But would you rate Nathan Curtis as a villain? I'm not sure I would.
Soap villains have a certain cartoonish flair to them when you think of the likes of Pat Phelan or Richard Hillman.
Yes, I know, they go around murdering people but they didn't mean to do it, not really. Richard only wanted to protect his family. John Stape only wanted to teach.
But Nathan? No, he knows what he's doing. He's not a villain. He's evil. Have we ever seen the likes of Nathan on Corrie before?
With the return of Pat Phelan to Coronation Street, let's have a look back at some of the best baddies to have walked the cobbles.
1. Joe Donelli. In 1968 American GI Joe murdered Elsie Tanner's second husband Steve. He later held Irma Barlow and Minnie Caldwell hostage before killing himself.
2. Alan Bradley. Stole Rita's house deeds, impersonated her dead husband Len and tried to suffocate Rita when she found out. He was killed by a Blackpool tram in one of Corrie's most iconic scenes.
3. Terry Duckworth. Sold his son Tommy and did a runner with the money paid to him to donate a kidney to son Paul. An all-round nasty piece who broke his mam and dad's heart, over and over again.
4. Jon Lindsay. The fake airline pilot who pretended to fall for Deirdre and she ended up in prison because of his fraud.
5 Jez Quigley. My favourite Corrie baddie, ever. Drug dealer behind the death of Tony Horrocks and manslaughter of Des Barnes. Died while attempting to kill Steve McDonald in 2000. Altogether, everyone... "Steven James McDonald... come on down!" Camp as Christmas. Watch the scene below.
6. Richard Hillman. Such a good baddie I even wrote a book about him! Norman Bates with a Briefcase. Left Duggie Ferguson for dead, killed his ex-wife Patricia, murdered Maxine Peacock and tried to kill Emily Bishop twice. Kidnapped the Platts and drove them into the canal. They survived and he died.
7. Charlie Stubbs. Abused Shelley Unwin. General nasty piece of work who took up with the wrong 'un when he started dating Tracy Barlow. She killed him with an ornament.
8. Tony Gordon. Murdered Liam Connor after he found out Liam and Carla were having an affair while Carla was married to Tony. Escaped from prison, set fire to Underworld and died in the blaze Worse still, he pushed Roy Cropper into the canal.
9. Frank Foster. Raped Carla when she called off their engagement. Such a nasty baddie that his own mother killed him.
10. Pat Phelan. Creepy and slimy and great fun to watch.
Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street - official ITV tribute to a soap icon. Available here.
