Introducing the St Ella Drinking Game!

(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in May 2013.)

Now this is in no way encouraging beige, sorry binge drinking amongst the Corrie ranks (or should that be Corrie massive?) I just needed to come up with a fun way to sit through the current tedium that is Coronation Street.

Is it just me or does Stella appear in every scene ITV broadcasts of Coronation Street at the moment? I know the Rovers Landlady is traditionally a pivotal role in the Street. Both Annie Walker and Bet Lynch featured prominently throughout their tenures in the Rovers Return. The big difference for me though is that both the aforementioned characters were immensely likeable and well drawn. Unfortunately for me, the similarities end with them all being Landladies of the Rovers Return.

I am trying to be fairly lighthearted about this, but honestly, I am waiting for Stella to pop up through a manhole cover on the cobbles. At the moment the woman features even more often than the bleedin' Bistro. By the way, how can everyone manage to eat there practically every night?! Does nobody live on a budget? Is it the only restaurant in Weatherfield? After a huge bust up with Leanne, where do Stella, Karl and Gloria go for a plate of spag bol and a bottle of cheap Chianti? Where else but Nick and LEANNE'S Bistro. When Peter and Carla have a huge row about Leanne, where do they go for a bucket of Pinot Noir and a fizzy water? Nick and LEANNE'S Bistro. 


It's all more than a little ludicrous. 

Anyway, back to my little game. Every time Beige Stella appears on screen, pour yourself a wee drinkette. It doesn't matter what your tipple is, be it gin like Audrey, vodka like Rita or a pint of snakebite like Becky.

Before long, you'll have forgotten St Ella ever existed in the first place. As the Meercats would say, simples!



Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Behind the scenes at new Rovers Return on Coronation Street

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Coronation Street Art Director Rosie Mullins-Hoyle explains how she and the design team created the new look Rovers Return.

 “The redesign of the Rovers was a massive challenge firstly because it was the first time in 25 years that the set had come out of stage 1! For myself it is an iconic set and perhaps the most famous in the country so there is a lot of pressure to get it right and do it justice.

 I was given a brief from Producer Stuart Blackburn that the pub needed to feel like the Rovers - it needed to keep its character, the changes needed to be subtle and people had t notice new things about it after seeing a few episodes. Stella had made a conscious effort to try to make it feel like the same pub. In the back room she has picked out the the same wallpaper she had before as this is her home and she wants it to feel like it did.

We had an additional Rovers set built for the Fire which then became the Rovers building site allowing us time to recreate the new Rovers on the original set. The work took approximately 6 weeks and a team of 3 painters, 4 Chippys, an upholster, construction manager, setting team of 4, a dressing team of 4, 2 Production Buyers, a Graphic Designer and Myself. Every aspect of it was carefully thought out down to the detail on the panelling and bar top and the colour samples of wood grain were done to get the colour perfect, every detail was considered.

A big challenge we had was time as due to tight filming schedules we had just one week to get the Rovers building site set out of studio and the new Rovers in, up, lit, dressed and ready for filming! It was well and truly all hands on deck! It had to be carefully planned and systematically done with a tight deadline and the dedicated construction and dressing teams worked through the night and gave up their Bank Holidays to make it happen.

The wallpaper was picked by the show’s Head of Design Alan Davis and approved by Stuart. The wallpaper was bought in bulk in case it discontinues as it potentially needs to last us for the next 50 years! A couple of gallons of paint were used. The Rovers hallway was given a new look with the continuation of wood panelling from the bar and a change in wallpaper which tied in with the pattern in the Rovers bar. I was careful to make sure that the colours used in the hallway are the same as the colours used in the old hallway bringing splashes of orange in the artwork on the walls. All of the wallpapers were tested on camera prior to filming to see how they looked under studio lights and we checked that we were technically able to shoot with them.

Stuart wanted it to feel like it had been kitted out with items from a pub that had shut down. I sourced a stained glass bay window online  from a pub in Birmingham that had been knocked down . This was then used to create the glass partitions in between the booths. Additional reclaimed stained glass was sourced and used in the back bar optics which were redesigned. Both the seating and the new back bar have an art deco detail to them adding to the theme that these have come from another old pub and are continuing their life in the Rovers.

