In dramatic festive episodes of Coronation Street, Eva Price's world is set to implode as a devastating secret she's been keeping from fiancé Ben Driscoll is unearthed by the last person she'd want to find it: his mother, Maggie.
A Mother-in-Law's Meddling Uncovers a Clue
Eva, played by Catherine Tyldesley, has faced constant interference from Ben's mother, Maggie, since returning to Weatherfield as the Rovers Return's co-landlady. Maggie, portrayed by Pauline McLynn, has made no secret of her disdain for her son's choice of partner. Her suspicions are piqued when Carl reveals that Eva's credit card was found in a room at the Chariot Hotel.
Although Ben explains it away, stating that Will used the card to pay for a hotel stay with his girlfriend, Maggie's detective instincts are triggered. Her interest is further captured when she sees Adam Barlow shove a jewellery box at Eva, asking her to hide it as it's a present for Alya Nazir.
The Fateful Discovery of a Hidden Letter
Seeing an opportunity, Maggie rifles through Eva's handbag when she gets the chance, hoping the box contains something incriminating. She finds only a necklace engraved for Alya. However, her snooping pays off in a different way when she stumbles upon a heartfelt letter written by Eva.
This letter, which Eva wrote to help process her feelings after confiding in Adam, contains the full truth about the secret she is hiding from Ben. The contents leave Maggie visibly shocked, giving her the ammunition she has seemingly been waiting for to drive a wedge between her son and his fiancée.
Christmas Dinner Turns into a Showdown
Armed with this knowledge, a conniving Maggie insists that Adam and Alya join the Driscoll family for Christmas dinner, setting the stage for a festive confrontation. Her sole aim for the holiday appears to be to crush Eva.
The tension culminates during a Secret Santa gift exchange. When Ben unwraps the present given to him by Maggie, he is completely floored by what he finds inside. While the exact nature of the gift remains under wraps, it is clearly directly linked to Eva's secret and is designed to expose her deception in the most brutal way possible.
The big question now hanging over the cobbles is whether Eva's secret, once fully revealed, will destroy her relationship with Ben for good. With Maggie's lethal history of protecting her family now established, Eva's worries may extend far beyond a broken engagement.
