Coronation Street has been blasted for trailing an experimental new format in a bid to give viewers a greater understanding of David and Shona Platt’s troubles with their unborn baby.

The ‘artsy’ dual narrative featured internal monologues from both characters as they awaited their unborn child’s devastating prognosis.

Rather than praising the monologues for giving them a greater insight into the character’s thoughts and feelings, many said that they made the show ‘unwatchable’.

After the episodes were made available early on ITVX ahead of Wednesday’s episode, fans took to social media to air their frustrations.

One wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter: ‘I’m not a fan of gimmicks and the whole internal monologue thing didn’t really work for me. It’s too tell not show, too exposition-heavy, but mostly, I just didn’t believe that this is what Shona and David would be thinking. #corrie’

‘This is totally unwatchable [and] I hate it. This better not be a permanent change #corrie.’

Others described the monologues as ‘tiresome’ and one viewer said that the show’s creators had ‘lost the plot’.

They added: ‘I’m against internal monologues at the best of times, but Shona truly does not seem like a character who’d even have one.’

‘Why are we hearing someone’s thoughts in #corrie? It just doesn’t work and comes across proper naff. Who is writing this guff on Coronation Street?’

‘I get what #Corrie was trying to achieve through tonight’s episode but it missed the mark completely. The voice overs distracted from what could have been a very poignant episode.’

‘Don’t like the format for this message-heavy episode.’

‘What’s this Shona s**t about? Have I gone to sleep and woken up in a different universe? What the f**k is this s**t #Corrie.’

Some viewers found the episode so hard to watch that they actually turned it off, revealing: ‘I’ve turned it off. It’s like Year 10 GCSE course work. I just can’t.’

‘It must be bad, I’ve turned over. Whoever made the decision to make this episode needs sacking. The one good soap left ffs come on #Corrie.’

Despite that, some did really enjoy the episode and thought that it was a great way to raise awareness of such an important issue.

‘Sensitive subject handled well, to show us that inner turmoil. Enjoyed hearing Shona & David’s inner dialogue. Didn’t like the camera angles but that aside, it was good. Let’s hope nothing else goes wrong with the pregnancy. Shona & David deserve a child together after being together for so long.’

‘David deserves an Oscar.’

‘What a powerful episode of tonight, & superb acting from & Jack P Shepherd. Highlighted such an important issue beautifully. Well done to all involved.’

The episode itself saw David miss the start of Shona’s hospital appointment after he was arrested for getting into an argument with Kit Green (Jacob Roberts).

When he finally arrived, the couple were given the news that no expectant parent wants to hear – that a mass had been found on their unborn baby’s neck.

As the medical professionals worked to take the necessary next steps, David and Shona grappled with the possibility that their unborn child could be seriously ill.

This was confirmed later in the episode when they were told that the mass was a tumour and that Shona would need to undergo surgery to save the baby if they continued with the pregnancy.

The doctor told the couple: ‘I’m sorry to have to tell you this but the second scan did confirm that there is a small mass on the baby’s neck.

‘Now, in some cases, it can block the baby’s airway, making it difficult to breathe or swallow.

‘And if the oesophagus is obstructed, that can lead to a build-up of amniotic fluid in the womb which can cause premature labour.

‘There’s no easy way to say this, but as the pregnancy’s under 24 weeks, I need to let you know that you will be offered the option of an abortion. Now, obviously, that’s your decision. And please take all the time you need, OK?’

The doctor continued: ‘But if you do decide to go ahead with the pregnancy, then Mum will have to have regular ultrasounds, and she’ll need to undergo what’s called an EXIT procedure.

‘It’s a specialist type of surgery where they operate while the baby is still attached through the placenta. Now, it’s a long and complicated procedure. And it’s not without its risks… for Mum and for your daughter.’

They went home and clashed over what they wanted to do, but the mum-to-be made it clear she wanted to go through with her pregnancy.

She told him: ‘Do you think there is a world in which I wouldn’t do everything I could to get her here safe and sound?

‘Could you live with yourself if we terminated this pregnancy when there was a chance that she could grow up to be fit and healthy?

‘I love you, but this is my body and my decision. I am going to have the exit procedure, David!’

Coronation Street airs every Monday, Wednesday and Friday on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.