A raft of Corrie favourites have been given the cards.

But not as you think. Characters presently gracing those famous soapland cobbles, and a few favourites from the past, are fronting a new range of greetings cards.

Launched by Bradford firm Hallmark, to coincide with the British Soap Awards on Saturday, the 26 cards, believed to be the UK's first soap-themed collection, feature all your favourites from Britain's famous street, with comical punchlines.

Former Corrie favourite, the blonde and brassy man-eating barmaid Bet Lynch, played by actress Julie Goodyear, is pictured all glammed up and saying "Well, Chuck - I remembered your birthday.but will I remember your age? Will I 'eck as like!"

Current Queen of the Rovers, Shaun Tully, played by Antony Cotton, raises a smile with a punchline appropriate to his camp character: "Oooh get you, another birthday!"

But the most popular so far features the soap's busy-bodies, Norris Cole and Blanche Hunt, played by Malcolm Hebden and Maggie Jones. They're pictured with Street stalwart Emily Bishop, played by Eileen Derbyshire, with the punchline: "Well. Here's to another wild and crazy birthday."

Double acts in the top five best-sellers are, of course, the warring Duckworths, Jack and Vera, played by Bill Tarmey and Leeds-born Liz Dawn.

And former Street pals Mavis Riley and Rita Fairclough are reunited as card cover girls. They parted company when Mavis, played by Thelma Barlow, left for pastures new. Rita, played by Barbara Knox, is a current Corrie stalwart.

Also making a comeback, albeit on a card, is the loveable butcher Fred Elliott, played by John Savident. His character, renowned for repeating things, made a dramatic exit from the Street when he died of a heart attack on his Big Day.

Richard Bentley, product manager for Hallmark's Humour range and a keen Corrie fan from childhood, said they hit on the Corrie-themed cards as something consumers could relate to.

He said: "The concept we were looking at was a brand people recognised. Around 10.7m people watch an average episode so we jumped on the back of that."

After testing the idea within their own workforce, Hallmark's creative team pitched the idea to programme makers Granada who were only too happy for the team to sift through their archives for appropriate still-shots to use on the cards.

Then it was back to Hallmark's Bradford HQ where the design team worked their creative wonders on the accompanying comical punchlines. These were then sent back to Granada for approval.

Says Richard: "It's a two-way thing. We worked with them to get the right products out there."

The first collection was launched in March. The range is now being rolled out into supermarkets and bigger stores.

Maybe soon we'll see a collaboration with other soaps. According to devoted fan Richard they're currently staying true to Corrie.

"Coronation Street is the number one show so we've gone with the big show," he said.

Lisa Palillo, marketing manager at Hallmark Cards UK, added: "With so many Corrie fans across the UK and the timeliness of the British Soap Awards these cards are set to be a roaring success."

For more information visit www.hallmarkuk.com.

e-mail: sally.clifford@ bradford.newsquest.co.uk