Todd Grimshaw
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Coronation Street character | ||||||||||
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Todd Grimshaw in 2007 | ||||||||||
Todd Grimshaw | ||||||||||
Portrayed by | Bruno Langley | |||||||||
Duration | 2001-2004,2007 | |||||||||
First appearance | 14 January 2001 | |||||||||
Last appearance | November 11, 2007 | |||||||||
Book appearances | Coronation Street: The Complete Saga | |||||||||
Profile | ||||||||||
Date of birth | January 13, 1985 | |||||||||
Home | 14 Martindale Terrace, Stoke Newington | |||||||||
Occupation | Student | |||||||||
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Todd James Grimshaw was a character in the British television soap opera Coronation Street. He is played by Bruno Langley.
Sensitive and temperate compared to his half-brother Jason, Todd was a significant character in the life of the long-running television soap opera, as his character struggled with his sexuality to become Coronation Street's first acknowledged homosexual character.
Highly academic, Todd was poised to sit A-Levels until he got involved with schoolgirl mother, Sarah-Louise Platt, with whom he fell in love, leaving thoughts of university behind in favour of domesticity, much to his mother Eileen's dismay. Sarah became pregnant with Todd's child (her second) at the age of 17. However, changes began to show when he first became fascinated by Sarah's brother Nick. After a night out, Todd planted a kiss (the soap's first on screen homosexual kiss) on a sleeping Nick, only to be rebuffed. Although Nick remained suspicious, Todd was able to cover over the incident as a misguided moment of drunken confusion. However, he later secretly established a relationship with a male nurse, Karl Foster. They slept together in Sarah's bed and Todd admitted that he enjoyed sneaking around behind Sarah's back. Karl dumped Todd when Todd refused to break up with Sarah, wanting to have Sarah and his child at home and Karl as his 'bit on the side'. Todd then told Sarah the truth about his sexuality, although he still lied that he hadn't slept with Karl in their bed. Sarah then suffered from a placental abruption, which was a pre-existing medical condition, and, after going back to work against doctor's advice, ended up going into premature labour. She had an emergency caesarian and baby Billy was born, leaving them both on the critical list. Todd showed little concern for Sarah's wellbeing during this time and was only interested in Billy, demanding that Sarah take him to see him. Sadly Billy died 24 hours after he was born.
Although there was conflict with both Sarah's family and his brother Jason, Todd eventually accepted his sexuality and resumed his studies. However, on finding Sarah and Jason in bed together, he lashed out and slapped Sarah, despite having been the one to cheat on her. He then went to live in London after telling Sarah he hoped she found someone who loved her as much as he did.
On 15 October 2007, he returned in time for Jason's stag party and his wedding to Sarah, caused by David Platt's scheming (David posted an invitation addressed to Todd, forged with Jason's name). He told Eileen that he had an on/off relationship with his boyfriend Ben (and at the stag party could not even fully say he was in a relationship), and that although he had obtained his law degree, he was temping until he could find a good job. Jason informed Todd that David was the one who had sent the invitation and he wanted Todd to go back to London before Sarah found out. Todd was stung as he thought he had finally been accepted by Jason again, and was mortified about being tricked into returning.
Eileen was thrilled to see Todd visit and said they should be thanking David instead of sending Todd away. Before Todd could leave, Sarah showed up at the Grimshaws and saw him for the first time in three years. After a row, Jason convinced Sarah that Todd should stay because otherwise David would win. Sarah reluctantly agreed. Jason and Todd then went to his stag party and had a good time, suggesting they had put their old differences behind them. Soon after the party started, they dropped by Sarah's house when Sarah called and was so incoherent that Jason thought she needed his help. He and Todd accidentally saw her in her wedding dress, and she had another fit. The next day, Todd confronted Sarah at her salon and asked her to stop acting like such a "selfish cow". They had a big argument, but managed to clear the air, promising to get over the past.
Todd stayed in town for the wedding, and then returned home to London.