Coronation Street: Maria and Jamie decide to come clean

28 December 2007 - Stars from Coronation Street, Neighbours, EastEnders, Hollyoaks and River City have joined together to promote a national hand hygiene campaign in Scotland.

The ten celebrities want people to "reach for the soap" to reduce the spread of germs and bacteria.

Samia Smith who plays Maria in Coronation Street believes that: "We all like to have a good moan when we get the cold or a stomach bug but we can prevent most of these illnesses just by washing our hands properly throughout the day."

Rupert Hill who plays Jamie Baldwin, Sue Cleaver who plays Eileen Grimshaw and Julie Hesmondhalgh who plays Hayley Cropper are also backing the campaign.

The Scottish government wants people to realise that washing hands with soap and water for a minimum of fifteen seconds is key in reducing the spread of colds, flu and infections.

Actor Billy McElhaney who plays Jimmy in River City added: "I never realised hands can carry so many nasty bugs so my advice to everybody is don't be a dope, use the soap."

The former Hollyoaks star Ali Bastian who played Becca, Neighbours' star Alan Fletcher who plays Karl Kennedy, Emmerdale's Tom Lister who plays Carl King and Charlie Hardwick who plays Val Lambert are also supporting the campaign.