New arrival bombshell keeps Roy Cropper up at night in Coronation Street

ROY Cropper is in for another change in his routine in upcoming scenes airing next week.

The beloved Coronation Street character pulls an all-nighter after a new unlikely friend makes a shock arrival in the cobbles.

Technophobic Roy already changed his ways in previous episodes of the Manchester-based ITV program when he became addicted to his mobile phone.

But when his friend Melvyn calls at Roy’s Rolls Café with his dog Freddie, Roy (portrayed by long-standing star David Neilson) is thrown into a brand new storyline.

The pair of pals visit a local bat roost upon their reunion but Roy returns alone to the café, clutching Freddie.

He explains to Shona Platt (Julia Goulding) and his niece Nina Lucas (Mollie Gallagher) that Melvyn had a funny turn and ended up in hospital, leaving Freddie with nobody to look after him.

In later scenes, Roy is clearly exhausted and he admits to Shona that Freddie kept him up all night with his barking.

Roy then confides in Evelyn Plummer (Maureen Lipman) that Melvyn died and he’s inherited Freddie on a permanent basis.

He makes the decision to drop Freddie off at the dog shelter, believing it to be for the best.

When Roy reveals the deed is done, Evelyn is horrified – could she convince him to change his mind about the pup?

This would be Roy’s second mishap with a dog, as viewers of the drama will remember that he was the cause of Cerberus’ death.

A heartbroken Evelyn Plummer had no other choice but to say an emotional goodbye to her four-legged companion after Cerberus ate an Eccles cake Roy had dropped in the café when he was too distracted by his mobile phone.

She was so angry with Roy that she decided to cut ties with him after the greyhound’s passing, which was aired on March 22, 2023, and she branded his café as a death trap.

Awash with guilt, Roy told Nina he’d be getting rid of his phone to avoid any further harm.

Off-screen, Dame Maureen Lipman spoke about Cerberus’ exit storyline by praising the dog chosen to portray him.

“Boss is his name and he’s a lovely dog, seriously sweet natured and an incredibly beautiful hound. Gorgeous.”

“It was as if he had an inkling that he was being written out! He was a bit subdued for a couple of days. He was valiant and that made it even sadder.”

Could Evelyn and Roy fall in love with Freddie?

Coronation Street airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 8pm on ITV.