When picking the upholstery with upholsterer Alan Eccleston I must have looked through hundreds of samples to get the perfect one - a traditional gold fabric with repeat flower pattern which colours tied in with the Rovers wallpaper. Once selected it then underwent flame tests to check it was suitable for use on a set. The curtain fabric was sourced from a local company that provided us with upholstery and curtain fabric for the last Rovers redesign.

The dressings were all sourced with the original Rovers in mind and with us not wanting it to look shiny and new. The Buyers sourced across the country to get every detail right - old Salford prints, brassware, hot plates, old pub stools and tables, pictures, establishing a pub poser table and a new juke box.

Look out for the Rovers continuing to change in its first 4 weeks on screen and then subtly in time as it gets its life back. For instance the back room with vintage beer posters and day to day life and memorabilia that will be added to over the years. We have just added a hand painted 'Rovers Return' dartboard. All of these details add to the character and history of the Rovers Return Inn. “



Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

FIRST PICS of new Rovers Return on Coronation Street

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes these are the first pictures of Coronation Street’s Rovers Return restored to its full glory. It’s been more than two months since an explosive fire ripped through Britain’s most famous pub, causing the deaths of two people and leaving a scorched out shell where the boozer once stood.

But from the flames emerges a new refurbished Rovers and on Sunday 26th May the pub will re-open its doors to the residents of Coronation Street.

It’s a re-opening which landlady Stella Price (Michelle Collins) has been dreaming about for months but in true soap style the opening night isn’t without its dramas as barmaid Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) goes into shock premature labour.

Tina is carrying Gary Windass (Mikey North) and Izzy Armstrong’s (Cherylee Houston) surrogate child, but after a row over Gary’s misjudged pass at Tina she’s suddenly overcome with crippling pains and an ambulance is called to the pub as the birth of the baby looks imminent.
As Tina’s raced to hospital the rest of the residents get into the spirit of the evening, but some are still emotionally scarred from the events of the fire on that fateful night.
Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin) lost the mother of his children, Sunita, and is still struggling to come to terms with that loss, while arsonist Karl Munroe (John Michie) who was responsible for her death is enduring his own personal battle with his conscience as he fights to keep his crime uncovered.
The Rovers may have had a facelift but the secrets and lies hidden there remain.
Actress Michelle Keegan says of Tina’s birth: “She’s probably been in labour all day, certainly since the start of the Rovers opening, but it’s a slow labour and she doesn’t know that’s what it is. It’s not until it all kicks off that the pain suddenly worsens and she goes into labour behind the bar.

“She’s not due for another two months and she’s scared. Tina doesn’t understand why the baby’s coming so early, she’s only 7 months gone and she’s only a 21 year old girl so she is very frightened.”

How it once was - the Rovers Return from days gone by.

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Coronation Street and "that London"

(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in April 2013.)

In honour of my imminent return home to London this week after an interesting four months in Scotland (long story) I thought I'd take a look at Coronation Street's relationship with that London over the past fifty-odd years.

Corrie's relationship with London makes me immediately think of a great episode of the Street from way back in 1978. Gail Potter and Suzie Birchall, sacked by Mike Baldwin and fed up with their dreary back street lives, made grand plans to do a bunk to the bright lights of old London town. Their neighbours down Coronation Street were shocked and stunned that the two girls would even consider it. The likes of Alf Roberts, Elsie Tanner and Bet Lynch talked in hushed tones about London being the ruination of many a young Weatherfield lass while Annie Walker preened and tutted, asking Kenneth Barlow to talk some sense into them.



What I love about this old episode is just what a time capsule it is. As a child of the 80s I struggled to understand how people in Manchester could possibly speak of London like it was a far off land full of tricksters and vagabonds. It was almost as if Suzie Birchall was like Frodo Baggins in Lord of the Rings! While appearing a tad daft now, it did portray a simpler life when many people were born, lived and died in the same spot and didn't desperately lust after things they knew deep down they'd never have. Anyway in the end Suzie, frustrated at Gail's indecision, did a moonlight flit on her own, only to return a short time later.


Of course London also gave us one of Corrie's most iconic characters: the much missed Michael Vernon Baldwin. I wonder what Mike would make of his old empire today? It must have been a risky move to introduce Johnny Briggs as the cockney wheeler dealer Baldwin back in 1976. He was certainly different! While it did nothing to bridge the north/south divide, he did end up stopping on for 30 years so he must have had a soft spot for those cobbles. 

