Thoughts will then turn to 2020 and the prospect of Corrie's 60th anniversary. Even typing that looks bizarre. It doesn't seem all that long ago since we were saving the cobbles (40th) and pulling Rita out of an avalanche of bonbons (50th). A decade trundles on by, but how will the big gig be celebrated?
Of course, we all know how Corrie works and the storylines for the year ahead will already have been typed up and jammed into Evelyn's handbag for safekeeping. Our festive hopes and wishes for anniversary year may not come true but it doesn't stop us from speculating.
A lesson in birthday celebration has been provided this year by BBC's medical soap Holby City. Having reached the grand old age of twenty, the show decided to spend the entire year popping the corks in a subtle manner. From the first episode of 2019 to the present day, old faces were temporarily introduced back into the show. It worked. Rather than heaping effort into one overblown story, there have been treats along the way. Having seen this, it would be an anticlimax if all Corrie did was one daft storyline next December. What else is there left to do? The Rovers has burned twice, the Corner Shop has risen more times than a bionic phoenix and at this stage, it's difficult to give a tinker's toss about the fak'try.
What kind of dramatic loveliness should we perhaps look out for then? The sixtieth would be the ideal time to kill off a major character - and that would have to be Ken. Someone as pivotal as Mr Barlow would deserve to have the ultimate send-off but maybe dispatching him at Christmas would be a bit grim. Remember when EastEnders killed Pauline Fowler off on Christmas Day? Under the tree? Happy days.
It would also be a good opportunity to settle a few open-ended storylines. Rita is central to three of these. There's her failed friendship with Mavis, her marriage to Dennis and the running feud with Bet. All of these would depend on the availability (and willingness) of the actors in question. Therefore it seems unlikely.
Bringing back a character is always fraught with danger. If it isn't handled correctly (Bet, cock, we're looking at you in 2002) it can leave viewers with a taste nastier than last week's hotpot. A good returnee would arguably be Karen MacDonald. What happened to her after Tracy luv sent her packing? Would she, like Fiona, have any surprises for Steve? Whether or not Suranne Jones would be up for a guest spot at this point in her career is debatable. Likewise Sarah Lancashire, although there would be no obvious reason for Raquel to return - Bet and Curly are long gone and Des died over twenty years ago.
What wouldn't cut the mustard would be heralding the return of someone like Michelle or Cilla. Other characters are also available. Throwing them into the mix for guest appearances during the year might work. How wonderful would it be for Denise Osbourne to pop up or for Gail to get a visit from Tricia Hopkins. Maybe Shelley Unwin, Jim MacDonald (hopefully reformed) or Debbie Webster again? How about Sharon 'kennels' Gaskell pitching up to receive a 'now lady' speech from Reet?
Personally, I'd be quite happy with an episode where Ken and Rita sit in the Rovers and reminisce until their hotpots skin over. I'd be happy but then again, I'm not the show's target demographic. I'm just one of those viewers who loves a soppy moment.
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