CORONATION Street creator Tony Warren is to argue that his soap is the "queerest ever" at a public debate.

I'm told the debate will take place as part of Manchester's Queer Up North festival next month, which celebrates gay and lesbian arts and culture.

Tony will be joined by current Coronation Street writer Jonathan Garvey and Corrie favourite Antony Cotton - who plays camp knicker stitcher Sean Tully in the soap - for the lively discussion which will pose the question: "Is Corrie the queerest soap ever?"

I hear the debate was the idea of soap writer Jonathan, who also wrote BBC sitcom Gimme Gimme and the play and film Beautiful Thing - heralded as the first film to show a realistic relationship between same-sex teens.

He and Corrie creator Tony have hand-picked a series of clips from the soap which they believe will prove Coronation Street is a pioneer in its treatment of homosexuality and gay issues.

They will be shown at the event on May 9 at Manchester's Cornerhouse Cinema.

The clips will include the first male gay kiss screened on a soap (pictured) - between characters Todd Grimshaw, played by Bruno Langley, and Nick Tilsley, played by Adam Rickitt - as well as clips involving trans-sexual Hayley Cropper, played by actress Julie Hesmondhalgh.

A spokesman for Queer Up North tells me: "We wanted to put together a relaxed, fun event and explore all the ways that Corrie has been pioneering in the ideas and treatment of gay characters. It's been the first soap to really show gay characters in any realistic way.

"The show's creator, Tony Warren, was out as a gay man years before homosexuality was decriminalised and so will obviously have a lot to say about the issue in regards to his soap.

"He and Jonathan Harvey have put together some clips from the show and will be talking about them and discussing them with Antony Cotton.

"It's going to be a really interesting event - bringing together the man who started the soap, the man who is now one of the leading writers of the show, and Antony, one of the most popular characters."

Organisers are expecting the event to be one of the hottest tickets of the festival.

Tickets, at £6 and £4.50, on 0161 200 1500 or at queerupnorth.com.