Corrie's Blanche 'saved from axe plans'

Coronation Street producers considered killing off Blanche Hunt at a recent meeting to discuss the show's direction, a report claims.

The outspoken character, played by 74-year-old actress Maggie Jones, was eventually saved after chiefs decided that she still has a lot to offer the programme, according to The Sun.

An insider told the newspaper: "It has been seriously considered and discussed at our latest forward planning meeting that the character of Blanche should be killed off.

"But we appreciate she's a great old, grumpy character and the chemistry between Blanche, the Barlow clan and the other street regulars is superb so we felt we had to keep her."

Jones was hospitalised in April after suffering a fall, forcing producers to rewrite scenes while she recovered.

The actress first joined the ITV1 soap in 1974 and played the role of Blanche for four years. She returned for guest stints in 1981 and 1996 before making a permanent comeback ten years ago.