Coronation Street's Deirdre to quit smoking

Scriptwriters of the hit ITV1 soap have now targeted 20-a-day Deirdre - one of Weatherfield's heaviest smokers - to be the first character to quit.

Bosses are also considering putting a helpline at the end of the episodes to help people give up.

A Street source said: "It's a bit of a politically correct storyline and there are bound to be viewers who will think about giving up.

Viewers will see Deirdre deciding to pack in for two reasons.

She promises husband-to-be Ken Barlow (Bill Roache) that she will quit as a special wedding present when they tie the knot on April 8 - the same day Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles marry.

The other reason is as a tribute to her ex - first husband Ray Langton (Neville Buswell) - who died of stomach cancer.

When Deirdre and Ken return from honeymoon in Corfu, she announces to everyone that she has given up smoking for good.

"She resorts to regularly puffing at substitute nicotine inhalers to help her give up, but tells Tracy they taste disgusting. She is also worried about withdrawal symptoms and tells people she's scared of getting fat and being bad-tempered with everyone."

In real life, actress Anne - who has played Deirdre for more than 25 years - raised eyebrows when she didn't stop smoking after battling cancer.

Friends thought the trauma of battling Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma could force her into quitting.

But despite chemotherapy and eventually winning her fight against the disease, Anne was soon spotted puffing away once more.

She has not stopped since - 10 years after the cancer scare.

Source: Daily Mirror, 12 March 2005