Pregnant Dee-Dee Bailey goes into early labour with devastating consequences in Coronation Street racism storyline

03/24/2025 04:00 PM

A HARROWING Coronation Street storyline will see Dee-Dee Bailey go into early labour – with devastating consequences.

The character, played by Channique Sterling-Brown, is pregnant with her late ex Joel Deering‘s (Calum Lill) child.

However, serious complications during the birth put Dee-Dee’s life at risk.

She goes into labour but is sent home from hospital, despite being in extreme pain.

Dee-Dee returns to hospital after her waters break – but delays see her rushed in for an emergency delivery.

She suffers a huge haemorrhage and needs to undergo life changing surgery.

While recovering in hospital, a devastated Dee-Dee reflects on her experience.

She wonders whether the treatment received and mistakes made were avoidable – and if they were linked to her ethnicity.

In the coming weeks, Dee-Dee enlists fellow lawyer Alya Nazir (Sair Khan) as she considers making an official complaint of gross negligence against the hospital.

Discussing the storyline, actress Channique said: "We’ve worked with some brilliant organisations and charities who were really great at advising on this story.

“I got to speak to a woman who had a real lived experience of this, and her story is not dissimilar to what happens to Dee Dee.

“It was emotional to hear her story and just finding the truth in that as well.

“Many of the conversations have been really hard but really helpful to hear what some women went through.

“The story we’re trying to tell is one of truth. I don't think there is any malice in any of Dee-Dee'’s treatment.

“But it is a case of her being on an overstretched and understaffed Ward. She’s not being fully heard because of assumptions that are potentially being made.

“I also think she maybe is a little bit in denial, because I don't think she's probably quite ready to have the baby.

“It just ends up in a bit of an amalgamation of her pain being
dismissed, and suddenly finding herself in a severe situation and she is really scared.

“Basically, everything is, all systems go in terms of getting the baby out as quickly and safely as possible.

“But it’s really frightening how quickly that develops, and how, if someone had intervened a bit sooner and picked up on those symptoms a bit sooner.

“It might have meant that such drastic measures wouldn't have needed to be taken."

Coronation Street have been working closely with three organisations on this storyline.

This includes Birthrights, a charity set up to protect human rights during pregnancy and childbirth.

Motivational Mum's Club who empower mothers and birthing people to make informed choices and be able to advocate for themselves, as well as FivexMore, the UK's Leading women's health organisation focused on Black maternal health.

Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and ITVX.