Coronation Street Fans Criticise 'Underwhelming' Cousin Twist in Soap Drama
Coronation Street enthusiasts have labelled a highly anticipated plot development as 'underwhelming' after a couple learned they are actually cousins. The revelation unfolded during Sunday's episode, marking the culmination of a storyline that began back in October.
Shocking Discovery Unfolds
In October, viewers were left on a cliffhanger when newcomer Maggie Driscoll noticed something intriguing in Ken Barlow's home. On Sunday, it was finally disclosed that Maggie had seen a photograph revealing a shocking truth. During a heated argument with her son Ben, Maggie blurted out that his biological father was not who he believed, a secret she uncovered after recognising his real father in a photo at Ken's house.
Maggie had kept this secret quiet since Halloween, but upon discovering that Ben's son Ollie and Amy Barlow were dating, she was forced to come clean. The news meant that Ollie and Amy are, in fact, cousins, leading to a dramatic confrontation.
Viewer Backlash and Criticism
In a tense scene, Maggie burst into a home where Ollie and Amy were kissing, informing them they could no longer date due to their familial connection. However, this twist did not resonate well with fans, who took to social media to voice their dissatisfaction.
Comments from viewers included: 'Wasn't much of a shock or anger reaction. A bit of a build up for what?'; 'That Maggie reveal and the reactions were very underwhelming. Her just seeing something in the cupboard on Halloween was more suspenseful,'; and 'Rushed and all over the place, just to get the story out! Is there an episode that will never be aired now?' Others noted, 'Ben has found out Steve is his half brother… we all knew it tho,' and 'At least it wasn't dragged out but I didn't expect it be out this soon.'
Schedule Disruptions and Soap Airing Changes
This development follows recent disruptions to the regular broadcasting schedule for ITV soaps. Last week, both Coronation Street and Emmerdale were temporarily axed from screens due to a major schedule shake-up. Viewers tuning in had to wait until the next day for new episodes, as an international football match between England and Japan aired in their place from 7pm to 10.05pm.
Both soaps returned to their usual timeslots for the remainder of the week. Additionally, new episodes aired on Sunday evening to compensate for fans missing out on Tuesday, with Emmerdale at 7pm and Coronation Street at 7.30pm, followed by the crime drama Grace.
Since January, ITV has implemented a 'soap power hour', featuring 30-minute episodes of each programme from Monday to Friday. Previously, Coronation Street aired hour-long episodes on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, while Emmerdale aired Monday to Friday with a double episode on Thursdays.
Similar schedule changes occurred just last week, with soaps not airing on Friday, March 27, due to the England vs Uruguay football match on ITV. These disruptions are not isolated to soap viewers, as other regular programming has also faced alterations.
