PAUL’S ABUSE HORROR REVEALED!
Dark family secrets will be uncovered as Corrie takes on an historical grooming plot…
Poor Gemma is set to have her world turned upside down when her stepfather Kel re-enters her life – and it’s revealed that he sexually abused her twin brother, Paul, when they were young teenagers.
Unbeknown to Gemma and their mum, Bernie, Kel groomed Paul into believing they were in a consensual relationship – and it’s not until Paul confides in his boyfriend Billy that the horrified vicar points out that
Paul was in fact being sexually assaulted by Kel…
“Gemma and Paul’s family background has always been fascinating to me,” shares Corrie producer Iain Macleod. “The inseparable bond of twins, but with a huge fault-line down the middle, which we’ve hinted at but never explained. The story will sensitively explore something that is tragically all too common in families in the real world, and will highlight the way these painful events still reverberate many years later.
“It will, I hope, allow people who have survived similar abuse and perhaps suffered in silence to find their voice and speak up,” adds Iain. “It will also showcase the brilliant talents of Peter Ash
[Paul], Dolly-rose Campbell [Gemma], Jane Hazlegrove [Bernie] and Corrie newcomer Joe Alessi [who will play the role of Kel] in some incredibly challenging, powerful scenes. I am very proud of this story.”
While Bernie and Gemma welcome Kel back into their lives, Paul will be seen to be clearly unnerved by his return, and will struggle to have him around. As the story progresses, horrified Bernie will be left reeling after discovering what was really happening to her son under her own roof, while
Paul will attempt to come to terms with his ordeal, and to seek justice.
“I have known about this storyline for some time, so have had the opportunity to speak to Duncan Craig at Survivors Manchester in advance of filming, which has been great,” reveals Peter Ash himself. “I have also spoken to Jack P Shepherd [aka David], about how he found filming the recent male rape storyline. He told me about the increase in calls to Survivors Manchester off the back of it, which is incredible.
This is an important storyline and I want to make sure I get it right.”