Coronation Street fans have been left scratching their heads after David and Shona Platt brought their baby daughter Harper home from hospital.
Challenging Journey
The much-loved soap couple endured a challenging year after discovering their unborn daughter had an unusual mass on her neck. The growth was subsequently confirmed as a potentially cancerous tumour, leaving the expectant parents beside themselves with worry.
Consequently, Shona underwent an operation to have the tumour removed, placing her own life at risk. Baby Harper was then born prematurely shortly after the Corriedale crash in January.
Yet Harper wasn't out of danger just yet, as the newborn was required to remain in hospital for several months while her condition improved in the NICU, needing around-the-clock attention.
Homecoming Sparks Confusion
This week, however, David and Shona were finally permitted to take Harper home — much to their joy and elation. Despite this, devoted fans of the soap couldn't help but notice just how much Harper appears to have grown over the past few months.
Responding on a Coronation Street Facebook fan page, one viewer wrote: "How old is Harper? Gorgeous baby ... but I can't figure it - last time Shona was looking in the incubator and now she's huge ? Hmmmm? ? ? ?"
Another chimed in: "It just doesn't add up." A third then wrote: "Typical soapland! She looks about 8 months old."
Echoing their sentiments, a fourth declared: "I agree. One minute someone was holding her in their arms like a baby, then she was upright when David took her!" Another fan chimed in: "I was thinking exactly the same! One minute she's tiny in the incubator, the next she's practically ready for school!"
"I guess Coronation Street time works differently! Babies grow up overnight, but some characters have been in the same year for months! She'll be in her months now.. wait till next week she'll be the same as Lily."
Actress Weighs In
Meanwhile, discussing Harper's homecoming previously, actress Julia, who plays Shona, said: "She's on the brink. She's excited to bring Harper home but very nervous."
"She hasn't had the 'normal' milestones, so there's a lot of fear about whether she's raising the baby right."
Coronation Street airs Monday to Friday at 8:30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
