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And while we're on the subject of disabled storylines and characters in soaps (see the last entry), we don't like to make a habit of bigging up the competition - meaning ITV - but news has reached us that Coronation Street is to welcome its first deaf character later this year. Under the rather cringeworthy headline (groan!), ITV.com says that the character, Freda, is Emily Bishop's niece, and will arrive in Weatherfield to nurse her auntie after she suffers an injury. She'll be played by deaf comedienne Ali Briggs.