Many Coronation Street viewers were divided after the latest instalment made references to a Merseyside town.
Monday's episode saw Brian Packham panic after discovering his cousin Isabella will not be able to return to Italy as the building work on her home will take a further two weeks. In a bid to get rid of her sooner, he draws up plans for her to tour the north of England as a holiday, instead.
There was, however, a misunderstanding. Isabella expects Brian to accompany her on the trip as her tour guide.
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Mary joined Brian and Isabella in the pub, where she told them she was sorry to hear about Isabella's flat. Brian replied: "Luckily Isabella is off to see our Northern Riviera, which will take her several weeks".
His face dropped as Isabella added: "Yes, Brian has very kindly offered to show me the wondrous seaside towns of the north". She added: "And the first stop is the Paris of the north, Southport".
The comment left viewers divided, with many taking to social media to voice their opinions. On Twitter, Mick said: "Southport? I'd say Chorley was the Paris of the north", while Jelena said: "Well Southport is north of Paris. Both are also in the northern hemisphere".
Posting in a Southport-based group, one Facebook user said: "Paris of the North? I'm guessing none of the writers have walked down Lord Street for a few years", but many others rushed to defend the town.
One said: "Some of the streets in Southport were modelled on Lord Street", while another said: "Southport is a great town, don't slag off your own town".
Southport was said to have been the inspiration for some of Paris' streets, with the deep-rooted connection supposedly going back almost 200 years. It is said that in 1838 a young prince that was politically exiled to England went on a seaside trip whilst France was still rebuilding following the 1789 revolution and the devastating Napoleonic era.
Napoleon's nephew, Cherles-Louis Napoleon Bonaparte, visited the now Merseyside town from London. At the time the town was a luxury bathing resort reserved for those of the highest etiquette.
The prince is said to have fallen head over heels for the grand Lord Street, in the centre of the town. The street itself is believed to have been one of the first boulevards in the world.
The street was lined with shops and developments, going against the mills and factories that typically filled Northern English land.
Coronation Street airs Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 8pm on ITV and ITVX
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