Coronation Street’s executive producer Kieran Roberts has defended the show’s use of cigarette smoking.

He told The Radio Times: “While we have a duty not to glamorise the habit, it wouldn’t be realistic to see nobody smoking – but only a few regulars do.”

Roberts added that the smokers on the street do adhere to the smoking ban on the show, saying:

“Just as in real life, that makes the habit more visible, but it’s not actually more prevalent,” he explained.