Coronation Street's Fiz Brown and Tyrone Dobbs were devastated when they learned their daughter Hope could be given a high charge for her recent crime.
The 10 year old deliberately started a fire at Tyrone and girlfriend Alina's flat, unaware anyone was inside.
Alina was rushed to hospital and sadly suffered a miscarriage, leaving her and Tyrone distraught.
Hope hasn't exactly been apologetic or remorseful for what she did in the fallout, leading to Tyrone telling the police it was her who sparked the blaze.
During Wednesday's episode of the ITV soap, the youngster had a chat with the police as they tried to establish whether she knew right from wrong.
As the conversation turned to the fire, she showed no empathy for what she had done or for the loss of Alina's unborn baby, but she did insist she did not mean to endanger life.
It was soon revealed that her admission would mean Hope was charged for the fire in someway.
But it was now up to the police and the youth offending team to discuss how to go about a charge, and the level of charge.
Fiz and Tyrone were alarmed that Hope could end up going to court depending on what they decided, and this in itself could lead to the youngster facing 8-12 years in custody.
They were told: "The police are speaking to the youth offending team about Hope's case. They are gonna charge her.
"She has admitted to starting the fire. Legally they have no choice but to charge her. We're just waiting to hear back from the youth offending team and the police regarding the level of charge.
Do you enjoy reading about the soaps? Sign up for all the best soap news from the Mirror here
"It could be either arson with the intent to endanger life, or more likely arson, being reckless as to whether life would be endangered.
"It all depends whether they consider that she intended to endanger life or not."
Fiz asked: "And if it is arson with intent?" to which she was told: "Then theres likely to be a trial, as Hope says she didn't intend to endanger life."
She added: "If Hope is charged with a serious count of arson, she could be looking at the higher end of charges which could be 8-12 years in custody."
Viewers were as equally as stunned by the news, with many predicting Hope could be making a surprise exit from the soap.
One viewer tweeted: "I’m already imagining how bad Hope is going to be when she comes back to the street after her prison."
Another said: "I'm going to hazard a guess that Hope will end up getting the harsher sentence with trial."
A third added: "What you betting Hope gets banged up and Tyrone bins Alina off for Fiz again? Absolute shocker."
Meanwhile a fourth asked: "Who thinks Hope will go to young offenders then turn up again in 3 years time with a new head?"
Not everyone was convinced by the twist though, with one fan writing: "Give over a 10 year old getting 8-12 years for starting a fire."
Another said: "That is absolutely ridiculous. She will not get 8- 12 years fgs and there won’t be a trial because she’s admitted it."
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7:30pm and 8:30pm on ITV.
