A PASSION for soap opera and social media has led to the Bishop of Jarrow becoming the first clergy guest VIP blogger for Coronation Street.

The Right Reverend Mark Bryant, who is a long-time fan of the long-running television show, often uses plot-lines from the programme to make points about life in his own blogs.

Now, his tweets, following a visit to the set of the Salford-based programme, have resulted in the show asking him to expand his thoughts in blog form in return for a donation to a charity of his choice.

He selected DePaul as his charity for its work with homeless young people in the North-East.

The Bishop said: “I cannot remember when I first started following Corrie but I think I have been following it for well over twenty years. Corrie is definitely my 'cup of tea'.

“I like it because many of the themes in the show reflect what is happening in real life and drawing on them in my teaching of Christian faith allows me to reach people who might not normally listen to a priest.”

The Bishop cites as some of his most memorable episodes as Hilda Ogden leaving on Christmas Day 1987, the Duckworths taking over the Rovers in 1995, Bet Lynch leaving the pub as well as Hayley’s last illness and the visit to Blackpool.

Rt Rev Bryant said: “Soaps, at their best, make us think about the things in life that really matter.”