Talking about being asked to direct this first of its kind episode, Coronation Street Director Matt Hilton revealed: “It felt like a really bold idea to show it in this intimate and voyeuristic way that I’d never seen done before and as a fan of the true crime genre I could see how it could work if we did it right, something that would be intriguing for the viewer and make them feel uncomfortable in watching it all take place.”

On filming this stylised episode, the actor who plays Todd, Gareth Pierce, explains: “We were discovering how to play to that style of filming ‘on the job’, so it felt like an exciting collaborative adventure for all departments. I think I anticipated it might feel like we were watching Corrie characters through a haze, a slight step further back from the action, but it actually has the opposite effect where it feels like it brings us closer, like we’re eavesdropping on our characters and seeing something we shouldn’t. I haven’t seen the full episode yet, but the bits I have seen are very effective and disorientating.”

Throughout the Todd and Theo story arc the Coronation Street production team have worked closely with charities Stonewall and Galop. James Cartwright who plays Theo said that is felt on set: “Domestic violence is real for a lot of people, it often escalates around Christmas, so there’s a real level of respect on the set. You’ve got to tread that line between drama, storytelling and authenticity. It will be very challenging to watch for anybody who’s been through it, or is going through something similar, but we also have to be careful not to rush it or you run the risk of doing a disservice to people who’ve been through it.”