Coronation Street confirms special episode as show favourite reaches breaking point

Coronation Street is set to air a special episode that will see much loved character Asha Alahan (Tanisha Gorey) reach breaking point.

Viewers will know that Asha began training to be a paramedic in 2023 and has been involved in some massive storylines, including the deaths of Mason Radcliffe and Craig Tinker.

The hour-long episode, which will air on Monday, August 25, is set to highlight the pressure Asha faces as a trainee paramedic.

In the second half of the episode, which will be told entirely from Asha’s perspective, viewers will see a flashback to the day that pushes the young woman to her breaking point.

During a harrowing shift at the hospital, Asha is faced with a death, an injured elderly patient and a vicious racist attack.

After such a devastating experience, Asha finds herself in the Rovers beer garden unable to breathe as she suffers a panic attack.

As her twin brother Aadi Alahan (Adam Hussain) prepares to embark on a new chapter in India, Asha battles her inner demons, desperate to keep her true feelings hidden from her family.

To ensure that this story has been told sensitively and accurately, Coronation Street has teamed up with The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC).

‘Our charity supports the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of the UK’s ambulance community, and it was important to us that this story was portrayed with sensitivity and accuracy,’ Angie Crashley, Wellbeing Support Team Manager at TASC, said.

‘Since the launch of the Ambulance Staff Crisis phoneline we have supported 1068 people in crisis or at risk of taking their own life, of those 15 were student paramedics.’

Speaking about working with Coronation Street, Angie said: ‘We were pleased to support the Coronation Street team in developing Asha’s storyline, helping to ensure that it reflects the real-life experiences and challenges faced by student paramedics.

‘Storylines like this play a vital role in raising awareness and breaking down stigma around the pressures ambulance staff can face – especially those who are just starting their careers.

‘We’re proud to have contributed to a storyline that highlights both the importance of support and the strength of those working on the frontline.’

She added: ‘No matter what role you have in the ambulance community, TASC is here for you – because those who care for others deserve care too.’

Speaking about taking on the special episode, actress Tanisha Gorey, who has played Asha since 2009, said: ‘I feel honoured to be trusted with a storyline of this scale and significance.

‘Stepping into the shoes of a trainee paramedic and exploring the highs, lows, and emotional challenges of their work has been both moving and eye-opening.

‘It’s a role that carries a huge responsibility, and I hope we’ve done justice to the reality so many face.

‘If this story reaches even one person, sparks a conversation, or offers a moment of understanding, then it’s served its purpose.’