Coronation Street's Max Turner is to be groomed by a gang of extremists.
Coronation Street's Max Turner is to be groomed by a gang of extremists
The ITV soap are to highlight the issue of the grooming of disenfranchised and impressionable young men in a hard-hitting storyline, in which Paddy Bever's lonely and vulnerable character will be targeted.
'Corrie' Producer Iain MacLeod said: "Overall, Max's story is one about the grooming of a vulnerable teenager at a point where he's feeling most alienated and disenfranchised. The story will encompass the 'traditional' recruitment techniques of extremists groups, and we'll see Max befriended in person by older, mentor-like figures that will give him a sense of loyalty and brotherhood.
"Then, later in the story, we will explore a very 21st Century problem: teenagers self-radicalising through watching extreme content online. In the end, we wanted this to be a story about communication within families - what are the right and wrong ways to talk to younger family members who are gravitating towards extreme views? For the conclusion of the story, David's misjudged attempts to deal with Max will drive the narrative to a shocking and thought-provoking climax."
In Friday's (28.10.22) episode, Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) will confront eco activist Griff - played by Michael Condron - and his pals when he finds out the band they have invited him to see are playing racist songs.
Toyah Habeeb (Georgia Taylor) later tackles Spider Nugent (Martin Hancock) about the company he is keeping, but she is unaware he is an undercover police officer who has infiltrated the gang to expose their activity.
In the coming episodes, Griff will earn Max's trust and invites him to a Halloween party at his house.
What's more, the teenager will become more estranged from his family in the coming months, as he falls under Griff's spell and the gang will use his video and computer skills to spread their racist propaganda.
Counter Terrorism Policing's Senior National Coordinator Tim Jacques said: "'Coronation Street' has a long history of raising awareness of challenging issues that sit at the heart of communities across the UK. Sadly, the terrorist threat remains one of those very real concerns.
"Our casework shows that children and young people are vulnerable to radicalisation and are increasingly being drawn into toxic ideologies through online spaces and platforms.
"We hope Max's story will help to highlight why it's so important to get support or advice if you're worried someone you love is taking a dangerous path. It really doesn't have to be that way."
Tagged in Chris Gascoyne