Coronation Street star Jonathan Howard has confirmed that his character Carl Webster is heading for a 'sad' ending, as the soap prepares for a major whodunnit storyline. The actor, who has played the villain for a year, hinted that Carl might be one of the five potential victims in the upcoming murder mystery.
A Villain Loved to Hate
Carl Webster has become one of the most hated characters in Soapland, thanks to his manipulative and selfish behavior. Unlike other antagonists like Theo Silverton or Megan Walsh, Carl brings a pantomime quality to his villainy. He has taken advantage of his mother Debbie's dementia, gaslit her into taking the blame for a deadly car crash he caused, and pressured her to hand over half of the Chariot Square Hotel.
Potential Exit on the Cards
Jonathan Howard revealed that he was hoping to be one of the potential victims in the whodunnit. 'I was hoping I was going to be one of the potential victims,' he said. 'I think I've annoyed a lot of people on the Street and I've not really covered myself in glory, so I was hoping and expecting that I would be one of these bad guys.' He added that if this is his time, he would leave proud and grateful for the experience.
Enemies Everywhere
Carl has made numerous enemies on the cobbles. Kevin Webster holds a grudge for Carl destroying his marriage by running off with Abi. Abi herself is a suspect after Carl verbally attacked her parenting. Tyrone Dobbs was left in a wheelchair after Carl's hit-and-run. Theo accidentally confessed to leaving Billy Mayhew to die within Carl's earshot. But the biggest threat is Ronnie Bailey, Debbie's husband, who blames Carl for speeding up his wife's dementia and has threatened to get rid of him.
The Human Side of Carl
Despite his villainous actions, Jonathan Howard insists there is good in Carl. 'I've got to have empathy and compassion and find the humanity in him,' he said. He points to Carl's complex relationship with his mother, who pretended to be his sister for most of his life. Carl grew up without motherly affection, which has left him unable to express love. 'Does he know how to love? I don't really think so,' Howard added.
A Sad but Fitting End?
Carl's recent actions have pushed Debbie away. After trying to blackmail her for the hotel, she paid him to leave. Now Carl has nothing left to lose, making him more dangerous. Howard described Carl's mindset: 'Everything that drives him is that he feels like he's owed something.' He admits Carl's story is 'very sad' and that he feels for the character.
If Carl does die, fans hope for a flicker of redemption. But with his latest stunt—fiddling with Kevin's car brakes—he continues to prove why he's the 'Worst Webster.' Jonathan Howard's performance will be missed, but as he noted, the public already calls him a 'snake' and 'scumbag' in the streets.
