KEY POINTS:
As the world watches the harrowing story of young Madeleine McCann, the British 3-year-old currently missing in Portugal, Coronation Street producers have dropped an upcoming storyline, deeming it too close to home.
The storyline, which had already begun filming and was set to run for several months, involved the kidnapping of baby Freddie Peacock.
Scriptwriters are currently re-working the soap plot, to reduce similarities between the fictional story and the real life disappearance of Madeleine.
A scene featuring Freddie's parents, Ashley and Claire Peacock, making a heartfelt media appeal for information of their lost infant is expected to be cut following the recent events in Portugal.
Madeleine went missing last Thursday from a Portuguese holiday resort in Praia da Luz, where she was staying with her family.
Police believe the British youngster was abducted from her apartment, where she was sleeping with her two younger siblings.
"We are aware that there are some similarities in a future Coronation Street storyline to the events surrounding the disappearance of Madeleine McCann," said a spokesman for ITV.
"We would not wish to add to the family's anguish at this terrible time and we are currently reviewing our storyline including episodes which have already been filmed."
The storyline was scheduled to air on British television later this month.
- NZHERALD STAFF
