Coronation Street star Barbara Knox has pleaded not guilty to drink driving after appearing in court today.
Ms Knox, 80, who plays Rita Tanner in the ITV soap, entered the plea at Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court this morning.
She was charged in relation to an incident in Knutsford, Cheshire, on March 10, after her daughter, Maxine Ashcroft, 56, was earlier arrested for the same offence.
Ms Knox was said to have been a passenger in a vehicle driven by her daughter on the night in question.
The car was stopped by police after reports that the driver was under the influence of alcohol.
Ashcroft was found to be nearly three times over the legal limit when she gave a breathalyser reading at Middlewich police station.
Ashcroft, from Lechlade, Gloucestershire, was banned from driving for two years in a hearing at the same court earlier this month.
Ms Knox later arrived at the station and was arrested on suspicion of drink driving.
The soapstar, who has been a regular cast member of Coronation Street since 1972, arrived at the court dressed in a black quilted coat and pearls.
She was represented by Nick Freeman, aka ‘Mr Loophole’, a lawyer who has defended a host of celebrities charged with traffic offences including David Beckham, Sir Alex Ferguson, Jimmy Carr and Jeremy Clarkson.
Ms Knox told District Judge Bridget Knight that she understood the charge and pleaded not guilty.
She was later granted unconditional bail until the trial date of July 23 at the same court. The hearing was listed for two days.
Image courtesy of ITV, via YouTube, with thanks.
