Coronation Street to be split by racism row

Coronation Street's Paul Kershaw and Lloyd Mullaney are set to be caught up in a dispute that will split the street in an apparent racism row.

Weatherfield fireman Paul, played by Tony Hirst, will get into a stormy argument with cabbie Lloyd (Craig Charles) when he makes a throwaway remark that causes offence, says the Daily Star.

It is believed Paul uses the phrase 'playing the white man' while talking to Lloyd's friend and colleague Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson).

Lloyd's daughter Jenna Kamara (Krissi Bohn) overhears them and tells her dad, sparking a row that extends to the whole street as they are divided between those who do and don't think the comment was innocent.

But Paul refuses to say sorry, which has a knock-on effect for fiancee Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) who works in the Streetcars office with Steve and Lloyd.

Coronation Street producer Stuart Blackburn said: "There's a point when Paul, in a moment of stupidity and stress, makes one wrong remark.

"It's a remark he dismisses as nothing, but what it takes us into is something of pride, loyalty and principle. It's a story that's going to ripple through Weatherfield and jeopardise Eileen's relationship, not just with Paul, but with Steve and Lloyd as well.

"I think it's one of those modern stories that will get everyone talking."

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Patrick McLennan is a London-based journalist and documentary maker who has worked as a writer, sub-editor, digital editor and TV producer in the UK and New Zealand. His CV includes spells as a news producer at the BBC and TVNZ, as well as web editor for Time Inc UK. He has produced TV news and entertainment features on personalities as diverse as Nick Cave, Tom Hardy, Clive James, Jodie Marsh and Kevin Bacon and he co-produced and directed The Ponds, which has screened in UK cinemas, BBC Four and is currently available on Netflix.

An entertainment writer with a diverse taste in TV and film, he lists Seinfeld, The Sopranos, The Chase, The Thick of It and Detectorists among his favourite shows, but steers well clear of most sci-fi.