Christmas won’t be merry OR bright in Weatherfield this year, according to The Mirror’s latest spoiler reports about Coronation Street.
And it seems as if it’s the Barlow family who are particularly set to feel the strain, as Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) looks set to turn violent towards his young cousin, Amy (Elle Mulvaney).
The storyline will feature the two being left alone at their grandad Ken's house, where Simon - after months of abusing his step mum Leanne (Jane Danson) - will lash out at Amy in a fit of rage.
However Amy refuses to stay silent about the attack, telling her mum Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) about Simon’s violent behaviour.
What will Tracy do about her daughter’s attacker? And will the Barlow family be able to handle the fallout?
It seems as if the answer to the latter is a resounding ‘no’.
An insider previously told the Sunday People : “The Barlows are going to be central to Coronation Street in the run up to Christmas.
“The close-knit family will be put under extreme strain and viewers will be left wondering if they can get through the turmoil.”
Back in September, Jane - whose character was recently left unconscious by Simon - admitted that she had some doubts over the domestic violence storyline.
"But the way it's been done is quite clever," she added.
"He's a child who's been through so much with his dad, with the alcoholism, and he's lost so many people in his life. She's been the one constant, so she'll never give up on him."
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.