The most harrowing teen soap storylines ever – from EastEnders knife death to Coronation Street grooming plot

WE take a look at the most harrowing teenage storylines in soap history.

Soapland has never been afraid to tackle harrowing subject matters – even with the younger members of the casts.

Coronation Street will air a shock stabbing tonight which will leave Mason Radcliffe (Luca Toolan) fighting for his life.

Mason will be stabbed by his brothers – Matty (Harry Lowbridge) and Logan (Seamus McGoff) – after he hands in evidence that proves his siblings were behind the murder of officer Becky’s death.

The pair will attack their sibling – who has a tumultuous history on the Street – using a zombie knife.

The young character will die in a knife attack in a storyline that aims to raise awareness of the consequences of carrying zombie knives.

We take a look at other harrowing teen soap storylines from soaps Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.

Shakil Kazemi’s knife death (EastEnders)

Shakil, played by Shaheen Jafargholi, was stabbed in a knife attack by a gang after his friend Keegan Baker stole a bike in 2018.

The horrific story line was written to mark the tenth anniversary of the death of former star Brooke Kinsella’s brother.

16-year-old Ben Kinsella was killed while out celebrating the end of his GCSEs in north London in an unprovoked attack in 2008.

EastEnders viewers said they were in tears watching Shakil’s final episode, which concluded with the families of the real-life victims standing outside the church, holding up pictures of their loved ones.

Both Strictly’s Davood Ghadami, who played Shakil’s brother Kush, and Bonnie Langford, who played his mother Carmel were praised for their “unshowily excellent” and “downright devastating” performances.

The plot is still being used to teach about the impact of knife crime in schools and received praise for shining a light on the problem.

Sarah-Lou Platt’s pregnancy (Coronation Street)

The storyline of Sarah-Lou’s teenage pregnancy in Coronation Street was groundbreaking when it aired in 2000, as it was one of the first major storylines in British soaps to tackle the issue of teenage pregnancy.

At just 13 years old, Sarah’s pregnancy rocked her family and the entire community of Weatherfield.

The storyline, created to highlight the real-life struggles and consequences of early motherhood, was a pivotal moment in Corrie history.

However, the portrayal was not without controversy. Some viewers felt the storyline was glamorising teenage pregnancy, while others praised it for shedding light on the emotional and social difficulties that young mothers face.

Tina O’Brien, who had only recently taken over the role of Sarah, was thrust into the limelight as her character’s world was turned upside down.

Sarah’s difficult journey included struggling with school, family pressure, and the reality of being a young mother, with the birth of baby Bethany in June marking a dramatic shift in her life.

The storyline made an impact on audiences and sparked discussion about teenage pregnancy, parenting, and responsibility, which was quite ahead of its time in terms of representation in mainstream TV.

Belle Dingle’s schizophrenia (Emmerdale)

Belle’s (Eden Taylor-Draper) traumatic journey in Emmerdale took a dark turn when, after accidentally killing her best friend Gemma at just 16, her mental health began to spiral.

The storyline, which saw Belle struggling with her grief and guilt, showcased her battle with hearing Gemma’s voice inside her head, leading to a dramatic decline in her well-being.

Belle’s health deteriorated to the point where she required psychiatric care, and she was admitted to a mental health facility.

However, her struggle wasn’t over. After her relationship with married doctor Jermaine Bailey ended, Belle suffered from even more intense hallucinations, this time of her former prison mate Ellie.

Her condition worsened, but with Jermaine’s support, Belle was eventually diagnosed with schizophrenia, and after receiving the necessary treatment at a specialist clinic in Surrey, she began the road to recovery.

The storyline highlighted the challenges of living with mental illness and the importance of seeking professional help, all while showing Belle’s resilience in facing her personal demons.

Hannah Ashworth’s anorexia (Hollyoaks)

Hollyoaks made a significant impact with its powerful and harrowing portrayal of Hannah’s battle with anorexia, a storyline that resonated deeply during the height of the media’s obsession with the “size zero” trend.

Viewers were horrified as they watched Hannah, a seemingly innocent teen, spiral into dangerous behavior, starving herself in an attempt to achieve what she thought was the ideal body.

As Hannah’s condition worsened, the storyline became more intense, culminating in her being hospitalised for two months as she fought for her life.

