Charlie Lawson, aka Jim McDonald, discusses wayward screen son Steve’s trouble with the law and Anne Kirkbride recalls the 1998 campaign to free Deirdre from her wrongful imprisonment.

The Weatherfield regular had been charged with obtaining money and property by deception, and even Tony Blair promised to intervene to make sure the character was freed.

Coronation Street: In The Dock will be shown on ITV1 on April 5.

Viewers to decide Tracy’s fate? - Mar 15 2007
The current storyline surrounding Coronation Street’s Tracy Barlow has had fans on the edge of their seats - but for devotees, The Sun are offering the chance to determine whether the character is guilty or not guilty of murder.

The tabloid is running a competition to find 12 ’jury’ members who will be taken to the Bradford courtroom where the trial was filmed, presented with evidence and asked to deliberate and reach their own verdict.

The gripping storyline started last year, when Tracy, played by Kate Ford, embarked on a twisted plan to get rid of bullying builder boyfriend Charlie Stubbs (Bill Ward).

Shortly after New Year, she dealt him a fatal blow to the head - before claiming she killed him in self-defence.

The Sun say they will reveal the verdict of their jury before the final scenes are aired on ITV1.

Anyone wanting to take part must contact the newspaper before March 16.

’Confused fans’ threaten Corrie star - Mar 6 2007
Coronation Street’s Kate Ford has apparently been assigned a bodyguard as some fans can’t tell fact from fiction.

The actress, 29, was subjected to a storm of abuse, with screams of "murderer" and "rot in hell" as she arrived to film her character Tracy’s murder trial in Bradford, according to The Sun.

"Bosses decided she could do with some tighter security just in case anyone does anything silly," a show source told the paper.

"Some fans have been getting a bit over-excited, shouting things at her," they said. "One woman screamed, ’You murdering bitch’ and Kate was quite rattled."

Huge crowds have gathered to watch the show being filmed on location in the West Yorkshire town and scenes are being shot in Bradford’s city hall.

Tracy’s murder trial is due to be the ITV soap’s most sensational storyline for months as she is accused of murdering boyfriend Charlie Stubbs (played by Bill Ward).

The trial will appear on our screens from March 26 and the verdict is due on April 2. The Sun reports that producers have filmed two possible endings to the trial to keep fans guessing.

Corrie star faces abuse from fans - Jan 22 2007
It seems Kate Ford - aka Coronation Street’s ’Toxic’ Tracy Barlow - has been feeling the sharp edge of devotees’ tongues recently.

Her character’s current juicy storyline, in which she’s charged with murder after bumping off bullying lover Charlie Stubbs, has prompted a backlash from the public.

Speaking to The Sun she said: "Everywhere I go people come up and say, ’Oh God, it’s Tracy the killer’ or call me a murdering bitch."

She went on to reveal how, during a recent train journey, despite having an empty seat next to her, no one would sit down, even though the train was full.

She said she had invited several of her fellow travellers to take the weight off their feet, but was ignored and given dirty looks.

The brunette added she couldn’t wait to be liked again by the general public.

At the moment, rather than asking for interviews, people either hurl abuse or run away from her.