No hope for grim TV soap
LAST week we were told that Corrie was going back to the old days with fun storylines.
Next week we get to watch a young man kill himself. At prime time, on ITV, in a soap.
Evidently the scenes where troubled hunk Aidan Connor (brilliantly played by Shayne Ward) takes his own life are some of the most harrowing ever aired.
It is the parting shot of Kate Oates, who is stepping down after feeding us a diet of rape, abuse, murder and depression.
Of course the fact that suicide is the biggest killer of men under 45 in this country needs tackling – but is a soap really the best place to do that?
Back in the day these half-hour slices of drama were a chance to relax, escape into a different world and have a chuckle; Jack and Vera, Betty’s hot pot and Hilda’s flying ducks were never designed to raise “issues”.
There were – and still are – other programmes that did that perfectly well. Serious dramas, documentaries, news reports and pretty much anything on the BBC.
Now everything has to have a ram-it-home point that ticks several PC boxes. One that’s everything to do with
TV types proving they are on-message and in possession of fully paid-up Snowflake Club subscriptions.
Ms Oates (you just know she’s a Ms) says that she was nervous about the storyline but felt it was an important issue that she had to highlight. No, she didn’t. Her actual job was to provide entertaining TV.
Plus am I the only one slightly nervous about this type of storyline actually encouraging vulnerable young men (and women) to take their own lives? Severely depressed people just might think something so “homely” as our fave soap screening this is maybe somehow legitimising their suicidal thoughts. The aftermath shows Aidan’s dad, sister and former love Eva reacting in a way that may even be appealing. Apparently Coronation Street worked incredibly closely with the amazing charities who help people with depression and have balanced the suicide with character David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) opening up about his own mental health. And I am sure the whole subject is handled in the most sensitive way possible but the bottom line remains: Is this really the right platform? Broadcasting rules forbid suicide scenes being screened on TV to prevent copycats. If you choose to watch a documentary on suicide you know what to expect.
I long for the days when it was possible to turn on the telly, put your feet up and know that you’re safe from being lectured, bullied, made to feel guilty and depressed. Corrie used to be a lovely show that families could watch and enjoy together and, hopefully, it will return to that successful formula under the new boss. Otherwise we may as well all just give up and go and watch sodding EastEnders.