If there’s one thing Corrie does brilliantly, it’s friendships between the most unlikely of folk. Past faves have been Becky McDonald and Roy Cropper, Carla Connor and Hayley Cropper and – more recently – Bethany Platt and Mary Smith.
Read more: Is Corrie planning a devastating twist for Rita?
We’ve also loved scenes between Rita Sullivan and troubled Gemma Winter. Kind-hearted Rita took Gems in when she discovered she’d been kipping in the kebab shop. Naaaaaaw
Since then, the pair have developed one of those beautiful Corrie bonds. But it looks like their unlikely friendship will be left in dust next week when Rita calls the cops on her roomie. Whaaaaat?
It all kicks off when a couple of Gemma’s old friends, Zoe and Roxy, arrive on the cobbles. Keen to impress them, Gemma invites them to come and sample the wares of Rita’s drinks cabinet.
Let’s hope there’s something a bit more impressive than sherry and Babycham.
Rita is alerted to what’s going on when she hears some loud music coming from her flat. She heads home and discovers Zoe and Roxy there, and demands they leave.
The girls then turn on Gems, laughing at her for hanging out with an OAP (Oi – that’s not just any OAP, that’s a LEGEND). Upset, Gemma lays into Rita for making her look soft in front of her mates.
Things are soon smoothed over though, when Gems finds out that Rita has had a word with Jenny about making her one of her bridesmaids.
But peace doesn’t last for long. Zoe and Roxy (never trust a newcomer) spot that Rita has forgotten to lock up the Kabin and decide to make the most of the opportunity.
Noris finds the shop has been broken into the next morning. When there’s no sign of a break in, Rita comes to the conclusion that Gemma is behind it.
Poor Gemma is heartbroken that Rita has accused her and begs her to see that she’d never do something so horrible to her.
But Rita is having NONE of it and calls the police, who arrive and take Gemma in for questioning. Could this be the end of a beautiful friendship?
Even more tragically, it looks like Rita’s mistake could be another sign of an upcoming dementia storyline that it’s thought Corrie bosses have lined up.
Viewers have already spotted a few occasions where Rita’s memory has let her down, but forgetting to lock up the shop is the worst by far.
Fans of the ITV series are already beginning to panic about what may be in store for the character, knowing that her forgetfulness would not be included without reason.
One tweeted: “Please don’t tell me Rita is going to get Alzheimer’s on @itvcorrie ?! I don’t think I could handle it… will be worse than Hayley!”
Another agreed: “Rita forgot she bought Gemma a mug on #Corrie Don’t you DARE corrie!!! Don’t you Dare do that storyline to Rita!”
As the character becomes increasingly concerned about her failing memory, is a dementia plot really on the cards – or is something else going on?
Is it just old age? Or has she got some other horrible disease that could be causing her forgetfulness?
Read more: Is Nicola about to rumble Phelan?
Let’s hope she seeks help sooner rather than later to get to the bottom of what’s going on.