Coronation Street icon left in bits after harrowing death in early ITVX release

The following article contains spoilers from an episode of Coronation Street that hasn’t aired on ITV1 yet, but can be viewed on ITVX.

Asha Alahan (Tanisha Gorey) is keeping a heartbreaking secret from her family about her mental health in Coronation Street.

The character currently works as a paramedic for Weatherfield General Hospital. So far, her training has presented challenges, but Asha has generally been enjoying the entire process. She goes to work, saves lives, goes to bed, and does it all again the next day.

It was the latest episode of the ITV soap that began to highlight the job is now taking a toll on Asha, as a multitude of events experienced while working are now impacting her mental health.

The first half of the instalment focused on Aadi Alahan’s (Adam Hussain) farewell party in the pub. The character is leaving for India, and is very much looking forward to a new chapter of his life.

While Asha is happy for Aadi, it became apparent that she was also hiding an overwhelming amount of negative emotions towards her brother departing. Asha and Aadi are twins, and it was clear Asha was feeling apprehensive about no longer having her sibling close by.

‘She’s absolutely distraught about Aadi leaving, they aren’t just twins but they are also best friends’, star Tanisha Gorey said.

‘Although they have a love/hate relationship – deep down they are best friends and she’s terrified to lose him.

‘He supports her so much and is the only person who she can really trust, so I think knowing that he is leaving is making her feel even more isolated.’

Asha put on a mask at the pub. She smiled and interacted with her friends but when alone, we saw how she was really feeling.

In the pub garden, Asha suffered a very intense panic attack that left her completely frozen to the spot. We then flashbacked to a recent shift for her, and learnt why her anxiety had increased so much.

Asha and her colleague had tended to a patient who then died in hospital, she also dealt with an injured old lady, and was then subject to an attack from a drunk woman.

It was the intensity of these events and the need to quickly switch off her emotions to get back on the job that had now caused Asha to feel reserved from her loved ones.

Back in the present day, Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell) found Asha outside. She offered some comforting words about losing a twin, and encouraged her to re-join Aadi’s party.

Aadi and Dev (Jimmi Harkishin) then discovered Asha outside. While Dev was his usual chaotic self, Aadi started to sense that something was wrong with Asha.

Back inside, Aadi told his sister that if she wants him to stay, he will. Asha couldn’t bring herself to ask Aadi not to leave, and instead claimed that she was feeling tired from her last shift.

Asha headed home and curled up on the sofa. She left a voice note to Aadi, telling him that she had made it home safe.

As Asha’s emotions increased, she spoke into the voice note and told Aadi that it feels like she’s incredibly out of her depth at work, and doesn’t want him to go.

Aadi and Dev then returned home somewhat worse for wear. They stumbled into the house and chatted away, failing to notice that Asha had been crying.

The father and son headed into the kitchen and left Asha on the sofa. She slumped under her blanket, quietly sobbing.

With Aadi departing, who will Asha open up to about what’s going on?

On being entrusted with a special episode, Tanisha said: ‘It’s a role that carries a huge responsibility, and I hope we’ve done justice to the reality so many face.

‘If this story reaches even one person, sparks a conversation, or offers a moment of understanding, then it’s served its purpose’

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