Coronation Street was flooded with complaints this week after independent regulator Ofcom revealed the show received 62 complaints from the public regarding Aled and Freda’s current storyline.
This week, viewers watched all chaos ensue when Freda Burgess went missing with Aled just moments before his cochlear operation.
On Wednesday’s show, fans watched as Freda shared her concerns about the little one losing his connection to the deaf community.
Disappointed that Gemma and her partner Chesney Brown were going through with the operation, Freda shared her fears that their son would “forget his deaf part.”
But the tipping point for Freda was when she overheard Chesney admit he was no longer attending deaf groups and British Sign Language (BSL) classes.
(Image: ITV)
As Gemma tried to reassure her that Aled would be fine, Freda took her son for a walk moments before the surgery was set to take place to cool off.
But the situation soon went from bad to worse as Gemma began to panic when Freda failed to return with Aled for his surgery.
Luckily the pair were soon found safe and sound in the community centre but it was revealed Freda had locked herself in which left Gemma even more distressed.
(Image: ITV)
An emotional Freda tried to explain how Aled will grow up looking down on the “deaf world” and miss out on its culture if he doesn’t continue to learn sign language.
Gemma reassured her that they only want the best for their son and admitted: “I want Aled to be a first-class deaf person, not a second-class hearing person.”
And it appears that the gripping storyline wasn’t a hit with the viewers either as the complaints came flooding in after the controversial episode aired.
Viewers also took to Twitter to voice their opinions on the dividing double-bill episode.
One fan wrote: “A storyline highlighting deaf issues on #Corrie is a brilliant idea! But the execution has been a disgrace! You don’t make a point by kidnapping a baby FFS.”
Another agreed: “Although an important story, this is ridiculous, Freda had kidnapped someone else’s child!!”
(Image: ITV)
A third complained: “I love #Corrie and I understand the writers were trying to show what a difficult place the new world can be for those with hearing loss.
“I’m hard of hearing but I’m not sure the character, Freda, really helped the cause tonight. #deafness #hearingloss.”
Meanwhile, another added: “Corrie were doing a very good storyline highlighting some of the attitudes towards ppl with disabilities.
“#Deaf But when Freda stole the baby meaning he’s missed his appointment that HIS parents decided it loses the credibility as it became something else. #Corrie.”
Coronation Street continues tonight at 7.30pm on ITV.
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Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
