The Funny Side of the Street. ITV1

5:29pm Saturday 5th January 2008

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I'VE got to confess, I'm not a great soap watcher these days.

There are too many of them and yet, for all the quantity, there seems to be little quality.

But if I do tune in for an update into the lives of ordinary folk I choose to take a walk down Coronation Street.

Last night there was a real treat for Corrie lovers - not only did they get their usual Friday night show, there was an hour-long special, The Funny Side of the Street. What a walk down memory lane (or street) that was.

And what it did prove conclusively was that TV programmes are much better if there is a little humour thrown in.

After all they are supposed to mirror real life and, for all our grumblings, we like to have a laugh along the way.

True, with classic double acts like Curly and Reg, Jack and Vera and, more recently, Norris and Rita, Weatherfield has had a head start in the laughter stakes.

And you need really good writers to pull of genuinely funny moments.

So, let's hope that soap producers were taking note and they make it their resolution this year to give us all a laugh.

Corrie has proved that it's worth it - EastEnders, please take note.