Die-hard fans of the epic British soap Coronation Street have been devastated by the show's latest controversial storyline.

An episode watched by millions earlier this week saw the love-crossed Deirdre Rachid, played for 26 years by actress Anne Kirkbride, sentenced to 18-months in prison for fraud.

She was jointly charged with mortgage and credit card fraud with her conman lover John Lindsay, who walked free after the four-day trial.

The dramatic storyline was invented as the show's producers, Granada, battle for ratings with the BBC's EastEnders.

The plot has seen the show capture its biggest Sunday audiences since the weekend slot was introduced 18 months ago.

Public outcry

After the weekend climax, the switchboard and fax machines at Granada were jammed by fans protesting that she was innocent.

The Sun claims Tony Blair could get involved

The unprecedented reaction has seen placard-waving fans outside the programme-makers' offices pledging to launch "Free Deirdre" campaigns.

Tabloid newspapers spotted the bandwagon and jumped at it, printing T-shirts and promising "justice".

The Labour MP for Houghton and Washington East, Fraser Kemp, joined in the mania with a pledge to raise the "clear miscarriage of justice" with Home Secretary Jack Straw. Mr Straw is quoted as saying it is a matter for the court.

Granada has indicated that it plans to keep the gripping drama running, promising more twists and turns in the coming weeks.

The company has even built a set of Deirdre's cell and parts of the jail in its Manchester studios, signalling it intends a long run of the most gripping storyline for years.

The latest episode has seen Deirdre in despair as she struggles to cope with the harsh realities of prison life.

Her hopes of early release on appeal have been dashed and after an emotional jail reunion, her former husband Ken Barlow said: "You are going to have to face up to it... you are going to be here for a long time."
 

Back to top | BBC News Home | BBC Homepage	©