Key Points
- James Cartwright, formerly of the show Coronation Street and who portrayed Theo Silverton, stated that he hopes that Sarah Platt is acquitted of her crime.
- As quoted in Digital Spy, he stated: “I really hope she gets off with it. To the jury — let her off!”
- Theo was an “absolute stinker” according to Cartwright and it was “great” that this character died.
- Cartwright pleaded that viewers not blame Gary Windass, as Gary disposed of the evidence “for love”.
- Sarah Platt, who was played by Tina O’Brien, was tried for the murder of Theo Silverton, after she struck him with some scaffolding.
- Theo fell off scaffolding outside his flat after being hit by Sarah and she then contacted Gary Windass, who helped to dispose of the weapon used.
- Sarah had admitted to the murder of Theo, explaining that she did it in self-defense to DS Lisa Connor-Swain.
- The trial began on Wednesday, October 14, with statements from Todd Grimshaw, Danielle Silverton and DS Lisa Connor-Swain.
- In the episode which aired early on ITVX on Monday, October 19, Sarah was found not guilty.
- These comments were made by Cartwright at the Inside Soap Awards in an interview with Digital Spy.
Manchester (Manchester Mirror) October 19, 2026 — Former Coronation Street villain James Cartwright has publicly backed his former co-star Tina O’Brien’s character, Sarah Platt, saying he hopes the jury clears her of murdering Theo Silverton.
Cartwright played Theo Silverton, the abusive builder whose death led to Sarah’s murder trial. Speaking to Digital Spy at the recent Inside Soap Awards, he made clear that he did not want Sarah to be convicted.
As reported by Digital Spy, Cartwright said:
“I really hope she gets off with it. To the jury — let her off!”
He added:
“He was an absolute stinker, what a horror of a man. It’s great how it ended, it’s great that he met his end. And absolutely — free Sarah Platt!”
Cartwright’s comments came after Sarah was seen standing trial for Theo’s murder in recent Coronation Street episodes. The actor’s remarks were reported by the Manchester Evening News in a story published on Monday, October 19, under the headline “Coronation Street villain casts own verdict on Sarah Platt’s fate after murder confession”.
Why does Cartwright support Sarah?
Cartwright said he believed Sarah should not be held responsible for Theo’s death because of the abuse Theo inflicted on Todd Grimshaw. Todd, played by Gareth Pierce, was Theo’s partner and had suffered domestic abuse at Theo’s hands.
As reported by Digital Spy, Cartwright said:
“Essentially a soap is a very moral medium. So we want your underdogs to triumph and your villains to meet a sticky end, which isn’t always how it happens in life.”
He added:
“But isn’t it great that there’s a place on television where that can happen?”
Cartwright also defended Gary Windass, played by Mikey North. Gary helped Sarah after Theo’s death by disposing of the weapon, and Cartwright argued that viewers should not focus blame on him.
“Let’s not get Gary involved in this — I mean, he disposed of a bit, but he did it for love!”
Cartwright told Digital Spy.
What happened to Theo Silverton?
Theo Silverton died after a confrontation with Sarah Platt earlier in 2026. In flashback scenes broadcast in June, Coronation Street revealed that Sarah struck a drunken Theo with scaffolding outside his flat.
As reported by the Manchester Evening News, the blow caused Theo to fall from the scaffolding, leading to his death. The storyline ended James Cartwright’s time in the ITV soap, with his final appearance airing in April.
After the incident, Sarah contacted her former partner Gary Windass. According to Radio Times, Gary helped dispose of the weapon and kept quiet about the crime for months.
Sarah initially denied involvement. However, as evidence mounted, she confessed to DS Lisa Connor-Swain, played by Vicky Myers, and said the killing had been an act of self-defence.
How did Sarah Platt’s trial unfold?
Sarah’s trial began in Coronation Street on Wednesday, October 14. She had spent months on remand after being arrested and charged with Theo’s murder.
Her family and friends attended court, including Bethany Platt, David Platt, Shona Platt and Sarah’s ex-husband Adam Barlow. The prosecution argued that Sarah attacked Theo after learning about his abuse of Todd.
