CORONATION Street legend Rita Sullivan will be left for dead in a heartbreaking new festive storyline.
The ITV soaps second longest-serving character after Ken Barlow falls while putting up fairy lights and is trapped for several days under her Christmas tree.
Rita slips and falls while arranging lights on her Christmas tree
Because she has told other Street residents she plans to go away for Christmas, nobody investigates when they see her home in darkness. Rita, played by Barbara Knox who became a cast regular in 1972 only escapes after being found by chance by a neighbour.
In a later scene she tells her Weatherfield pals she had thought she was a goner after the freak fall.
An ITV source said: Dev puts up the Christmas tree for Rita but doesnt have time to sort the fairy lights.
She ends up putting the lights on herself but when switching them on she trips and falls, pulling the tree on top of her.
Rita, pictured in 1972, is the ITV soaps second longest-serving character after Ken Barlow
Soap bosses hope the storyline will shine a light on the loneliness that can be suffered by the elderly in the festive period.
The source added: Spending Christmas alone is a scenario many OAPs may find themselves in a few weeks.
bizbit
PETER Crouch said his daughter Sophia let him into her sports camp after realising the boys saw him as cool. He told Jonathan Ross: I let her run in on her own and the next day she was like, Dad, do you want to come in the class?
Sal’s spat bol
NO, Mick Hucknall hasnt landed a cameo on Coronation Street, its actually Sally Metcalfe with a spaghetti bolognese on her head.
The Weatherfield stalwart, played by Sally Dynevor, ends up wearing the meal next week after a bust-up with Abi Franklin, played by Sally Carman.
She foolishly suggests Abi has only taken an interest in her ex-husband Kevin Webster, played by Michael Le Vell, since he came into money.
After losing her meal maybe Sally will eat her words.
bizbit
TV channel Dave has announced a three-part comedy series to raise awareness for mental health charity Calm. Comedy Against Living Miserably will air next year, and comedians taking part will donate their fees to the charity.
Murder sparks drama
A HORRIFIC real-life murder is the basis of new drama Responsible Child, which airs on BBC2 later this year.
And though the Beeb wont confirm it, I can reveal it is inspired by the killing of Neil Tulley by his partners sons Joshua, 23, and Jerome Ellis, 14, in 2013 in Guildford, Surrey.
The brothers nearly decapitated their victim with kitchen knives as he lay on the sofa of the family home.
In Responsible Child, the central character is 12-year-old Ray, who commits a murder with his 23-year-old brother, Nathan. The 90-minute drama, by Skins writer Sean Buckley, tells the story through a childs eyes and questions whether they can be held responsible in an adult court.
Director Nick Holt said: This is a story Ive wanted to tell for a long time, since I attended the trial on which our film is based.
Tyson to the Max
EastEnders star Jake Wood, who plays Max Branning, was brought in to read the audiobook version of Tyson Fury’s autobiography, Behind The Mask
FANS of Tyson Fury might be surprised when they listen to the audiobook of the Mancunian boxers autobiography because theyll hear a Cockney accent.
The heavyweight fighter has chosen EastEnders star Jake Wood, pictured, who plays Max Branning, to read his story, Behind The Mask.
The London-born actor has said he wont try to echo the Gypsy Kings tones, but he is thrilled to have got the job.
Jake said: Its good but weird as Im not from Manchester.
must watch
WHAT? The Graham Norton Show, BBC1, 10.35pm.
WHY? The chat host is joined on the sofa by the acting worlds Dame Julie Andrews, Reese Witherspoon and Sir Ian McKellen.
