How is Kevin feeling after Jack was diagnosed with Sepsis?
First and foremost overwhelming shock, he didn’t know things could move this quickly from what he thought was just a little scratch. Kevin had seen it and wasn’t concerned about it yet in a matter of days it was life threatening. Kevin doesn’t understand how a fit young lad can suddenly find himself in this position, it’s devastating.
Kevin had no idea about the threat of Sepsis, was it something you were aware of before this storyline?
I had no idea whatsoever, it’s terrifying, it really gets you thinking.
How does Kevin react when he’s told he has to consider amputation or could lose his son?
He’s heartbroken, he doesn’t know where to turn or who to talk to, he’s in his own little world and he feels lost. He still can’t understand the situation they’re in and how quickly it’s escalated. It’s a heartbreaking decision to be faced with, Kevin doesn’t want to be the one who decides on amputation, but Jack is so seriously ill he’s left with little choice. He doesn’t want to make the decision just in case the doctors are wrong, it’s so tough. Jack was a promising little footballer and Kevin had high hopes for him then suddenly out of the blue he’s got a life and death situation on his hands and he finds himself in a world of despair.
How does Jack react when Kevin tells him about the amputation?
He doesn’t understand at first, he can still feel sensation in his leg when he wakes up and it’s really confusing for him. When he starts to realise the implications he cries and it breaks Kevin’s heart.
How has it been working with Kyran on this storyline?
He’s been fantastic, obviously he’s only 11 years old but he’s acted so professionally and dealt with it in a really mature fashion. He’s done a great job, Kyran met with a family who had been through this and it really brought it home to him. It’s a lot for an 11 year old to take on board but after meeting Sasha he knows how important it is to families who are going through this for real.
Is it important to you raise awareness about Sepsis?
If it does raise awareness then that’s fantastic, soaps can be so great at making people aware of different issues, not ramming it down people's throats, just making people aware of different situations that affect families. It’s like with the Aidan suicide, no one suspected he was that low but the signs were there for people to see. That’s what Coronation Street is so fantastic at doing.
Kevin finds himself in a lot of family drama these days and comedy storylines, do you enjoy the mix?
It’s brilliant, I’m lucky to get so many different elements of the character to play within the family setting. You dream of moments like this and getting a storyline like this where you just hope you can do it justice because the writing is so strong and all the crew and directors are incredible. From my point of view I just hope it stands up and we make it as believable as possible because there are families out there dealing with these emotions. It’s pure devastation for any parent facing this and like them Kevin just can’t stop the tears. It’s his child and he feels powerless to help him.
Kevin is battling a lot of emotions, does he blame anyone for what’s happened?
There are a few days when he does lay a bit of the blame at Sophie’s door, he can’t help thinking if he was there would he have spotted the signs. Then when Sophie starts blaming the NHS and saying she’s going to sue them for initially missing the signs he goes mad, he asks Sophie why would you try and sue the people who are trying to save Jack’s life? Kevin gets really angry at that point.
Kevin’s going through a real melting pot of emotions, how does he react after the operation when he comes back to the house? Can Kevin move forward and be strong for Jack?
He’s got to be, Jack needs him to be strong. At the moment he’s still in shock, he feels he’s let him down as a parent, he’s blaming himself thinking he should have been there, maybe he would have seen the signs. He’s blaming himself, he’s blaming Sophie, he’s blaming the world but when he walks into the house and sees Jack’s football boots on the floor he has that moment of realisation that Jack’s life has changed forever. Kevin and Jack are a team and I think he will come round and be strong for his son. I think the whole family will be there for him; Sophie, Sally, they’ll all come together and be there to help Jack.
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Coronation Street has worked alongside the UK Sepsis Trust on this storyline.
Dr Ron Daniels BEM, CEO of the UK Sepsis Trust says:
“It’s been fantastic working with Coronation Street on this storyline. The process has been really collaborative and we are very grateful to the writers and technical team, with whom we have been working closely to ensure that the story is dealt both accurately and sensitively. We feel privileged that a television programme with such enormous reach as Coronation Street is helping to raise the profile that affects so many and yet is recognised by so few. Together, we’re aiming to empower both families and health professionals to ‘Just ask: could it be sepsis?’ and to change the way sepsis is handled in the UK.”
Dr Ron Daniels BEM, CEO of the UK Sepsis Trust says:
“It’s been fantastic working with Coronation Street on this storyline. The process has been really collaborative and we are very grateful to the writers and technical team, with whom we have been working closely to ensure that the story is dealt both accurately and sensitively. We feel privileged that a television programme with such enormous reach as Coronation Street is helping to raise the profile that affects so many and yet is recognised by so few. Together, we’re aiming to empower both families and health professionals to ‘Just ask: could it be sepsis?’ and to change the way sepsis is handled in the UK.”
UK Sepsis Trust helpline number is 0808 800 0029. Calls to this helpline are free from landlines and mobile phones within the UK and do not appear on itemised bills. Our telephone hours are 9am - 4pm, Monday - Friday.
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This storyline is very different from the one about male suicide, for example. That storyline urged people to look for signs in the early stages. Sepsis is difficult to pinpoint even by professionals, as we've seen in recent episodes, and most viewers won't have a helpful GP on the street, taking a neighbourly interest. What I would genuinely like to know is, short of insisting that A & E medics take extensive tests, how I can prevent an infection developing into sepsis.
ReplyDeleteI am not looking forward to Kevin degressing to his usual ranting and raving blaming someone else this time,Sophie for what's happened to Jack nor Sophie who's usally more reasonable doing the same to Rana[ perhaps still jealous she's with Kate?]
ReplyDeleteOne thing I do not want to see is Kevin turning to Sally for 'comfort' leading to an affair.
We've already seen that with Johnny and Liz and it totally undermined the importance of the male suicide story line with Aidan.
Basically, you're not looking forward to the storyline at all? Kudos to Corrie for running it
DeleteI am not looking forward to this storyline at all. I don't like the character of Kevin and think he is well past his sell-by date. Like anon above suggested I can see an affair coming a mile off.
ReplyDeleteI understood that the point Anon 22.16 & 22.47 was making was that he/she doesn't like the Kevin Webster character. I cannot agree more. He points the finger of blame at anyone for anything, rather than taking responsibility. Recently when Jack was with Pat Phelan, he was asking all and sundry "have you seen our Jack?' We have been down that road a few times. Irritating, curmudgeonly and totally lacking in any sense of his own selfishness. Horrible character. He reminds me of an actor who appears to take little responsibility for his life. What's his name again?
ReplyDeleteYet another 'issue'. I am not saying that sepsis is not serious and people do need to be aware of it. But surely Tony Warren's vision was about telling the stories of everyday lives of ordinary folk, not a series of public information programmes.
ReplyDeleteCompletely agree Anon @ 18.04
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