Another strong memory for me was when London featured in a wonderful episode from 1995.  That superb Corrie character Alf Roberts was receiving a gong from Her Majesty and social climber Audrey couldn't wait to hit Buckingham Palace in her expensive new outfit. Unfortunately events conspired against poor old Aud as dastardly Don Brennan dumped her somewhere on the M1 so she missed her chance to meet the Queen. Fortunately Betty Williams was able to stand in with Alf. Audrey's face through the Palace railings was priceless!





We saw London featured most recently when Sean visited Violet and Dylan and caught up with old flame Marcus Dent. That was a weird episode for me. I don't know about you, but I sometimes struggle when Coronation Street comes from anywhere other than Weatherfield. It doesn't matter if it's London, Malta or Paris, it just doesn't always work when I see my favourite characters further afield. 


Anyway, even when our favourite soap comes from London or features characters from the south, it still has to go a long way before it's as depressing as that London soap...what's it called again?? 


Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Corrie Canada weekly awards: May 13 - 17

 The Joy of Cooking award: Gold Star: Eileen burned her cake on Paul's first day back at work (also winning the Ironic Award) and disguised it with icing and jam.
Silver star: Carla goes the minimal route. Deirdre experiments (coq au vin from scratch). I reckon none of them will end up with their own cooking show.


Blast from the past award: Ken and Peter both reckon Rob reminds them of Mike Baldwin. He does a little but he's got more smarm than the charm Mike could have now and then. Also, Peter quoted Blanche!

Underhanded award: Barlows' bookies is giving out free coffee right across the road from the cafe.

MYOB award: Norris is bad enough, but even though Leanne's allowed to disagree with her mother having Karl back and maybe marrying him, (though she says she won't) she's got no business doing everything she can to stop it just because she doesn't like him.

True Colours award: Karl tried to scare Leanne off.

Love is blind award: Stella is naturally going to believe Karl over Leanne without a suspicion.

If I was a Carpenter award: Kylie's rubbish at putting things together. Even Lego!

Cheesy business name award: "Denaro bank" really? "Denaro" is an Italian and Spanish slang word for Money. The Ultimate Ultimatum award: Leanne on investing in the Rovers. "It's Karl or the Rovers"

Bromance award: Tyrone and Tommy back together again!

Lines of the week:
Peter to Carla "Save you turning the microwave on" Carla "Oy cheeky, I'm always cooking!" Peter "A ham and cheese toastie? How is that cooking?" Carla "It started off cold, I made it hot. That, baby, is cooking" (works for me!)
Izzy "I'd rather stitch knickers" (Liar)
Lloyd to Steve "Your bum cheeks might be rock hard but the rest of you is hangin"
Owen to Izzy "Since when have you given a damn about what people think about you"
Ken about Rob "You know who he reminds me of? Mike Baldwin. And look at the chaos he caused"
Karl to Stella "Life without you would not be worth living" (and that's his whole motivation isn't it?)
David to Gail "You like surprises. I don't" (just you wait, David
) Gloria "Too fast? You've got cobwebs on your crow's feet!"
Sylvia "I married Roy's father because he held a door open for me in Woolworth's"
Peter to Carla "If it were Christmas every day it would never be Christmas at all" (Yay, a Blanche quote apparently!)
Kylie "I hope you're not expecting me to put the thing together, I can't even do Lego!"
Karl "Why am I here feeling accused?" (Oh, you wonder why?)
Rob to Tracy "Your brother's a snake" Tracy "That runs in the family"
Stella to Gary "I've no business, no home..." Gary "That's your business, not mine" (but it's also the reason you're working and you're not getting paid so it is in fact your business)
Peter to Rob "You really want to impress me, learn to count"
Roy "Does my mother's behaviour appear strange to you?" Hayley "I think 'strang-er' might be nearer the mark"br />
Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Coronation Street wins eight awards at British Soap Awards

The winners are announced in the 2013 British Soap Awards and Alan Halsall and Natalie Gumede came up trumps along with several other awards handed out for our favourite soap.

The eight awards are as follows:

1. Coronation Street won Best Soap.
2. Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs) won for best actor
3 and 4. Natalie Gumede (Kirsty Soames) came away with two BSA awards, Best Dramatic Performance and Villain of the Year.
5. The Best Storyline was Kirsty's abuse of Tyrone.
6. Patti Clare (Mary Taylor) won Best Comedy Performance.
7. Nigel Havers (Lewis Archer) took the gong for Best Exit.
8. Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) won again for Sexiest Female.

