Coronation Street fans are convinced they’ve rumbled missing Lauren Bolton’s ‘real kidnapper’.

Only recently, Roy Cropper has found himself arrested, charged and the number one suspect for the supposed murder of missing teenager Lauren. Soap fans will recall that troubled youngster Lauren abruptly left the cobbles earlier this year and her friend Bobby has been left concerned after he found her flat unlocked with Lauren nowhere to be seen.

Viewers never saw Lauren leave and it seems she told no one close to her of her plan to leave Weatherfield aside from Roy. Bobby reported Lauren as missing to the police and Roy has found himself under suspicion due to his kind nature, especially after he was caught innocently cleaning Lauren’s flat, which some people thought proved he was guilty and internet sleuths have since made his life a misery with a barrage of online abuse.

Taking to social media, soap fans have been discussing the gripping storyline and they’re convinced that they know who the real kidnapper is. Earlier this week, viewers spotted that Joel Deering was back on the cobbles after being absent recently. Soap fans will recall that earlier this year, it was revealed that Joel had been hiding stuff from love interest Dee-Dee Bailey and he actually had an estranged wife, as well as child.

One person said: “I reckon Joel had something to do with Lauren’s disappearance. Shady… #corrie”, a different account put: “Will Joel be key to Lauren’s disappearance? #Corrie”, another wrote: “So Joel’s back on the scene as the Lauren Bolton disappearance ramps up a gear…” while a different account added: “Joel……. he’s keeping Lauren captive and using DeeDee to get lowdown on Roy’s case #Corrie.”