Thirteen million watch Curly's exit

Curly Watts was a Coronation Street regular for 20 years

Nearly 13 million people watched Coronation Street favourite Curly Watts depart the show on Monday night.

The double episode drew up to 58% of the audience share, as Watts, played by actor Kevin Kennedy, left the soap after 20 years

The departure of the Street stalwart helped ITV1 capture an overall audience share of more than 39%.

It was the highest since the end of the second series of I'm a Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here earlier in the year.

A feature-length episode of Lynda La Plante's Trial and Retribution also helped the channel achieve its above-average audience share.

Curly Watts left the show in a dramatic denouement, having a farewell in the Rover's Return pub, but then having second thoughts about leaving Weatherfield.

Kennedy said earlier in the year he was keen to leave the soap "to spread my wings" but said he would make a return to the veteran soap in 2004.

Heartbreak

Curly kept viewers entertained since his days as a dustman through to a career at the Bettabuys supermarket before becoming a house husband and councillor.

He has also had his heart broken by first wife Rachel, played by Sarah Lancashire, before finding what he thought was lasting love with Emma Taylor.

Kennedy took a break away from the soap between 1998 and 1999 after he admitted he was drinking two bottles of vodka a day.

He was admitted to the Priory, the clinic famed for rehabilitating celebrities, before rejoining Coronation Street after six months.