Brian Packham - another familiar face in the Stapewick saga

The John Stape saga roller-coasters magnificently on to goodness only knows what ghastly conclusion, and I'm enjoying every minute of it.

I saw a clip of what sounded like an amusing interview in Inside Soap magazine with Graeme Hawley (John Stape - as if anyone needed reminding) in which he said that the character is like a cross between Richard Hillman and Frank Spencer. So true.

Every addition to this storyline is a gem. The dialogue is hilarious and all the actors involved have been absolutely terrific - the late-lamented Fishwick himself (David Crellin), Charlotte (Becky Hindley), and now I'm really enjoying the liaison between Brian "might have slept with a pupil" Packham (played by Peter Gunn) and Julie Carp. The scenes in Far Fusion were great. Peter Gunn is just perfect in this role. He has one of these "where have I seen you before" faces, and like many Coronation Street actors that's probably because he's been in a lot of different TV roles such as A Touch of Frost and Doctors, to name just two out of many. He's also been in some good films such as Brassed Off and When Saturday Comes.

I cannot wait until Charlotte returns - again, someone who was perfectly cast, and it's just a shame rumour has it that she's to be bumped off.