'Coronation Street': More Betty send-off details revealed

Published Jan 31 2012, 15:50 GMT  |  By Daniel Kilkelly

Betty Williams's send-off from Coronation Street will be centred around her wake, it has emerged today.

Inside Soap has revealed that Betty's funeral will take place off-screen, with the main action occurring when Weatherfield's residents toast her life at The Rovers after attending the service.

Digital Spy understands that a number of characters will be seen leaving for the funeral, before later returning to the pub to reminisce over Betty.

The main story will be Betty's "surprising" secret - as show producer Phil Collinson recently teased in a newspaper interview.

"We will be paying tribute to Betty, but behind the scenes will be the revelation of a secret she has kept hidden," Collinson said last week. "I cannot tell you what it is, but it's a secret that Betty has taken to the grave with her and I can promise you that fans will be surprised.

"There is no love child or anything like that. The secret has something to do with the show's history but I am saying no more."

As announced today, Bill Kenwright will be reprising his role as Betty's son Gordon for the episodes in question - but no other old faces are expected to return.

Betty Driver, who played Betty for 42 years, passed away in October at the age of 91.

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