Atlanta, GA 12/10/2010 10:32:06 PM
Ashley Peacock and Molly Dobbs perished in last night's (09.12.10) dramatic 'Coronation Street' live episode.
The shocking hour-long special of the legendary ITV1
soap kicked off with the sad news that local butcher Ashley – played by
actor Steven Arnold for the past 15 years – had died a hero after
freeing love rivals Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) and Nick Tilsley (Ben
Price) from the wreckage of the tram crash.
Chaos then descended on the cobbles when a paramedic told hysterical
crowds – including Ashley's widow Claire (Julia Haworth) – there was
"no sign of life".
Meanwhile, Fiz Stape (Jennie McAlpine) acted out giving birth live on
air to a premature baby girl named Hope, who was then accidentally
referred to as a "baby boy" in one of the episode's few blunders.
In other baby drama, love rat Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) was
forced to make the agonising decision between revealing the truth that
Molly's (Vicky Binns) baby Jack is actually his child or letting the
tot go without the vital blood transfusion he needed from his
biological father to save his life.
However, a guilt-ridden Molly decided to reveal all to Kevin's
horrified wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) as she lay dying under the
wreckage of the corner shop.
She said: "I didn’t want to hurt you, but if Jack’s not going to have
his mummy, he’s going to need his daddy. It’s Kevin. I’m so sorry. He
chose you. You’re beautiful inside and out."
The live episode – which was the culmination of a week-long series of
explosive events to celebrate the soap's 50th anniversary – wasn't
without its blunders, including one shot where disabled Izzy Armstrong
– played by Cherylee Houston – accidentally stood up from her
wheelchair.
Viewers will now have to tune in to see whether Peter Barlow – who was
left fighting for his life after marrying fiancee Leanne Battersby
(Jane Dason) by his hospital bedside – will live or die when the sound
of the flatline from his life support machine came in shortly before
the final credits rolled.
