Frank Foster

[walsh2509]

Odds on the Maw ... after he's gone , little left for her in Corrie

[Perdita]

Coronation Street producer Phil Collinson has said that the soap stands by its recent rape storyline featuring Carla Connor and Frank Foster.

The show's boss argued that Coronation Street had done "a good thing" by highlighting the issue of sexual assault over the past few months, BBC News reports.

However, speaking at St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre's annual conference in Manchester, Collinson conceded that some mistakes had been made in the portrayal of Frank's recent trial.

St Mary's suggested that scenes showing Frank (Andrew Lancel) confronting Carla (Alison King) outside court had been inaccurate and deterred real-life victims from pursuing their cases.

Speaking on behalf of the centre, Bernie Ryan said: "We have to put a lot of reassurance into the fact that it was a dramatisation of a courtroom event, and that there are support services to make sure they don't come across the perpetrator and are supported throughout the court process."

Responding to the criticism, Collinson commented: "I do agree that there were some procedural things in the court that we did get wrong.

"In a show like ours, we are constantly balancing the needs of the drama against the needs of accuracy, and I suppose I would have to agree that there were some procedural things in the court that our attention has been drawn to subsequently, and I can only apologise for that.

"I have to stand by the story that we told and I think we did a good thing in the main."

Collinson added that the storyline had "sent out a very clear message" as there was never any ambiguity over whether the rape had taken place.

Frank sexually attacked Carla in September last year after she called off their wedding. However, he was found not guilty when the case reached court earlier this month.

The villain's storyline reaches a conclusion on Monday, March 5 when his final episodes air.

[parkerman]

Collinson added that the storyline had "sent out a very clear message" as there was never any ambiguity over whether the rape had taken place.

What "very clear message" is that then? That even though there was never any ambiguity over whether the rape had taken place, Frank still got off. I'm sure that must be very reassuring to rape victims!

[alan45]

What "very clear message" is that then? That even though there was never any ambiguity over whether the rape had taken place, Frank still got off. I'm sure that must be very reassuring to rape victims!

This is the same Phil Collinson who thinks Corrie fans actually like St. Ella

[Perdita]

What "very clear message" is that then? That even though there was never any ambiguity over whether the rape had taken place, Frank still got off. I'm sure that must be very reassuring to rape victims!

Plenty of posts in these threads complaining about lack of reality in storylines, and this one very very sadly does reflect reality, not every reported rape trial ends up with the rapist put behind bars. I just wish they had shown Frank to get the punishment he deserves through a re-trial rather than killing him off

[alan45]

Plenty of posts in these threads complaining about lack of reality in storylines, and this one very very sadly does reflect reality, not every reported rape trial ends up with the rapist put behind bars. I just wish they had shown Frank to get the punishment he deserves through a re-trial rather than killing him off

He has been found not guilty by a court do its highly unlikely that he would face a retrial!

[parkerman]

Plenty of posts in these threads complaining about lack of reality in storylines, and this one very very sadly does reflect reality, not every reported rape trial ends up with the rapist put behind bars. I just wish they had shown Frank to get the punishment he deserves through a re-trial rather than killing him off

I'm sure you're right, Perdy, that rapists get off and in that sense the story could be said to be realistic. However, two points:
1. Phill Collinson says the storyline sends out a "very clear message." Well, it might be very clear to him, but the only message I take from it is that victims of rape should not take the perpetrator to court as it will lead to humiliation and defeat.
2. Which brings me to the second point. Yes, Corrie should be realistic but it also carries a responsibility. As a Soap watched by millions of people, it is very influential and, in this case, all it has done is to make it harder for women to have the courage to take their attacker to court. Phil Collinson should think seriously about his responsibilities.

Of course, in my opinion, worse is to come as Frank gets his "comeuppance". Corrie will be then using its influence to show this is a good thing and everything is ok. So the sum total of this storyline will be to tell people that you shouldn't use the law and go to court; it's better to take the law into your own hands. A "very clear message" indeed!

[alan45]

As a Soap watched by millions of people.......... Phil Collinson should think seriously about his responsibilities.

Unfortunately Phil Collinson is like all soap producers more interested in viewing figures and self promotion than realism.. Just look at some of his other daft recent storylines

[Perdita]

This is the first picture of evil factory boss Frank Foster lying dead in a pool of his own blood on the factory floor.

Spotting the lights on at Underworld, Sean and Julie decide to confront Frank about his plans for the factory after he conned Carla out of her share, but they're horrified to find Sally kneeling over his lifeless body, blood on her hands.

As news of his murder spreads, speculation is rife, but the question is who killed him? With Frank's history of upsetting people, it could be anyone, but Sally, Carla, Peter, Michelle and Kevin are firmly in the frame.

[alan45]

Coronation Street's Frank Foster storyline reaches an explosive conclusion next month as the evil factory boss is found lying dead in a pool of his own blood.

As Frank (Andrew Lancel) has made so many enemies on the cobbles in recent months, it soon becomes clear that he's been murdered - and Sally Webster is among the suspects as she is caught with blood on her hands as she kneels over her ex-lover's lifeless body.

Sean Tully (Antony Cotton) and Julie Carp (Katy Cavanagh) are the ones who find Sally with Frank's corpse, as they arrive at the factory to confront the businessman over his plans for Underworld.

Over the next few days, viewers will see an uncertain future for the factory as Frank cons ex-fiancée Carla Connor into signing the business over to him at a rock bottom price.

Frank previously put Carla through a tragic ordeal as he sexually attacked her, so the troubled businesswoman is firmly in the frame for his murder - along with partner Peter, colleague Michelle and Sally's ex-husband Kevin.

However, it's Sally who's the initial suspect as she's the one at the scene - meaning that the police are soon asking tricky questions about her troubled history with Frank.

Sally Dynevor, who plays Sally, commented: "She really does hate him. She's at rock bottom - Sally's been used, manipulated and betrayed by Frank. Sally's got lots of reasons to want to do something very bad to Frank, as have all the factory staff as he was plotting for them all to lose their jobs.

"But there's a particular motive for Sally because of the way he betrayed her on a personal level. Sally's the one found with the body, knelt over him with blood on her hands so it doesn't look good!"


© ITV

Coronation Street airs these scenes on Monday, March 5 at 8.30pm on ITV1.