Todd gave evidence in Sarah’s defence. As reported by Radio Times, he told the court that Sarah was incapable of taking someone’s life and said she must have been pushed by Theo to act as she did.
However, testimony from DS Lisa Connor-Swain and Danielle Silverton, Theo’s ex-wife played by Natalie Anderson, did not support Sarah’s account. Danielle’s evidence was particularly damaging, and Sarah was returned to her cells after contesting Danielle’s claims about Theo’s abusive behaviour.
Kit Green, Sarah’s former partner and a police officer played by Jacob Roberts, also gave evidence. According to Radio Times, Kit said Sarah was not a murderer and that it was clear she had acted in self-defence, although he had earlier expressed concern about the potential damage to his career.
What was the verdict?
In the Coronation Street episode released early on ITVX on Monday, October 19, the jury reached a verdict in Sarah’s trial.
As reported by Radio Times, Sarah’s loved ones feared the worst when the jury returned quickly. However, the jury found Sarah not guilty of murder.
The outcome meant Sarah could leave court and return to Weatherfield. Radio Times reported that her reaction was one of “great elation”, as she looked forward to being reunited with her young son, Harry.
Digital Spy also reported the verdict, stating that Sarah’s family were initially shocked by the speed of the jury’s decision but were relieved when she was cleared.
What did the actor say about soap justice?
Cartwright’s interview also addressed the wider appeal of soap opera storytelling. He suggested that programmes such as Coronation Street allow audiences to see villains face consequences and vulnerable characters receive support.
As reported by Digital Spy, he said: “Essentially a soap is a very moral medium. So we want your underdogs to triumph and your villains to meet a sticky end, which isn’t always how it happens in life.”
His comments came after Theo’s death concluded a storyline centred on domestic abuse. Cartwright had previously discussed the role in a Digital Spy video about unreleased filming footage, saying Theo’s exit felt like the character’s story had come “full circle”.
In that footage, Cartwright said:
“It has come in full circle, that he started at the top of scaffolding about a year and a half ago. And now he’s coming off the top of a scaffolding.”
Tina O’Brien, who plays Sarah, also appeared in the footage and said viewers would be glad that Theo “finally gets his, you know, his end”.
Background of the development
Theo Silverton was introduced as a builder and became central to a domestic abuse storyline involving Todd Grimshaw. His abusive behaviour made him one of the soap’s most controversial recent villains.
Theo died in April after falling from scaffolding outside his flat. Coronation Street later revealed that Sarah Platt had struck him with a piece of scaffolding during their confrontation.
Sarah initially tried to conceal her involvement and turned to Gary Windass for help. Gary disposed of the weapon, while Sarah’s then-partner, police officer Kit Green, also became aware of the truth after she confessed during what had been intended as a proposal.
Sarah was later arrested as evidence against her grew. She eventually admitted killing Theo but maintained that she acted in self-defence after learning of his abuse of Todd.
The trial became a major storyline for the Platt family, with Bethany, David, Shona and Adam among those supporting Sarah in court. The verdict has now confirmed that Sarah will remain on the cobbles, opening the way for further storylines involving her family and her relationships.
Prediction: What happens next for viewers?
For Coronation Street viewers, Sarah’s acquittal is likely to shift attention from the courtroom to the consequences of the cover-up. Although the jury found her not guilty, Gary Windass helped dispose of the weapon, and Kit Green knew about Sarah’s involvement before her arrest.
The storyline may therefore continue to test Sarah’s relationships with Gary and Kit. Bethany Platt also faces personal difficulties, having concealed that she slept with Sarah’s ex-partner Kit and is pregnant with his child.
For fans of the soap, James Cartwright’s support for Sarah reflects the strong audience reaction to Theo’s abusive behaviour. Many viewers had already said they did not want Sarah to be imprisoned, with a Manchester Evening News poll suggesting that most respondents believed she should not face prison over Theo’s death.
Sarah’s return to Weatherfield is expected to give Tina O’Brien new material as Sarah rebuilds her life after months in custody. The verdict also leaves the Platt family with the task of adjusting to her release, while the wider community may continue to question the circumstances of Theo’s death.
