Coronation Street to cover storyline so controversial that cast were WARNED in advance

Coronation Street
(Image credit: ITV/REX/Shutterstock)

It has been reported that Coronation Street will be tackling a storyline that is so hard-hitting that the writers decided to warn cast ahead of filming...

Coronation Street star Antony Cotton - better known as the cobbles' Sean Tully - has revealed that the soap is set to cover a storyline that is so controversial that bosses decided to warn cast ahead of filming.

The soap is renowned for using its status for raising awareness - having covered controversial but important storylines like teenage grooming, male rape, drug abuse and suicide.

Josh in coronation street

Coronation Street isn't afraid to cover important subjects like male rape

With each and every one of the storylines Coronation Street covers, it opens up the usually taboo topics, making it easier for people to discuss them.

And it seems the new year won't be any different, with the show apparently gearing itself up to cover its most controversial storyline to date.

Corrie actor Antony told BANG Showbiz: "We've had a good year, we've got lots coming up and we're about to start filming a very big storyline in the new year, lots of us are involved.

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The soap also covered Aidan's shocking suicide earlier this year

"I've had an email today about something I can't talk about, about if anybody has concerns with a certain things that might happen then we need to talk about them now, that's starting as soon as we get back."

Speaking from backstage at The Sun's Military Awards last week, the star also revealed how pleased he was to have worked on his character's hard-hitting homeless storyline earlier this year.

Carol helps Sean Tully when she finds him at his lowest ebb in the toilets.

Actor Antony Cotton was very proud of his character's important homeless storyline

"I was very proud to play that storyline out. I work a lot with the military and have done for the last 10 years.

"One in four homeless people are veterans, which is kind of an extraordinary statistic. I took that storyline very seriously and was thrilled to be part of it, I loved it."

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.

Main pic: ITV/Rex/Shutterstock

Claire Crick
Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch

Claire is Assistant Managing Editor at What To Watch and has been a journalist for over 15 years, writing about everything from soaps and TV to beauty, entertainment, and even the Royal Family. After starting her career at a soap magazine, she ended up staying for 13 years, and over that time she’s pulled pints in the Rovers Return, sung karaoke in the Emmerdale village hall, taken a stroll around Albert Square, and visited Summer Bay Surf Club in sunny Australia. 


After learning some tricks of the trade at websites Digital Spy, Entertainment Daily, and Woman & Home, Claire landed a role at What’s On TV and whattowatch.com writing about all things TV and film, with a particular love for Aussie soaps, Strictly Come Dancing and Bake Off


She’s interviewed everyone from June Brown — AKA Dot Cotton — to Michelle Keegan, swapped cooking tips with baking legend Mary Berry backstage at the NTAs, and danced the night away with soap stars at countless awards bashes. There’s not a lot she doesn’t know about soaps and TV and can be very handy when a soapy question comes up in a pub quiz! 


As well as all things soap-related, Claire also loves running, spa breaks, days out with her kids, and getting lost in a good book.