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Coronation Street: 12 December 2008

So, Audrey has suddenly reappeared and instead of supporting Maria and believing Evil Tony Gordon killed Liam she has joined the rest of the cast in trying to Gaslight her. I can't help thinking this is too unlikely for soap fans even, especially as we remember that Audrey was also once the victim of such  manipulation when Richard Hillman was on the scene, but perhaps the scriptwriters have forgotten this. And while we're on the subject of unlikely and annoying events in soapland - the introduction of Eileen's dad has to be up there in the top ten, as does Betty taking on Britney Spears in worst mime act of the year in Emmerdale. Roll on Christmas and the inevitable Queen Vic dinner disaster in Eastenders to cheer me up.

Coronation Street: 7 December 2008

Fanfares of trumpets could be heard across the land with the return, for now, of Coronation Street on a Sunday night. The demise of the black-haired gang is well under way which gives us more cause to celebrate and if only somebody, or just anybody, would believe Maria about her suspicions of Tony then the world would be a happier place. All the main characters seem to have been designated the roles of implying she is imbalanced, because of her recent bereavement and pregnancy, but the script is getting a little predictable because everyone she talks to says something along the lines of 'you're imagining things because your hormones are all over the place - go home and have a lie down'. Yawn yawn - where's Audrey when you need her?

At Home

Stay here for the latest reviews of what is and isn't hot on television. Soaps feature strongly, in accordance with the rules set down for addicts to t.v., and the only reality accepted is that which is edited for the viewers - except for anything with Simon Cowell's fingerprints attached - so Big Brother we are watching you. I also promise to celebrate the goodness of Roy Cropper and the badness of Alan Sugar sorry Sir Alan.

Too often, reviewers tend to criticise telly as though they despise the medium they are paid to watch. Sometimes it seems that they haven't even watched the programme they are discussing. Apart from Teenage Kicks, which is only bearable in five minute segments, the programmes looked at here have been given the full attention they deserve.