In a forthcoming episode of Corrie, poor old Kirk Sutherland – he of the tiny brain but big heart – will find himself on the receiving end of a punch in the face, thanks to Beth Tinker!

The storyline begins when chivalrous Kirk (Andy Whyment) sticks up for Beth (Lisa George) when she throws a pint over a particularly obnoxious pub goer…

However, his knight in shining armour routine gets him a shiner as the bloke lamps him, flooring the poor knicker packer.

But when Beth’s overwhelmed by his chivalry as the pair end up “rolling round in the gutter”, could things be taking a romantic turn?

Apropos of gutters, Coronation Street star Kym Marsh has received a caution for fly tipping after a bag of her household refuse – including scripts from the show – were found abandoned at a roadside…

Kym, who plays Michelle Connor, claimed that she had paid someone £60 to remove her bags of rubbish, believing him to be a genuine council employee, however it seems the man took the money and simply ditched the bin bags.

However, during a hearing at Manchester magistrates’ court yesterday, which Kym did not attend, charges against her over the incident were dropped given that she accepted the caution.