‘You always hurt the one you love,’ as the old saying goes and in upcoming Coronation Street episodes Tim Metcalfe (Joe Duttine) will hurt someone he dearly loves as he’s forced to abandon Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) on his birthday – in favour of his deadly rival.

It’s Steve’s 50th and Tim initially plans to help his friend celebrate his half century with a night out together. Steve doesn’t feel there’s that much to celebrate, what with his marriage having fallen apart and his attempts at dating ending in disaster, but that’s what a real friend is for and Tim insists that they’ll have a great time.

Something that Tim loves almost as much as he loves Steve is Weatherfield County. He also loves Sally (Sally Dynevor).

So when she tells him she has an invitation to a gala event at the County ground, Tim knows he won’t be able to refuse. Sally loves a gala event and she’s already planning a shopping trip to buy a new outfit.

Unfortunately, the event is on the same night as Steve’s birthday. Even worse, the occasion is the unveiling of a special bronze bust of County’s legendary former striker Tommy Orpington (Matt Milburn) – the footballer-turned-decorator who swept Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) off her feet and whisked her away to a life in Spain with poor Steve helpless to compete.

It’s a massive betrayal, but when Tim tells Steve he can’t go out with him on his birthday, Steve gets the wrong end of the stick and assumes Tim is planning a massive surprise party instead.

When he overhears Sally talking about buying a new outfit, Steve is convinced he’s on the right track.

Steve is hoping for one last chance to try to win Tracy back as she’s planning to visit, but when that’s cancelled he’s despondent.

He still has his ‘surprise party’ to look forward to, though – even though Kevin (Michael Le Vell), Tyrone (Alan Halsall) and Cassie (Claire Sweeney) all deny knowledge of a party happening. Poor deluded Steve just thinks that everybody is in on the secret.

He’s going to be devastated when he finds out where Tim really went on his birthday, as Tommy once again manages to ruin his life.