You should have stayed in and watched TV, Charles

CHANNEL HOPPING:

DRAMA, comedy, wit and warmth — a certain golden oldie has trumpeted all of the above for the last 50 years.

Having endured a relatively chequered past, this icon of the British public now has something of a quiet dignity which befits such wisdom.

Nevertheless, Prince Charles must really wish he’d stopped in to watch the live hour-long episode of “Coronation Street” on Thursday.

A night in front of the box with Camilla would have made far better company than a bunch of rioting students in the middle of London.

The royal couple should have done a Dot Cotton. The veteran “EastEnder” made sure she wasn’t going to miss the TV highlight of the year by doing an early dart from work. “Got to get home to watch Corrie,” proclaimed the flustered queen of the washing machines — “it’s my favourite.”

A nice touch from Albert Square as, like so many Weatherfield regulars, it too passed over to the other side. Working in a launderette, Dot was never going to fall behind on the soaps.

A night that must have felt like a week for Prince Charlie and his missus, really did last that long on the Street.

Tramgate saw Molly turn into that scary girl from “The Exorcist”, Ashley copped it under a falling boulder and Charlotte was butchered to death by the brilliant John Stape.

Add to that Pam’s blubbing — the most life-like Les Dawson impression I’ve ever seen — and David’s new comedy haircut (not so much because he’s worth it, more he’s actually combed it) and it was a pretty happening 50th anniversary week on the cobbles. Here’s to another 50.




SIMON Cowell criticised “X Factor” champ Matt Cardle’s pants in Sunday’s final. If ever there was a case of the pot calling the kettle black, this, genuinely, was it. And although Matt wore the trousers in the public vote, Scouse runner-up Rebecca wasn’t helped by the dodgy presenting skills of Coleen Rooney who screeched “Liverpoooooooool” every time the show was hooked to a live link on Merseyside. Thank goodness it’s over: my ears need a rest.



Soap roar: “Fig salad? Some of the guests are over 50 – this could be fatal.”


— Ex-Street favourite Ken Morley, better known as Reg Holdsworth, checks out the menu on the “Come Dine With Me” Corrie special.

Soap bore: “Anyone for an Alfie Moon? One part pillock, two parts moron.”



— Kat comes up with a new Queen Vic cocktail with the pair at loggerheads . . . again.