Carla's rape is the latest in a line of gritty plots - from gunmen to teenage pregnancies, Corrie has never shied away from a challenging storyline
Time was, the most shocking thing on Corrie was Bet Lynch without her makeup, or Hilda Ogden without her curlers. But in the latest in a long line of increasingly controversial storylines, Carla has been raped by the curiously expressionless Frank after calling off their engagement. Carla has had a rough time of it since joining the Street: following her husband's death, her beloved Liam was murdered, she was held hostage by evil Tony Gordon and, just the other week, she drunkenly crashed her car into the bookies. But Corrie's attempts to do "gritty" have met with some concern from fans ? and producer Phil Collinson recently vowed to reduce crime levels (this hasn't been entirely successful). But Carla's is not the first controversial storyline
Hayley, the first transsexual person in a British soap
In 1998, the Street introduced the first transsexual person in British soap history, when Hayley and her red anorak joined Corrie prior to her op in Amsterdam. Initially, she got a rough ride from the transsexual community, who felt that a transsexual actress should have been given the role. But she won them over, highlighting transgender issues ? for tax purposes she remained registered as a man called "Harold", for instance, leading to ridicule from her boss, Mike Baldwin.
"When you look at me, do you see a woman?" she would ask Roy, putting him on the spot somewhat. But they were married in a ceremony in Roy's Rolls in 1999 and have proved one of the more stable Street couples, living in their bubble of Horlicks, dressing gowns and trainspotting.
Deirdre Rachid jailed
The Barlows have never been strangers to prison food. On the 29 March 1998, Deirdre was sent to prison after former lover Jon Lindsay implicated her in a bank-fraud scheme. She had fallen for the bogus airline pilot, who really worked at Tie Rack and was already married. The nation was appalled that Deirdre had to share a cell with horrible old lag Jackie Dobbs, played by Margi Clarke. A campaign with the slogan "Free the Weatherfield One!", led by the tabloids, petitioned the home secretary to intervene on Deirdre's behalf.
Tony Blair, demonstrating his hunger for publicity called for Deirdre to be freed. William Hague, not to be left out, declared: "The nation is deeply concerned about Deirdre ? Conservatives as much as anyone else." . After three weeks, Deirdre was released from prison and four different newspapers claimed victory. Amusingly, Invicta radio launched a campaign to keep Deirdre in jail for at least 18 months.
Illegal immigration and cheap labour
In Spring 2007, Coronation Street began broadcasting one of its most politically sensitive plots, with a storyline about illegal immigration. The Connors were running Underworld, cutting every corner they could to make a profit, and decided to hire Polish workers for the night shift. When Kasia collapsed while loading dungarees into Carla's car, fellow Polish worker Vicki attempted to resuscitate her. Carla, meanwhile called Paul (and not an ambulance). His response? Ring the emergency services after 8am, when Kasia could have been clocked in and working legally. A cunning plan ? but they weren't reckoning on keen investigative minds such as Sally Webster's. To keep her quiet, Paul appoints her as his PA. Genius.
Tony Gordon's escape from prison and the gun siege in Underworld
In early June last year, Coronation Street bosses scheduled an episode of the soap each night for a week, following Tony Gordon's escape from prison with the help of his former cellmate Robbie. There would be guns, car chases and explosions as Carla, Hayley and (by accident) Maria were held hostage at gunpoint in Underworld. The storyline ended with Tony shooting dead Robbie ? part trainspotter, part psychopath ? before letting Hayley and Maria go and then setting fire to Underworld. Sadly, only Tony perished in the blaze, disappointing viewers who were hoping for a more fruitful purge.
Midway through the storyline, real-life gunman Derrick Bird killed 12 people before shooting himself. As a mark of respect to the victims, the remaining episodes were pulled from the rest of the week and rescheduled.
Teenage pregnancy
Tina O'Brien's Coronation Street character Sarah Louise Platt shocked her screen family by getting pregnant at 13 ? Gail had put her weight gain down to an eating disorder. Described as a wild child (She sulks! She smokes!), Tina and her burgeoning belly prompted a barrage of "street of shame" headlines and accusations of glamourising gym-slip mothers. Fear not. After Bethany was born, her young mother eked out a lousy existence, watching her schoolmates going out at weekends while she stayed at home with the baby. Then Bethany's father died in a car crash. A few years later, Sarah gave birth to Billy, who died soon after. His dad, Todd, declared he was gay and they split. Happy days!
Ken, Deirdre and Mike
In late 1982, bored of her humdrum existence with Ken Barlow, who was busy running a newspaper, Dierdre embarked on an affair with Mike Baldwin, the factory boss. In the ratings-busting episode in which Deirdre confessed all to Ken, she told him that she felt like "the wallpaper, or a piece of furniture that's been around forever ?" In an unscripted move, Ken grabbed Deirdre by the throat and started to strangle her, and actress Anne Kirkbride reacted with genuine shock.
Understandably, Deirdre began to have doubts about staying with Mike Baldwin. The writers scheduled the episode in which she ended the relationship and reconciled with Ken for the same night that Manchester United played Arsenal at Old Trafford. At the end of the episode, which aired on February 23, 1983, Deirdre slammed the door in Mike's face. At half time, the scoreboard at Old Trafford read "Deirdre and Ken United Again!" and "Ken 1, Mike 0" in big letters, to the cheering of fans. The episode was one of the highest rated in Corrie's history.
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