The storyline begins when Bethany, who has taken a job writing an advertorial for a cosmetic surgery company, decides to undergo liposuction at their facility. However, complications arise, and she contracts a severe infection. Her family is forced to deal with the additional challenge of raising funds to bring her back home, as she did not declare the surgery on her travel insurance.
Lucy Fallon, who portrays Bethany, expressed her excitement and responsibility in taking on such a powerful storyline. It’s an important storyline and, of course, I really enjoy doing issue-based stories,” Fallon said. “This is really hard-hitting, which is exciting from an actor’s point of view, but it does come with a lot of pressure and responsibility to get it right because this happens to real-life people.”
Fallon hopes the storyline will make viewers reconsider the risks of cosmetic surgery abroad, referencing the numerous horror stories people have shared about their experiences.
To ensure the plot is handled sensitively and accurately, Coronation Street has worked closely with UK charity Colostomy UK. Giovanni Cinque, marketing and campaigns manager at the charity, welcomed the show’s decision to bring attention to life with a stoma. “We’re really excited that one of the UK’s most loved TV shows is going to feature a major character living with a stoma,” he said. We really hope that Bethany’s journey will go a long way in helping to educate the audience.
A stoma is an opening surgically created on the surface of the abdomen to divert the flow of waste from the body. Colostomy UK hopes that by bringing this issue to mainstream television, the show will help foster greater awareness of the challenges faced by the over 200,000 people living with stomas in the UK.
This powerful storyline aims to raise awareness of the risks associated with cosmetic surgery abroad and the challenges faced by individuals who undergo life-changing medical procedures like stoma surgery.
