He's been at the centre of the drama as street villain Corey Brent in Coronation Street, and actor Maximus Evans says the truth about his character's involvement in Seb Franklin's shocking death will soon finally be revealed.
Handyman Seb and his girlfriend Nina Lucas were viciously attacked in a harrowing storyline based on the real life story of goth Sophie Lancaster, who died after a similar hate attack back in 2007.
After meeting a gang of teen thugs during a walk by the canal the young couple were chased and set up upon.
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Viewers saw Seb knocked to the ground as Nina attempted to run away and Seb later died from his injuries.
It was evident that Corey was the ringleader but soap watchers didn't see the attack.
And scheming Corey has since tried to escape justice while pinning the blame on his former friend Kelly Neelan.
But from the end of this month Max says viewers will see that Corey is the 'true villain' through flashback episodes.
"The audience will witness what Nina saw," he told us.
"What we'll see is the truth. That was kind of skimmed over but we will see the truth."
Corey was eventually charged with murder and GBH and there were shockwaves when he was released on bail.
However he was arrested for breaking his bail conditions after spouting abuse at fragile Nina branding her a "s****y little gothic freak."
Max, who has played manipulative bully Corey since May 2019, has relished playing a soap baddie.
"It's been brilliant. I've had negative comments about Corey but that was anticipated," he said.
And on the viewer reaction to his character he said: "I love it when people come up to me in the street and say they hate Corey.
"It means I'm doing my actual job."
Fans got more of an insight into Corey's character when they met his hard-faced dad Stefan.
"He never set out with the intention of killing Seb. He is vulnerable and he's definitely influenced by his dad," said Max.
And in upcoming court scenes viewers will see how Corey's family attempts to wield their power in comparison to Kelly's.
He said the upcoming storyline will deliver 'tense and exciting scenes.'
On revisiting the storyline through the flashbacks, filmed earlier this summer close to the Corrie set at Trafford Wharf, Max said he found it easy 'to slip back' into being the villain.
"I knew how much he needed to be hated," he said.
"What's great is that we're close on and off set and I've been so fortunate to work with a cast of fantastic actors.
"For me it was new being in the public eye."
Max, who grew up in Cheadle Hulme, told how he unwinds after acting out tough scenes.
"I love my friends and going to the pub helps," he said.
"And I'm a big fan of films and watching films.
"And at Corrie when you come into the green room you can always find someone to talk to"
Max was braced for the storyline to have such a strong reaction from the public.
"We're recounting some real events so, especially to the people from up north, I knew the reaction would be as great as it has been.
"It's raised awareness and it's an honour to be the villain of this story."
The ITV soap worked with the The Sophie Lancaster Foundation in memory of Sophie who was murdered in a park for the way she looked.
She and her boyfriend Robert Maltby were set upon because they were members of the goth subculture.
By working with Corrie the Foundation, launched by Sophie's mum Sylvia to challenge prejudice and intolerance towards people from alternative subcultures, is hoping to encourage more people to come forward to report hate crime.
The flashback episodes air from Monday August 30 and the trial starts on Wednesday September 1 on ITV.
