Kym Marsh thinks 'Coronation Street' would be "way behind" their rivals if they didn't cover hard-hitting "real issues".
Kym Marsh
The 41-year-old actress has leapt to the defence of the ITV soap's recent spate of tough plots - which have included Pat Phelan's (Connor McIntyre) murder spree, David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) being raped, and Aidan Connor (Shayne Ward) taking his life - insisting such issues are "important" to cover.
She said: "I think we have to keep up with other shows. This is the sign of the times. 'Emmerdale' used to be called 'Emmerdale Farm' and it was about sheep and cows, and now it's not.
"That's natural progression, and I think if we didn't do that we'd be way behind in the ratings and everything else.
"Week-on-week we're doing so well in the viewing figures.
"One of the great things about soap is we can bring things into people's living rooms and without people realising it we're actually raising awareness and helping educate people about real issues.
"Things that do go on in real life. However comfortable that might be for people to watch.
"We are governed by Ofcom and we have to make sure that what we're doing is correct, and it's highlighting serious issues and it's doing them justice. And we are doing that and I think it's important."
Kym's latest storyline sees her character Michelle Connor shot by evil Phelan on her wedding day this week, and the former Hear'Say singer admitted she had to do "a lot of guess work" about how her alter-ego might react, because she's never been gunned down in real life.
She said: "It's quite funny because having never been shot, thankfully, I had to do a lot of research and guess work.
"She gets shot in the abdomen ... it's not nice."
But Kym was delighted when she found out she was going to be involved in Phelan's downfall.
Speaking on 'This Morning', she added: "There's not really been any connection between Michelle and Robert and Phelan at all, so when I was told we were involved in this story I was literally clapping my hands.
"It's such an amazing thing. As actors, we love the drama.
"To be involved in such a huge exit storyline ... he's [Connor] brilliant."
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