Carl Jones: Death is really the only way to go in soap world

Departing a much-loved soap after such lengthy and loyal service can be a strange old business. You never quite know which way the writers will turn. Sometimes a character's final scenes are tearjerking, sometimes they're hilarious, and on other occasions they can be just plain bizarre.

One thing's certain in the dog-eat-dog world of 'continuing drama' though – the bigger and more loved the star is, the harder they must fall.

You can just imagine the scene in the production offices. Major name walks in and says they want out, hoping in their heart of hearts that the door may be left ajar for a nostalgic return, if the new career they're dreaming of never quite materialises.

But that's never going to happen these days. Too many times, big-time Charlies have come back on bloated salaries and failed to live up to expectations.

You only have to look the pair of veteran publicans, Corrie's Bet Lynch and EastEnder Dirty Den, for evidence of that. They were of their era, great in their time, and that's where they should have stayed.

And so, as sure as a pint of non-specific in the Vic follows a trip to the launderette which is never full even though no-one's got a washing machine, there's no coming back for our A-listers these days.

Michelle Keegan is next for the Corrie stage door. She claimed to be completely shocked when she found out her character, Tina McIntyre, would be killed off in a dramatic 'whodunnit' plot, ruling out any prospect of a return. She must have been in a minority of one with that train of thought.

All of these comings and goings remind us about some of the corking soap departures over the years. From a Corrie perspective, it's tough to top Alan Bradley's untimely demise under a Blackpool tram, Mike Baldwin's death in the arms of arch rival Ken Barlow, and flighty Maxine Peacock who was bumped off with a crowbar by serial killer Richard Hillman in 2003 – in front of a staggering 15 million viewers.

Brookside, which was rarely more than half a step from controversy, never topped its body-under-the-patio saga when Trevor Jordache was stabbed in the back by his wife to stop him beating up their daughter, and hidden under the slabs.

And in Emmerdale – which said its own goodbyes this week to Gemma Oaten in the wake of the Home Farm arson scandal – my favourite has to be the end of crooked businessman Denis Rigg, crushed to death by Joe Sugden's rampaging bullock.

Oh, to be a fly on the wall at some of these script meetings.

But back to poor Hayley, whose death has certainly been no laughing matter.

Hats off to Corrie for being bold enough to start a conversation about one of the great elephants in the 21st century room; the right to die.

As our much-maligned politicians battle to engage with the British public, and can only dream of attracting the sort of audiences for their party political broadcasts enjoyed by our beloved soaps, producers realise the impact their storylines can have when it comes to setting the social agenda, and are not afraid to flex their muscles.