Soap rewrites kidnap storyline

A STORYLINE about child abduction in the British TV soap Coronation Street is being rewritten because of similarities with the Madeleine McCann case in Portugal.

ITV has scrapped already-filmed scenes where Freddie Peacock disappears over fears it would upset the McCann family.

The story was a major plotline due to run in the top-rated drama for “several months”, ITV said.

A spokesman added writers were now looking to see what would be acceptable.

Producers were concerned that scenes where his parents Ashley and Claire Peacock handed out pictures of the child and made a public appeal for help were too close to current events.

The spokesman added: “We have reviewed the story and decided to take it back to the writers because we did not want to add to the distress of the family.”

The grandparents of Madeleine McCann yesterday attended a moving service along with hundreds of others at their local church.

Susan and Brian Healy lit candles on the altar at Our Lady of Compassion RC Church in Formby, Merseyside.