Coronation Street’s Peter Barlow is to quit as the Rovers Return landlord and split up with Toyah Battersby.
The Weatherfield hardman – played by Chris Gascoyne – will be left "angry" with his other half (Georgia Taylor) in heart-breaking scenes, after he discovers she lied to him about their baby by keeping it quiet that their surrogate suffered a miscarriage in January.
A TV source said: "It’s always a huge moment for ‘Corrie’ fans when the landlord of the Rovers changes hand.
"Their decision is a very reluctant one and the scenes are highly charged.
"Peter is so angry with Toyah and she’s very sorry and very teary."
The recovering alcoholic is to demand Toyah purchases half of his stake in the boozer because he no longer wants to pull pints alongside her.
The source added to The Sun newspaper: "He refuses to run the pub with Toyah and says she can buy his half.
"Viewers are in for a bit of a rollercoaster."
Following Toyah’s surrogate heartbreak, she hatched a plan with pregnant Eva Price (Catherine Tyldesley) to bring up her daughter when the bar worker gives birth in two weeks.
But all does not look set to go to plan in the coming weeks as Peter’s son Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) overhears details of their deal and starts to blackmail Toyah.
Georgia recently hinted Toyah and Peter may split because of the huge secrets her alter-ego has been keeping from him.
She said: "I quite a big ask for them, isn’t it? I love working with Chris – we have an absolute hoot together, so I wouldn’t want that to stop. But it’s a big mountain for Toyah and Peter to climb."
What’s more, the 38-year-old actress has been inundated with fan reaction about the plot, and admitted a number of people think it’s a bit "bonkers".
She added: "People think it’s a bit crazy and bonkers. I don’t believe there’s anyone out there going, ‘This is a fantastic idea.’
"The sense I’m getting from viewers on social media is that they just think this isn’t going to end well."
Corrie’s Peter Barlow to quit Rovers Return
