‘Violent’ Coronation Street gets 662 complaints as fans say it’s too gory for pre-watershed
The soap's current villain, Pat Phelan, has brought about the deaths of three people in recent months
CORONATION Street fans have complained the ITV soap is "too gory" for pre-watershed as Pat Phelan continues his murder spree in Weatherfield.
Ofcom received 662 complaints from viewers about "violent" scenes with many claiming they are too "harrowing" to air before 9pm.
It comes as the soap's current villain Pat is behind a spate of deaths on the cobbles in recent months.
Last October he forced Andy Carver to shoot Vinny Ashford, he then killed Andy and last week he shot Luke Britton before torching his car.
There have been so many complaints about Phelan's crimes that the watchdog are currently assessing whether ITV has broken rules on "appropriate scheduling" and pre-watershed violence.
If the soap is found to be in breach of broadcasting regulations, ITV could be forced to pay a fine of up to £250,000, be banned from repeating the programme or they might have to issue a correction or statement.
A spokesman for ITV told the MailOnline: "Pat Phelan is well established as a villain in a long line of murderous Coronation Street villains, and his evil actions won’t have come as a surprise to viewers.
"The programme is always careful to limit the violence shown to a minimum to convey the drama and tell the story. We have responded to Ofcom."
Not only are some viewers unimpressed with the more violent scenes but so are some celebs and MPs.
Legendary broadcaster Sir Michael Parkinson recently said the soap had become more like a "horror film than a family show".
Meanwhile, former actor and Tory MP Giles Watling, who is a member of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport select committee, said responsibility lies with ITV.
"Broadcasters should have some sense of responsibility when dealing with these things," he said. .
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";It is absolutely true that young minds can be easily swayed by what they see on the television, and if they see casual violence as part of what they see as ordinary, everyday life on television, they might incorporate it into their own lives. I do know we have to be very careful.
"In my previous life in the theatre we think about these things, and so should television broadcasters, especially television broadcasters because they reach so many. And they not only reach so many, they reach so many in their own homes, which makes it normal."
Julian Knight, MP for Solihull agreed and said it was a "very good idea" that Ofcom investigate the "national institution" that is Corrie.
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