Emmerdale baby termination storyline 'not about right or wrong' bosses tell Doncaster mum after complaint

Melissa Lockwood, whose six-year-old daughter Francesca was born with Down’s Syndrome, contacted bosses of ITV soap Emmerdale after it emerged that a forthcoming plot will see characters Laurel and Jai terminate a pregnancy after discovering the baby has the condition.

Mum of three Melissa had called on bosses to rewrite the episodes to portray having a child with Down’s Syndrome in a positive light.

Now show bosses have responded, saying: “This isn’t a story about what is right or wrong, it’s a story about a person’s right to choose without judgement, but instead support from their family and friends.

"Stories like this are always a balancing act to make sure all voices are heard and that is what we have done with this one.

"We know this is a story that will provoke strong reactions from some of our viewers but we feel it is an important one to tell.”

The letter said show producers worked with charity ARC – Antenatal and Choices – to ensure that it could tell the story ‘accurately and responsibly.’

Melissa, who lives in Wath said: “If only mainstream media showed more of the positives, the view of the general public would be far less negative and those faced with agonising decisions wouldn't feel so daunted.

“We need to change the narrative so that people see that having a child with Down’s Syndrome is not a bad thing. They need to show the positives rather than the negatives.”