Street falls foul of TV watchdogs

Violence: Viewers objected to 'beating' scene

Coronation Street has been slapped on the wrist by television regulators for promoting a spin-off book in one of the soap's episodes.

The Independent Television Commission (ITC) said the programme had broken rules governing ITV programmes after a viewer spotted a commercially-available book, Weatherfield Yesterday, featured in one of its plotlines.

Awards: Coronation Street was voted Britain's best-loved soap

In the soap, the book was written by fictional character Ken Barlow, played by the Street's longest-serving actor William Roache, who features on the cover of the book.

But there was better news for the soap when it was cleared by the ITC after complaints about the level of violence shown.

In the episode in question, also shown last month, villain Jez Quigley attacked Steve McDonald, played by Simon Gregson, for testifying against him in court.

More than 30 viewers complained over the level of violence and menace in the soap at a time when children could be watching.

But the ITC ruled that the scenes had been filmed so that very little violence was in fact shown, and did not uphold the complaints.

Coronation Street is enjoying a strong spell at present, recently winning the National Television Award for best soap and pulling in 13.6m viewers this month for a late-night episode involving a dramatic siege.

Recent storylines, including a love-triangle, teenage pregnancy and the impeding divorce of two of the soap's most popular characters, have helped increase viewing figures.

Tina O'Brien, who plays teenage mum Sarah-Louise Platt, won the award for best newcomer at the National Television Awards.