Coronation Street has been praised for its hard-hitting grooming storyline featuring Bethany and Nathan this year.
Now the soap is to tackle another topic that affects thousands but is rarely discussed in prime-time drama: male rape.
According to a report in The Mirror, Bethany’s uncle, David Platt, will be attacked by a newcomer to the Street.
In scenes aired early next year, the Weatherfield favourite will wake up beside new character Josh, to realise he has been drugged and assaulted.
David – who has already faced significant tragedy, including the murder of wife Kylie – will struggle with whether to report the incident.
This will be the first time the subject has been tackled in the soap’s 57-year history and it will, naturally, be handled with the greatest care and sensitivity.
A source told the tabloid: “There won’t be any sexually explicit scenes.
“What has happened to David will be implied by his reaction and behaviour when he wakes up the next day and starts to remember some of what happened.”
Josh, a mechanic and personal trainer, arrives on the Street in January, and befriends the residents as he helps get them in shape for a boxing match.
The paper’s insider continued: “With Josh still on the street, David struggles to deal with the shame of what has happened to him.
“This is a big storyline for Jack and everyone is determined to get it right.”
Channel 4 soap Hollyoaks tackled a male rape story in 2000, when schoolboy Luke Morgan – played by Gary Lucy – was attacked by teen bully Mark Gibbs.
The soap is currently revisiting the storyline, with Luke – who has never come to terms with the brutal violation – meeting again.
Executive producer Bryan Kirkwood revealed he had failed to introduce a similar plot during his time at EastEnders while he was there, between 2010 and 2012, after being told it wasn’t suitable.