All in all, Corrie won eight awards. A full list is available at Digital Spy.

Well done, Corrie!  The awards show will be aired on ITV1 tonight at 8pm.

See all the pictures from the red carpet at the British Soap Awards 2013 here and more at the ceremonies here.



Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Sunday Comments, May 19

Looks like the pub has been stripped right down to the bricks. It would be kind of nice to leave the exposed brickwork but i suppose they'll do drywall and wallpaper. Karl sure wasn't comfortable inside the building was he?  Jason hasn't let off knifing Karl. He's sure the reunion isn't going to last. Karl might try to threaten Jason but Jason's not afraid of him. Karl is making free with her credit card for the groceries and Stella most certainly has had bad news. Karl wants to marry Stella. After all these years, they've never got round to it. She figures they're in no position to do it but he wants to cement his cause, soothe his guilt. "After everything I've done for you" and she doesn't know the half!

Passive aggressive Karl now walks around with a big woe is me on him, guaranteed to put the guilts on Stella who's dealing with her finances. Gloria very much plays Karl's corner but Stella won't be swayed. Jason got a few digs in at Karl's expense, just the two of them. He may say he and Stella are solid, but his eyes are reflecting the doubts and Jason won that round I think.

Leanne isn't too happy about the proposal and she reckons she can stop it single handed because she can't stand Karl. Except at the moment, Stella's said no so what's the problem? She wants to make sure she doesn't change her mind. Frankly, though her opinion is allowed, it's none of her damn business. I do agree with Karl on that, even though Stella would be making a mistake by marrying him. I don't agree with him putting the frighteners on Leanne. She's brave, gotta hand it to her. She will fight him every inch of the way even if she is a little scared, really.

Leanne is determined to make Stella believe she was threatened. Karl naturally tries to put his position in ahead of Leanne telling tales to make it sound like Leanne started the argy bargy and he lost his temper a bit. It'll make her accusations of him threatening her a bit weaker, he probably thinks. Stella didn't take Leanne's insults about Karl well. Who will she believe? She's not too bright. Who do you think?  She just thinks they're bickering but we know there's more behind it than that. They said a few nasty things to each other but I think Leanne's final shot was the winner. Stella isn't going to bend to Leanne's ultimatums. Fair enough, really. Nobody really knows how bad Karl really is. He's a waster, yes and Leanne is allowed to disapprove but ultimatums never work.

Meanwhile Stella is really preoccupied about finances but Karl thinks it's about him and the turned down proposal. Gloria seems to have a lot of cash lately. Wonder why? Stella got back from the bank and obviously things didn't go well. She's snapping at everyone and Karl still thinks it's all about him. She finally admits the problem to Leanne first. The insurance won't pay out and she's flat broke and can't afford to finish the repairs. It all comes down to the fact that the insurance company thinks the spare keys were left unsecured so they were able to be nicked, the pub broken into and burned. And that is true only it was Karl not Sunita. Karl has one more reason to feel guilty and Leanne's accusations of him only wanting Stella back for the money are niggling at him too.

Owen has got the bad news about the last cheque bouncing. Uh oh. Warpath anyone? Karl lied very smoothly because that's what he does but I don't think Owen believed him. Gloria thinks they should ask Leanne for an investment but considering that Karl is involved, she won't touch it with a bargepole. They asked anyway and got the predicted reaction. Nick thinks she should make up with her mother so she decided to do it but on the condition that she chuck Karl out. Could there be any more of an ultimatum than that? And Stella's not going to go for it, you know that don't you?

Gary was kind of a git to Stella, growling about not getting paid. He didn't want to hear her excuses and his finances, and Owen's are suffering. It's not Stella's fault that the insurance isn't paying out but she shouldn't have written that cheque knowing it would probably bounce. Now that Stella's told Owen the truth, it's down tools. Now what's she going to do? And Gary's worried about the surrogacy payment. Owen's determine to undo all the work and it looked like there would be a confrontation between him and Karl. I don't know how tough Karl is but I wouldn't bet on his chances against Owen.

