Street bosses deny plans to kill off Bet

Coronation Street bosses have denied reports that Bet Lynch is to be killed off.

Actress Julie Goodyear returned to the soap, after an absence of seven years earlier this month, but has since been on sick leave.

The show's producers say there have been no discussion over the future of Goodyear's character, as she is too ill to take part in any meetings.

Goodyear appeared in the soap for 25 years before quitting. She said she was coming back for a 12-month stint because the producer was "very persuasive."

After a glitzy return, where Goodyear appeared decked out head-to-toe in leopard print, she fell ill three weeks ago and is on sick leave for a month.

A Coronation Street spokeswoman said: "At this moment there have been no discussions between the writers and the production team about the future for Bet Lynch.

"Neither have there been any discussions with Julie. She has been too ill for any meetings to take place."

The character has been temporarily written out of the soap with the excuse that Bet has returned to Brighton, in order to give Goodyear time to recover.

The spokeswoman said: "We hope that we will be able to meet her soon to discuss the future.

"Viewers will hear that she has returned to Brighton and there is absolutely no reason why she couldn't come back to Weatherfield as soon as Julie feels well enough. In the meantime we do ask that she is given privacy and time to recover."