The depiction of her struggle was both raw and unflinching, earning Hollyoaks widespread praise for its sensitive handling of such a delicate issue.

Actress Emma Rigby won numerous awards for her portrayal of Hannah and her illness.

The storyline was not just a crucial moment for the character of Hannah, but a poignant reminder of the damaging effects of body image issues and the importance of seeking help for mental health struggles.

Whitney Dean’s abuse from Tony (EastEnders)

Whitney (played by Shona McGarty) arrived in Walford back in 2008, carrying a dark secret from her childhood.

Since the age of 12, she had been in a twisted relationship with her stepmum Bianca’s boyfriend, Tony King.

The predator had groomed young Whit, making her believe she was in love and planning to run away with him.

On her 16th birthday, the traumatised teen finally revealed the years of abuse to Bianca.

Tony was swiftly sent to prison sentenced for 13 years, but Whitney’s troubles didn’t end there.

A few years later, she fell under the spell of another wrong’un, twisted pimp Rob Grayson, who who had duped and exploited her.

Thankfully, she managed to escape his evil clutches too after she accidentally killed him.

Bethany Platt’s grooming ordeal (Coronation Street)

Bethany’s life changed forever after she caught the eye of groomer Nathan Curtis.

Vulnerable schoolgirl, played by Lucy Fallon, was at the centre of one of Corrie’s darkest storylines to date when she fell under the spell of her older boyfriend and sexual predator.

The controversial scenes saw Nathan groom and manipulate the 16-year-old before coercing her into sleeping with his friends, with one of them raping her.

The evil mastermind even went as far as attempting to sell Sarah’s daughter as a sex slave abroad, but justice prevailed in the nick of time.

Nathan ended up behind bars. And Lucy was recognised for her outstanding portrayal after winning an NTA award for Best Serial Drama Performance in 2018.

The storyline was based on a real life story and also drew inspiration from the child sex abuse ring in Rochdale, which saw nine men jailed in 2012.

Holly Barton’s drug overdose (Emmerdale)

Holly Barton, a typical teenager from a farming family played by Sophie Powles, saw her life take a tragic turn after experimenting with cocaine on a night out.

What seemed like a harmless decision quickly spiraled into a devastating heroin addiction.

The consequences were severe: Holly was expelled from college, resorted to selling herself for drugs and caused a rift within her once-close family.

Her parents, John and Moira, fought tirelessly to help her overcome her addiction, and Holly eventually found the strength to get clean, leaving the Dales for a fresh start.

However, her return in 2016 saw her fall back into old habits. The battle proved too much, and Holly’s story ended in heartbreak when she tragically overdosed from heroin at just 25 years old, and a distraught Moira found Holly dead in her bed.

Her death was a stark and haunting reminder of the destructive power of addiction.

Bex Fowler bullying (EastEnders)

Bex’s (Jasmine Armfield) life became a living nightmare when school bullies Madison and Alexandra launched a relentless campaign of cruelty against her.

The vicious duo, who embodied the worst of schoolyard torment, took pleasure in humiliating and breaking Bex at every turn.

Each day, Bex’s confidence was shattered, leaving her isolated and broken, with even her best friend Louise siding with her tormentors.

It wasn’t until Louise saw the true, ugly side of Madison and Alexandra that she stood by Bex’s side – but not before she suffered a life-changing injury.

During the school prom, the bullies pushed Louise into a table of lit candles, leaving her seriously hurt.

In the end, the bullies got their just desserts as Madison and Alexandra were arrested, and Bex was finally able to find some peace after the torment.

It was a powerful and emotional storyline that highlighted the devastating effects of bullying.

Luke Morgan’s rape (Hollyoaks)

Actor Gary Lucy was just 17 when he took on this groundbreaking storyline, which saw his character Luke become soap’s first make rape victim.

It was broadcast during during Hollyoaks’ first late night spin-off show, Breaking Boundaries, in 2000.

Luke had endured a long-running bullying campaign by football rival Mark Gibbs – who raped him after Luke stood up to him.

Luke was left suicidal following the brutal attack, before opening up to his brother Adam. Mark was sentenced to eight years in prison.

Gary won the Best Actor gong at the British Soap Awards in 2000 for his performance.