10 Coronation Street villains you cannot help but hate

Coronation Street has always delivered its fair share of drama but the real chaos usually comes from the villains. Forget the happy couples or the friendly neighbors. It’s the characters who cause trouble that people remember.

These are the faces that make you shout at the screen and wonder how anyone could trust them. Over the years Weatherfield has seen plenty of bad behaviour but some villains took things to a whole other level.

Some worked quietly behind the scenes twisting the knife without anyone noticing at first. Others ensured everyone knew exactly what damage they were about to cause. Whether it was scheming for money, breaking up families, or even taking lives, these characters stopped at nothing to get their way.

Everyone has their favorite villain to hate but a few names always stand out. They made viewers angry every time they appeared and left a trail of misery no one could ignore. If you’ve ever found yourself hoping they’d finally get what they deserve you’re not alone. Here’s a look at ten of the most hated Coronation Street villains who left Weatherfield worse than they found it.

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Coronation Street villains you cannot help but hate

1) Pat Phelan

Pat Phelan arrived in Coronation Street as a shady builder but quickly became one of the show’s most dangerous villains. He blackmailed the Windass family, framed Anna Windass for assault, and later r*ped her. Phelan kept Andy Carver locked in a basement for months before murdering him alongside Luke Britton. His calm exterior made his crimes more chilling.

Phelan’s actions left multiple families shattered and directly caused several deaths. His downfall came when Anna finally stabbed him in self-defense. His years-long reign didn’t just impact individual characters—it shifted entire storylines and turned him into one of Weatherfield’s most feared figures.

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2) Geoff Metcalfe

Geoff Metcalfe entered Coronation Street appearing harmless but proved to be anything but. His abuse of Yasmeen Nazir wasn’t physical at first—it was psychological. He isolated her from loved ones, staged robberies to manipulate her, and controlled every aspect of her life.

Installing surveillance cameras and killing her pet hen showed how far he’d go. Viewers watched Yasmeen’s confidence stripped away until she fought back. Geoff’s downfall, falling to his death after setting Yasmeen’s house on fire, closed one of the soap’s darkest chapters. His storyline exposed coercive control in detail, leaving a lasting effect on viewers and characters.

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3) Richard Hillman

Richard Hillman seemed like a respectable businessman when he arrived on Coronation Street but soon revealed himself as a murderer. He attempted to kill Emily Bishop, murdered Maxine Peacock, and tried to burn down Audrey Roberts’ house. His most infamous act came when he drove the Platt family into a canal in a failed murder-suicide attempt.

Only Richard died, but the trauma haunted the family for years. Hillman’s calm charm made his crimes even more disturbing. His actions turned him into one of the most unforgettable villains on the show, reshaping major character arcs and delivering some of Corrie’s tensest moments.

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4) Jez Quigley

Jez Quigley was one of Coronation Street’s most brutal criminals. He was a drug dealer who controlled Weatherfield’s underworld and had no issue using violence to get what he wanted. He ordered beatings, terrorized Steve McDonald, and arranged the murder of Natalie Horrocks’ son Tony.

Jez even tried to kill Steve in the hospital, leading to Jim McDonald’s revenge attack that ended Jez’s life. His presence escalated several characters’ storylines, forcing Steve and Jim into dangerous situations. Jez wasn’t complex—he was ruthless, direct, and violent.

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5) Tracy Barlow

Tracy Barlow has long been a central troublemaker on Coronation Street. Her most notorious act came in 2007 when she killed her boyfriend Charlie Stubbs after learning of his infidelity, bludgeoning him with an ornament. Years earlier, she manipulated Roy Cropper into believing he fathered her daughter Amy.

Tracy’s selfishness didn't stop there—she pushed Becky McDonald down the stairs, leading to a miscarriage. While other villains left after their crimes, Tracy stayed, continuing to cause problems. Her actions repeatedly fractured relationships and stirred drama, making her one of the soap’s most hated but enduring characters over the years.

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6) Maya Sharma

Maya Sharma quickly earned her “Mad Maya” nickname after being dumped by Dev Alahan in Coronation Street. Obsessed and spiteful, she launched a revenge campaign that escalated fast. She torched Dev’s shops and kidnapped both him and Sunita Alahan, tying them up in their flat and setting the place on fire.

Maya’s erratic behavior turned terrifying when she also committed fraud by marrying illegal immigrants under Sunita’s name. Her wild, unpredictable actions made her one of the show’s most dangerous women. Maya’s downfall after crashing her car during a police chase marked one of Corrie’s most explosive story conclusions.

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7) Alan Bradley

Alan Bradley’s time on Coronation Street remains infamous for his violent and controlling behavior. He manipulated and abused his partner Rita Fairclough, attempting to suffocate her after she discovered he’d forged her signature to secure loans. Alan also tried to r*pe his secretary Dawn Prescott.

His obsession with Rita escalated into full-blown stalking, chasing her to Blackpool where he met his end—hit by a tram while pursuing her. Alan’s crimes had lasting consequences for Rita’s character, shaping her storyline for years. His tram death scene became one of the soap’s most memorable and marked his brutal exit from Weatherfield.

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8) Josh Tucker

Josh Tucker appeared charming when introduced to Coronation Street, but he hid something sinister. He drugged and r*ped David Platt after luring him on a night out. Josh’s smug, unapologetic attitude afterward made his character even more despicable. He gaslighted David, dismissing the attack and manipulating those around him.

The storyline tackled male s*xual assault, something rarely portrayed on soaps, and forced David to confront his trauma while isolating him from friends and family. Josh’s eventual downfall and imprisonment brought closure, but his actions had a lasting effect on David’s life, cementing Josh as one of Corrie’s most hated villains.

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9) Harvey Gaskell

Harvey Gaskell arrived on Coronation Street as a ruthless drug dealer with no care for anyone’s safety. He groomed Simon Barlow into his operation and threatened Leanne Battersby’s family when they tried to escape his grip. Harvey’s violence escalated when he arranged attacks and ultimately killed Natasha Blakeman during a failed attempt to kill Leanne.

His disregard for human life and manipulation of vulnerable characters left chaos across Weatherfield. Even behind bars, Harvey’s presence loomed over the storyline. His actions wrecked lives, and his role as a cold-blooded kingpin made him one of the street’s most despicable criminals.

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10) Nathan Curtis

Nathan Curtis was introduced in Coronation Street as a charming ex-boyfriend of Shona Ramsey but quickly revealed himself as a predator. He groomed Bethany Platt, isolating her from her family and coercing her into a s*x trafficking ring. Nathan used manipulation and psychological control to convince Bethany he loved her, while actually exploiting her.

His ties to corrupt police officer Neil Clifton deepened the horror of the storyline. Nathan’s abuse storyline was one of the soap’s most unsettling and drew praise for its realistic portrayal of grooming. His eventual arrest gave Bethany justice, but his crimes haunted viewers.

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