Coronation Street star devastated after stoma bag leaks in front of crowd

The raw pain of Bethany Platt, when her boyfriend Daniel Barlow unexpectedly saw her stoma bag for the first time, was deeply moving. Actress Lucy Fallon brilliantly portrayed Bethany's self-disgust and embarrassment as she exploded into a fit of hysteria, demanding Daniel to leave.

After undergoing a botched liposuction in Turkey in September, which resulted in a perforated bowel and life-threatening sepsis, she had been offered a cheap deal by the cosmetic clinic she was writing about. However, doctors were forced to intervene to save her life.

Meanwhile, her family was hit with a double blow, torn between concern for Bethany and anxiety over how they would cover the hospital bills when it became apparent that her medical insurance wouldn't foot the bill. As the usual Platt drama unfolds around her, Bethany grapples with the emotional, physical and financial toll of her vanity.

She hides herself in loose clothing, stays indoors and pushes Daniel - played by Rob Mallard - away, terrified of intimacy and convinced he will be disgusted by her stoma. In next week's episode, after Daniel finally convinces her of his love for her, stoma and all, viewers will see him coax her out on a date.

The Mirror got the exclusive on a dramatic turn of events at The Rovers, where Bethany's night takes a heartbreaking twist as her stoma bag leaks in front of everyone, leading to her fleeing the scene, overwhelmed by embarrassment. PE teacher Natalie Tibble, 39, who has been living with a stoma for 18 months due to ulcerative colitis, collaborated closely with Lucy on the Coronation Street plot.

She shared her empathy and personal insight, saying: "Bethany feeling very embarrassed when her bag leaks is something that is very relatable to anyone who has had a stoma. I can remember my first time when I was in a café and it was absolutely mortifying when my bag leaked in public. You feel so self-conscious and I can remember running to the toilet and bursting into tears because I felt so embarrassed."

However, Natalie has since found strength and practicality in dealing with such incidents. She now prepares for potential accidents by carrying extra supplies and clothes, handling any mishaps with resilience.

Natalie adds: "My stoma bag has leaked many times since that first day in public, including on the school playing field where I teach. But I have learned to realise that yes you can have some bad days, but it is actually all ok. I've always got my trusted bag full of spare clothes and stoma bags with me wherever I go."

The Corrie plotline is designed to shed light on the reality for the one in 225 people living with a stoma in the UK. The soap has collaborated closely with Natalie, who lives with a stoma, and received guidance from Colostomy UK.

The storyline, while emotional and at times startling, will emphasise that life can continue fully with a stoma. "It is really important to show that Bethany will be able to lead a normal life in the future and do all the things she did before," Lucy confides.

"At the moment, Bethany feels so embarrassed and ashamed of the whole situation. It is a huge, life-changing thing and she is carrying a lot of guilt because it's self-inflicted."

"But I wouldn't like it if Bethany was really sad all the time, because it's so important to show how she's going to be absolutely fine."

Lucy is committed to authentically representing the storyline and values Natalie's contribution highly. She says: "I got a lot of insightful information from Natalie. Everything she told me was super helpful. She told me about her journey to getting a stoma bag, everything she faced, the challenges, but also how it's not necessarily negatively impacted her life."

Natalie, a North London resident, underwent a stoma operation in February 2023 following unsuccessful treatments. Embracing her new lease on life, she now thrives as a PE teacher in a secondary school, enjoys social outings to pubs, and even participates in rugby.

She feels privileged to share her story and offer guidance to the soap's production. Natalie found herself reliving her own initial struggles through watching Bethany's character on the show.

She commended Lucy's authentically touching portrayal, saying: "Life does change when you have a stoma and it has been an honour to advise Lucy."

"You can be left thinking 'my life is over' and watching Bethany's struggles on-screen has brought it all back to me about how I initially felt. At the start, I really struggled too. Lucy was great in wanting to know so much and, as I stressed to her, it is just as important to show the positives and the positive impact a stoma can have on your life. I am proof you can lead a normal life."

For Natalie, prior health issues led to a transformative outcome with her stoma: "I hadn't been feeling very well for years and having a stoma has given me back my life."

Similar to her soap counterpart Bethany, Natalie initially faced embarrassing moments like leaking, but now handles such incidents with confidence. Currently single and empathetic towards Bethany's hesitations regarding intimacy, Natalie adds: "When I first had my stoma, it most definitely affected my confidence, just as Corrie is showing," she reveals.

Natalie confessed: "I kept thinking nobody would like me with a bag. I was also worried about what would happen if there was suddenly a leak from my bag during any intimate situations. My friends kept telling me that if someone didn't like me just because I had my bag, then they were a waste of space – and of course they were right."

Though keeping her private life under wraps, Natalie revealed that her fears were baseless. She hopes Bethany will eventually learn to trust Daniel's affection, but won't spill more about the Corrie plot.

Natalie shared that, like Daniel, her first post-stoma partner didn't see her bag as a problem. She recalled: "I am currently single, but I have dated since my stoma and when it did come to intimacy, they completely understood. I initially felt a bit awkward, but they certainly didn't make me feel awkward at any time. Whilst the relationship didn't work out, it made me realise not to worry in the future. Life is too short to worry."

Natalie commended the soap for highlighting the mental health impact of having a stoma.

Bethany's storyline in Coronation Street is set to take a deeper dive into her mental health struggles, highlighting her journey to find hope at a support group. Natalie, the actress behind Bethany, shared her personal connection with the plot: "Like Bethany, I did need to have some counselling, as I lost a lot of confidence after the stoma," she said, revealing her challenges.

"It's so hard for people, because there isn't much help out there. I was very lucky. I had my mum, Kirsty, who was an absolute rock. But the counselling also helped me a lot. Colostomy UK was brilliantly supportive too."

Now in a happier and stronger place, Natalie is passionate about using her experience with Corrie to offer encouragement to others living with stomas. She shares an uplifting message about her active lifestyle: "I have always been very sporty and I love playing contact rugby now for Colostomy UK's team," Natalie expresses.

"Before I fell ill, I used to play rugby and now I've had my stoma, I am able to play it again. I have been playing for a year or so now and I also go out whenever I want."

The support has been overwhelming, both within her work environment and beyond: "Everyone at my school has been brilliantly supportive and all my pupils know about my stoma. I feel so much healthier now with a stoma. I am getting on with my life and I don't care if people see my bag or not under my clothes when I am out. I won't let it define me and I am very open about it all."

Natalie hopes the audience will see her character Bethany living life to the fullest again soon. Explaining her own life experiences, she comments: "My life isn't perfect – I had a leak yesterday – but I am in a great place. I hope this storyline will help others and make people realise it's ok to ask for help, too."

Lucy, delighted at the chance to bring such a significant issue to light, ensures that Natalie's upbeat nature has inspired her to ensure Bethany's story concludes positively.

She continues: "It's important to highlight that Bethany isn't going to be restricted in anything that she does just because she's got a stoma bag, and that life will be normal."

If you're touched by Bethany's account and seeking assistance, support is available through Colostomy UK at www.colostomyuk.org. The charity also provides a 24-hour helpline at no charge – 0800 328 4257.

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