I suppose it was too good to be true. Naturally, Eileen feels all is lost so Paul comes walking back into her life. I really think that crack in their relationship is going to be hard to plaster over. She's willing to take him back but it's not going to be easy, resolving herself to his line of work. Eileen's now all loved up and everyone is delighted he came back. Even Jason! Awww that's nice, he's gonna be Best Man. Eileen now has to get used to his job again. He's delighted he is going back. You'd think he'd understand more her side. Surely Lesley worried? She'll probably get a bit more used to it in time but the first few weeks will be hard for her and when he's late home on his first day back it's ironic that she's burned the cake! Jason thinks Eileen needs to talk to Paul who didn't come home straight away because he had a surprise, a booked weekend in London so he could meet Todd. The trip is lovely but how selfish is that man? He KNOWS she's worried, why can't he text and say he's ok and has something to do? I like Paul mostly but he really is up his own backside.

We'll not see Kevin now he's got an official exit. I didn't even know Bill had moved back to Germany! Never mind. Kevin's off to help look after him and Tyrone's back in the garage. If Kevin did pay Tyrone off his share, i suppose he can still hire him back as an employee. There's Julie's exit story, her mother with a broken hip needs her help. The actress, Katy Cavanagh is pregnant and ready to pop! Eva won in the war of one upmanship over Tracy over the holiday. Result! Nice to see Tyrone back at the garage and his life back on track. Tyrone's happy as a dog with two tails being back at work with his bromance mate Tommy! Tyrone says he's got a system for betting on the horses. He must have learned it from Jack Duckworth who hardly ever won a bet in his life. Tommy feels like things are finally going well, too. Anna's really on Gary's case about that ring but she's keeping it quiet for now. Everyone had to persuade Izzy to go back to the ante natal class and I think Anna had more reason than most because she definitely has a bad feeling about Gary's feelings for Tina.

Big Barlow family dinner. Where was Simon? Ken doesn't really like Rob any more than Peter does and compared him to Mike Baldwin. Now I think he does have a bit of Mike in him but Mike had a charm to him that Rob doesn't have. It's more all smarm for Rob. I wonder if this is meant to be Ken and Mike, round II?  That's why he and Tracy fit so well. Loved Deirdre's cooking and pretending she made the cake though Carla sussed the box. Only Deirdre could put squirty cream on a lovely cake.

Sylvia was not happy with Rob handing out free coffee at the bookies and he had the cheek to offer her one, too! Naturally Norris will take advantage of the free coffee but will he put a bet on for it? No of course not but Sylvia stopped him in his tracks. Nasty little man. He spent a lot of time this episode lurking around and earwigging. We know why Norris was lurking around the Rovers, he was trying to get a look in, but he should have been marched straight back out for not wearing safety gear and Stella and Karl should have had them on as well.

David and Kylie have had their scan as well. They know what the baby's sex. They weren't going to tell but David slipped and said "She" so it's a girl. David has ordered a cot for the baby already. As upset as Gail is, it must be nice for her to see how happy David is. Now he's going to be working all day and doing some of Kylie's evening shifts as well and it's already tiring him out. He's only been working evening shifts a few days already and not letting Kylie do any housework. Adding awkward to everything else, get Nick to feel Kylie's tummy to feel the baby. David's hovering is making her hormone's crazy as well.

Rob and Peter continue to rub up the wrong way. Peter and Steve ganging up on Rob was fun. Rob really is making a lot of improvements, even upgrading the sign so Peter decided to get his own back by making Rob do the bet calculations manually. I don't understand why Rob was finding it difficult if he took all those business courses in prison. I guess he's useless without a computer at hand. Rob knows Peter was trying to get him to quit. He didn't, yet, but Peter hasn't given up and Carla caught him and Steve winding up Rob. They didn't pursue that so maybe she didn't know what the money was for. Carla's treating Peter like a child, defending her brother but i think Peter's right, Carla doesn't want Rob underfoot in the factory. Later, Rob is charming the customers even when it bores the pants off him. Peter's plan to eject Rob still isn't working.

Starting up a new Cropper storyline, Yay! Sylvia is going to see an old friend on Monday and this is going to lead to a new story for our favourite family! I don't know why Sylvia's so worried about the car not being done "today" when she's not visiting her friend until Monday. Not quite sure why Sylvia is so nervous and fussing over choosing just the right outfit? Just because she didn't like living there? But she said wild horses couldn't have stopped her visiting. Really? She's been away from there well over a year or close to 2 and hasn't visited until now. And we are launched into a new storyline. Sylvia's old friend has found a long lost letter for for her from Roy's father and her ex, St. John (pronounced SinJin) who wants Roy to contact him.

