This Morning presenter Holly Willoughby and her co-star Phillip Schofield were chatting to the Coronation Street boss over the controversial plot on today’s show, which saw David (played by Jack P. Shepherd) sexually assaulted by Josh Tucker (Ryan Clayton).
In Friday night’s double bill of the ITV soap, David’s drink was spiked by the mechanic and he was taken back to his flat where Josh raped him.
Viewers did not see the horrifying scene but saw David thrown on the bed as Josh took his belt off while smiling down at the hairdresser.
Following the episode, Holly and Phillip quizzed Kate about the storyline and why she thought it was important to include male rape in Coronation Street.
Phillip asked: “Was David’s sexual assault a step too far?”
“I don’t think so and seemingly it is in a different category,” Kate replied. “In 2001 Toyah was raped and in 2011 Carla was raped.”
Holly went on to note: “The BBC I think almost had a similar storyline about five years ago in EastEnders and then decided it was too much for pre-watershed so they didn’t do it so i think yours is the first one that has taken a step to do it.
“Hollyoaks has done a storyline,” Kate snapped back. “Coronation Street we have a different kind of reach, we have a different kind of viewer but yeah, carry on.”
Stunned Holly, 37, commented: “No that was it.”
Moving on, Kate revealed that Duncan Craig, who is CEO of Survivors Manchester, told her that calls to the charity supporting those who have been sexually assaulted had increased 130 per cent following the episode.
She also defended the soap’s darker storylines, telling Holly and Phillip: “What I go on is our viewing figures and my bosses seem happy with that.”
Following the interview, many viewers took to Twitter to express their shock that Kate had cut off Holly, with one commenting: “I mean why is Kate Oates being so defensive and so rude? No need to speak to Holly like that at all #ThisMorning.”
Another added: “#kateoates is abrupt and rude. We don’t take kindly to anyone with this attitude towards our Holly. @thismorning #thismorning #kateoates.”
“@thismorning #ThisMorning that was a bit rude… Go on carry on… she had finished,” a third wrote.
However, many also praised Kate for tackling the difficult storyline, as one shared: “Well said Kate times have changed #ThisMorning #corrie.”
“Corrie boss Kate Oates is so bright. Whenever she does TV interviews she is always so on the ball #thismorning,” another said.
This Morning airs weekdays on ITV at 10.30am while Coronation Street airs tonight on ITV at 7.30pm.
