Coronation Street have confirmed that Asha Alahan will be pushed to her breaking point as they offer a “first look” into her “horror” shift.
Tanisha Gorey joined the show in December 2009 as Dev and Sunita Alahan’s daughter. Alongside her twin brother Aadi Alahan, the teen has found herself tackling some huge storylines over the last few years.
Asha’s recent journey has seen her training to be a paramedic, and viewers have watched her become involved in some challenging storylines.
She was caught up in both Craig Tinker and Mason Radcliffe’s deaths, including a scene where she had to hold Hope Stape accountable after she delayed the ambulance that could have saved Mason’s life.
Now, Corrie have confirmed that they’ll air on hour-long special episode that will document the immense pressures Asha faces as a trainee paramedic, exploring the hidden stresses and strains beneath her seemingly calm exterior.
It will air on Monday 25th August, and the ITV soap have given Corrie fans an exclusive first look in a trailer that shows the insight into Asha’s horrific shift.
The second half of the gripping episode is told entirely from Asha’s perspective, flashing back to a devastating day that pushes her to breaking point.
Viewers will see Asha witness the full horror of a shift that includes a death, an injured elderly resident, and a harrowing racist attack, all culminating in her desperate struggle to breathe in the Rovers’ backyard, overwhelmed by a crippling panic attack.
As her twin brother Aadi prepares to embark on a new chapter in India after recent events, Asha battles her inner demons, desperate to keep her true feelings hidden from her family.
To ensure Asha’s journey has been told in the most raw, sensitive and honest portrayal, Coronation Street has been working with The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC).
Angie Crashley, Wellbeing Support Team Manager at TASC, said: “At TASC, we were pleased to support the Coronation Street team in developing Asha’s storyline, helping to ensure that it reflects the real-life experiences and challenges faced by student paramedics.
“Storylines like this play a vital role in raising awareness and breaking down stigma around the pressures ambulance staff can face – especially those who are just starting their careers. We’re proud to have contributed to a storyline that highlights both the importance of support and the strength of those working on the frontline.
“Our charity supports the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of the UK’s ambulance community, and it was important to us that this story was portrayed with sensitivity and accuracy. Since the launch of the Ambulance Staff Crisis phoneline we have supported 1068 people in crisis or at risk of taking their own life, of those 15 were student paramedics.
“No matter what role you have in the ambulance community, TASC is here for you – because those who care for others deserve care too.”
On Asha’s upcoming storyline, Tanisha added: “I feel honoured to be trusted with a storyline of this scale and significance. Stepping into the shoes of a trainee paramedic and exploring the highs, lows, and emotional challenges of their work has been both moving and eye-opening.
“It’s a role that carries a huge responsibility, and I hope we’ve done justice to the reality so many face. If this story reaches even one person, sparks a conversation, or offers a moment of understanding, then it’s served its purpose.”
