Soapstar pension secrets revealed

Jack Duckworth would see a higher pension income than Ken Barlow, new research reveals.

A study from Norwich Union into the annuities soap characters could gain from a pension pot of £30,000 reveals Rovers Return stalwart Duckworth would receive over £1,700 more over his life time than slow and steady Barlow.

The analysis takes into account Jack's circumstances as a widow and smoker compared to that of Ken's cleaner living.

Liz MacDonald meanwhile would trump Deirdre Barlow would be £4,309 better off over the course of her lifetime.

As well as circumstances, the values of annuities calculated by Norwich Union also take into account where you live.

For example, EastEnders' Peggy Mitchell would receive £1,375 more than Emmerdale's Diane Sugden.

Clive Bolton, director of annuity business, Norwich Union, explains the research show the importance of shopping round for an annuity and it is not always the case those who live in the south or the posher parts of our towns will be better off when it comes to annuities.

"Our new lifestyle rates help people understand that it is not the more affluent areas that do best when it comes to annuity rates," he said.

"What is important is that people take the opportunity to shop around for the best deal - especially those that are tailored to them and their lifestyles. When we are all feeling the pinch, shopping around can result in individual's being better off."

Norwich Union claims a typical couple – based on a 65-year-old man and a 62-year-old woman with pension pots of £30,000 from York - could benefit by over £1,760 over the course of their lives just by shopping around when looking at their retirement options.

Annuity payouts are now calculated on health, smoking history, relationship status and postcodes to determine someone's life expectancy.