Ban on the box

A reformed Dot Cotton who never sparks up again is just one of the story lines hitting soap-land after the ban. Joe Lutrario gets the low-down on what's in store

EastEnders

Licensee Peggy Mitchell will be keeping a close eye on regulars to make sure the ban is enforced at the Queen Vic. Like many licensees, she's also planning to re-decorate in time for the first day of the ban, regarding it as a chance for a clean start as well as an opportunity to wow new customers.

Long-term Albert Square resident Dot Cotton will try to kick the habit ahead of 1 July. BBC sources have revealed that she will try a variety of methods including inhalers, patches and going cold turkey in her battle to beat the weed.

Programme spokesperson Lucy Plosker says: "The café and launderette are already non-smoking but our viewers will no longer see characters or extras smoking in enclosed public places. We have not ruled out the possibility of more story lines about the ban, but we don't want to give things away."

Smoking on the programme has been toned down over the years, with Dot and Pat the only cast members likely to be left standing outside the Queen Vic.

Coronation Street

Liz McDonald, licensee of the Rover's Return, will try to give up smoking and be seen, like Peggy Mitchell, to crack down on smoking in her pub.

ITV hinted that there might be a few minor story lines connected with the ban, but wanted to keep its powder dry.

Press officer Alison Sinclair says: "It would be ludicrous not to cover such an important issue - this is something that will affect most of our viewers. The café is already non-smoking but the smoking ban in the pub, which is the hub of its small community, will be important to several story-line threads."

Emmerdale

Emmerdale is using the ban as the basis for multiple story lines. The main plot focuses on Woolpack licensee Val Lambert's attempts to stop smoking.

Her boyfriend, Billy Hopwood, tells Val he doesn't like dating a woman who stinks of smoke. Val tries to give up and experiments with patches while barking at punters and putting up no-smoking signs.

Buckling under the tension, Val suggests she and Billy have a week's holiday in Scotland

With licensee Val out of the picture, Diane Sugden is left in charge and takes Rodney Blackstock to task for smoking a cigar on 1 July, warning him not to try smoking secretly in the toilet because she has already fitted smoke detectors.

Shortly afterwards, in a sentiment that will ring true with many MA readers, Eli Dingle complains about living in a police state, but to no avail - he and Rodney are swiftly sent outside by a stony-faced Diane.

Emmerdale story line producer Emily Gascoyne says: "The Woolpack is the hub of life in Emmerdale, just like pubs in most rural villages, so we felt it was important to mark the ban. Earlier this year we ran a story line about licensee Val Lambert trying to quit smoking. She fell off the wagon, however, and ended up setting fire to the pub's back room."

Hollyoaks

The social scene in this soap revolves around the student bar and the Dog, where the mostly 20-something characters while away their time. Due to their ages, and the soap's youthful audience, smoking isn't a big factor.

"It isn't a very big issue," explains spokeswoman Karen Williams. "Very few of our main characters smoke because most of our cast are much younger than actors in other soaps."

The Bill

Over the years, cops have often been seen chewing the fat about a case over a short and a Benson & Hedges.

Now it seems even the police will have to find somewhere else to have a cigarette and let off steam. Scriptwriters for The Bill are tight-lipped about how the ban will feature in story lines, though the soap is unlikely to include an officer breaking the law.

Sue Wilks at production company Talkback Thames says: "All our programmes will come into line. You won't see characters smoking in pubs - and we certainly haven't ruled out the possibility of featuring a major story line about the ban in The Bill."

l The Morning Advertiser has also learned that The Smoking Room, a BBC sitcom that takes place entirely in a smoking room, will not be returning for a third series. The MA cannot confirm rumours that the series, featuring Peep Show star Robert Webb, will return as The Smoking Shelter later this year