Soap fans watched earlier this week as Aidan Connor (played by Shayne Ward) was left reeling when he found out that his father Johnny (Richard Hawley) had the condition.
The MS society worked closely with soap writers to ensure accuracy in the storyline and to present it as realistically as possible.
In an exclusive interview with Express.co.uk, the Chief Executive of the MS Society Michelle Mitchell spoke about how the charity worked with Coronation Street producers on the tough plotline.
“We’ve been helping with the Coronation Street storyline since late last year, when the production team got in touch to ask us advice about MS,” Michelle explained.
She went on to say: “We wanted to help make sure MS was portrayed accurately in the show, so we’ve provided information about the different forms of MS, how people are affected by the condition and what the diagnosis process is like.
“We also introduced writers and the actor Richard Hawley to people affected by MS. MS is really different for everyone, so we know that not everyone will be able to relate to Johnny’s experience.
“But we were really impressed with the research Richard did to learn about the condition and portray it realistically.”
MS a neurological condition caused by problems to the immune system and has a number of physical symptoms that including vision problems, issues with balance, dizziness, fatigue, among other things.
The condition affects more than 100,000 people in the UK and Ms Mitchell said it was “great” that the ITV soap was raising awareness about MS.
Last month the character of Johnny was diagnosed with MS and the storyline had a profound affect on viewers, leading to audiences seeking to find out more about the medical condition.
Michelle said: “On the day that Johnny revealed his MS, our website saw the highest number of daily visits this year.
“The storyline prompted calls to our Helpline from people wanting information and emotional support.”
She added: “And it generated loads of conversations on our social media channels, with many people living with MS hoping it will lead to a better understanding of the condition.”
Johnny’s storyline is set to play out but it is not yet known if it will a long-term plot or a short-term one given the progression of the condition.
For more information visit www.mssociety.org.uk
Coronation Street continues on ITV on Friday at 7.30pm.
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