Wednesday 31 May 2017

Someone to watch over me

Now then.

Single men are starting to pile up on the corner of the cobbles, have you noticed? We have Ken, Norris, Sean, Brian, Roy, Chesney, Craig, Luke, David, Adam and now Steve. There are a number of single women at the moment, as well. Liz, Tracy, Rosie, Sophie, Alya, Cathy, Yasmeen, Kate, Rita,  Gail, Shona, Audrey, Gemma, Mary.

Since soaps don't seem to want to keep anyone single for long, it's a pretty safe bet that a few of those men will find someone to warm the cockles of their hearts before too long. I had time to let my mind wander around on the subject. See if you agree or disagree with my ideas.

Brian and Cathy are already making eyes at each other, we can probably pull them off the list though I really don't think they will go the distance. Brian is far too selfish and oafish. Cathy and Roy really would have been ideal but Roy isn't ready and maybe he never will be and that's ok.  Maria isn't on the list because of her affair with Aidan. We might reserve the more senior characters for the moment as well. Please, Romance Gods, don't put Audrey and Ken together now that Freddie has gone!

There has been speculation that the Powers that Be will throw Shona and David together. I kind of hope not because it would be weird for David to be romantically partnered with the mother of the man that killed his wife. But stranger things have happened. They are about the same age, actually. We were told that Shona was just about 13 when she gave birth to Clayton who was 15 when he killed Kylie. I think I'd rather see David single for a little while longer and then meet someone completely new.

But you know, I think Shona might make a good partner for Steve even if she's almost a generation younger than he is. (and a couple of Coronation Street Blog commenters seem to have agreed with me just as I was writing this!) That never stopped a romantic pairing on Corrie. Most of Deirdre's men were yards older than her! Shona has that earthy no-nonsense attitude and she's not self centered or a drama queen like Michelle. I think she could suit Steve very well and throw in the added bonus that a new partner, a much younger model,  would put a knot in Michelle's face even if she does say she doesn't want Steve any more.  I like her, I do. There's something about her. What I don't want is for Steve to end up with Leanne with the only thing they have in common being wee Oliver. Leanne needs someone responsible, someone that isn't jealous and insecure. I used to think she and Robert would have made a good couple but I don't really like him much anymore. Leanne and Peter are water under the bridge, too.

I think Rob Donovan was the love of Tracy's life. He really "got" her, accepted her for all her faults and they really worked well together. They also had more than the usual things in common. Murder, much? But since that's a no-go now that Rob is back inside, I wonder if Luke can forgive her? They weren't a bad couple though Luke is probably too honest for Tracy. I think we should suggest that Luke and Alya get together. Alya has ambitions but maybe she'd like a steady guy who is good with his hands, eh? They need to use Alya or lose her because on the rare occasion we do see her these days, she's got her nose in the air or a scowl on her face. They've made her dislikable and I'm afraid she probably isn't going to be around long if they can't think of something soon.

I would have suggested Gemma and Chesney get together but I really don't think they would make a very good couple. Gemma would have him for breakfast. I'm pleased that Gemma is trying to gain some confidence and turn her life around, I really am, but she's far too much for Chesney and he's too much of an old soul for her.

I don't think Kate and Sophie should get together but what happened to their friendship? It seemed to go the way of the dodo after Caz left and Kate got embroiled in her father's fling with Jenny Bradley and is now pursuing her father's health problems. Mind you, when Kate first arrived on the scene, I did think she would be a good partner for Sophie. She has a sense of humour and is a lot of fun and would bring Sophie out of her surliness.  Rosie should not be with someone like Adam because he wouldn't treat her well. He'd look down on her and treat her like an object. She and Jason were really good together. Jason adored and cherished her and They were pretty much equal in the intelligence department. I do think Rosie needs to mature a bit, though, because she's getting too old to be this daft bimbo. She's got to find a direction for her life or a hidden talent.

