Coronation Street was replaced by Harry Hill's TV Burp on Wednesday evening following the Cumbrian shootings, and it won't screen on Thursday night either. The soap was due to feature a siege involving guns, resulting in two characters losing their lives after Tony Gordon, played by Gray O'Brien, escapes from jail. An ITV spokesman said on Wednesday: "In light of today's tragic events in Cumbria, tonight's episode of Coronation Street has been postponed." On Thursday afternoon ITV announced the episode wouldn't show tonight either. The network would announce revised episode dates and times in due course. Coronation Street was scheduled to broadcast six episodes, instead of the usual five throughout the week as the plot unfolded on screen. Preview information released last week disclosed that Tony exacts his revenge on those he believes have wronged him. With the help of Robbie Sloan (James Fleet), the convicted killer takes ex-wife Carla Connor (Alison King) and Hayley Cropper (Julie Hesmondhalgh) hostage. Former lover Maria Connor (Samia Smith) also becomes embroiled in the plot when she makes a surprise appearance at the knicker factory. Gordon then splashes petrol around the building and sets fire to it. The episodes took four weeks to film and used a purpose-built set. Click here to watch whatsontv.co.uk’s weekly soaps video preview, the Soap Scoop
