Coronation Street’s controversial rape storyline, in which Carla Connor was attacked minutes after dumping her fiancé Frank Foster on the eve of their wedding, has led to an 800 per cent rise in calls to Rape Crisis.
The charity, which runs the national helpline for rape survivors, experienced the huge rise in calls after the story aired on ITV last week and extra volunteers have now been taken on to deal with the volume of calls.
The plot came under fire before it aired, because it was being shown pre-watershed, however, Rape Crisis have now praised the episode, watched by 10 million viewers.
Helpline Coordinator at Rape Crisis South London, Rosa Knight, applauded the programme makers for their accuracy: "Though other programmes have run similar storylines, the response for the Coronation Street storyline has been like nothing we've experienced before.
“It is so important for mainstream shows to tackle these important issues in a well-researched way and it appears the programme makers worked hard to do just that."
Rape survivor Sarah Scott has also declared her support for the storyline.
Writing in the Sun newspaper she said: “Most rapists are people the victims know and I think it is important for women to realise this. That's why Carla's story is so realistic.
“I think it's vital that women watch scenes like this on TV to remind them that, sadly, rape is not unusual…
“Even though it doesn't make easy viewing, I think it is vital for soaps such as Coronation Street to tackle these hard-hitting storylines. I believe the agony we saw Carla suffering will help other women realise it is not their fault and they must report it and seek counselling.”
Coronation Streetproducer Phil Collinson recently vowed to reduce crime storylines, but this latest plot has shown the influential effects soaps can have on viewers.
Fellow Corrie star Kym Marsh, who plays Michelle Connor, wrote in her New magazine column: “Alison King, who plays Carla Connor, worked extremely hard to do it justice for all those people who've gone through it for real.
"And let's not forget Andrew Lancel, who plays Frank Foster. He has to play a rapist and the way he portrayed it was incredible - the viewers despise him."
She added: "It was exceptionally well written - the guy has just raped his fiancée, then flippantly walks back into the flat with a bottle of wine and a takeaway. It gave me a chill down my spine."
In 2001, Corrie was rapped by TV regulator, the Independent Television Commission, after it showed Toyah Battersby in a horrific attack and only offered the Granada website as a helpline.
Ten years on, it seems Corrie bosses have finally got it right.
Survivors can go online to www.rapecrisis.org.uk for counselling and support. The national Rape Crisis helpline is 0808 802 9999, open 12 - 2.30 and 7 - 9.30pm every day of the year.