Melanie 'Mel' Morton is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, played by Emma Edmondson.

Her early stories explored her relationships with her parents Jerry Morton (Michael Starke) and Teresa Bryant (Karen Henthorn).

The story was controversial and British newspapers accused the show of capitalising on the rise of violent teenage culture.

Actress Emma Edmondson received confirmation to attend the initial auditions for the character in late 2006.

Edmondson told Kris Green from Digital Spy that "it seemed too surreal" to believe they would be cast in such a show, but then it happened.

The show also announced details about the entire Morton family, who arrive on Coronation Street to live and open a kebab shop.

[3] A reporter from RTÉ added that the Morton family would "cause a stir by upsetting some of the locals on their arrival.

[5] A writer from ITV.com described Mel as the more responsible member of her roguish family, adding she is "gobby", "serious-minded" and "the sensible twin".

[5] Edmondson told Digital Spy's Green that Mel would be portrayed as a single, eighteen year old woman upon her introduction.

Edmondson added "she wants to have her own life" away from the Mortons because "she'd like to use her brain a bit more" than being a kebab shop worker.

[1] Edmondson described the Morton family as "brash" and believed it would be "a running theme" during their duration in the show.

Starke told Aoife Anderson from Evening Herald that Jerry is "pushy and totally in charge of his family, what he says goes.

[7] In Jerry's early stories, he romances Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) and invests more time in her than his own family.

Mel fails to look after her correctly and she gets drunk and ill.[8] Jerry realises he needs to put his family before his relationships and snubs Eileen.

Starke told Kate Woodward from Inside Soap that Jerry was trying to enjoy his life after his divorce, but the remaining Morton family members face the strain instead.

He reasoned that writers introduced numerous Morton family members at once which hindered their early development.

She begins scheming against Lloyd Mullaney (Craig Charles) and allows him to believe he fathered her son, Finlay Bryant (Ramone Quinn).

Henthorn told Kate Woodward from Inside Soap that "Mel drags him off to see Jerry" who explains Gary received DNA test confirmation that he is Finlay's father.

[10] Producers hired Rachael Elizabeth to play Mel's police officer colleague, Abi Sharpe.

She added that the guest actors playing the girls had to do more preparation, which "really spurred" her and Elizabeth on to make the scenes good.

[14] The scenes were branded sensationalist and the show was accused of capitalising on the growing number of news stories about violence on British streets.

She added that soaps offer viewers escapism, but need "a certain amount of current and topical issues" for realism.

[18] Henthorn told Helen Childs from Inside Soap that Teresa uses it as an opportunity to return to Coronation Street.

Henthorn opined "I can't see Jerry and Mel believing that Teresa's done a positive thing by wreaking revenge!

The Morton cast members all learned of their departures together, which made it easier for Edmondson to accept because they supported each other.

Her grandfather, Wilf Morton (Rodney Litchfield) writes a false obituary about himself and has it published in the local newspaper, believing that Mel's chances of joining the police force.

A reporter from Evening Herald opined that the Mortons arrived into the series with a "truckload of belongings and an avalanche of noise".

"[14] Ian Wylie of Manchester Evening News said that he was not surprised that the Morton family were written out because they "failed to fit the Weatherfield jigsaw."

[24] A writer from Inside Soap opined that "Mel shows none of her dad's soft-hearted approach when it comes to dealing with her mum.

They branded the scenes "appalling" for attempting to capitalise on fears of "happy-slapping" style attacks that were rising in the British teenage population.