Realism and the public

My research about how Realist soaps affect the public viewers 

Bill Tarmey who played Jack Duckworth for 31 years was as popular off screen as on, so his send-off was expected to be emotional. 
As he died, he was reunited with his late wife Vera.
One website quotes "Bringing back Vera sounded a bit Dallas-esque until you watched Jack’s last moments with his beloved battleaxe."
This is an example of a UK realist soap breaking away from its usual conventions and traditional realistic scenes. The scenes are typically filled with only diegetic sounds to create the everyday scenes that audiences can relate to. The lack of added music like in Hollyoaks and other dramas makes the soaps like EastEnders and Coronation Street feel more real and less movie like / fake.
The website also says "Cue much sniffing in millions of households as one of soap's greatest husband and wife double acts swayed lovingly to Matt Monro." which is an example of how the realism of these soaps generate real feelings and emotions for consumers who feel like they actually know the characters. 

"Angry Coronation Street fans have taken to forums and social media sites to express their outrage over a controversial scene that aired on Monday night."
In the episode, Owen Armstrong, smacked 10-year-old Faye his girlfriend's adopted daughter - after discovering she had killed his fish by poisoning the fish pond.
A Coronation Street spokesman said: "We most certainly don’t condone Owen’s actions, as will be seen by the ramifications of the slap, and the effect it has on his relationship."

Some viewers didn't approve.
One person wrote: "Faye is not Owen's child, therefore he shouldn't be doing the discipline."
Another said: "Violence is never the answer, and I don't believe you should ever hit a child."
On another forum, a poster insisted: "It was physical abuse."
One fan contended: "It's bullying. They should pick on someone their own size or go to the guardian!"

However, there were fans that sided with Owen, although they were heavily in the minority.
One person wrote: "This is why there were riots. Because parents can't discipline their children and teach them right from wrong."
Another said: "I was smacked as a child. Never did me any harm."

This is another example of how these realist soaps can spark debates with the public due to the every day storylines that are dramatic yet real to our lives.