Corrie Christmas goes with a bang

Disaster strikes Coronation Street this Christmas.

12:14 05 November 2004

Writers of the hit soap Coronation Street have an explosive storyline in store this Christmas.

According to The Sun, viewers will see Karen McDonald's car burst into flames as she leaves the cobbled streets of Weatherfield for good.

Loud mouth Karen is set to have a fight with Tracey Barlow, before her explosive exit.

Karen's husband Steve, who is the father of Tracey's baby, looks on in horror, fearing that his daughter is in the car.

Tracey and Karen have been mortal enemies since Steve's indiscretion led to Tracey's pregnancy.

The pair finally have it out at Ashley and Claire's Christmas Day wedding.

Suranne Jones, who plays Karen, revealed that the fight is so viscous that stuntwomen had to film most of it.

Jones decided that after four years she would leave the soap when her current contract expires this month.

Karen's exit is a blow for Corrie writers as she is one of the most popular characters, but her final scenes should strike a telling blow in the festive ratings war.

EastEnders has responded to the ratings pressure with a Yuletide storyline that will see Paul Trueman killed in a "gruesome" fashion, according to Gary Beadle - the actor who plays him.