The actor has had to keep a big secret about who Joel Deering really is ever since he joined the ITV soap last year

Coronation Street star Calum Lill has broken his silence after fearing how his family may feel about watching his latest scenes. The actor has had to keep a big secret about who Joel Deering really is ever since he joined the ITV soap last year.

But the truth about how dark and sinister the solicitor is was finally revealed following Lauren Bolton’s return. As viewers know, the teen has been missing since February with no trace of her since – until now.

It was revealed in May, three months after Lauren was last seen in Weatherfield, that it was Joel who was behind her disappearance – not Roy Cropper as DS Lisa Swain decided when she charged him with Lauren’s presumed murder.

After making a swift exit from Roy’s homecoming, after he was finally released from prison, Joel was met by Hope Stape who handed him a necklace that she found in his car when cleaning it, which viewers recognised belonged to Lauren. Then, a flashback clip revealed him to be Lauren’s secret ‘boyfriend’ and saw him brutally attack her with a chair leg.

For months, fans have been left to ponder whether Lauren had survived the ordeal and it was confirmed she did when she appeared by Roy’s bedside in the hospital after he suffered a heart attack following a fresh confrontation with a group of yobs who targeted him over Lauren.

However, as she tried to make an exit from the hospital, she was grabbed by Joel who covered her mouth to cover her screams and dragged her into a family room where the truth about what happened between the pair before the shock attack was uncovered.

In flashback scenes scattered throughout their intense confrontation, it was revealed that Joel first met Lauren at the police station when he was the duty solicitor. He said he’d be her ‘knight in shining armour’ and it wasn’t long before he was supplying her with cash to help pay her bills. But their relationship turned sexual, with Joel expecting to sleep with Lauren in return for his cash and other gifts.

On the day she vanished, Joel lashed out violently at Lauren following a mention of his current fiancee, Dee-Dee Bailey. Joel took off, while Lauren feigned death and has since been in hiding, jumping from hostel to hostel, terrified for her safety. But the biggest twist was that the teen is now pregnant with Joel’s baby.

Following the scenes, Calum shared a number of behind-the-scenes images from filming the flashback elements of the gripping episode as he paid tribute to all those who worked on the episode. “Appreciation post for everyone who worked on tonight’s episode of @coronationstreet,” he began.

“Every member of the crew was so supportive while we took on this difficult subject matter and worked ridiculously hard for the entire shoot. Thanks to @maggieoliveruk for sharing her knowledge and stories with us to help us create something authentic and truthful. Thank you to directors Kev Boyle and Richard Lynn for trusting us entirely and guiding us through it. Thank you to @ijkershaw for writing an incredible script as you always do.

“@caitfitt0n you are a phenomenal actor. The hours and hours of written work you put in to each and every scene you do is something to behold and I’m so grateful to have worked on this opposite someone as talented and professional as you.”

He added: “We had THEE best time filming this!! Stay tuned for what comes next… ” And his Corrie co-stars were among the first to respond. Cait Fitton, who plays Lauren, said: “What a talent you are to work with!! Proud of us! Thank you @coronationstreet for trusting us with this storyline.”

Amy Barlow actress Elle Mulvaney replied: “Smashed it.” Lucy Fallon, known for playing Weatherfield’s Bethany Platt, shared: “Super duper you guys!!!!!!! what the flip!!!!!” Corrie’s Betsy Swain newcomer Sydney Martin wrote: “Absolutely smashed it,” while Liam McCheyne {Dylan Wilson) and Emrhys Cooper (Rowan Cunliffe) reacted with clapping emojis.

It comes after Calum told how he was worried about his family’s reaction to his latest scenes, which some viewers branded ‘disturbing’. The soap star watched the episode when Joel was unmasked as Lauren’s assumed killer alongside his nan and went viral after he filmed her brilliant, but disapproving, reaction.

However, he told the Manchester Evening News and other press that he wouldn’t be doing the same when Joel’s true colours were uncovered in Tuesday night’s episode. He said: “I think I’m going to ask her not to watch it because I’m not quite sure I want any of my family to see that…” He then joked: “Or my now fiancée actually, there might be a cancellation.”