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Corrie A-Z: B is for Bigamy

(This post was originally posted by Llifon on the Coronation Street Blog April 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

While Corrie has always been big on weddings, it has sometimes touched upon the subject of bigamy. The first time it did so was 33 years ago.

The residents were shocked when Emily Bishop announced her engagement to pet shop owner Arnold Swain in 1980 after a whirlwind romance. Many, including Emily herself, thought she was destined to be a widow after the murder of hubby Ernie two years prior.

Their romance began when Arnold became Emily’s client at her secretarial and bookkeeping bureau and over time they became close and he proposed. Although reluctant at first, Emily accepted and became Mrs Swain in September 1980. They settled into married life but within three months it hit a snag. While Emily was looking after Arnold’s shop, an insurance man called by to say that Arnold’s wife Margaret wanted to finish her policy. Emily was stunned to find that Arnold was a bigamist.

When confronted, Arnold’s response was that his marriage to Margaret had ended on their honeymoon back in 1965 but Emily wasn’t having any of it and told him to leave. She reverted to Ernest’s name and put his wedding ring back on. A few months later an unstable Arnold returned. Emily’s rejection had affected him greatly and he wanted them to die in a suicide pact. He held Emily hostage but she managed to escape. Although Arnold fled, he was later arrested and admitted to a mental hospital where he died. He left £2000 to Emily in his will but she used the money to buy a hospital bed.

Twenty one years later the subject of bigamy was revisited. This time, butcher and then-Rovers landlord Fred Elliott was the victim. The serial proposer had proposed to Linda Baldwin’s mother Eve Sykes and they married in 2001. She then persuaded him to buy Mike Baldwin’s and Duggie Ferguson’s share of the pub who were in a partnership with him. They lived in bliss above the Rovers until Fred became suspicious of Eve seeing another man. He confronted the man only to find out he was Eve’s husband Ray Sykes.

Ray and Eve hadn’t bothered to divorce even though they were estranged. Fred and Eve rowed before he threw her out of the pub and their marriage was annulled. It’s fair to say that Fred didn’t have a good marriage record: first wife Sybil died, second wife Maureen left him after a week and third wife Eve turned out to be a bigamist!

Knowing Ken Barlow has a long list of conquests; it was no surprise when his son Peter committed bigamy in 2003. He had been in a relationship with Rovers barmaid Shelley Unwin and decided to marry her. Shelley was aware he’d been in a relationship with another woman but he promised that that was over. Peter and Shelley did marry. But the truth was Peter hadn’t ended his relationship with florist Lucy Richards – he’d actually married her before marrying Shelley. And now Lucy was pregnant with Simon! The only one who knew of Peter’s secret was his step-sister Tracy.

Although Lucy did turn up to see Shelley’s wedding, unaware that it was Peter who was marrying her, the day wasn’t ruined. But Lucy turned up in the Rovers months later and was stunned when she saw Shelley and Peter’s wedding photos. A furious Lucy broke the bad news of Peter’s bigamy to Shelley by showing their wedding photos. Let’s say that Shelley wasn’t pleased and punched Peter in the Rovers to the delight of the Rovers. Peter had planned to join Lucy and baby Simon on their move to Australia but Lucy sought revenge and left without him. This was the first time that viewers had seen both weddings taking place and then following the marriages. In previous bigamy storylines, we’d only seen one side of the story.

Peter’s marriage to Shelley was annulled while he divorced Lucy and left the street, his tail between his legs. He returned to the street in 2008 with Simon after Lucy died of cancer. Shelley had left the street in 2006 so there were no links to his bigamous past.

The following year, bigamy was touched upon in the Mad Maya storyline when Maya Sharma pretended to be Sunita Alahan and married several illegal immigrants in a bid to quash Sunita’s marriage to Maya’s ex, Dev. When that plan failed, she famously burned all of Dev’s shops and nearly killed the Alahans in the process. Maya is later sent to jail for her trial and she has never been mentioned since. 

There has been no bigamy storyline since then. Would you like another one? What about if Dennis Tanner was still married to first wife Jenny and was bigamously married to Rita? Now, there’s an interesting story!

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Hey! Mr Corrie Producer!

(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in May 2013.)

Imagine you found yourself granted an audience with the Coronation Street Producer, Stuart Blackburn. Yes, I know it's highly unlikely, but go on, let your mind run riot for a moment or two.

What would you ask him? Would you be brave enough to offer any advice on what's currently going wrong / going right with our favourite telly programme? 

