CORONATION STREET

How many viewers found themselves thinking, ‘Hang on, didn’t you used to be married to Gail in Coronation Street?’ when actor Reece Dinsdale arrived as new character Paul in Emmerdale? As Joe Mcintyre, Gail’s fourth husband, he drowned while trying to fake his own death, whereas Paul is seeking out son Vinny having walked out on him as a child.

Reece is just the latest in a long line of performers who’ve switched soaps and, as it’s regular, well-paid work, who can blame them?

Sometimes the characters have too much in common. Bill Ward played Charlie Stubbs, an adulterous builder with a psycho girlfriend in Coronation Street, before going into Emmerdale as James Barton, an adulterous farmer with a psycho wife.

Sometimes they seem too different. Michelle Collins was so fixed in our minds as wicked Cindy Beale in EastEnders that, 13 years later, it was hard to accept her as the much nicer Stella Price in Corrie. Claire King is back playing evil Kim Tate in Emmerdale and in the hiatus, when she played Erica Holroyd in Corrie, you half expected her to batter boyfriend Dev over the head.

But as long as Steve Mcfadden – EastEnders’ Phil Mitchell – doesn’t pop up elsewhere as a vicar we should be OK.

Jaci Stephen is away

■ YASMEEN FINDS

HER BOTTLE

It’s been a long time brewing but things finally come to a head between Yasmeen and Geoff. However, it’s not before the manipulaone tive so-and-so makes more attempt to pull the wool over his wife’s eyes. When Yasmeen tests positive for chlamydia, Geoff accuses her of infidelity rather than admit his own liaisons with escorts. When that doesn’t wash, he claims she must have caught it from ex-husband Sharif. Later, after his secret cameras show Yasmeen packing a bag, Geoff plans his most sinister act.

Before going to the Rovers to celebrate Sally and Tim’s upcoming wedding, Geoff hands Yas