WE take a look at the most harrowing teenage storylines in soap history.
Soapland has never been afraid to tackle harrowing subject matters – even with the younger members of the casts.
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Coronation Street will air a shock stabbing tonight which will leave Mason Radcliffe (Luca Toolan) fighting for his life.
Mason will be stabbed by his brothers – Matty (Harry Lowbridge) and Logan (Seamus McGoff) – after he hands in evidence that proves his siblings were behind the murder of officer Becky’s death.
The pair will attack their sibling – who has a tumultuous history on the Street – using a zombie knife.
The young character will die in a knife attack in a storyline that aims to raise awareness of the consequences of carrying zombie knives.
We take a look at other harrowing teen soap storylines from soaps Coronation Street, Eas
tEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
Sarah-Lou Platt’s pregnancy (Coronation Street)
The storyline of Sarah-Lou’s teenage pregnancy in Coronation Street was groundbreaking when it aired in 2000, as it was one of the first major storylines in British soaps to tackle the issue of teenage pregnancy.
At just 13 years old, Sarah’s pregnancy rocked her family and the entire community of Weatherfield.
The storyline, created to highlight the real-life struggles and consequences of early motherhood, was a pivotal moment in Corrie history.
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However, the portrayal was not without controversy. Some viewers felt the storyline was glamorising teenage pregnancy, while others praised it for shedding light on the emotional and social difficulties that young mothers face.
Tina O’Brien, who had only recently taken over the role of Sarah, was thrust into the limelight as her character’s world was turned upside down.
Sarah’s difficult journey included struggling with school, family pressure, and the reality of being a young mother, with the birth of baby Bethany in June marking a dramatic shift in her life.
The storyline made an impact on audiences and sparked discussion about teenage pregnancy, parenting, and responsibility, which was quite ahead of its time
Bethany Platt’s grooming ordeal (Coronation Street)
Bethany’s life changed forever after she caught the eye of groomer Nathan Curtis.
Vulnerable schoolgirl, played by Lucy Fallon, was at the centre of one of Corrie’s darkest storylines to date when she fell under the spell of her older boyfriend and sexual predator.
The controversial scenes saw Nathan groom and manipulate the 16-year-old before coercing her into sleeping with his friends, with one of them raping her.
The evil mastermind even went as far as attempting to sell Sarah’s daughter as a sex slave abroad, but justice prevailed in the nick of time.
Nathan ended up behind bars. And Lucy was recognised for her outstanding portrayal after winning an NTA award for Best Serial Drama Performance in 2018.
The storyline was based on a real life story and also drew inspiration from the child sex abuse ring in Rochdale, which saw nine men jailed in 2012.
