Coronation Street hit by fresh product placement row over 'Midnight Tango' reference
ITV has been hit by a fresh product placement row over its flagship soap, Coronation Street, /news/2013/07/25/channel-4-defy-itv-legal-threats-and-broadcast-coronation-street-twitter-claims">just days after Channel 4 announced it would broadcast separate allegations
The latest row centres on the character Roy Cropper who mentioned a new theatre show from Strictly Come Dancing star Flavia Cacace during Monday night’s broadcast.
In it Cropper remarked to his screen wife that he had picked up tickets to see Midnight Tango, just one day prior to its five day run in Manchester – prompting Flavia to tweet her gratitude.
The star tweeted: “Thank you @itvcorrie for our @VFMidnightTango mention, can’t believe it but thank you xx.”
Not everyone was quite so happy about the plug however with some flagging it up as a possible breach of broadcasting laws as set out by Ofcom.
Although product placements are permitted on the show a letter ‘P’ must be shown in the opening credits to alert viewers to the fact – something which did not happen in Monday night’s episode.
It has also been suggested that there may be some connection to the recent recruitment of Flavia’s fiancé, Jimi Mistry, to the show.
A Coronation Street spokeswoman said: “The episode script was written long before Jimi Mistry was even approached.
'It is untrue to suggest there is any connection between the two. All episodes are cleared through compliance before transmission.”