Coronation Streetvillain Frank Foster is reportedly going to be killed off in a new "whodunnit" plot twist.
The serial sex attacker - who raped Carla Connor and tried to attack Maria Connor - is allegedly set to meet a grizzly end as his dark storyline reaches its conclusion, prompting police to launch a murder investigation, the Daily Mirror claims.
One of the suspects arrested for the murder will apparently be Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) as evil businessman Frank is set to target his ex-wife Sally.
A Coronation Street spokesperson refused to confirm upcoming plot details but told the newspaper Frank's storyline would have to "run to its conclusion".
The spokesperson added: "Coronation Street's fantastic mix of drama, comedy and romance will continue into 2012."
Frank raped Carla the night before their wedding after she refused to marry him.
Actor Andrew Lancel, 41, said afterwards:"Carla accused Frank of rape and he was arrested but he denied it. There will be blood on the Street. There's a long way to go with Frank."
The soap star, who joined the show in January this year, admitted it had been hard to act out the disturbing scenes.
Andrew revealed: "I found it very hard playing Frank, who was justifying what he had done. It was the deception that was so disturbing.
"Frank said to Carla, 'You made me do it'. It was chilling. Then he just breezed back in the flat as if nothing had happened. He's a twisted and evil man."