Shropshire Star

No happy ending if TV fans decide on storylines

Glimpses of Peter's tattooed torso, desperate ciggies in the ginnels, fake tan-smeared sheets courtesy of Tina wearing nothing but her chav earrings: Coronation Street's latest epic storyline has had it all.

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There's also been the small matters of murder, adultery, betrayal and alcoholism – but I for one am more interested in Peter's tats.

Anyways, after months of build-up, we finally now know who pushed Ms McIntyre off the roof of the builders' yard. What a way to go.

But, unlike traditional soap whodunits, this one's been a thoroughly modern affair. Literally.

Not only did ITV reveal the four possible murder suspects yonks ago, it also released scenes of Peter, Carla, Tracy and Rob each doing the dirty deed.

The four alternative murder scenes were uploaded on the Corrie website way back on May 19, with fans urged to cast their vote on who the killer is via Facebook and Twitter. Heck, it even had its own hashtag, #WhoKillsTina.

Instead of just the usual flat faces staring out from the covers of mags like Inside Soap and Soaplife, this has been an interactive storyline from the off.

The whole thing is reminiscent of those Choose Your Own Adventure books from primary school. Y'know, the ones that have choices at the end of each chapter like 'If you try to protect yourself by hitting Gorga over the head with a log, turn to page 11' or 'If you just toss the log in front of Gorga turn to page 13'.

And while the viewers' votes have just been predictions rather than actually deciding the outcome on the cobbles, surely that can't be too far away? It's the next logical step.

It's something they've already been experimenting with across the pond.

Hawaii Five-O became the first primetime drama in the States to allow viewers to choose the ending of a show in real time.

Its producers had a whodunit last year in the shape of a dead uni professor and a suspicious group of colleagues and students. After each suspect's motive was revealed, viewers got to decide which one had committed the crime, with the whole thing playing out in the usual 60 minutes.

Bosses repeated the process again when the episode was broadcast on these shores on Sky 1, with votes cast via Facebook, the Sky website and social TV app Zeebox. Pretty smart, eh?

But is all of this really in the best interests of our fave telly shows?

Would letting viewers loose on the futures of our most beloved characters improve shows like Corrie and EastEnders or just drag them down?

While it would be no doubt novel and exciting to help shape the nation's biggest dramas and soaps, the potential for chaos is great.

Would we see Rita marrying Gary Windass? Dot Cotton bumping off Mick Carter? John and Gregg snogging on MasterChef before putting through someone who served up peaches and gravy?

Personally, I shudder at the thought.

We already have our say on Britain's Got Talent, X Factor, Strictly and the like I'm perfectly happy leaving the rest to the talented writers of tellyland.

If nothing else, I'm just too lazy to get involved. I want to relax with a cuppa when watching Corrie, not have to weigh up the pros and cons of killing off Norris (Pro: no more gossiping on the street. Con: vacancy in The Kabin).

But what do you think? If you agree with me, turn to page 11. If not, then jump to 13.

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