Corrie cracks a joke while Torchwood gets lost in translation

IN my last blog I complained that Coronation Street was getting far too bleak and like EastEnders with its crime storylines.

But I'm glad to report it can still look on the bright side of life. I laughed out loud last night at one of Julie's lines, when she was discussing Brian's imaginary friend - who he talked to, not when he was a child, but while a deputy headmaster.

Even more amusing and frankly bizarre was the colour of Lloyd's face. He's clearly fallen asleep in the sun and has darkened considerably - or been standing next to radioactive Jordan - but it was very strange that not one person mentioned it.

Then it was on to Torchwood on BBC1, which is shaping up to be a great series, apart from all the pandering to the American market.

The Torchwood we know and love is in danger of disappearing beneath all those Yanks.

It's bad enough that the American viewers get to see it before us, but I particularly resented the way they felt the need to translate words for them.

Cashpoint, crisps, mobile phone and petrol station? I think you mean ATM, chips, cell and gas station! Ho, ho, how unsubtle.

If I'd have been Gwen, I'd have made a sarcastic comment but she was all 'thanks, please continue to translate'. Surely American viewers aren't that stupid? Oh, hang on, maybe they are...