Poet Laureate pens words for Corrie memorial

The Coronation Street memorial service for the victims of the Weatherfield tram disaster will contain a poem penned by the Poet Laureate, it has been revealed.

Tonight, viewers will see Ken Barlow (Bill Roache) recite a touching tribute to former neighbours Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold), Molly Dobbs (Vicky Binns) and Charlotte Hoyle (Becky Hindley), all of whom perished during the soap's catastrophic 50th anniversary storyline earlier this month.

According to The Sun, show producers initially asked Carol Ann Duffy if she could publish a piece to commemorate the milestone, but then found the words so moving that they decided it would perfect for tonight's Christmas Eve vigil.

Duffy, a devout Coronation Street fan, said: "If there was anyone deciding what poem was to be read at a community event it would be Ken.

"I went along to the filming with my daughter and it was magical. There we were stood in the fake snow and it felt like a real street, like a Charles Dickens novel come to life. It was magical, an electrifying experience."

Duffy also called for her close personal friend and Coronation Street creator Tony Warren to be named in the Queen's New Year Honours List.

"I was so proud to be asked and so proud to know my poem, would be on the show. If there is one thing this country should do, it is to knight Tony Warren for creating Coronation Street," she said.

> The Queen congratulates Corrie cast