Who really killed Joel Deering? All the suspects in Coronation Street’s biggest ever whodunnit

JOEL Deering’s murder in Coronation Street was a rare thing in soap – a real shock.

The sick and twisted abuser appeared to be a villain primed for justice with a lengthy prison spell awaiting him – but instead the powers that be and a crowbar put paid to that.

Instead the soap launched its biggest ever whodunnit which begs the question – who really killed Joel Deering in Coronation Street?

Mason Radcliffe

It’s one thing to kick off a whodunnit with a bang and it’s quite enough to kick it off with a universal “huh?”.

Mason was the first suspect for Joel’s murder on account of having a crowbar in his possession. A slam dunk for Weatherfield’s finest!

But it doesn’t look like Mason is the killer – though if he was locked up for life that wouldn’t be a great loss.

Ed Bailey

Ever since his wife disappeared – to Birmingham apparently not that she said goodbye or bothered to tell anyone – Ed has been at a bit of a loss.

He fell off the wagon for his gambling and that was something to keep him busy, and then he lost his business and now he’s a handyman when it suits.

So at least he’s someone who should have a crowbar – but would he really be a killer?

Yes, he loves his daughter, but does Ed really have it in him to murder Joel?

Ronnie Bailey

There’s a bit of an element of just chucking in all characters to boost the numbers here because Ronnie is absolutely not a killer.

He’s one half of Corrie’s best couples in Debbie and Ronnie and we can’t have anything ruining that thank you very much.

Plus when has any real killer been undone by a SATNAV? I ask you!

Dee Dee Bailey

As a mild-mannered committed Christian, it seems unlikely that Dee Dee would murder Joel.

But as a furious and betrayed girlfriend who’s been humiliated and devastated by her cheating boyfriend abusing young women – she could definitely kill.

And indeed she thinks she has – after hitting him with a crowbar – the new accessory of choice in Weatherfield.

But with Dee Dee so convinced she is responsible, surely that means she isn’t?

Lisa Swain

Lisa’s a rare soap unicorn – brought in as a police detective, an antagonist, and then, surprisingly, humanised because of the strength of the actress.

The artist formerly known as DS Swain was then given a first name, Lisa, and a daughter, Betsy, a tragic backstory and the potential for a steamy love affair for later in life lesbian Carla Connor.

So frankly the chances of that being wasted with her killing the likes of Joel Deering are slim to none.

Far more likely that she’ll be framed and then unmask the real killer…

Carla Connor

She was sneaking out of the factory when she made a shocking discovery on the night of Joel’s death – but was it Joel?

After all he was suing her for defamation and he had terrorised her friend Roy Cropper.

Carla’s not afraid of standing up to bullies – but killing them in cold blood? 

I don’t think she’s got it in her – but she’s definitely hiding something big.

Kit Green

The overly-tall police officer has a very fast and loose relationship with the truth and he wasn’t a stranger to Joel.

He planted evidence to frame him for the murder of Lauren – and Joel knew it.

The pair had an explosive row on the night of his death but did he kill him? Could it have been an accident with his silly-length arms reaching over and bashing him to death?

Max Turner

It seems unlikely that tiny Max would have it in him to kill someone – especially after the whole accidentally becoming a terrorist situation he got himself into.

But he is absolutely the type to try to take the blame for someone else doing it…

Especially if that person was….

Lauren Bolton

Of all the suspects, Lauren is probably the most likely to have killed Joel.

He groomed, abused and terrorised her – not to mention battering her over the head with a chair leg.

Then he tried to kill her baby and frame her for it – that’s enough motive for anyone. 

And let’s face it of all of them Lauren’s the one who could absolutely pick up a crowbar and brain someone to death.

None of them…

There’s nothing soaps love more than to give fans a huge list of suspects – and then promptly ignore it with the reveal.

Think Bobby killing Lucy in EastEnders…

Perhaps Roy has finally snapped and done Joel in? Or Lily, desperate for a storyline, has bopped him over the head with a crowbar determined to become the Platt’s next killer?

None of them because… he’s alive!

In soapland there is a universal rule that unless you see a body then they are not dead. 

People have been shot point blanc only to wander back into the lives of their lost loved ones years later.

And so with only a bit of an arm to go on, Joel is very much not dead – and could have blackmailed someone into identifying another person’s body as his own.