Adam Rickett's new show beats Coronation Street

Anyone wondering what Adam Rickett is up to these days? You must remember him, he played Nicky Tilsley. Anyway, for the last two years Adam has been starring in the New Zealand soap Shortland Street. It's the number one soap in New Zealand and Coronation Street comes in at second place. There's more on Adam Rickett in an interview with the Manchester Evening News.

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Corrie spoiler: Kirk and Julie have a little baby

Kirk Sutherland could win the vote as Coronation Street's doziest dad, but he'll also be the most doting. Yes, Kirk is going to become a dad after girlfriend Julie Carp tells him she's pregnant. The Daily Star (who illustrate this story, oddly, with a picture of Tyrone...) reveals that Julie breaks the news to Kirk that he's going to be a daddy in scenes to be screened next month. Kirk is a gem and this story sounds fab.

Andy Whyment, who plays Kirk, will have been getting plenty of practise in the right way to hold a baby as he's recently become a father in real life too.

Corrie filming cancelled for memorial service

For the first time in 10 years, filming on Coronation Street will be cancelled so that staff can attend a service for Bill Roache's late wife, Sara.

The Corrie set will be closed on Tuesday 17th February and scripts are being rewritten to cover the absence of both Bill Roache and Kym Marsh, whose baby son died after being born 18 weeks early. A third tragedy hit Corrie last week when vision mixer Therese Meek died.

The last time Corrie filming was cancelled was in April 1999 when Bryan Mosley, who played Alf Roberts, died aged 67.

Corrie live screening: competition winner announced

The lovely people at the BFI kindly donated two tickets to a special screening of Coronation Street's live episodes. A competition was announced on the blog here and the winner was drawn at random today at 5pm, as promised.

The winner is: Carol Edwards.

To find out more about the special screening of Coronation Street's live episodes on the big screen on Tuesday 24 February at the BFI Southbank in London, click here.