I'd also like to see Sean find someone that truly appreciates him. I did think he and Billy were good together but I'm sure there's a match out there for Sean somewhere. Maybe someone a little older who can give him a bit more confidence in himself so he won't be such a slave to his own insecurities. It would be nice to see him reconnect with his son, Dylan, too. Maybe find some who has a child of his own, something they'd have in common.

While it's lovely to see some of the senior characters find love, it feels too incestuous for any of them to fall for any of the others. They've all been friends for far too long for it to  believably morph into love.

Finally, it seems very much like Nick is spiralling into his jealousy again over Peter and Steve both. Nick's jealousy and insecurity is going to be his downfall I think. Leanne is already showing signs of him being instrumental in putting her between a rock and a hard place constantly by not being able to compromise.  Leanne should stay single for awhile, please. Don't put her with Steve just because she's got Steve's baby.

Who would you like to see some of the Corrie singles matched up with? Someone current or new? Someone unexpected?


Crossposted from State of the Street






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5 Corrie episodes to watch before you die

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

I've been thinking lately about Coronation Street's past and its future.  How might it look in ten years time, or even ten weeks?  And in all the thinking I've been doing, it led me to consider which are the seminal Street episodes? Well, here are five of mine and I'd love to know what you think about my choice and what your choices would be too.

1. First episode, 1960
To understand where Coronation Street is now and how it might look in the future, you have to know where it started.  The first episode is a must for any Corrie viewer, in my opinion. It laid the ground rules for the show, it introduced the types of character that are still replicated today, and of course, it was written by Corrie creator Tony Warren.

You can read a review of the first episode at corrie.net.

2. Deirdre and Tracy two-hander
I include this episode as a seminal one for two reasons.  First, it's one of only two episodes featuring only two Coronation Street characters. It aired in 2007 and was written by Jonathan Harvey. It was set in the kitchen at number one Coronation Street and featured mother and daughter, Deirdre and Tracy Barlow. 

And the second reason I include this is that it is one of my most favourite Corrie episodes. Tracy confessed that she'd killed Charlie Stubbs and even though Deirdre knew her daughter was a  killer, she vowed she'd stand by, and even lie for, Tracy in court.  If you haven't seen this episode, I strongly urge you to hunt it down on YouTube, it's fantastic.

Find out more about Coronation Street's two-hander episodes

3. Deirdre plays the harmonica



In 2004 Deirdre showed she was a woman of hidden talents when she took Sean's harmonica from him and belted out "Oh! Susanna!" and then a lovely version of "Amazing Grace".  The whole episode, from start to finish, is a delight, written by Daran Little.  The episode is, on the face of it, a party in the Rovers to celebrate Dev and Sunita's engagement but there is so much more going on, especially between Deirdre and Blanche. Blanche berates Deirdre for going back to Ken after her fling with Mike and the two women fall out, but make up too. We also see Deirdre smoking in the ginnel, talking to Dev about her life.  It's a truly wonderful episode.

4. Woman, Stanley. Woman.

Hilda wins a competition and takes Stan away on a second honeymoon.  It's worth watching for all kinds of reasons including one of our favourite Corrie couples living it up in style away from the Street, for a change. And of course, there's that line. Ooh, that line.  "Ere, what's that lipstick taste of?"

5. Last night's episode
Whether it was last night, or last week, that you last saw Coronation Street, I'd include that as one of the most important Corrie episodes to have seen. Just as the first episode has to be included, so does the last one that's just been screened. Corrie is always just as good as its last episode, that's why it's constantly changing and evolving, to keep up with modern tastes and, sadly, ITV demographics. Those who would like our Corrie kept in aspic will never be happy, we must change and adapt too.

Which five episodes would you choose as your seminal ones?







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Coronation Street Blog in The Daily Star

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

We've hit the headlines for the second time this week.

Yesterday, the Coronation Street Blog along with podcasters Conversation Street were featured in The Sun online. You can find out more here.