Personally I hope I would seize the opportunity for all it was worth and go for broke! I'd probably end up being carted away by security but it would be worth it. I'm afraid I would have to ask who in their right mind decided to turn Corrie into Stella Street. Yes, I know that moan isn't new, but it continues to baffle and alarm me in equal measure. To lighten the mood, I'd go on to ask who was responsible for giving her a wardrobe that is consistently 98% beige. 

So I shall now open this question up to you, lovely Coronation Street Blog followers. What would your burning questions for Stuart Blackburn be?

This could be very interesting!



Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Your Corrie heroes and villains of the week

(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in May 2013.)

Yes it's back! Once again it's time to discuss your Corrie heroes and villains of the past week. I found the past week in Weatherfield fairly tedious however there were one or two bright spots as we shall see.

I very nearly went for the delicious Deirdre Barlow as my heroine mainly due to the touch of comedy she brought to the episodes this week. Yes, Deirdre was back in the kitchen attempting coq au vin (from scratch) and passing off Freshco's "Best" chocolate cake as her own. She was rumbled by Carla who quite clearly smokes her own salmon above the Bookies. It was great to see Deirdre sharing scenes away from Tracy-luv - her support for Eileen was great this week.


Anyway, in the end I went for David Platt as my hero of the week. Clearly impending fatherhood is the making of Demon David. He has proved to be a great step-dad to Max and quite obviously dotes on Kylie. This week we saw him man up and take on Kylie's shifts at the Bistro while also taking time to go and buy a cot in preparation for the new arrival. I reckon we should enjoy this new improved placid David as he is sure to hit the roof when the truth is revealed about Nick and his dutiful wife. I just wish he would cut the apron strings and move his young family out from under Ivy Tilsley Mark II's feet!

So now to my villain of the week. Rob Donovan. No contest really. Rob irritates the hell out of me every time he appears on my screen. I really expected more from a character created to play alongside the fabulous Carla Connor. Sorry, but as far as I'm concerned Rob is just plain awful! His is a character we've seen replicated many times before - Joe Carter, Luke Strong, Liam Connor...the list goes on. He is not fit to follow in the footsteps of Mike Baldwin and I hope Peter Barlow soon sees him off.

All he does is wind Peter up continually and it's becoming very stale very quickly. He is all mouth and no trousers <shudder>. And now he has Tracy hanging off him in every scene I just loathe him all the more. Please can someone call Streetcars and have them drive Rob, Tracy and Ryan as far away from Coronation Street as possible? 

So that's all from me, now it's over to you. Let's have your hero(ine) and villain(ess) from the past week in Coronation Street!




Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Where's Audrey?

(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in May 2013.)

What has happened to Audrey Roberts? The fragrant crimper of Weatherfield’s most famous cobbled street appears to have vanished without trace.

I know we haven’t seen much of the Platt-McIntyre’s of late but come on powers that be, give Sue Nicholls a storyline again soon! Stella needs to hutch up a bit and give someone else a bit of air time.

Personally if one character has to dominate, I’d rather like it to be our Aud. She is a classic Corrie woman portrayed by a wonderful actress.

Although I always enjoy seeing Audrey on screen I can’t help but wish the Coronation Street writers would give her something else to do other than become embroiled in more family dramas or entangled with yet more unsuitable men. Yes, i guess what I’m really after is an original plot for one of Corrie’s mature female characters.

Well, a boy can dream.

Are you missing Audrey? What would you like her next storyline to be?



Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Corrie Canada sneak preview week of May 20 - 24

Here's a quick sneak preview for next week's Corrie here on Canadian screens.

For more detail and photos see the Moosejaw Mercury on Corrie.net

 Stella makes Owen an offer and gives Karl and answer. She also takes a temporary job. David's overworking and it results in a recurrence of an old health issue. Now he wants something that makes Kylie and Nick very nervous. Sylvia gets a letter from her ex, Roy's father but will Roy want to know? Izzy seems to be suspicious of Gary's attitude to Tina and row over money. Gary's army reunion has an unexpected and unwanted result. Tim seems to be struggling with parenthood.

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Conversation Street podcast 40

Gemma and Michael's podcast for the episodes in Canada that aired up to last night can be heard here. Don't worry, they don't do spoilers so you won't hear anything you don't want to!

This week Michael and Gemma talk about The Barlow Bookies saga, Stella...Stella...Stella...., Kylie and David, and Kevin's exit. The character profile is all about Peter Barlow, one of my favourite characters. 


