Coronation Street’s Jimmi Harkishin Praises “Incredible” Tanisha Gorey Amid Heartbreaking Suicide Storyline
Asha’s Struggle Takes a Devastating Turn
Coronation Street viewers have watched in shock as Asha Alahan’s mental health continues to spiral — and next week, her family fears the worst when it appears she may have tried to take her own life.
Played by Tanisha Gorey, Asha’s story has become one of the soap’s most emotionally charged plots in years, tackling issues of trauma, racism, and anxiety with heartbreaking realism.
After a traumatic incident on the job as a trainee paramedic — witnessing a patient’s horrific death before being racially abused and attacked by a drunk woman named Naomi — Asha’s confidence and mental stability began to crumble. When Naomi reappeared and denied any wrongdoing, Asha’s distress deepened, and she began skipping work and turning to alcohol to cope.
A Father’s Worst Nightmare
Next week, Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin) realises something is terribly wrong when Asha’s colleague Sienna reports she hasn’t shown up for shifts. Finding her drinking alone, Dev confronts his daughter — only for the situation to take a dark turn when paramedics discover Asha unresponsive and test positive for drugs and alcohol.
In scenes that promise to devastate viewers, Dev is forced to confront the possibility that Asha’s actions were deliberate. “He gets a call from Amy, and suddenly his whole world turns upside down,” Jimmi revealed. “That’s when he starts going into denial mode.”
Unable to process the thought that his daughter may have attempted suicide, Dev lashes out in anger and grief at Bernie Winter (Jane Hazlegrove) — but when he returns to Asha’s bedside, his mask slips.
“He’s gentle, caring, apologetic,” Jimmi explained. “But when he walks out, he’s angry and crying. His daughter never sees any of that.”
“She Just Feels Like My Daughter”
Off-screen, Harkishin couldn’t be prouder of his co-star Tanisha Gorey, who has played his on-screen daughter since she was a child.
“She’s incredible, really,” he said. “Instinctively, what she’s done is just wonderful, and I always feel really safe with her. She’s amazing.”
The veteran actor praised Tanisha’s natural talent and emotional depth, adding: “She just feels like my daughter. It doesn’t feel like an actress playing my daughter — she’s part of the family.”
A Storyline That Hits Home
The Coronation Street team has been widely praised for tackling mental health and racial trauma with sensitivity and authenticity. Asha’s storyline serves as a powerful reminder of the emotional toll front-line workers can face, and the importance of reaching out for help.
As the Alahans face their most painful chapter yet, viewers can expect powerful performances — and a deeply human portrayal of love, guilt, and survival.