Theo Silverton has never liked Billy Mayhew (Picture: ITV)

true nature is becoming increasingly apparent in . The character came out as gay after many years of trying to suppress his feelings, but he remains insecure and angry – and he channels this into trying to control his partner, Todd Grimshaw (Gareth Pierce).

He’s particularly jealous of the close relationship between Todd and , who is one of Todd’s closest friends as well as being his former partner and guardian to their daughter Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby).

Their closeness makes Theo incredibly insecure and on more than one occasion, Theo has stepped in to prevent Todd from spending time with Billy. He even gave him an ultimatum –

Todd of course doesn’t see any harm in seeing Billy and continues to do so. Recently he helped Billy out in the community centre rather than help Theo decorate the bedroom in the flat.

Jealous Theo went along to the community centre himself, and when he had an accident helping Mary (Patti Clare) to fold up a table and Todd had to step in with the first aid kit, there was no mistaking on Theo’s face that he’d drawn Todd’s attention back to himself.

In upcoming episodes it’s the funeral of Noah (Richard Winsor), the man who made Theo’s life hell by subjecting him to conversion therapy when he was younger. Despite this, , because the two had been very close at one time.

Theo wants Todd to go to the funeral with him, but Todd pretends he has to work. The truth is that Todd has to go to the hospital for checks for bowel cancer, but he doesn’t want to tell Theo this because he thinks he already has enough to worry about.

Billy offers to go to the hospital with Todd, who is relieved and grateful for his friend’s support. In the Rovers afterwards, Todd thanks Billy again and says he’ll tell Theo after he gets the test results.

Theo arrives back from the funeral – and when he sees Todd and Billy together he’s enraged. As far as Theo’s concerned this is just the latest in a long line of instances where Todd has put spending time with Billy ahead of being with Theo. And he’s not having it.

Ominously for Billy, we know that  he’s played since 2014 – and the show’s bosses are apparently planning to kill the character off.

‘There aren’t any plans to bring him back onto the soap so it makes sense to make his exit the most impactful and explosive it can be,’ a source said, while producer Kate Brooks added, ‘Billy will be involved in a major storyline over the coming months, which will see him tested in ways he never imagined, as friendships and his faith are pushed to the limit.’

Could Billy be about to depart the Street – and, indeed, life – at the hands of an increasingly jealous and violent Theo?

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