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Down syndrome: Wendy is now campaigning with Wouldn t Change A Thing (Image: WENDY PUCKRIN)
Laura Shaw, series producer for Emmerdale, issued a statement in November saying the storyline had been thoroughly researched in collaboration with Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC), medical professionals and people with lived experience. We re confident that what we ve produced has been done in a really balanced and sensitive way, she said. We haven t gone into this blindly, we ve spoken to as many people as we possibly can. We ve got the research, this is based on real life, and I think people will see that. You re going to feel uncomfortable at times watching it, but I hope that people will then, as they watch it, understand why we ve done it.
On Thursday viewers saw Laurel and Jai learn their unborn baby had Down s Syndrome
Laurel struggled with the decision to go through with the pregnancy, as it was clear Jai wanted her to keep the baby
After clashing with her friend Rhona, whose son Leo also has Down s Syndrome, Laurel told Jai she d think about keeping the baby
The scenes split viewers, with some praising the soap for tackling a taboo subject while others claimed Laurel was being selfish
The storyline has already sparked controversy and complaints to media watchdog Ofcom
If you have been affected by this story, please contact Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC). Email: info@arc-uk.org or call: 0207 713 7486
Emmerdale s Down s Syndrome pregnancy story line saddens Maidstone couple
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Updated: 09:26, 12 December 2020
A couple, who live near Maidstone who proved Down s Syndrome is no bar to achieving their ambitions for a full life have criticised Emmerdale storyline on the issue which tonight sees two characters decide to end a pregnancy.
Laurel Thomas and Jai Sharma will come to the heartbreaking decision after testing revealed their unborn child has the condition.
Laurel Thomas (Charlotte Bellamy) and Jai Sharma (Chris Bisson) are told their unborn child has Down s Syndrome Picture: ITV
The scenes have drawn widespread condemnation from parents, families and charities with 30,000 signing a petition asking for the storyline to be dropped and 400 complaints made to TV watchdog Ofcom.
The soap has divided viewers over a plot in which long-running character Lauren falls pregnant, only to choose abortion after discovering her unborn child could be born with the disorder.