Soap chiefs defend cancer plot

Coronation Street chiefs today insisted a cancer storyline involving long-serving character Alma Halliwell was medically accurate.

Programme bosses said medical experts had given advice about the plot ‘‘each step of the way’’ and had also approved the finished scripts.

Actress Amanda Barrie - who had a hysterectomy after her own cancer scare - is being written out of the show in the summer.

But she is reported to be unhappy at the way her character is being killed off.

She has told friends of her fears about such a serious storyline being used to boost ratings.

In the show, she will develop terminal cancer after missing a smear test and is told bluntly about the seriousness of her condition.

The actress feels the way the storyline is dealt with is ‘‘medically inaccurate’’ and puts across the wrong message to women who might be worried about cancer, it was reported.

But a Coronation Street spokeswoman said: ‘‘The storyline has been researched thoroughly with specialists in that particular field and we are confident that it is completely accurate.

‘‘We have to do that when covering a medical storyline.

‘‘Writers don’t just write these things and hope for the best. The scripts are read by medical experts in whatever field the story involves to ensure inaccuracies are filtered out.’’

Miss Barrie announced in November that she was quitting the show after appearing as a regular member of the cast for more than 11 years. For years she worked in the Street’s cafe, but went on to work at the nearby supermarket