Street bosses hit back at former star's claims

TV bosses today hit back at a former Coronation Street star who claimed the show features too much sex and not enough humour.

Jean Alexander, who played Hilda Ogden in the soap, also said some storylines drag on for too long.

The 78-year-old actress, who this week won an award for Best Loved Soap Character of All Time, told the Manchester Evening News: “I don’t like so much emphasis on sex and I also wish there was more fun in Coronation Street.

“There used to be so much more comedy. Whereas a storyline would usually be played out within three weeks, today certain storylines seem to drag on forever,” she added.

But a spokeswoman for the soap claimed its popularity spoke for itself. She said: “We don’t subscribe to Jean’s opinions. Every week 12 million people across the country tune in to be entertained by the drama in Coronation Street.”

Last week Corrie bosses announced they were writing out four characters from the show including Janice Battersby and Sunita Alahan.

The announcement came in the wake of sustained attacks on the show from TV critics – who claim it adopts bizarre plots and vulgar dialogue – and changes to the show’s production team.

The actress’s agent, Joan Reddin, said Jean will never return to the show.

“She thinks the character of Hilda Ogden moved on to bigger and better things, and it wouldn’t work if she came back,” she said.