Leave the Street alone

Today The Sun runs a story on Page 3 that a new Coronation Street producer has plans to sack “up to five of the soap’s longest-serving actors".

An on-set source said yesterday: “There is a feeling the show needs a younger and sexier feel."

As a long-term viewer of Coronation Street, might I ask why?

Which soap has the youngest and sexiest stars? Hollyoaks.

Which is the least watched soap? Hollyoaks.

The Sun adds that "It is felt some of the older stars are holding back the show".

Remember when Emmerdale introduced all those sexy advertising posters? Remember when Emmerdale hired Phil Redmond to spice up the show? He arranged for a plane to drop on the village.

Emmerdale is still the third most watched soap behind EastEnders and Coronation Street.

The Sun's source says, “The recent stars have been younger characters like David Platt, but many of the older characters are on huge money and are hardly involved."

And has there been a more detestable, loathsome, unsympathetic character as David Platt?

If the producers think that filling the Street with characters like David, watch the viewing figures drop.

Coronation Street's strength has always been its strong female characters: Ena Sharples, Annie Walker, Elsie Tanner, Hilda Ogden, Vera Duckworth, Bet Lynch, Cilla Battersby-Brown - its skill is that its storylines are character-led not issue-led.

How many fans really care about David or Sean or Molly or Paul or, for that matter, Leanne? They do care about Rita, Betty, Jack, Emily, Ken and Deidre, even Blanche.

They are the real Coronation Street as well as the reel one.