Coronation Street spoilers: Peter Barlow finally admits he needs help

But is it too late?

Author: Marianna MansonPublished 19th Jan 2021

Following weeks of worrying his family after turning once more to the bottle, Peter Barlow finally admits that he doesn't want to die and though he wants to stop drinking, he doesn't know how.

Buoyed by Peter's confession, his girlfriend Carla Connor once more begs him to let her support him in his sobriety.

But with a seemingly impossible task ahead of him and his emotions in bits, Peter still can't find it in himself to accept her help.

Gail investigates her past

Is this the end for Peter and Carla?

Meanwhile, Aggie Bailey still isn't on board with Grace Vickers moving into number three and tells her as much, as soon as they're alone together.

But Michael Bailey is determined for his family to be together and tells Aggie to like it, or lump it.

Elsewhere, Debbie Webster is full of excuses about why she was involved with Abi Franklin's injury and denies knowing anything about Ray Crosby's dodgy dealings, and Gail Platt embarks on a journey into her past.

CHECK OUT: Coronation Street Monday 25 - Friday 29 January

With Michael having invited Grace to come and live with him at the Bailey family home, Aggie tells Ed she's worried he's about to propose again.

In a bid to clear the tension, Michael organises a lunch for the two most important women in his life but when he calls to say he's running later, Aggie spots her chance.

Aggie tells Grace that Michael is better off without her in his life and warns her to back off. Michael arrives just in time to find Grace storming out.

As Grace heads for the station in tears, Michael races after her but he's soon stopped by police who interrogate him about a recent robbery.

Catching what's going on, Grace has a change of heart and rushes to interject, accusing the officers of racism and demands they let him go on his way.

Grateful for Grace's assertiveness, Michael once again extends to the invite to live with him and tells his mum that Grace is moving in, whether she likes it or not.

With Grace settling into life at number 3, Michael steps out to pick up a takeaway and she and Aggie continue to snipe at each other.

Arriving back at the house, an exhausted Michael orders them both to start making an effort and Grace and Aggie paint on fake smiles.

As Yasmeen helps Sally pack her things at number four, Debbie stops by, and in an attempt to clear her name swears blind that she had no idea about Ray and Faye.

Soon it comes to light that Susan, the Chairperson has been arrested on suspicion of bribery and Ray's done a disappearing act. As the extent of Ray's dodgy dealings become clear, Debbie does her best to distance herself.

Later on, a police officer calls round at Debbie's explaining that the emergency call the night of Abi's accident has been traced to her phone.

With the DI demanding answers, Debbie insists she found Abi unconscious at the Bistro and assumed she'd overdosed. But is she hiding her involvement?

Wracked with guilt, Debbie stops Sally and David and tells them the development is cancelled, and that she'll sell David's house back to him at the original price - but it's not quite so simple for David.

Meanwhile, Gail calls at the factory to collect some old boxes of photographs and as a photo flutters to the floor, she's intrigued.

The old portrait shows a woman named Fanny. Determined to find out Fanny's story and trace her history, Gail makes an account on a genealogy website.

After conducting some thorough research, Gail learns that Fanny was her great, great grandmother. She connects with a user called Top Hat, who says the same.

Gail arranges to meet with Top Hat and when she arrives at the Rovers finds Elaine enjoying a drink with Archie's son George.

After some introductions, it turns out that George and Top Hat are one and the same! As Gail and George chat about their shared set of grandparents, it's clear there's some competition for George's attentions from Eileen.

Elsewhere, Paul mentions to Todd that he's looking forward to a date night later that evening with Billy over at Speed Dahl, leaving Todd pensive.

Still hellbent on getting in the middle of them, Todd invites Ajay for a curry and soon turn up to Speed Dahl to crash Paul and Billy's date.

Clearly less than thrilled with their uninvited guests, Paul gives Todd short thrift, but Todd secretly texts Will and instructs him to call Paul.

When Paul receives a call from a panicked-sounding Will begging him to meet him, his resolve is tested but with Billy's support he ends the call.

With Peter once again missing, Adam, Ken and Tracy are at a loss. Adam suggests they take it turns to chaperone him whenever he leaves the house, so they can stop him drinking.

Arriving home drunk, Peter bats away his family's concern and when he heads back out, he's furious to realise that Adam is following him.

Adam arrives home alone in despair, and Ken heads out to find Peter, finally tracking him down in a hotel bar. After lashing out, Peter breaks down and admits he wants to stop drinking, but doesn't know how.

Later on, Peter wants a chat with Carla and tells her that he wants to draw a line under their problems, insisting he forgives her for sleeping with Adam.

After hearing from Ken of Peter's desperation to turn a corner, Carla calls at number one to beg once again for him to accept her support.

But a drunk Peter once more lashes out and tells Carla he doesn't want her anywhere near him. Despairing, Carla heads out to meet an old flame, Lucas.

But first, here's everything coming up on the cobbles this week...

Ray Crosby has been terrorising the residents for months after getting planning permission to demolish the street to build a swanky new housing estate - despite everyone's best efforts to stop him.

But his methods have been less than scrupulous and this week his plan begins to unravel at the seams as his crimes threaten to be exposed.

With Faye Windass gaining the courage to finally report him to the police, is it all over for Ray?

Debbie plays dumb

Elsewhere, Alya Nazir is pleased to see a spark back in her Grandma Yasmeen again when she refuses to pack up number six, but soon it's clear Yasmeen is struggling to settle back into normal life.

With the Platts dreading their move, Gail Platt confides in Nick Tilsley that she can't handle slumming it on a council estate.

Micheal Bailey panics when Grace Vickers threatens to move to Hull and Chesney Brown and Gemma Winter face more financial trouble.

How to listen to Downtown Radio:

Tune into Northern Ireland's Home of Great Music, Downtown Radio on FM, AM, DAB Digital Radio, online, on our Rayo app and by asking your smart speaker to 'Play Downtown Radio'. Gary & Glen kick things off every weekday morning and Neal McClelland brings you home on Downtown Drive.