Coronation Street’s bosses have denied speculation that three of the show’s oldest cast members are being forced out of the show.

It’s been reported in various media that Betty Driver, Eileen Derbyshire and Barbara Knox – Betty, Emily and Rita – could get the boot early this year but an unnamed Corrie spokesman has emphatically denied it.

He also said that all three actresses “have some big storylines lined up this year.”

Let’s hope they don’t involve their deaths then…

The spokesman told The Sun: “The producer Kim Crowther sees the older actors in the show as absolute Coronation Street gold and would never seek to lose them.

“Barbara Knox and Eileen Derbyshire will be leading some big storylines in 2009.

“Betty Driver always provides gravitas behind the bar at the Rovers and we will continue to seek to use her where we can.”

Makes her sound more like an old Screw Driver than Betty Driver doesn’t it? And if Betty did leave, I for one would miss her servings of hotpot, with or without gravitas…