Coronation Street branded 'unwatchable' as ITV airs new format

Coronation Street viewers were left baffled after the long-running soap tried out a new "artsy" format which many branded "utter s***e." The special instalment, which was available early on ITVX and YouTube ahead of its Wednesday (12 November) broadcast, focused entirely on David and Shona Platt as they received devastating news about their unborn baby. Fans tuned in expecting a heavy storyline, but what they didn't expect was the new twist - inner monologues from both characters narrated over the scenes.

The episode aimed to show the couple's individual perspectives as they processed the heartbreak, but it didn't go down well with everyone. On blasted: "This is totally unwatchable I hate it. This better not be a permanent change #corrie." Another added: "This is very tiresome," and "I really don't want to hear anybody else's thoughts, ta very much." Another fumed: "FFS!! Have we got this nonsense for an hour?? #corrie."

Others were even more blunt. "#Corrie has lost the plot!!! Pure s***e!!" one viewer posted, while another simply wrote: "Wow this is dogs**t." One person summed it up as a "Marmite episode this."

"Don't like the format for this message-heavy episode," another viewer added. "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."

In the storyline, David was arrested after a tense confrontation with Kit Green, preventing him from joining Shona at her hospital appointment. When he finally made it to the scan, the couple were devastated to learn their baby had a health complication, with a mass spotted on the child's neck.

Shona was referred to a consultant as the pair struggled to come to terms with the diagnosis - setting up a two-hander episode told entirely through their internal thoughts.

While the approach was meant to show how each character copes differently, fans called it "pretentious," with some comparing it to popular comedy seies Peep Show.

I've only just started watching tonight's Corrie. Is it all being done in this Peep Show style? Because I'll be honest, I'm not loving it!" one viewer shared.

Another penned: "I'm against internal monologues at the best of times, but Shona truly does not seem like a character who'd even have one," and one even admitted they had turned it off completely. "I've turned it off. It's like Year 10 GCSE course work. I just can't"

The couple were at odds as they prepared for the appointment, but they finally opened up to one another about how they were feeling and came together as they arrived at the hospital.

Shona and David got the news that their baby daughter did have a tumour on her neck - and that if they chose to continue with the pregnancy, Shona would need to undergo complex and risky surgery.