Coronation Street star Julia Goulding has opened up about her character Shona Platt’s emotional new storyline — one that will push both Shona and David (Jack P. Shepherd) to their emotional limits.

Next week’s episodes promise a gut-wrenching twist as Shona and David’s joy over their unborn baby turns to fear when a devastating discovery is made at a hospital scan.

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A Routine Scan Turns Into a Nightmare

In Monday’s episode (November 10), Shona and David attend what they believe will be a standard ultrasound — only for the sonographer to find a mass on the baby’s neck. The couple are told that the growth could be a tumour, and further testing will be required to determine its severity.

A special Coronation Street episode will follow on Wednesday, November 12, showing the same day from two different perspectives — Shona’s and David’s — as they prepare to meet with a specialist.

Julia explained that the format is designed to show how isolated both characters feel, even when they’re together.

“She’s thinking that he’s not that bothered. He’s thinking that he’s doing a really good job of seeming okay with it,” Goulding said. “The point is to show how isolated they both feel, and how much stronger they are when they’re on the same track.”

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Shona’s Pain and David’s Distance

The emotional strain begins to take its toll. David misses the first scan and turns up late to the second, leaving Shona feeling abandoned and uncertain about his support.

“She just feels very alone, lost, scared — all the things that you would do,” Julia explained. “It hasn’t helped with him not turning up. She’s not feeling confident in his support, whereas he’s feeling really lousy about it.”

When the consultant confirms the tumour, the couple are faced with a devastating choice: end the pregnancy or risk both mother and baby’s lives in a rare, high-risk operation.

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“Termination Isn’t an Option for Her”

For Shona, the decision is immediate and unwavering.

“Termination isn’t an option for her,” Julia confirmed. “She’s just like, ‘Yep, surgery, we’re doing it.’”

But David isn’t as sure. While Shona’s focus is on saving their child at any cost, David struggles to accept the risks.

“That’s where the conflict comes in,” Julia continued. “It’s an incredibly rare procedure with huge risks. David wants her to at least consider the pros and cons — but Shona’s mind is made up.”

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Julia Goulding on Filming the Difficult Scenes

The actress admitted that shooting the hospital scenes was emotionally challenging, especially as a mother herself.

“It’s crushing,” she said. “Those scenes were really hard to do. I’ve had scans, I know how excited you feel before them, and then to come out unable to celebrate — it’s really, really sad.”

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What’s Next for Shona and David?

As the storyline unfolds, Coronation Street will explore the strain the crisis puts on Shona and David’s marriage, as well as the emotional toll of facing an impossible choice.

ITV has teased that the scenes will be among the show’s most powerful this year, shining a light on courage, love, and the painful realities faced by families dealing with complex pregnancies.

Whether Shona and her baby survive the operation remains uncertain — but Goulding’s heartfelt performance is already being hailed by fans as one of her most powerful yet.