Corrie plotline pulled after real-life child’s disappearance

Published Tuesday 8 May 2007 at 15:35 by Matthew Hemley

Coronation Street bosses are planning to re-write a storyline in which a child is abducted following the disappearance of three-year old Madeleine McCann in Portugal.

The storyline, which was due to start on May 20, would have focused on the abduction of Claire Peacock’s son following a fire in her house.

Although it is first assumed the baby, called Freddie, has perished in the fire, it later emerges he was kidnapped.

A spokeswoman for Coronation Street said: “We are aware that there are some similarities in a future Coronation Street storyline to the events surrounding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann.

“We would not wish to add to the family’s anguish at this terrible time and we are currently reviewing our storyline including episodes which have already been filmed.”

One of the scenes already filmed is understood to show a press conference in which Claire pleads for her child’s return. Bosses are believed to have thought the scene was too close to what Madeleine’s parents are going through in Portugal and are now looking for alternative storylines.