Heartbreaking suicide story confirmed in Coronation Street for broken and bullied teen Liam Connor
Bullied teenager Liam Connor (Charlie Wrenshall) reaches a devastating point next week in Coronation Street as he googles ways to end his life.
Over the past few months, Liam has been horrifically bullied by Mason (Luca Toolan), Dylan Wilson (Liam McCheyne) and a group of boys.
From having a knife pulled on him to receiving vile messages online, and even being filmed while he had rubbish thrown over him, Liam’s ordeal hasn’t stopped – and things aren’t about to change.
With the bullying happening online and in person, Liam has been left feeling trapped, struggling to see any possible change.
In the episode being broadcasted on Wednesday, February 14, Corrie viewers will see the depths of Liam’s despair as he researches suicide – but is then interrupted by mum Maria Connor (Samia Longchambon).
After suspecting her son is being bullied, Maria will create a fake SendPX account to get an insight into Liam’s life on social media. When she gets onto the platform, Maria is horrified to discover the extent of his bullying and believes the only option is for Liam to change schools.
Liam’s concerning search history will be discovered by Weatherfield High. As Maria fails to notice a missed call from the school on her phone, Gary Windass (Mikey North) is called in and updated about Liam’s state of mind.
As he dashes back home, Gary bursts into the salon and breaks the news to Maria that Liam has been researching ways to end his life.
This leaves Maria to race back home to the flat, desperately hoping she’ll be able to find her son.
The teen will decide against ending his own life but in the aftermath, Liam faces a long journey of recovery.
‘Maria is really paranoid, and understandably so, given that Liam is from the Connor family and we have all been through similar when Aidan Connor (Liam’s cousin) committed suicide, so I don’t think she will be able to leave Liam alone without fearing the worst’, Samia Longchambon said, discussing this storyline.
‘This is going to be an ongoing issue for Liam. Maria and Gary are considering all options from homeschooling to counselling. Of course when it comes to mental health, there’s unfortunately a massively long waiting list.
‘I think the great thing about this storyline is that we are doing it in real time. We aren’t rushing this at all and doing everything as it would happen.’
To ensure this storyline is told as authentically and delicately as possible, Coronation Street has been working with the National Bullying Helpline.
‘This is a story that will have immense personal resonance for many people – it certainly did for some of the Coronation Street team’, Corrie boss Iain MacLeod explained.
‘We felt it was important to show the mental damage that bullying can do to people on the receiving end, especially in the modern world, when children are faced with what can seem like inescapable cyber-bullying. The aggression doesn’t stop at the school gates but can find you in the safety of your own home.’
He added: ‘Having said that, it was also important that across the story as a whole, we showed some hope for Liam and that by speaking up, finally, he can begin the process of escaping his nightmare and beginning to heal.
‘We approached this story very carefully, consulting with a number of specialist charities, and I feel the resulting story is truthful, powerful and necessary.’