The importance of killing Ernest

Today’s edition of the Mirror claims Ernest Bishop‘s killer is returning to Coronation Street. What other soap could hang a storyline over the return of such an obscure figure? For most people, Ernest himself would be a distant memory, despite the furore that greeted actor Stephen Hancock’s departure from the show at the time (he’d unsuccessfully tried to force producer Bill Podmore into reviewing the cast’s salary-structure).

It speaks volumes about the confidence of Corrie at the moment, particularly following this year’s successful and touching last hurrah for Ray Langton, and the hugely ambitious Alzheimer’s storyline planned for Mike Baldwin.

Of course, if this had been EastEnders it would be Ernest himself coming back.