Coronation Street star Kym Marsh bonds with Simon Gregson’s wife over shared heartache as she reveals she tackled miscarriage storyline for their ‘angel’ babies
Emma Gregory sends emotional tweets to her husband's co-star as fellow Corrie stars heap praise on the pair
CORONATION Street's Kym Marsh has bonded with on-screen hubby Simon Gregson's wife, over the powerful miscarriage story screened last night.
In a series of emotional tweets, Emma Gregory praised Kym's performance, with the actress replying that the portrayal was for their "angels".
Kym lost her son Archie in 2009 when he was born prematurely at 21 weeks.
Her co-star Simon also revealed he and Emma had lost 11 babies and spoke of how he felt "helpless" as he tried to support his other-half through the ordeal.
Viewers of the soap were overwhelmed by scenes that saw couple Michelle and Steve McDonald (played by Kym and Simon) lose their baby Ruairi at just 23 weeks into the pregnancy, with Michelle having to give birth to their son.
Emma tweeted: "Amazing performance! No idea how you did that Kym.... true inspiration......@msm4rsh @simongregson123 - extremely proud of you both! Xxx"
Kym then replied: "@emmagleave @simongregson123 emz your husband was amazing!!!! Always is as I'm sure I don't need to tell you! That was for all our angels xx"
Kym added: "Thank you everyone for their support for me and@simongregson123 was tough for us both but we hope it raises awareness #breakingthesilence"
Simon then tweeted: "@msm4rsh OUTSTANDING xx"
Kym then replied: "@simongregson123 you're outstanding!!! The best partner anyone could wish for!!! Love you the world."
Kym and Simon's co-stars then heaped praise on the telly pair.
Faye Brookes (who plays Faye Brookes in the soap) then tweeted: "You absolute diamond Smashed it doll... @msm4rsh! #soproud #connors #corrie
Sally Ann Matthews (who plays Jenny Bradley) said: "@msm4rsh @simongregson123 I'm broken x"
Samia Longchambon (who plays Maria Connor) then tweeted: "Truly in awe of our @msm4rsh tonight @itvcorrie ..heartbreakingly honest performance. Thinking of all those who have been affected"
Lucy Fallon (Who plays Bethany Platt) said: "@msm4rsh that was so heartbreaking Kym. You're incredible."
Jennie McAlpine (who plays Fiz Brown) tweeted: "Heartbreaking. So incredibly brave @msm4rsh @simongregson123. Much respect #Corrie"
Catherine Tyldesley (who plays Eva Price) also tweeted: "@itvcorrie @msm4rsh @simongregson123 ... no words. Just outstanding. Well done for highlighting what so many want to share. So brave xx"
In emotionally powerful scenes on the soap last night, Michelle and husband Steve McDonald were told their baby wouldn't survive and Michelle was left to give birth to her son.
Desperate to know if he was breathing, Michelle begged for news and when the nurse told her the tragic news that he wasn't breathing, Michelle broke down totally.
Given the chance to hold her son, Michelle sobbed over him as Steve tried to comfort her.
"I'm so sorry," she said as she held her son for the first and last time. "I'm sorry. I don't want to give him back. I don't want to leave him."
Meanwhile, Coronation Street was praised by charities for raising awareness with the heartbreaking storyline.
Pregnancy research and information charity said they "really admired" Kym Marsh's "bravery in filming these scenes and think her acting in last night’s episode was particularly powerful and sensitive".
Tommy's told The Sun Online: "It's great that a high profile TV show is shedding light on babyloss when it’s such a silent problem – 1 in 4 pregnancies will end in loss and we know from Tommy's research that 85% of women don’t feel like people know what they are going through and 67% can’t even talk to their best friend about it.
"Dads’ emotional wellbeing after their partner loses a baby is also often overlooked, and they struggle whilst being expected to be a pillar of support.
"That’s why it’s even more poignant that the two actors, who’ve experienced loss themselves, have chosen to speak out because it's only by acknowledging the problem of babyloss that we can begin to tackle it.
"We hope Corrie has set the trend for this heart-breaking yet pervasive problem to be discussed more openly in the media, shedding light on the need for more research to help save babies lives.
";If you need any support or advice, you can ."
Charity Zoe's Gift praised the soap on its , writing: "Tonight's episode of Coronation Street was utterly heartbreaking and brought back many painful memories.
"We salute Kym and Simon for reliving their own personal tragedies for this storyline. No one should have to face this heartache. If you have any concerns about your baby's movements always speak to your midwife or maternity unit."
Fans were blown away by Kym's performance, demanding that she be given an acting award for her work.
The devastating aftermath of the miscarriage has also been revealed with the heartbreak set to put a strain on Kym and Steve's relationship.
She said: “I thought long and hard before agreeing to take on the challenge of this storyline. It is a cause very close to my heart having lost my beautiful Archie," she said.
“I have had to go to some very dark places in my mind while filming these heartbreaking scenes, but my family, friends and colleagues have been incredible.
"Losing a child is something that never leaves you so to revisit those feelings has been challenging.
“Coronation Street ensured that I had a counsellor on set at all times, but for me the best tonic after a hugely emotional day was to go home to my kids and be reminded of how lucky I am to have them.”
Corrie bosses worked closely with stillbirth charity Sands on the episode.
Kym was with her ex-husband, Hollyoaks actor Jamie Lomas, when she lost Archie.
They later had daughter Polly, five, together. She is also mum to David, 21, and Emily, 19.
She added: “I felt it was an important story to tell to raise awareness of something which affects thousands of women every year. I am very proud.”
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