I’ve storylined many soap murder mysteries – this is where Coronation Street went wrong with big Sarah reveal

Out of all the suspects, Sarah was the only one who wasn’t actually a suspect. (Picture: ITV)

There’s a golden rule to plotting a whodunnit – play fair with your audience. Based on my decade of experience as a writer in British soap, Coronation Street just broke that rule.

I’ve killed more people than I care to remember.

Don’t panic, all my victims have been fictional. Most of them took place in Hollyoaks, where a killer strikes almost as often as Warren Fox (Jamie Lomas) glowers at someone.

Many a sleepless Friday night I spent in the story office, scrutinising over the plan for ‘Who Killed Amy Barnes?’ alongside the other storyliners.

The hours we spent going back and forth over who should be the killer – Harry Thompson (Parry Glasspool) or Duncan from Blue ...