Advertisement
TV

Coronation Street to show that ‘slavery hides in plain sight’

The soap worked with the Salvation Army on its modern slavery storyline

Classic British soap Coronation Street is to bring attention to human trafficking in a new storyline set to air on Monday.

The soap, which has been broadcasting for nearly 60 years, worked with the Salvation Army on the storyline, who put them in touch with trafficking victim J to help depict the story as realistically and sensitively as possible.

Across the UK it is thought that up to 136,000 people find themselves trapped in forced labour or trafficked and exploited for sex.

Weatherfield regular Seb Franklin (played by Harry Visinoni) falls for nail salon worker Alina (portrayed by Romanian actor Ruxandra Porojnicu). He will later discover that she is a victim of human trafficking.

Producer Colin McLeod said: “In many towns and cities across Britain, people are being forced to work against their will, living in extreme poverty and in fear for their safety, all so ruthless criminal gangs can get rich at their expense.”

While common perceptions of slavery are of physical violence and intimidation being used to control a victim, some are deliberately pushed into debt and forced to rely on false promises from traffickers. are put to work in construction, farming, nail bars, car washes and hotels.

Advertisement
Advertisement

“Modern slavery looks really different to the common perception of it,” said victim J, who advised show producers and actors. “It might challenge people’s idea of what trafficking is.”

She believes that the modern slavery storyline is a positive step by the soap with great potential for raising awareness of human trafficking among viewers.

The show is set to demonstrate the role coercive control plays in trapping victims of modern slavery.

Earlier this month it was revealed that one app had uncovered more than 900 instances of forced labour in car washes.

It was found that 41 per cent of the 2,000 reports issued through the app were likely to be modern slavery, due to signs like the lack of suitable protective clothing that was apparent in almost half of cases. A cash-only policy was used in 80 per cent of cases.

Up to eight per cent of car washes had minors working as many as 17 per cent of reports highlighted fearful workers.

Last year Coronation Street was lauded for its portrayal of hidden homelessness through character Sean Tully who was laid off from his factory job and left sofa-surfing.

Advertisement

Become a Big Issue member

3.8 million people in the UK live in extreme poverty. Turn your anger into action - become a Big Issue member and give us the power to take poverty to zero.

Recommended for you

Read All
Comedian Munya Chawawa: 'There's a dictatorship brewing with Trump'
TV

Comedian Munya Chawawa: 'There's a dictatorship brewing with Trump'

This Country's Charlie Cooper: 'We don't have much pride in being English'
Charlie Cooper
TV

This Country's Charlie Cooper: 'We don't have much pride in being English'

Danny Dyer on fame, therapy and working-class people in politics: 'We need a f**king leader'
Exclusive

Danny Dyer on fame, therapy and working-class people in politics: 'We need a f**king leader'

Alma's Not Normal star Sophie Willan: 'Care experienced people have superpowers – we're brilliant!'
Sophie Willan
TV

Alma's Not Normal star Sophie Willan: 'Care experienced people have superpowers – we're brilliant!'

Most Popular

Read All
Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits
Renters: A mortgage lender's window advertising buy-to-let products
1.

Renters pay their landlords' buy-to-let mortgages, so they should get a share of the profits

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal
Pound coins on a piece of paper with disability living allowancve
2.

Exclusive: Disabled people are 'set up to fail' by the DWP in target-driven disability benefits system, whistleblowers reveal

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over
next dwp cost of living payment 2023
3.

Cost of living payment 2024: Where to get help now the scheme is over

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue
4.

Citroën Ami: the tiny electric vehicle driving change with The Big Issue