Coronation Street fans love a good mystery, but they might love cracking it even more. And now, thanks to one seemingly innocent behind-the-scenes snap, viewers are convinced they’ve already figured out a major twist in the soap’s latest whodunnit.

The long-running ITV soap has been teasing a dramatic murder storyline for weeks, with tension building on the cobbles as multiple characters find themselves in the firing line. Earlier this year, a flash-forward scene gave fans a glimpse of what’s to come: Betsy Swain being questioned by police after discovering the body of someone close to her. Since then, speculation has been running wild.

Producers have lined up five possible victims, each with their own secrets and enemies. The unlucky names in the spotlight include Megan Walsh, Theo Silverton, Maggie Driscoll, Jodie Ramsey, and Carl Webster. With motives flying in every direction, fans have been busy playing detective, analysing every episode and interaction for clues.

But just when things couldn’t get more intriguing, actor Jonathan Howard, who plays Carl Webster, may have accidentally stirred the pot even further.

On Wednesday, the 8th of April, Jonathan shared a cheerful selfie from the Coronation Street set. In the snap, he’s joined by co-stars Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs), Vinta Morgan (Ronnie Bailey), and Michael Le Vell (Kevin Webster). Captioning the photo with a laid-back ‘Sun finally came out to say hello on the cobbles today…’, it looked like a harmless behind-the-scenes moment.

Or so he thought.

It didn’t take long for eagle-eyed fans to jump into the comments, and they all seemed to notice the same thing. If Carl Webster is one of the potential murder victims, why is Jonathan still on set filming?

Naturally, theories began pouring in almost instantly. One fan joked, ‘Well, I’m guessing Carl doesn’t die!! Spoiler alert lol,’ while another joined, saying ‘Either he doesn’t die or he does but is throwing us off the scent’ to which Jonathan replied ‘maybe some goodbye photos’ keeping his cards very close to his chest it seems.

Of course, soap fans know better than to take everything at face value.

Filming schedules don’t always line up with broadcast timelines, and actors are often on set for scenes that don’t necessarily reflect current storylines. Flashbacks, alternative scenes, or even simple misdirection could all be at play here.

Initially introduced as a charming newcomer, it quickly became clear there was more to Carl than meets the eye. His cunning nature and mysterious past have made him a key figure in the unfolding drama and a prime candidate in the murder storyline.

Adding to the intrigue, a recent bombshell revealed that Debbie Webster is actually Carl’s biological mother, not his sister as previously believed. The shocking twist sent ripples through Weatherfield and gave fans even more reason to question Carl’s place in the story, and whether he might be heading for a dramatic exit.