Coronation Street fans fear that Pat Phelan has KILLED Norris Cole after he sports VERY similar glasses while hiding out in Wales

By LAURA FOX FOR MAILONLINE

Published: | Updated:

Coronation Street fans have become convinced that the villainous Pat Phelan has killed resident gossip Norris Cole, after he re-emerged sporting familiar glasses while hiding out in Wales.

Viewers of the ITV soap took to Twitter following Wednesday's double bill as Phelan was revealed to be living in a remote caravan ahead of enacting his revenge on Eileen Grimshaw, in dramatic post-watershed scenes set to air next week.

Norris - played by Malcolm Hebden - was last seen on-screen earlier this year before the actor took a leave of absence from the show, and a question mark has remained over whether he will return after he was the victim of a sick death hoax.

Scary: Coronation Street fans have become convinced that the villainous Pat Phelan has killed Norris Cole, after he re-emerged sporting familiar glasses while hiding out in Wales

Scary: Coronation Street fans have become convinced that the villainous Pat Phelan has killed Norris Cole, after he re-emerged sporting familiar glasses while hiding out in Wales

Phelan (Conor McIntyre) was seen on-screen for the first time in several weeks as he was revealed to be living in a caravan, recovering from his cliffside fall while the residents of Weatherfield presume him dead.

Of course fans have known for many weeks that Pat has been plotting his revenge, and a bloodbath-filled series of episodes have already been teased for next week.

But it was Pat's choice of glasses that have many viewers fearing for the Cabin owner Norris on Wednesday, as the round-framed specs were eerily similar to those warn by the resident Street gossip.

Terrifying: As Pat appeared to be wearing glasses eerily similar to those sported by Norris, fans feared that the character - who has been absent for several months - was killed

Terrifying: As Pat appeared to be wearing glasses eerily similar to those sported by Norris, fans feared that the character - who has been absent for several months - was killed

Not him! Several viewers took to Twitter worrying that the fan favourite had been killed, after becoming a source of much comic relief as the Street's resident gossip

Not him! Several viewers took to Twitter worrying that the fan favourite had been killed, after becoming a source of much comic relief as the Street's resident gossip

Taking to Twitter one viewer wrote: 'Think we know Pat Phelan's latest victim seen as he's wearing his glasses... Poor Norris #Corrie #Phelan.'

Another added: 'Starting to think #Phelan has killed #Norriscole #corrie.'

After nearly 20 years in the role Norris made a quiet departure from Coronation Street earlier this year, when the actor chose to take a break from the soap.

Too funny: Actor Malcolm Hebden took a break from Coronation Street earlier this year after becoming the victim of a sick death hoax

Too funny: Actor Malcolm Hebden took a break from Coronation Street earlier this year after becoming the victim of a sick death hoax

A source told The Sun at the time: ‘Malcolm is not getting any younger. He booked a bit of time off just before Christmas, but that annual leave has now become longer than first planned. Bosses do not know when he will be back.

'It’s easy to cover a period of a few weeks without mentioning Norris on screen but any longer and fans start to question why a character is not there.'

The actor, who became a soap favourite following his introduction to the show in 1994, was previously the victim to a death hoax, after a US website reported he had passed away.

Concerned fans soon swarmed Twitter to share their grief and worry before his co-star Sally Ann Matthews, who plays Jenny Bradley in the soap, slammed the rumours as she penned: 'Thankfully not' in response to a worried fan.  

He's coming! Fans know that Pat has been secretly plotting his revenge after the residents of Weatherfield presumed him dead

He's coming! Fans know that Pat has been secretly plotting his revenge after the residents of Weatherfield presumed him dead

Norris was firmly cemented as a fan favourite for many years, sporting hilarious banter with Cabin co-owner Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) and an adorably close friendship with Mary Taylor (Patti Clare) in recent years. 

Meanwhile since he was revealed to be in face far from dead, fans have been eagerly anticipating the moment Pat Phelan enacts his revenge.

While bosses have remained tight-lipped on whether he will finally bite the dust, it has been teased that he will go on a gun-fuelling rampage, keeping Michelle Connor (Kym Marsh) hostage on her wedding day and leaving another character fighting for their life. 

Coronation Street continues on Friday 25th May at 7:30pm and 8:30pm on ITV. 

Plotting: After his cliffside fall, Pat has been hiding out at a caravan in Wales, ahead of an explosive week which he seem his go on a gun-toting rampage in post-watershed scenes

Plotting: After his cliffside fall, Pat has been hiding out at a caravan in Wales, ahead of an explosive week which he seem his go on a gun-toting rampage in post-watershed scenes

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