Gary Lucy has praised 'Coronation Street' for tackling male rape.
Gary Lucy
The 36-year-old actor was at the forefront of a groundbreaking plot 17 years ago when his 'Hollyoaks' character Luke Morgan was sexually assaulted by Mark Gibbs, and he's happy the rival soap is now planning to explore the taboo subject in a hard-hitting storyline involving David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd).
He says: "It's great that it has been covered on another show that will handle it responsibly. And it's good it's a key character that we care about, so we'll be devastated. I think Jack P Shepherd will play it brilliantly."
Following his own storyline, which saw Luke plunge into depression, Gary was inundated with messages of support and thank you letters from other victims, and he thinks Jack and the 'Corrie' team - who, like 'Hollyoaks', are working with charity Survivors on the plot - will also help others.
He told the Daily Mirror newspaper: "When we did it, the support systems weren't as they are now.
"It was more taboo but we did it. And it was a massive part of my life. People would always talk to me about it and I'm really proud of it.
"Now with 'Corrie', it's fantastic that a different set of audience members will see it and it will help people all over again."
Gary recently returned to 'Hollyoaks', with Luke now a troubled alcoholic who has been struggling to deal with his ordeal - and his feelings have worsened since he recently caught a glimpse of his rapist leading a normal life.
And the actor is pleased he and Colin Parry, who played Gibbs, were offered a chance to return to the soap, as he's always hoped to revisit the storyline later in life.
Gary - whose character is set for a showdown with Gibbs in upcoming scenes - said: "I've always been hoping I could revisit it with a wiser head on my shoulders.
"It's all about what happens when he sees his attacker again. To be able to tie that up is brilliant - and it hasn't been done before."
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