DEVASTATED Coronation Street character Deirdre Rachid discovered the truth about her wicked fianc - watched by a crowd of East Lancashire holidaymakers!

The Christmas bombshell where the character played by actress Anne Kirkbride apparently learns about her lover's secret life was filmed while a group of tourists were waiting to board a flight at Manchester Airport.

The group - including 18 sun-seekers who booked a trip to Malta through the Lancashire Evening Telegraph - saw Deirdre speaking to a female assistant in the Tie And Fly shop where her fianc Jon Lindsay is the manager.

After learning obviously shocking news about the man who initially wooed her by claiming to be an airline pilot, she leaves the Terminal Two kiosk with the famous Deirdre "look of horror" on her face.

She is holding a gift-wrapped bottle in her hand.

Latest developments in the Granada Television production have seen Jon, played by actor Owen Aaronovitch, name the date that he hopes to marry Deirdre. But the unlucky-in-love character is still unaware that he already has a wife and recently gave him £5,000 towards a deposit for their luxury marital home.

Among tourists awaiting the afternoon flight to the Mediterranean island was Lancashire Evening Telegraph reporter Simon Donohue.

He said: "The shop was sealed off by Granada television crewmen for the scene.

"Deirdre looked absolutely devastated after speaking to the woman serving behind the counter.

"It was impossible to hear what had been said but it must have been very bad news for Deirdre."

A Granada spokesman said the scene would be shown in the week between Christmas and New Year but refused to reveal the nature of Deirdre's earth-shattering news.

However, she added: "Jon is living on borrowed time and there is only so long that he can go on telling lies."

"He will have to eat double helpings of turkey and Christmas pudding.

"It is now only a matter of time before he slips up - and his goose is well and truly is cooked!"

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