David Platt and Shona Ramsey are set for a dark time following the harrowing events at Christmas, which will test their relationship like never before.
Pregnant actress Julia Goulding is set to leave the cobbles for maternity leave, so the festive storyline could set the wheels in motion for her exit - which will be under less than favourable circumstances.
in Weatherfield and ends up killing one unfortunate resident at Christmas.
In his drunken state, Derek Milligan holds the Rovers hostage as he waves his gun about, but later chases Gary out onto the cobbles and right into the centre of the funfair.
This in turn sparks a heartbreaking storyline for Shona and David, which plays out at the beginning of 2020.
Opening up about David and Shona, executive producer Iain MacLeod said: "The events of Christmas Day precipitate a really heartbreaking and dead serious story for the Platts, more specifically for David and Shona.
"We sat down recently and realised that David Platt has never cheated on any of his romantic partners - I will hasten to add, he's not really going to this time either!
"But their relationship is sorely and severely challenged across the whole of next year but the beginnings of those will be in top gear for the first month of two."
Iain also revealed that the new year would also see the final chapter of the Tyrone, Fiz, Evelyn and Hope storyline.
Pregnant Maria will also be forced to wrestle with the idea of forgiving Gary after discovering his involvement in the siege.
Lucy Fallon's exit storyline will also play out in the new year as her character Bethany Platt gets closer to Daniel Osbourne again.
Iain explained: "There's the interesting next chapter of the Bethany and Daniel story which, without putting too much of a finer point on it, is about Daniel's grief."
*Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV
