Soap plot 'shines a light on LGBT+ domestic abuse'

A current storyline in Coronation Street features coercive control and physical abuse within a relationship

Coronation Street viewers have been watching one of the soap's longest running characters become the victim of coercive control and physical abuse.

Todd Grimshaw, played by Gareth Pierce since 2020, was the ITV drama's first gay character in 2001. In the show, the character is being abused by his partner Theo Silverton.

While the soap had featured the subjects of coercive control and physical abuse within relationships before, Pierce said the current storyline was "very much still needed", especially regarding LGBT+ couples.

Ben Kernighan, co-CEO of LGBT+ anti-abuse charity Galop, said: "Stories like this play such an important role in shining light on LGBT+ experiences of domestic abuse."

'Targeted manipulation'

Over the course of their relationship, viewers have seen Grimshaw becoming isolated from those closest to him, shamed about his body and eating habits, and accused of flirting with other men.

Silverton (played by James Cartwright) has become increasingly violent and degrading towards his boyfriend.

What started as possessive, jealous and controlling behaviour has turned into physical abuse and coercive control.

"There's a definite move from Theo to isolate Todd from his close friendships, there's mood swings from Theo - love bombing to counteract that as well," Pierce explained.

"What's happening is that the barometer of what's normal and acceptable in the relationship is being shifted.

"Todd is quite trapped, but there's also a potential shame and a pride element as well.

"Todd wouldn't like to think of himself as being duped like that."

Pierce said Todd, a once confident person, has likely been chosen for this storyline to emphasise that coercive control can build at a steady pace, and happen to anyone.

"It isn't about weakness, it's about very targeted manipulation," he said.

Gareth Pierce has played Todd Grimshaw in Coronation Street since 2020

What is coercive control?

Controlling or coercive behaviour within an intimate or family relationship became a criminal offence in England under Section 76 of the Serious Crime Act 2015.

According to domestic violence charity Women's Aid, common examples of coercive control include:

• Isolating you from friends and family

• Depriving you of basic needs, such as food

• Taking control over aspects of your everyday life, such as where you can go, who you can see, what you can wear and when you can sleep

• Humiliating, degrading behaviour or dehumanising you

• Controlling your finances

• Making threats or intimidating you

Pierce said the storyline shines a light on a "very real issue" for many people.

"Sadly, as we've been working on it, I've been speaking to people and hearing certain parallels," he said.

"The themes of coercive control are universal in any relationship, so you will have men and women seeing parallels in the story.

"But it is important that we're aware of the ways that they can differ in a same-sex relationship as well."

The Coronation Street team worked with Galop on the story arc.

"When LGBT+ experiences of domestic abuse are misunderstood or erased from the 'public story', LGBT+ victims and survivors can be left with vast amounts of shame, confusion, and doubt around whether their experiences are abusive or 'worthy' of support," said a Galop spokesperson.

"It's so important for LGBT+ victims and survivors to see accurate and trauma-informed representations of LGBT+ experiences of abuse and violence.

"By showing the various ways people experience domestic abuse, TV shows like Coronation Street have the opportunity to challenge the 'public story' of abuse and to represent the victims and survivors whose stories are often left untold."

'Narrow perceptions'

Despite noting progress in recent years, Pierce said he thinks there is still a stigma surrounding male victims of domestic abuse.

"You're sometimes battling narrow perceptions of masculinity. You'll have a sense of like, 'oh, it's two blokes, why don't you hit them back?'

"So much progress has been made on that, but that is still definitely prevalent.

"That can mean sometimes the understanding isn't there for some of the ways that people in same-sex abusive relationships might need to access help and get to safety."

Galop said these perceptions can "minimise or erase" LGBT+ people's experiences of abuse.

Pierce said it was an "honour" to be trusted to play a character whose story is such a "very real issue".

"You want to make sure that in highlighting the issue, you are kind of signposting the right places to go for help or to extricate yourself from from a relationship like this.

"I would signpost to Galop for LGBTQ relationships, Women's Aid for women, and also Refuge UK for both men and women."