Liam Connor Junior

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/cor...-story-future/

Coronation Street has revealed the future of Liam Connor's bullying storyline, confirming that the plot will run for the next few months.

Show bosses have recently introduced new villain Mason Radcliffe, who has already started to cruelly target his schoolmate Liam.

The ITV soap previously announced plans to explore school bullying with the teen group. Sean Tully's son Dylan Wilson will also be closely involved, as Mason tries to take him under his wing and influence his behaviour.

Viewers can also expect tensions between the adult characters, as Liam's mum Maria Connor and stepdad Gary Windass will be clashing with Sean over Dylan's role in what's happening.

Speaking to Digital Spy and other media in a recent press call, Coronation Street's producer Iain MacLeod explained: "What we wanted to do was tell a modern take on a bullying storyline. When I was growing up, bullying took place in the school playground or the corridors, and you could at least escape that when you went home.

"Of course, now it follows you into your home ? into your bedroom, wherever you go ? in the form of online abuse. So we wanted to tell an updated bullying story. We wanted to make it as far reaching and widely impactful as we could.

"It's as much about Gary, Maria and Sean ? and Eileen and George as Dylan's de facto grandparents ? as it is about the kids. We wanted it to be a big family story, rather than a teenage telling of the story."

Revealing that the plot is only just beginning, MacLeod continued: "I've just read some scenes which are much deeper into the story, so they'll be airing next February or March.

"It's entirely heartbreaking in terms of the reaction of the children that are on the receiving end of the bullying, and the feelings of impotence for the parents because they know what's going on but they can't penetrate this wall of secrecy that surrounds it, because the victims don't want to speak up.

"It drives Gary and Maria's characters into quite extreme territory in terms of their emotional reaction to what they believe is happening. It's desperately sad.

"We want it to have some positive messaging as well. So the outcomes for the people in the worst of it will be good ? and when they seek help, they will receive it and they will then be on a positive trajectory going forward.

"But before that, it's an in-depth exploration of teenage mental health and bullying. If we get it as right as it looks like we're going to, I'm really proud of it."

[lizann]

Liam Connor will be seen contemplating killing himself when his mental health hits rock bottom after suffering months of bullying by ringleader Mason Radcliffe.

Over the past few months, viewers have been shocked to see Liam being targeted by Mason and his crew, one being Dylan Wilson.

The torment began with Mason pressuring Liam to vape, leading to Liam suffering an asthma attack. The bullying then got progressively worse as Mason has been humiliating Liam to the point of tears, ordering his friends to record it and then posting it online for the world to see. When Liam eventually stood up for himself, Mason pulled out a knife, showing just how dangerous he is.

With the bullying happening in person and online, it has made it impossible for Liam to escape, leaving his mental health to rapidly deteriorate.

[Perdita]

https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/cor...h-knife-crime/

Coronation Street actor Antony Cotton has confirmed that the Liam Connor bullying aftermath will see out the rest of 2024.

Appearing on Good Morning Britain alongside his co-star Liam McCheyne, Cotton told presenters Kate Garraway and Ben Shephard that the fallout will continue in the coming months.

"This is only the beginning, we're telling a story about knife crime, that's where it's gonna go," Cotton, who plays Sean Tully on the show, explained.

Corrie viewers may remember that Mason previously threatened Liam with a zombie knife, which he gave to Dylan and asked if he could hide it at home.

Cotton alluded to a recent change in the law banning zombie-style knives and machetes.

Following a period of amnesty, the full ban will come into force in September ? with a possibility of a prison sentence for anyone found guilty of possessing these types of weapons.

"Weirdly this has all been plotted out six months ago and written a long time ago, and only a few weeks ago was the new act in parliament with the sentencing for zombie knives," the actor explained.

"That's all happened, we're months down [the line], so it's obviously an important story to tell.

"Now it'll be informed by the new legislation. You know, Corrie is not real life but it's supposed to hold a mirror up, so it's been really satisfying and this is only the beginning of it. We've got this [storyline] for the rest of the year. "

In last week's scenes on ITV, Maria Connor confronted Mason and Dylan about their shameful bullying of her son, revealing that he'll now have to move schools.