Corrie script changes made in Sophie and Jenna's lesbian story

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog December 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

We're soon going to see Sophie Webster falling for her physiotherapist Jenna Kamara on Coronation Street.  And in true Corrie style, ITV has taken advice from The Chartered Society of Physiotherapy (CSP) as to how the situation would happen in real life if a patient and a physiotherapist developed a relationship.

Phil Gray, Chief Executive of the CSP explains:  “At an early stage, we expressed our significant concerns about the nature of this developing storyline to the senior executives at ITV. We were concerned that this was an unusual plot and not typical of the behavior of the vast majority of physiotherapists who are highly professional. 
"Coronation Street’s producers listened to us and a number of changes to the script were made. We believe that Jenna will now be shown struggling with her feelings and trying to do her best to behave in a professional way. And we understand that the storyline will show Jenna’s professional indiscretions being dealt with appropriately and balanced against a backdrop for viewers of the excellent clinical care physiotherapists provide to people who have suffered life-changing injuries.

"We are aware that it is unrealistic to expect a TV drama to completely change the course of a developing storyline. We’d like to assure our own members and the viewing public that we will always challenge plots we feel are unlikely or may risk damaging the reputation of the profession. Our members follow a strict code of professional conduct which requires them to maintain appropriate and professional relationships with their patients at all times. This TV story is an unusual case and in no way typical of the physiotherapy profession as a whole”.

It's good to know not only that Corrie takes advice from professional organisations like the CSP but that they can and do alter scripts on the professionals' recommendations too.



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