Coronation Street's Tim actor Joe Duttine 'replaced' by doppelganger as shock exit teased

Coronation Street fans may not be seeing just Joe Duttine as Tim Metcalfe this week as the actor is being replaced by a doppelganger. The character is facing a potential shock exit this week as he's set upon by serial killer Stephen Reid.

Viewers of the ITV soap know that Stephen, played by Todd Boyce, will definitely be leaving the cobbles this week but as for how - and exactly what he does before he leaves Weatherfield - they'll have to wait and see.

But what Corrie fans do currently know is that Stephen is desperately trying to get Jenny Connor to leave for Thailand with him following the discovery of Leo Thompkins' body and fears the body of his dad, Teddy, could also be found.

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However, the broke businessman-turned-serial killer slowly realises that his time might be up, and with nothing to lose, he is determined to make a final bid for freedom and will stop anyone who gets in his way...

Tim, meanwhile, is distracted from Sally’s plans for their wedding anniversary when a passing mention from Brian Packham of Stephen’s interest in the canal dredging project gets the cogs whirring.

On the canal towpath, Tim finds a discarded boat hook and starts poking about in the water when a corpse’s hand floats to the surface. Fleeing back to his cab, Tim dials 999 and reports finding a dead body. But the phone cuts out and before he can call back, Tim’s aghast when Stephen climbs into the back seat of the cab.

As Stephen tries to strangle him with a tie, Tim makes a bid for freedom but trips on his shoelace and, as he clambers to his feet, he’s knocked