Today, we're in The Daily Star

When the Buckingham Palace announcement was made earlier this week that Prince Philip was going to retire from royal duties, we mocked up an unoffocial announcement and posted it to social media. It went berserk, especially when the official ITV Corrie twitter account retweeted it.

And now it's ended up in the Daily Star too!







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Tuesday 30 May 2017

Remembering Corrie's first copper, Cyril Turpin

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

With young Craig Tinker about to start his training as a policeman, last week we took a timely look at back at some of the Coronation Street characters who had worked as policemen and women.

You can have a look at it here, with pictures.



And in the comments on that blog post about the Weatherfield police, it was mentioned that we hadn't included Betty Turpin's husband Cyril, who was Coronation Street's first ever policeman. And so, it's time to say a few words about PC Cyril Turpin.

Cyril and Betty Turpin

Cyril was married to Rovers Return barmaid Betty and they lived above the corner shop.  He retired from the force in 1970 after assaulting a convict who had been terrorising poor Betty. 

It was one of the pub's customer called Keith Lucas who had stalked Betty.  Lucas was fresh out of prison and wanted revenge on Cyril for arresting him three years earlier.  Betty tried to ignore Lucas but when he trapped her in her own home she broke down.  Cyril found out and attacked Lucas, continuing to hit him when he was unconcious. Cyril told his police superiors he had lost control and he took an office job as a clerk after he resigned from the force. 

With thanks to Daran Little's 40 Years Of "Coronation Street" book for the recap on Cyril!


In 1974 Cyril died of a heart attack.  At his funeral, Betty was supported by Maggie Clegg.

Betty did go on to marry again when old flame Billy Williams hunted her down and wooed her with an old love letter but it was always "My Cyril" Betty talked about often.

Find out more about Cyril Turpin at corrie.net 

Conversation Street's podcast 253 which we posted here today, also featured a classic character profile on Betty Williams.





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Conversation Street podcast 253

Gemma and Michael's podcast for the  episodes that aired up to last night's Canadian Corrie can be heard here.

It was quite a week on the Street, with Tracy in court, Amy and Rob in the Peak District then Rob giving himself up! Then Ken is starting to have glimmers of memory but we still don't know who hurt him. He's satisfied it wasn't Tracy and we found out about the new will, too. David and Shona had a heart to heart, or at least on David's part, to an uncomfortable Shona. Nick sinks into paranoia over Steve who made a big blunder with baby Oliver. Toyah takes a pregnancy test and Gina gets a job. The character profile is Betty Williams and there's chat about the  British Soap Awards and  listener feedback.

Remember, you can also listen to Conversation Street on iTunes (leave a fab review if you do!)








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Coronation Street Blog & Conversation Street featured in The Sun

Our Coronation Street Blog along with the Corrie podcasters at Conversation Street are featured in The Sun online today.

When Gemma and Michael visited the Corrie prop store last month, they kindly wrote a blog post and sent pictures of their visit to us here on the Coronation Street Blog.  And now, the blogs have been picked up by The Sun online.

If you missed the blog posts from Conversation Street's visit to the Corrie prop store, here they are for your delectation.  I have split the blogs into three seperate posts as the pictures are fantastic and need savouring!

Read Part 1 - Inside the Corrie Prop Store

Read Part 2 - Inside the Corrie Prop Store

Read Part 3 - Inside the Corrie Prop Store







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Monday 29 May 2017

Corrie Canada Weekly Awards May 22 - 26

Out of the Mouths of babes: Amy really gave Rob a reality check, calling him a loser and a coward and rattling his cage well and truly.

Confession is good for the soul: Rob confessed to being with Tracy and Tracy retracted her confession about Ken.

Soap Law #431: 7 minutes in a cell with Rob. Hands up how many of you think Tracy's going to be up the duff?

Throwback award: Jenny mentioned the fact that Gina used to flirt with Kevin back in the day.

Musical Ambience: "Help me Make it Through the Night" in the Kabin while David was hoping that Clayton died of his injuries.

