing of Theo’s double life.

On playing the character of Danielle, Natalie said: “Danielle is such a brilliant character. I’m so thrilled to be playing her. She’s a deeply layered woman and it’s been wonderful to explore some of those layers as I’ve gone on this journey with her.

“She’s also a bit of a shapeshifter so you never really know what you’re going to get and I’ve absolutely loved playing that, there’s lots of surprises with her.”

Speaking about Theo’s secret, Natalie said: “I think she’s aware that all isn’t well but I don’t think his secret is what she’s alluding to in any way.

“They have been married a very long time and whilst there have been strains in the marriage when you have been married for such a long time those things are bound to happen anyway so I don’t think she’s thinking it’s anything more than the strains of a long term marriage.”

After finding out from George that Todd is gay, Natalie says that her character Danielle is ‘really shocked’. She says: “They were brought up in the church, both Danielle and Theo, so for her this is something she’s very opposed to.

“The belief system that she’s been brought up with means she’s in shock really but equally at the same time she thinks if Todd’s gay then somebody has been covering up for someone and immediately again she jumps to the conclusion that Sarah is the problem.”

Danielle then accuses Sarah of an affair with Theo, to which Natalie says of her character: “I don’t know if she would think that her marriage is over, but she would definitely give Sarah a warning and let her know that this is my man.

“Family is everything to Danielle, family and also the presentation of a happy family. Coming from the background she has come from a lot is about how you present yourself and how they present themselves as a family, no matter what they have to stick together and present this idea of a happy unit.

“Danielle’s not going to let anyone get in the way of that, so that would be the warning she’s giving Sarah, that this is not just my man but my family.”