Coronation Street character Mason Radcliffe will be left fighting for his life after being attacked by his brothers with a zombie knife in Monday’s episode of the soap.
Mason, played by Luca Toolan in the ITV show, will be left in a critical condition at the end of the episode, following the attack by brothers Matty (Seamus McGoff) and Logan (Harry Lowbridge).
Coronation Street bosses say the storyline was inspired by an 80% rise in knife crime in England and Wales over the last 10 years, according to a report by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).
Speaking about appearing in the episode, Toolan said: “I truly am honoured to be a part of this storyline.
“I’ve always enjoyed Coronation Street as a viewer, but I completely underestimated the power that it has on its audience until I was involved in the bullying storyline.
“Fingers crossed this storyline will be received the way we are hoping it will be and ultimately, if one person drops a knife and someone is saved, that would definitely make it all worth it.”
The story escalates when detective Lisa Swain (Vicky Myers) shows Mason photographs taken at the crime scene of her late partner Becky’s death, and reveals that his brothers were behind the murder.
In an effort to take his brothers down, Mason searches his brothers’ flat and finds a Second World War helmet, matched to one listed in a case file for the death, and hands it in to the police station.
After being questioned by detective Kit Green (Jacob Roberts) the brothers go looking for Mason intent on revenge.
A fight then breaks out in the children’s play area, with Abi Franklin (Sally Carman) first at the scene to find Mason bleeding, doing her best to stop the flow of blood before an ambulance arrives.
As news of the stabbing spreads around the cobbles, the whole community is left shocked.
Speaking about the storyline, Coronation Street producer Kate Brooks said: “It’s vitally important to shine a light on this topic, and really show the impact knife crime has on not only the victim and their loved ones, but also the wider community.
“With the alarming statistics, we want to do anything we can as a show to combat this violent endemic. After watching this harrowing, but important story unfold, if one person thinks twice about bringing a knife to a fight, then we’ve achieved our aim to raise awareness.”
The soap says it worked with the Ben Kinsella Trust to ensure the storyline was told as accurately and sensitively as possible.
Coronation Street is on ITV1 at 8pm on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and on ITVX and STV.
