Coronation Street hit with hundreds of Ofcom complaints over ‘offensive’ comment

Coronation Street was slapped with hundreds of complaints regarding a comment made during Monday night’s episode, Ofcom has revealed today.

The ITV soap, which has been on air for over sixty years, has been tackling more controversial and somewhat dark topics in its storylines as of late, such as murder, assault, and mental illness. 

However, while Corrie has been mostly applauded for taking on these topics and raising awareness, it hasn’t been without its backlash. 

ITV

And the latest example comes in the form of Evelyn Plummer, played by actress Maureen Lipman. Viewers of the soap complained when Tyrone Dobbs’ grandmother gave her opinion on ‘play therapy.’

It came as Evelyn tried to help Tyrone and Fiz deal with their daughter Hope’s latest crime. Fiz, played by Jennie McApline, had spent the night in a police cell after admitting to starting the fire at the flat Tyron shared with new girlfriend Alina Pop, to cover for her daughter, who had actually started the fire.

Viewers saw the factory worker then suffer a miscarriage before discovering the fire was being treated as arson.

Evelyn then urged Tyrone to make Fiz see sense, pointing out that Hope needed ‘professional help.’

ITV

The character said: “She’s had play therapy, touchy, feely rubbish, new age, but she needs something long-term. Teach her right from wrong.”

Ofcom has since confirmed that they received 275 complaints regarding Evelyn’s comment on play therapy. Play Therapy UK (PTUK) and Play Therapy International also criticised the remarks, which they claimed ‘discounted the effectiveness of play therapy, bringing the profession into disrepute.’ 

According to reports, Coronation Street has received more Ofcom complaints than any other TV show on British TV over the past five years.