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Sun article on Coronation Street ‘jihadi’ plot denied by ITV Sun article on Coronation Street ‘jihadi’ plot denied by ITV
(about 1 hour later)
ITV has strenuously denied a Sun story that claimed Coronation Street was planning to air a storyline in which a character is radicalised into a Muslim extremist. ITV has strenuously denied a Sun story that claimed Coronation Street was planning to air a storyline in which a character is radicalised into an Islamic extremist.
The Sun ran the story – which it said was an exclusive – on Friday headlined “Jihadi plot in Corrie” under banner text reading “shock extremism scenes”.The Sun ran the story – which it said was an exclusive – on Friday headlined “Jihadi plot in Corrie” under banner text reading “shock extremism scenes”.
It was accompanied by a mocked-up image of a man in a balaclava waving a black Isis flag outside the Rovers Return, captioned “Hot plot … how jihadi would look on the cobbles”.It was accompanied by a mocked-up image of a man in a balaclava waving a black Isis flag outside the Rovers Return, captioned “Hot plot … how jihadi would look on the cobbles”.
The tabloid claimed that “senior figures” at the ITV soap were planning a storyline showing a character becoming a Muslim extremist in “what would be the show’s most controversial plot so far”.The tabloid claimed that “senior figures” at the ITV soap were planning a storyline showing a character becoming a Muslim extremist in “what would be the show’s most controversial plot so far”.
Sources on the show were cited as saying it is a “very relevant issue” and that it is “only right that we should be seriously considering it”.Sources on the show were cited as saying it is a “very relevant issue” and that it is “only right that we should be seriously considering it”.
However, an ITV spokeswoman denied that any such plot was being considered. “There are absolutely no plans to introduce a Muslim extremist or radicalisation storyline into Coronation Street, nor has there ever been,” she said.However, an ITV spokeswoman denied that any such plot was being considered. “There are absolutely no plans to introduce a Muslim extremist or radicalisation storyline into Coronation Street, nor has there ever been,” she said.
It is understood that one of the soap’s executives was speaking at a Royal Television Society forum recently and was asked if there were any storylines that Coronation Street would not tackle.It is understood that one of the soap’s executives was speaking at a Royal Television Society forum recently and was asked if there were any storylines that Coronation Street would not tackle.
He cited an example of how a radicalisation story had been discussed at a storyline conference at ITV about a year ago, after being pitched by a writer, but that it was never pursued. He told the audience that plot lines are derived from the show’s characters.He cited an example of how a radicalisation story had been discussed at a storyline conference at ITV about a year ago, after being pitched by a writer, but that it was never pursued. He told the audience that plot lines are derived from the show’s characters.
“Many stories are pitched by writers and for every story that goes ahead many are not followed up, this was one of those cases,” said a source.“Many stories are pitched by writers and for every story that goes ahead many are not followed up, this was one of those cases,” said a source.
A Sun spokesperson said the newspaper’s interpretation of the Coronation Street executive’s comments at the RTS event were that a radicalisation storyline was an option.A Sun spokesperson said the newspaper’s interpretation of the Coronation Street executive’s comments at the RTS event were that a radicalisation storyline was an option.
“At an event on Tuesday evening, the managing director of continuing drama on ITV said that they had ‘discussed radicalisation’ and although it wasn’t ‘right at the moment’ they needed to do it ‘in a particular way for early evening on ITV1’,” said the spokesman. “This was corroborated by a source on Coronation Street, who is quoted at length in the Sun story, which shows that this storyline is still in the plans of senior executives at ITV.”“At an event on Tuesday evening, the managing director of continuing drama on ITV said that they had ‘discussed radicalisation’ and although it wasn’t ‘right at the moment’ they needed to do it ‘in a particular way for early evening on ITV1’,” said the spokesman. “This was corroborated by a source on Coronation Street, who is quoted at length in the Sun story, which shows that this storyline is still in the plans of senior executives at ITV.”
The Sun story does not contain any direct comments from the event where the ITV executive, John Whiston, spoke.The Sun story does not contain any direct comments from the event where the ITV executive, John Whiston, spoke.
It is the second time in a week that the Sun has been criticised over news stories related to Islamic extremism. On Monday, the paper ran a front-page story about an opinion poll purporting to show that one in five British Muslims had “sympathy for jihadis”.It is the second time in a week that the Sun has been criticised over news stories related to Islamic extremism. On Monday, the paper ran a front-page story about an opinion poll purporting to show that one in five British Muslims had “sympathy for jihadis”.
The UK press regulator has received more than 1,200 complaints about the poll, while the company that carried out the polling, Survation, distanced itself from the story, saying it did not “support or endorse the way in which this poll’s findings have been interpreted”.The UK press regulator has received more than 1,200 complaints about the poll, while the company that carried out the polling, Survation, distanced itself from the story, saying it did not “support or endorse the way in which this poll’s findings have been interpreted”.
On Thursday, The Times printed a statement in the corrections and clarifications column admitting that the Sun story about the poll was “misleading”.On Thursday, The Times printed a statement in the corrections and clarifications column admitting that the Sun story about the poll was “misleading”.