Coronation Street, the world’s longest running TV soap is my favourite TV programme. Not everyone’s cup of tea I know, Peter hates it, but to be honest he doesn’t know what he’s missing. The programme has moved on considerably since the indomitable Ena Sharples and Elsie Tanner.

The Christmas episodes are always exciting, with long-running story lines coming to a head (who could forget last years tram crash) and this year is no exception.

Last night we saw a real birth at the local primary school nativity, with the expectant father, dressed as an elf (he was delivering Xmas trees with a mate when their van broke down)  frantically trying to get back for the birth of his first child.

Contrast this joy and humour with the sad disintegration of one of the best characters we’ve seen in years, who, alone and rejected by the community following the lies of others, sees her last friends turn their backs.

This jeux de position makes each story even stronger. Of course we also had the usual subtle ‘one liners’ delivered with perfectly straight faces by an excellent cast of actors. Sometimes Corrie makes me laugh out loud which few so called comedians ever do.

So there we are, good stories, great acting, subtle humour, and not a bit  ‘in your face’. That’s why I love ‘Corrie’.