Gary Windass is to be killed in a ‘Coronation Street’ explosion.
The popular character from the ITV soap – played by actor Mikey North – is set to meet his end in the next few months when he travels over to Ukraine again.
A source told The Sun newspaper: "Gary’s family are devastated after they’re told of his tragic death. Gary’s mum Anna is told that he was killed driving a diplomat whose car was ambushed, blown up and there are ‘no survivors’.
"Sarah is inconsolable when she’s told of his passing and everyone is desperate for more information from the foreign office to find out exactly what’s happened. The storyline reaches a climatic point towards the end of this year – with Sarah once again left heartbroken."
It will throw a spanner in the works for Pat Phelan’s daughter Nicola Rubenstein (Nicola Thorp), who is currently expecting Gary’s baby after they slept together after a few drinks.
Gary cheated on his girlfriend Sarah Platt (Tina O’Brien) after opening up to new-girl-on-the-block Nicola about his traumatising trip to Ukraine.
Mikey said: "Nicola is the only person who he’s told exactly what happened in Ukraine and what he had to do. That secret is one of the reason he feels an attachment to her Nicola is there at the right time, and in the heat of the moment Gary isn’t thinking.
"The truth is that the PTSD from when he was in Afghanistan is rearing its head, and Gary is very volatile. The pressures from this work are bringing a lot of demons back."