There are more shocking scenes to come in Coronation Street, when Bethany Platt is found huddled on a canal tow path after being attacked.
Bethany, who is played by Lucy Fallon, is seen looking bloodied and dazed. Her friend Craig Tinker, played by Colson Smith, happens to find her as he is walking past. He then tries to help.
Bethany has been under the impression that she’s in a relationship with Nathan Curtis (Chris Harper), but he was actually grooming her for a sex ring.
Worryingly, scenes have shown that she is now wearing an engagement ring, so it looks like Nathan’s got her even further under his spell.
As Nathan seeks to further isolate Bethany from her friends and family, next week he’s set to tell her to stop hanging out with Craig.
Craig’s been a really good friend to Bethany ever since her bullying ordeal and Nathan doesn’t like it.
But now it seems Craig’s actually the one who helps her when she’s bleeding and all alone on the streets.
Will he realise what’s been going on and get her to safety quickly? Is Craig going to be the one who rescues her from evil Nathan’s clutches?
Lucy has admitted that parts of the storyline have been “uncomfortable to film”, but believes that the plot could help viewers who might be put in similar vulnerable situations.
“It’s so important for it to be on, especially at this time, because we’re targeting young viewers watching before watershed,” she said.
When Nathan eventually gets his comeuppance, Chris says he will leave the ITV soap.
“Nathan’s not going to hang around,” he said. “It’s the right decision. What we really want is to tell it right.
Read more: Bethany Platt’s grooming ordeal
“Anyone watching it who fears for themselves or someone else, will know that there is somewhere to go and that there’s a very supportive and very loving network of survivors out there who will help you get through it.
“For that reason, I think it’s really important that Nathan doesn’t get away with it.”
Chris and Lucy did their research before filming the harrowing scenes, taking advice from charities such as the NSPCC.
Said Lucy: “We met with the NSPCC and a girl called Lucy who told us her story. It was absolutely horrific and that made us so determined to do this story right for the people that this has happened to and that it is happening to.”
Added Chris: “I’ve become an ambassador for a charity called Voicing CSA and I met a lot of victims of various forms of sexual exploitation.”
Read more: Sarah finds out about Bethany and Nathan