In recent months much-loved soap Coronation Street has given viewers a wave of hard-hitting storylines.
We've had everything, from a child sex abuse ring, to, of course, Pat Phelan's evil murder spree that's blown the street apart.
And while the soap is still the beloved prime-time stalwart, some fans have suggested that the plots may sometimes veer a little too much into the dark side.
One other devastating storyline at the moment is Robert Preston's recent testicular cancer diagnosis. The plot has brought with it scenes that have brought viewers to tears, as the character, alongside girlfriend Michelle Connor, discovered his lump was malignant.
However, Tristan Gemmill, who plays Robert, has offered up his view on the comments that the show has become 'too dark', and stated that all the soap is doing is holding "up a mirror to the world" - in the same, honest way it's always done.
He told the Metro, "People are entitled to that opinion but I would say that to lament that somewhat lost world of the gentle northern humour – it’s not really a world that is around anymore.
"We still have that in the show; we haven’t lost the humour which is part of the DNA of the show."
The actor also commented on the riveting Pat Phelan storyline. Most recently, the storyline has seen Anna Windass arrested for the evil character's crimes, after he sneakily framed her for the murders.
Tristan said, "I personally think the Pat Phelan storyline is fantastic and Connor McIntyre is just smashing it – he is an actor at the height of his powers and the writers just love writing for him.
"Obviously, he’s a wrong ‘un and in the law of soaps, he will get his comeuppance eventually – it’s a question of playing it out and I know that the vast majority of people view him as a really popular character and he has won a bunch of awards for it."
Tristan also shared this thoughts on his own, devastating cancer storyline, which has been praised by some viewers for being a heartbreakingly accurate and honest portrayal of the disease.
Tristan said, "And as for things like testicular cancer, these aren’t dark storylines – our job is to hold a mirror up to the world. We maybe find a bit more of the drama out of it but it is out there in the world and I like to think we comment on it responsibly and tell interesting stories around it.
"So no, I don’t subscribe to the theory of Corrie being too dark at all."
Coronation Street continues on Monday 27th November, 7.30pm on ITV.
