The difficult subject of non-consensual sex will be addressed in an upcoming new storyline on Coronation Street, it was recently disclosed. The tale will centre on the drunken kiss between Amy Barlow (Elle Mulvaney) and Aaron Sandford (James Craven).
The two roommates argue on a night out with Aaron’s partner Summer (Harriet Bibby), then go home and continue drinking. Amy withdraws from Aaron as they enter the bedroom due to her feeling ill, but he keeps kissing her and decides to have intercourse with her despite this.
The following morning, Amy wakes up aware that something has occurred, and she gradually comes to the horrifying realisation that Aaron had sex with her without her permission.
The shocking tale is scheduled to start on March 3, but the effects will become apparent over time as Amy starts to process what occurred, as well as on her family and friends. Aaron will ultimately involve the police as he deals with the repercussions of his actions.
The enormous obligation Elle Mulvaney felt when taking on this storyline has been discussed.
Given a storyline like this as a young actress on the show, she said, “It’s enormous because it shows how much trust the team has in us and it gives us the confidence to handle the story.” “At first, when I was given the storyline, I was quite eager to take it on because it’s such an important problem, and we wanted to get it right,” the author said.
Effusive praise for Elle and James Craven’s work on this story has come from their former co-star Jack James Ryan, who portrayed Amy’s boyfriend and ex-drug dealer Jacob Hay.
He posted on Instagram, saying, “Honestly, the pride I have for these two for tackling such a multifaceted and profoundly delicate subject knows no bounds.”
They put in a lot of effort outside of the studio to present this tale with clarity, nuance, and sensitivity. “They have worked tirelessly to bring this story to your screens.” I’m also proud of @coronationstreet for providing this subject the airtime it so richly merits, led by two excellent actors who are deserving of telling it. I’ll be watching.”
As a result of death threats from his father Damon, his character Jacob departed The Street in January (Ciaran Griffiths). According to Jack James Ryan, he decided it was the right moment to leave the programme. Apart from a wedding and the trolley accident, I think he accomplished a lot in just two years! So, it just felt like the right moment to end the show,’ he said, revealing that filming for his next acting role had just begun.
‘The narrative will also be an engrossing, long-running examination of how Amy and Aaron deal with what happened that night and will give actors Elle Mulvaney and James Craven the chance to showcase their considerable skills,’ Coronation Street producer Iain MacLeod said, echoing the actor’s praise of Elle and James.
The show collaborated with the Schools Consent Project to develop a plot that addresses a number of consent-related problems. The narrative is intended to spark discussions about consent, consciousness, and respect.
‘We are delighted to have been consulted on this storyline which conveys essential messages around the subject of sexual consent with care and sensitivity,’ said their director Monica Bhogal. Its inclusion in such a comprehensive programme highlights the importance of having consent talks and the effectiveness of consent education.
