Street wise

Renowned for playing the Coronation Street character Jack Duckworth whose broken glasses are held together with a piece of tape, actor Bill Tarmey prepared for his imminent departure from the show with the purchase of some new spectacles.

Cheryl Swindells, manager of Optical Express at the Trafford Centre in Manchester where Tarmey purchased two pairs of frames with Transitions varifocal lenses, said: 'Getting new, tape-free frames are a great way for him to prepare to embark on his post-Coronation Street life.'