Coronation Street will tackle the prevalent issue of homophobia in footballer with new character James Bailey (Nathan Graham) who arrives having not opened up to his family about the fact that he is gay.
Joined my mum Aggie (Lorna Laidlaw), dad Ed (Trevor Michael Georges) and Michael (Ryan Russell), James will arrive in June, slightly ahead of the rest of his clan as part of a storyline with Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson).
The family will move into No.3 and while the initially wind up the Barlows on their arrival, they are set to be warm, fun and full of love and soon will fight right in with the rest of the community.
James is determined to keep his football career on the up and as he is a member of Weatherfield County Juniors, he has the makings of a gifted future in the sport.
For this reason, he keeps his sexuality under wraps – and its not because he is afraid that he wont be accepted by his mum and dad but because he thinks it will impact his position in the football team.
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And his fears will prove to be founded as he faces discrimination and bullying when he comes out.
Speaking about the storyline, show boss Iain MacLeod said: Were quite keen that James knows who he is but has some apprehensiveness about telling his parents, and some apprehensiveness about his teammates finding out – when we meet the character hes on the cusp of bigger things football wise, and is also aware that despite the process that weve made as a society, in lots of areas, homophobia on thRead More – Source
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