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Marie Louise McConville: Powerful Corrie scenes left me praying for a better world

The Nina and Seb storyline in Coronation Street left me feeling frightened for the future if attitudes don't change. Picture by ITV
The Nina and Seb storyline in Coronation Street left me feeling frightened for the future if attitudes don't change. Picture by ITV The Nina and Seb storyline in Coronation Street left me feeling frightened for the future if attitudes don't change. Picture by ITV

It's unlikely that I'm the only person who was brought to tears by episodes of Coronation Street this week.

I've watched the show for many years and honestly, I can't remember ever feeling so shocked and saddened by a storyline.

If you missed last week's episodes, the storyline centred around Nina, a character on the show who, along with her boyfriend, Seb, were viciously attacked on the street - all because Nina is a Goth.

In particularly moving scenes, we had watched the young couple fall in love in recent weeks and move in together, looking towards a bright future.

Designer Nina, who was taken into the hearts of the nation when she moved in with her lovely Uncle Roy above his cafe following the death of her father, has shown herself to be a most loveable and loyal character - a real asset to the cobbles.

Last week, we watched her and Seb go for a walk - just minutes after he had gifted her a lucky-bag-type-of-ring as a mark of his commitment - however, along the way, they met an unsavoury group of characters who would later pursue them and attack them viciously, just because of how Nina looked.

The pair were brutally beaten and stamped on and left for dead.

In heartbreaking scenes, which certainly left me feeling broken, we watched as Abi was later told that her son Seb had died from the horrific injuries he had sustained in the assault.

I know some of you will laugh at me becoming emotional because of a soap opera - it's not real after all - but what made this storyline so different was that it is based on a real life story, which made it all the more sickening.

Sophie Lancaster was just 20-years-old when she was murdered.

She and her boyfriend, who were both Goths, were savagely and mercilessly beaten by a gang in a park in Bacup, Lancashire in 2007, all because the attackers didn't like how they looked.

Sophie's mother Sylvia Lancaster worked with Coronation Street on the Nina and Seb storyline because she wants to show people "that underneath all of this" everyone is the same.

Following her daughter's death, Sylvia set up the Sophie Lancaster Foundation which works to challenge the prejudice and intolerance towards people from alternative subcultures, and also have UK Hate Crime legislation extended to include people from alternative subcultures.

I have to say, Coronation Street did a magnificent job on this and should be congratulated for taking up the gauntlet to fight intolerance and hatred towards others.

This storyline certainly struck a chord with me and I've honestly been thinking about it ever since.

As a mother of young children, it frightens me to think they could grow up in a world where they could be murdered for being a little different.

I don't mind saying, I pray that is not the case.

I wish Sylvia every luck in her pursuit of equality for all.

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Retired ballerina Darcey Bussell has revealed she once had a "good snog" with Hollywood legend Harrison Ford.

Despite enjoying a hugely successful dance career, the former Strictly Come Dancing judge once auditioned to appear opposite Harrison Ford in the 1995 romantic comedy Sabrina.

'It was amazing meeting Harrison Ford.......I didn’t do a full love scene with him, but we had a good snog," said the 52-year-old.

"It was my claim to fame, I got to snog Harrison Ford. I have those recorded, sketches I did with him".

We're very jealous Ms Bussell, kudos to you.

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The very beautiful Cat Deeley has revealed she never thought she would `crack' America due to her appearance.

Speaking in a recent interview, the glamorous 44-year-old admitted she refused surgery when she first began working in Hollywood.

The TV presenter, who is married to Northern Ireland comedian, Patrick Kielty, 44, moved back to London last year following 14 years in the States.

Speaking about her career in the US, the mother-of-two revealed she had been judged on her appearance and was even told to consider getting a nose job, after she landed a host position on So You Think You Can Dance in 2006.

"I never thought I was going to crack America," she said.

"I’ve still got no boobs and a nose that goes that way".

Speaking about being advised to have surgery, the natural beauty said: "When it comes to stuff like that, you’re asking the wrong woman.''

Hearing about this lovely lady's experience has really left me feeling so disappointed - and shocked.

I mean, if Cat Deeley is being told to have cosmetic surgery, what hope do the rest of us have?

Fair play to her for standing her ground and staying true to herself.

Well done Cat.

***Competitions will return in the coming weeks