fans are convinced they have "worked out" Mick Michaelis's true identity. Mick, played by Joe Layton, arrived on the Cobbles in February alongside his wife Lou (Farrel Hegarty) and it wasn't long before his link to Kit (Jacob Roberts) was revealed. While it is not known exactly what went on with the pair in their past, tension has been brewing ever since they re-entered each other's lives. It is clear Mick has some sort of leverage over the police officer, as Kit has continued to look past his former friend's violent acts.

During Wednesday's episode of the ITV soap, Kit watched as Mick attacked Gary Windass (Mikey North). The altercation arose after Gary fired Mick for locking Liam Connor (Charlie Wrenshall) in the tool shed. As a battered Gary staggered to his feet clutching a bottle, Kit stepped in and warned the men to go their separate ways, insisting he didn't see Mick attack anyone.

Later, Kit looked at an old photo booth picture of him and Mick hugging as teenagers before ripping it up and putting it in the bin. The episode ended with his estranged mum Bernie Winter (Jane Hazlegrove) removing the snaps from the bin and placing them back together.

This sparked speculation that Kit and Mick's relationship is deeper than just a friendship, and they are in fact brothers.

One wrote: "I have a feeling Kit and Mick are related hence why Kit is always defending him? They are probably brothers."

"Maybe Kit and Mick are brothers," added a second as another posted: "Brothers??"

A fourth echoed: "Why does that look like the Moon brothers from EE?!"

Others have suggested that their rift is because Kit is the biological father of Mick and Lou's son, Brody (Ryan Mulvey).

Despite making his debut on the soap just a few months ago, Joe is set to bow out as the character in the coming weeks. After a flashback episode reveals all about their past on Friday (May 16), Mick plans to kill Kit.

Asked if he believes his character is capable of committing murder, Joe said: "Mick likes to think that he would be able to do that. Not that he'd enjoy doing that, but he'd back himself to do it. If he's standing over Kit again, I think all of those things flash through his head: 'This was my best friend and I don't want to be in this position'.

Speaking to , he added: "Mick is also a man who's lost everything. When someone's lost everything and they've led the life that Mick has led, and the stories that we learn about him, that makes someone incredibly dangerous, I think..."