CORONATION Street’s IVF joke sparked complaints from viewers last week with fans threatening to boycott the ITV show.
Watchdog Ofcom received 60 complaints about the comment from Evelyn Plummer, who was discussing how Gemma Winter (Dolly-Rose Campbell) had given birth to quadruplets.
But the remark, made in Thursday’s episode, came during Fertility Awareness Week.
Evelyn said: “You can’t move for twins and triplets these days. At least she did it the old-fashioned way and not through, what’s it, IVF.”
Some viewers pointed out the comment was “insensitive”.
One user tweeted: “ITV shame on you, it’s infertility awareness week not mock infertiles”
Another fan wrote: “IVF isn’t a choice. My wife and I struggled with the postcode lottery and found out we could not have kids even if we paid for IVF.”
The Fertility Foundation’s Tone Jarvis-Mack described the situation as “sad” and suggested researchers could have done more work.
He said: “It’s sad to see a popular show making such disparaging comments on a subject that affects one in six people who’d love to have a baby the old-fashioned way.
“I’d have hoped the researchers would have taken the time to understand the emotional roller coaster couples are on when facing the fact the only way to start a family is through IVF.”
Ofcom revealed the complaints will be taken on board before the watchdog decides whether to look into any action.
A spokesperson added. “We’re assessing these complaints before deciding whether to investigate.”
It comes after the soap suffered a “massive fail” after Gemma Winter walked around immediately after her C-section as she welcomed her quadruplets.
One person wrote on Twitter: Coronation street. Emergency c section under a general anaesthetic … and there she is walking around a NICU unit, snogging Chesneys face off. Yeah… thats true to life. That event would have been so traumatic. Massive fail #coronationstreet.
Another added: So realistic tonights episode. Gemma had 1 baby vaginally, 3 under general anaesthetic yet shes up walking about seeing babies in SCBU #coronationstreet.
While someone else wrote: #coronationstreet what a ridiculous storyline, Gemma and Chesney. What are the chances the ring would be found and Gemma walking around almost immediately after a c section. Come on writers some attention to detail please!
