Is Tommy Duckworth a waste of space?

Yesterday I sat and watched nine, yes nine, episodes of Coronation Street back to back. I have to admit, I don't do Corrie in such a marathon way very often, but I'd just returned from two weeks holiday and had a lot of catching up to do.

I agree with Tvor's blogged views of the Carla and Frank storyline and think that storyline was one of the highlights of Corrie for this fan, all year. The acting from Alison King and Andrew Lancel as Carla and Frank, and from Chris Gascoyne and Jane Danson as Peter and Leanne Barlow, was outstanding. The comedy from Deirdre "7 steps" and the drama between Tracy and Steve has been classic Corrie at its best.

But watching Corrie in a chunk like this has also made me realise that there's one character that's very surplus to requirements - Tommy Duckworth.

What's he actually done since he turned up in the Street apart from unsuccessfully trying to chase women?  Either the writers need to give him something to do, apart from leering and ogling, or get rid of him, giving Tina and Tyrone the Duckies house to themselves.