Coronation Street producer Iain MacLeod has given extensive teasers about what's to come on the soap in early 2022 - including a "colossal threat" for Sally (Sally Dynevor) and Tim (Joe Duttine).
In episodes airing this week, a new year's health check-up leaves Tim devastated when he learns that he needs a triple heart bypass - and if he doesn't get the operation, he could have another heart attack which would kill him.
Although he has Aggie (Lorna Laidlaw) for support, Tim decides not to clue in Sally on what he's going through, instead preferring to deal with it alone.
"Kicking off at the start of January is a massive story for the Metcalfes, stemming from a New Year's resolution which seems innocuous at first then quickly turns into something life-altering," MacLeod told reporters.
"It turns into a story we have never in soap done without quickly glancing away. We bring a prevalent issue into the daylight and point a camera into it.
"It becomes a colossal threat to everything Sally and Tim know about their relationship and what it looks like in the future.
"Plus it starts with a brilliantly ludicrous scene in which Tim mistakenly thinks he needs to pull his pants down – it all starts from there! But it soon spirals into a relationship shift."
Coronation Street continues Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV.
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