With Ian Puleston-Davies leaving Coronation Street to star in ITV’s new action drama Beowulf, unfortunately it was inevitable that Owen Armstrong and Anna Windass would split up.

Next week viewers will see Anna (Debbie Rush) and Owen torn apart by a bitter row, after he suggests her 13-year-old daughter Faye’s baby should be put up for adoption as she is struggling to come to terms with being a mother.

But Ian has revealed he thinks Anna and Owen still love each other, despite not being able to see eye to eye.

Owen Armstrong and Anna Windass argue over Fay's baby (ITV)
Owen Armstrong and Anna Windass argue over Fay’s baby (ITV)

He revealed: “I think Owen is right to flag it up but it is the final straw for Anna, she believes that he’s gone behind her back and is filling Faye with the wrong advice…

“The blame game has been done and Owen’s trying to rescue his relationship, backtracking like mad in a typical blokey way. He’s gone in with his size nines and now he’s trying to retract it with his slipper socks. She absolutely blames him for all sorts of things but I do think she still loves him. I think they break up purely for circumstantial reasons not because they’ve fallen out of love.”

Ian even believes Owen and Anna may be able to repair their relationship eventually.

Ian thinks Owen and Anna still love each other deep down (ITV)
Ian thinks Owen and Anna still love each other deep down (ITV)

He said: “With time, and realisation for Anna that – circumstances aside – her heart still beats for Owen. He thinks they could have worked it out and she’s not prepared to do that. Maybe he’ll go away and maybe he’ll realise that he could have done more… His heart will always remain with Anna.”

But in the meantime Ian is off to play a warrior in Beowulf.

He said: “I don’t mind having a break from Owen, I need some space from him. He’s been quite an exhausting character to play and he’s annoying, his attitude has really got on my nerves at times. But I’ve loved my time at Corrie.

“So I’m going from builder on the cobbles to riding a horse in the countryside.”