Coronation Street's heartbreaking suicide scene with Aidan Connor was changed because of an important reason
The episode aired this week
As any Coronation Street fan will know, the soap got off to a heartbreaking start on Bank Holiday Monday, when Shayne Ward's final scenes as Aidan Connor aired. During the episode viewers were left in tears as Aidan broke down and prepared to take his own life.
However, it could have been very different if the original script had been followed. According to Shayne Ward, who has played the role of Aidan Connor since 2015, he didn't think the original script did his character justice, so he suggested some changes to the show's producer Kate Oates. Watch the heartbreaking clip from Coronation Street below.
In the episode which aired yesterday Aidan could be seen in his final moments, alone in his flat after he had gone to a family party at the Rovers. However, as Kate explains, it was going to be very different originally.
"The final scene of that episode is entirely of Shayne's creation because we were going to end at the pub in that moment when life’s going on around him and he’s just completely disengaged," Kate explained.
She continued, "And Shayne said instinctively 'that feels really wrong to me, I think I need another moment. I just feel that I need it and he needs it'. And now when I watch that episode it wouldn't feel complete without it."
Shayne then explained, "We sat down and it just felt like overall Aidan always felt isolated. I didn't know how I was going to be on that final day of shooting that final scene I could have been irate, I could have been everywhere I just went with what happened right in that moment and that's what we captured."
Kate then went on to explain why she felt it was better to have that final scene with the unpacked boxes, saying, "Suddenly the unpacked boxes, you suddenly go 'you never even unpacked' of course you were always in this headspace.
"Your idea there gave us the chance to see that again and you go 'I wish we'd seen it. Kate sees it when she asks him 'when are you going to unpack?' How will she look at those unpacked boxes now?"
After months of rumours, last week ITV revealed details of how Shayne's character would be leaving the soap, in a statement they said, "In a statement to the press ITV said, "Coronation Street is to highlight the important issue of male suicide when Aidan Connor tragically takes his own life."
After Coronation Street aired last night with Shayne's final scenes as Aidan, the former X Factor winner received a lot of praise for playing the part of Aidan with sensitivity, with many viewers commenting on social media, including one who said 'I lost both my dad and brother to suicide. I watched Corrie this morning and cried and cried and cried. You have done an amazing job x fantastic acting x'.
Another viewer said, 'I lost my dad to suicide, 34 years ago, a week after my 18th birthday. He was 43. So very devastating for family & friends left behind. Heartbreaking scenes...your performance was both moving & emotional...truly outstanding...💜😙💜 Xxx'.
If you, or someone you know, are affected by the issues raised in this story you are encouraged to contact the Samaritans on 116 123 or CALM (Campaign Against Living Miserably).
Coronation Street continues on ITV.