Daniel Osbourne has been in serious turmoil following the tragic death of his wife Sinead last October, and Coronation Street fans are disturbed by his recent behaviour which takes another turn from this week.
Daniel has taken to pretending that sex worker Nicky Wheatley, played by Kimberly Hart-Simpson, is his late wife and mother of his son Bertie, and fans are creeped out.
The young dad has been paying Nicky to wear Sinead's cardigan as he opens up to her.
After trying to distance herself, Nicky arrives for her next appointment at Daniel’s flat and she’s taken aback to discover he’s cooked them a meal.
As Daniel hands her Sinead’s cardigan, Nicky tells him he’d be better off talking to friends and family rather than wasting his money on her.
And next week, with Nicky too busy to see him, Daniel calls her mate Cherry instead.
Cherry launches into her usual sexy spiel but she’s surprised to find Daniel would rather chat about his son.
As Daniel witters on about Bertie, he realises Cherry is bored.
Ending the call, he stares forlornly at Sinead’s photo.
Then when he sees Nicky at the Bistro with a business associate of owner Ray Crosby’s he offers to pay double to spend time with her.
One viewer told the Manchester Evening News Coronation Street Facebook page that the storyline was "too creepy for words."
Another said: "He needs grief counselling and I hope it doesn't turn into him being obsessed with this girl."
"Odd, but I think there's a twist," commented another.
And another viewer commented: "Really really sad and creepy at the same time scares me actually but grief is hard to deal with so each to their own ways bless."
Other fans are sympathising with Daniel's situation.
"Grief is a powerful thing and affects us all differently," said one.
"I lost my partner of 30 years due to COVID and I can tell you grief is horrendous to cope with so if it gives him some kind of comfort so be it," said another.
"It’s hard to watch, he just needs someone to listen, at least he has found his own way, it is strange but tonight shows her trying to distance herself so something is coming," another fan wrote.
And another soap watcher commented: "It's his way of coping, but not the healthiest."
Daniel, played by Rob Mallard, met Nicky at a drinks reception on Coronation Street and, after thinking they had hit it off, he threw £40 at her when he realised she was a sex worker.
He then arranged to see her again to pour his heart out about Sinead, played by Katie McGlynn, who lost her fight with cervical cancer in October and was charged £220 for his time.
In April Daniel returned from retreat in Scotland after he was packed off by his worried family.
They realised the young journalist needed help when he proposed to teenager Bethany Platt on the rebound from Sinead.
Daniel was clearly drinking too much and he thought he heard Sinead talking to him at their flat.
He asked Bethany to marry him with Sinead's ring and called her by his wife's name.
Realising he was still grieving, his girlfriend called an end to their relationship and moved away to start a new life as a writer in London alone.
