Having long been a Coronation Street fan I have noticed more and more lately how brilliant the writing is.

It really does seem to be heads and shoulders above its rivals these days, both for its storylines and also the way its characters actually speak like normal people.

Despite such heavy topics as modern slavery and the murder and concealment of the victim under an extension being handled with the usual sensitivity and drama, there is still plenty of light humour.

When Ken Barlow got a new look thanks to his younger girlfriend and walked into the Rovers Return in a new pair of jeans, Sean delivered a timely quip about “the Hoff” having just turned up.

Barmaid Eva is also turning into a comedy goldmine while at the same time still getting strong storylines.

The scene where she and the Rev Billy were sat in the car staking out evil slave masters the O’Driscolls was pure genius, from her light-hearted playful donning of an elderly parishioner's plastic rain hat to describing their adversaries’ behaviour as “tic-tacs” instead of tactics.

I still don’t think EastEnders or Emmerdale has managed to combine the dramatic with the comedy as well as Coronation Street does.

Everything is just a little bit too overwrought over in Albert Square and up in the Dales.

No-one really ever seems to have a joke with each other and they don’t seem to bother with lesser, more whimsical storylines any more.

Although they are all still guilty of the crime of living, working and spending all in the same street they live in.

Where in the real world does that happen?

I cannot think of a single character in any of the soaps who that picks up a briefcase, gets in their car and heads off down the road to their job.