Rape plot a challenge for Corrie stars

Factory boss Frank Foster -- played by Andrew Lancel -- is incensed at being dumped on the eve of his wedding and rapes her in the controversial Coronation Street storyline.

Viewers will see Frank push Carla, played by Alison King, against the door of her flat as she asks him to leave.

However, the actual attack will not be shown in the programme screened on Monday, and Corrie fans will see her later sobbing on the floor with Frank standing above her.

Traumatised

After he flees, traumatised Carla phones Maria, played by Samia Smith, who has already fallen victim to his unwanted attention.

In a plot which will dominate the ITV1 soap next week, Carla is seen re-living the incident as she reports the rape to police.

King said: "As an actress it's different to anything I've done before. I've had to go to a few dark places with this plot which has been a real challenge."

A spokeswoman for the show said: "Whilst we don't see the actual attack on Carla, the viewer is left in no doubt about what Frank has done to her. These are powerful scenes which tackle a very difficult subject in a sensitive and moving way."

Experts from St Mary's Sexual Assault Referral Centre in Manchester were brought in to advise on the scenes.

Lancel said: "We owed it to victims of this sort of attack to get it right and we made sure we researched it thoroughly."

And the actor said the incident had been tough to film.

"These have been some of the most challenging scenes I have ever had to play," Lancel said.

"Frank is an absolute monster but a great character to play, that said the scenes following the attack were very difficult - It was very heavy stuff. I found it very hard."

hnews@herald.ie