Coronation Street's Carla Barlow to be drugged in sinister Stephen story

Stephen plots a takeover at the factory.

By Daniel Kilkelly

7 Feb 2023

ITV

Coronation Street spoilers follow.

Coronation Street airs sad scenes for Carla Barlow next week as Stephen Reid stoops to shocking depths to undermine her.

Carla's future in charge of Underworld is thrown into jeopardy when Stephen comes up with a sinister plan to get her out of the way.

Viewers have seen Carla make an enemy of Stephen, who was livid when she pulled rank at the factory by ordering him to work in the packing department. Stephen also felt that Carla had made him look foolish in front of an old business contact.

Next week, Stephen spies an opportunity to take revenge when he gets his hands on some LSD.

Stephen slips the drugs into Carla's coffee while at work, hoping that the side-effects will affect her performance in the top job.

This seems to work as planned when Carla appears confused and woozy on the factory floor.

Later at The Rovers, Stephen spikes Carla's glass of wine with another vial of LSD.

Carla's husband Peter spots the signs that she isn't well. When Carla becomes paranoid around the factory staff during the after-work drinks, Peter fears that her psychosis is returning and guides her outside.

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This leaves Stephen free to sneak into Carla's office, where he deletes a meeting with Dick Haversham from her diary and mixes up her paperwork.

Later in the week, Carla is baffled to find the meeting with Dick Haversham now missing from her diary.

Stephen hands Carla another spiked drink and lies that she cancelled the meeting.

Carla's day is thrown into chaos when Dick calls her, demanding to know why she hasn't turned up for their planned catch-up.

Outside, Peter offers Paul Foreman the chance to try out his new motorbike.

ITV

At the same time, Carla is left disappointed when she tries to collect her car from the garage and a concerned Abi Webster refuses to hand it over.

Carla heads into the Underworld van instead, but her drugged state leads to disastrous consequences as she crashes into Paul – who's still trying out Peter's bike.

Will Paul be okay? And how will this affect Carla's immediate future at the factory?