Diversionary Tactics: Rob and Amy drove out the back lane as the armed response team came screaming up the lane and arrested Tracy who confessed, falsely, to attacking her father. Good thing she's an excellent liar.

Aphrodisiac award: Relief is a powerful thing, apparently. (Maria and Aidan)

Lines of the week:
Beth "me little lamb's growing up into a big, strong man"
Detective Inspector "You'd have to be an idiot to leave your daughter with a convicted murderer who's on the run from some pretty nasty people" (Have you met Tracy?)
Audrey to Sally "How are you? Gail told me about your gremlins" David "It's trolls, Gran"
Sean "To flake or not to flake, that is the question" (Ice cream, that is)
Sophie worries about genes (re: Gina's illness) Rosie "What's jeans got to do with it?"
Ken "If Tracy didn't attack me, who did?" (I think every single one of the suspects is going to be arrested at this rate. Rubbish cops)
Rosie "Why don't houses have windscreen wipers?"
Mary about Sean "That lo down knicker stitching cheat!!!!"
Daniel to Sinead "Is this a random existential crisis or are you on about something specific"






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Chris Gascoyne on his love-hate relationship with Coronation Street

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog April 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Chris Gascoyne, who plays Peter Barlow in Coronation Street, is currently on a meet and greet tour in Canada.

And in an interview with The Hamilton Spectator, Chris admits to having a love-hate relationship with both the character and the show. He has left Coronation Street over the years, but each time came back. His most recent return was late last year, after a two-year absence.

"It's very, very demanding," Chris says. "When my character is in a strong storyline as he is now, I can be working 14-hour days. We can be juggling 15 episodes a week, out of order."

"It was my choice to leave. I wanted a break from the schedule to do theatre, to do plays. I also feel, it's OK to take a break for Peter's sake. I like Peter to be as fresh as possible. There's only so many stories at a time, I feel, that you can put Peter through."

But Chris admits that the cast sometimes feels like "puppets" in the hands of the more than 15 writers working Corrie storylines.

"They move us around. They create it and we play it. Then they take that back and have their little puppets do something different … and I mean that in a nice way, because I genuinely believe they write well for me."

Gascoyne says he always returns to "Coronation Street" because "I love the show and I love the people.

"It's part of my life. The people that I work with are part of my life. At times, I'm with them more than my family. We've seen births, deaths, marriages and divorces, everything you could think of these people have been through … Let's just say … it's an unusual job."







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New Coronation Street book for Christmas 2017

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

There's a new Coronation Street book coming out in time for Christmas.

Written by Maggie Sullivan, it's a fiction book called Christmas on Coronation Street

Details are as follows, from Amazon today:

"Elsie Grimshaw, sister to ten other siblings and born at No. 18 Back Gas Street, Weatherfield, is a wild child from the start. After being thrown out by her father, Arthur Grimshaw, she marries Albert Tanner at 16 and raises her children mostly alone after they split up. Never one for caring what the neighbours think, Elsie has an affair with a GI who is only one of many men who come and go from No. 11 Coronation Street.

Elsie maintains a loving relationship with her siblings who use her as refuge from their abusive father, especially Fay Grimshaw, Elsie’s sister. The Manchester Blitz was one of the worst winters of the war in 1940, but Elsie and the other Coronation Street residents will face it with strength and determination and of course, Coronation Street’s trademark humour and warmth.

The perfect Christmas gift full of nostalgia and charm, perfect for fans of Coronation Street and readers who love fiction set in Wartime".

You can order it here  Christmas on Coronation Street Amazon.ca will have it available after November 1, as far as their website says at the moment. Otherwise, order it from the UK from the link earlier in this article. 

This new Corrie war time book reminds me of Daran Little's books: "Coronation Street": The War Years and "Coronation Street" at War and "Coronation Street": Keeping the Home Fires Burning

Intriguingly, Harper Collins is also releasing another Coronation Street book by Maggie Sullivan in February 2018. The working title is Coronation Street Book 2


Read more Corrie news and spoilers







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