Coronation Street has confirmed details and released a short teaser trailer for a special episode featuring Asha Alahan.
Set to air on Monday 25 August, the hour-long episode will be dedicated to the character, as she reaches breaking point in her career as a paramedic.
The second half of the episode will be told entirely from her point of view, as she witnesses a series of events that eat away at her, despite her calm exterior.
In one shift alone, we’ll see her witness a heartbreaking racist attack, deal with an injured elderly resident, and be forced to watch a tragic death.
It will all culminate in Asha having a panic attack, and struggling to breathe in the Rovers’ backyard.
The episode ties in with Aadi’s departure, as she realises that she won’t be able to rely on her twin for support in the same away again.
“I feel honoured to be trusted with a storyline of this scale and significance,” Asha actor Tanisha Gorey. “Stepping into the shoes of a trainee paramedic and exploring the highs, lows, and emotional challenges of their work has been both moving and eye-opening.
“It’s a role that carries a huge responsibility, and I hope we’ve done justice to the reality so many face. If this story reaches even one person, sparks a conversation, or offers a moment of understanding, then it’s served its purpose.”
The soap has collaborated with The Ambulance Staff Charity (TASC) on the storyline in order to portray it sensitively.
TASC’s Wellbeing Support Team Manager Angie Crashley stated: “At TASC, we were pleased to support the Coronation Street team in developing Asha’s storyline, helping to ensure that it reflects the real-life experiences and challenges faced by student paramedics.
“Storylines like this play a vital role in raising awareness and breaking down stigma around the pressures ambulance staff can face – especially those who are just starting their careers. We’re proud to have contributed to a storyline that highlights both the importance of support and the strength of those working on the frontline.
“Our charity supports the mental, physical, and emotional wellbeing of the UK’s ambulance community, and it was important to us that this story was portrayed with sensitivity and accuracy. Since the launch of the Ambulance Staff Crisis phoneline we have supported 1068 people in crisis or at risk of taking their own life, of those 15 were student paramedics.
“No matter what role you have in the ambulance community, TASC is here for you – because those who care for others deserve care too.”