Coronation Street fans are upset by a disturbing and grisly new storyline in which the stillborn baby of Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) is revealed.
Viewers are calling it a ret-con as it is revealed that Toyah experienced the tragic loss after being impregnated by her violent rapist Phil Simmonds.
Toyah's awful assault in 2001 has been considered one of the soap's most traumatic and controversial storylines, partially due to its graphic nature.
Toyah was found injured in an alleyway after the assault, which left her completely shattered and afraid to leave her home.
The plot treated the incident as a mystery, with several men from the area being accused or suspected of the attack.
It was later revealed that Phil Simmonds, a homeless man who had befriended Toyah, was her rapist, and she was held captive by him before being rescued by Peter Barlow.
After enduring months of trauma, including a lengthy battle with agoraphobia, Toyah found justice when Phil pleaded guilty in court.
With Toyah staying on the Street until 2003 before leaving, there were no indications of a pregnancy or stillbirth.
However, in upcoming scenes, viewers will be asked to believe that Toyah went through this ordeal in secret and buried her deceased baby in the park.
When the grave looks like it will be disturbed, Toyah will panic and the entire ordeal will resurface for her.
The scenes have not yet been shown, but viewers have already expressed their disapproval of the macabre storyline, labeling it 'appalling,' 'atrocious,' and 'absolutely repulsive.'
It is difficult to disagree. Additionally, sources close to the show have informed Metro.co.uk that the storyline has been met with dismay by some working at Corrie.
The grim storyline comes at a time when a young teen is missing and presumed murdered, while a neighbor is terminally ill with Motor Neurone Disease.
Last week, one of the show's main comedy characters experienced a frightening ordeal in an armed robbery, while another violent criminal was arrested for robbery after conspiring with his murderous sibling.
With overnight ratings continuing to decline year after year, many – including the Metro Soaps team in a recent review of current Corrie – have pointed to the endless dark storylines as a reason for the decline.
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Issues in Weatherfield have included teen bullying leading to suicidal thoughts, knife crime, acid attacks, non-consensual sex, drug abuse, relapse of alcoholism, puppy farming, and a gambling addiction almost causing a family to lose their home.
This comes after the conclusion of a serial killer storyline, during which three victims were murdered and the landlady of the Rovers Return was held hostage with a broken bottle – before the perpetrator was hit by a car and killed.
One of the characters in the show, Roy Cropper (David Neilson), may go to prison for the murder of a missing teenager named Lauren Bolton (Cait Fitton).
The cafe owner’s life is in ruins, and he has been the victim of abusive backlash, threatened by criminals, and is now too afraid to go outside.
Toyah’s new plotline will not bring relief from this suffering. Many viewers are still trying to recover from her unexpectedly becoming a murderer and intentionally killing her cheating partner Imran.
The episodes are going to be dark, and many people also have an issue with it not fitting into Corrie’s timeline.
‘I understand they like to rewrite history, but this is extreme. We saw Toyah during this time,’ wrote one user on Twitter/X.
‘This is worse than Lydia’s [in Emmerdale] as the aftermath of Toyah’s rape was played out onscreen and she explicitly wasn’t shown pregnant or even hinted to be,’ pointed out another.
Exhaustively, Toyah’s ordeal will be shown alongside a dark storyline for her sister Leanne (Jane Danson), who is being attracted into a cult.
Some are hoping that the show will pay attention to fan reaction to the announced storyline and stop it, although we understand filming has already begun and storylines are planned months in advance.
‘I’ve watched every single episode of Corrie for the past 14 years & have never seen them attempt to do anything like this,’ another viewer lamented. ‘Not only does it make no sense & is a total recon, but it’s complete gross & horrific. I’m begging they see the uproar & pull the story.’
Coronation Street recently confirmed that former Emmerdale producer Kate Brooks, who oversaw an awards-heavy successful era of the soap, is to take over as the new boss.
She said of her new role: ‘Corrie has lit up my living room since I was a kid, so to be asked to produce a show I’ve revered for such a long time is the ultimate ‘pinch me’ moment.
‘I’ve adored the show from across the Pennines and have consistently been in awe of the talent on display, both on and off the screen.
‘It truly is a special show and I endeavor to take great care to ensure that it continues to thrive as we head into the next chapter. Coronation Street has, and always will be, part of my DNA, and I can’t wait to get stuck in.’
