Controversial Storyline for Corries 50th - Contains Spoilers
Coronation Street will screen its most controversial scenes ever to mark its 50th birthday.
Britain's oldest TV soap will feature an anti-gay storyline involving Ken Barlow, played by veteran Bill Roache.
And it will be a real-life family affair because it centre's on characters played by Bills actor sons Linus and James.
The explosive plot is certain to spark widespread outrage as gays are branded degenerates, weirdos and queer.
Critics have already accused scriptwriters of resorting to deeply offensive jibes to shock fans and boost ratings.
But bosses insist the storyline with film star Linus as Kens homophobic son Lawrence mirrors the real world.
An insider said: Lawrence hates gays and Ken is disgusted by his attitude.
These scenes are explosive, raw and hard-hitting. Viewers, whether they like the language or not, will be gripped. The storyline airs in September, the month Corrie takes over as the worlds current longest-running TV serial drama.
And at the heart of the plot is Ken the Streets only original character and a dark family secret.
When a letter from the 1960s is unearthed during building work, he finds out he has a long-lost son, Lawrence.
Despite opposition from wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride) and son Peter (Chris Gascoyne), he tracks down Lawrence.
And Ken is thrilled to discover he also has a grandson, James played by Bills son of the same name.
But Kens dream of playing happy families is dashed by a feud {between homophobic Lawrence and gay James.
A Corrie source said: Lawrence is a complete bigot and the language he uses will leave some viewers furious.
The scenes will pull no punches in expressing some peoples hatred towards gay people and what they stand for. We are expecting viewers to have strong feelings about the dialogue and to air their objections vehemently.
In one of the scenes Lawrence warns James to suppress his gay feelings, prompting his son to say: What about your homophobia are you going to suppress that?
Lawrence replies: Why should I {suppress my feelings if there's nothing wrong with them?
In another, Lawrence shouts: If Id been like you, you wouldn't exist. Its not natural if everybody was gay there wouldn't be any human race.
Ken later urges his son to let James be himself. But Lawrence says: Not if being himself means not having a normal life, mixing with all sorts of degenerates and weirdos.
In another episode, Lawrence says: I'm just a bigoted homophobe. I hate queers. Thats what I am and it took my gay son to prove it to the world.
The plot will also deepen the rift between Ken with Deirdre, who is {considering a fling with Corrie gigolo Lewis Archer (Nigel Havers) even though hes dating Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls).
Ken blames himself for not being there when Lawrence was young and tells his wife: If Id been part of his life he may have become a different person.
But Deirdre says: By the same token you would never have met me. Is that what you'd have preferred?
Our source said: Scriptwriters are going hell for leather with this one.
Gay issues have been dealt with before but this is the first time such graphic anti-gay language has been used.
Soap chiefs are convinced there will be a backlash to the storyline.
But gay activists back the plot as long as ITV gives both sides a fair say.
Campaigner Peter Tatchell said: There is nothing wrong with showing parents who don't accept their gay children as long as other characters reflect the more tolerant strands of public opinion.
Surveys suggest a third of the British public still believe homosexuality is mostly or always wrong, so Coronation Street is reflecting an aspect of reality.
And perhaps the harshness of the language used will provoke more people to understand the negative, destructive impact of homophobia.
But I hope it will balance the negative attitude of the father with acceptance from other characters. It would be wrong to give a one-sided characterisation.
Life
And gay charity Stonewall said: Its good this issue is being put out but producers are treading a fine line and it must be treated sensitively.
For some people, homophobia is still very much a fact of life.
Corrie bosses in Manchester are pulling out all the stops for the 50th birthday and want the episodes to be the most talked-about in Weatherfield history.
And Bill, 78, is delighted to have his sons on board with him.
He said: I can think of no better way to celebrate my 50th anniversary on Coronation Street than to be working alongside both of my sons I am looking forward to it immensely.
Linus, 46, has been in Corrie before in 1975 he played Kens son Peter when he was 11.
But he made his acting name as a gay clergyman in the 1994 film Priest and has since hit the big time in the US as Michael Cutter in telly hit Law And Order.
He has also appeared in the Hollywood blockbuster Batman Begins and was nominated for a Golden Globe for his portrayal of assassinated US politician Robert F Kennedy in the acclaimed 2002 American mini-series RFK.
James, 24 who changed his name from William to avoid confusion with his dad has appeared in ITV1 crime show Cold Blood and BBC drama The Innocence Project.
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