You can also subscribe to them on iTunes, Like them on Facebook, and follow them on Twitter (@conversationstr).




Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Fab Photo Leanne

(This post was originally posted by Sunny Jim on the Coronation Street Blog in May 2013, reposted with permission.)

It's Friday again so it's time for this week's fab Coronation Street photo. Leanne's been getting on my nerves a bit this week with her sanctimonious bleating to Peter and St. Ella. So, here's a picture of her from a time in her life which she ought to remember whenever she gets a bit above herself.

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

What's your favourite Corrie wedding?

(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in April 2013.)

There must be more weddings in Weatherfield than anywhere else in the country. In recent years they have grown into epic occasions, often the culmination of big plots, however in days gone by they tended to be more simple, straightforward affairs.

WIth rumour that another Corrie couple are set to tie the knot, (but no spoilers as to who or when!) I thought it would be good to have a wallow in Corrie weddings from the past.

Who can forget Emily's wedding to Ernest Bishop in 1972. The congregation were convinced that our Ernie would fail to show, but Emily had a quiet faith in her husband to be that proved correct. They celebrated with a simple tea in the Community Centre and a jazzed up version of the theme tune over the end credits. Nobody  went to jail or died in a massive explosion. Fancy that.

Then there was Rita's wedding to Len Fairclough in 1977. Ah yes, the only main drama after a will they won't they story lasting five years was a flat tyre delaying Len's arrival at the church. Gail and Suzie Birchall were the pin ups posing for the photographer outside. How times have changed. 

One of my favourite Corrie weddings from the past was Audrey's marriage to Alf Roberts in December 1985. These characters really were the making of each other. Following a registry office wedding, the wedding party retired to the good old Rovers Select where Alf couldn't wait to get his hands on the pies, Mike Baldwin made an inappropriate speech as best man and Phyllis Pearce starred in her own mini love triangle. 

This episode is also close to our hearts as it was the last episode to date where we witnessed Gail showing any clear sign of enjoying herself.



We can't go any further without mentioning Ken and Deirdre's nuptials. First of all there was their more traditional ceremony back in 1981, which proved a worthy rival to Charles and Diana's wedding which took place around the same time. Move forward to 2005 and a similar coincidence occurred. As Ken prepared to marry Deirdre for a second time, Prince Charles walked down the aisle again, on this occasion with Camilla. Of course the second Ken and Deirdre wedding took place in modern times so it could not pass off without a hitch - yes Deirdre's first husband Ray Langton died in the Rovers during the reception. 


It does seem these days that the weddings are becoming more eventful and ostentatious. In days gone by wedding receptions would take place in the Community Centre, the Town Hall or the Rovers Select, whereas these days country houses tend to be the preferred option for our favourite characters. Again, how times have changed. And nothing is ever without incident. Even Rita's most recent union with Dennis Tanner involved her being kidnapped by an evil creature from the Weatherfield underworld (no, not Rob Donovan). 

So cast your minds back please, and tell me which Corrie weddings you remember most fondly and why. 

I shall now sprinkle some imaginary confetti over the blog and retire to the Select for a sweet sherry and a vol au vent. 


Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Fat Brenda's Cream Horn

(This post was originally posted by Fat Brenda on the Coronation Street Blog in May 2013, reposted with permission.)

“Marry me, Stel.”

“Ee ba gum Karl, I durn’t know if ahm redd-ah.”

“I need to know, Stella. I need to know that you love me.”

“Ee bah gum, h’apen ah do love thee Karl but ahm all over’t plerce.” She is all over’t place -and that’s just her accent!

Oh loveys, love is in the air! Romance blooms like them spring flowers that jut up between the cracks in’t pavement and colour the cobbles urine yellow in’t midday sun!

Don't touch the weeds, they make you wee!

There’s Stella and Karl! There’s Eileen who’s managed to get well fit Paul back from’t evil clutches of Yorkshire!

“NOT YORKSHIRE, EILEEN?!”

Yes Yorkshire! It’s nowt but an hour's drive away but it might as well be in Timbuktu the way she went on abut it! Cos d'yer know what? No one travels in Weatherfield! Well that’s not strictly true, folk do travel and then they have these holiday DVDs that they somehow manage to sell in all good retailers! It’s weird!

I tried to film me holiday to the Red Rec and Weatherfield Aquatics Centre on me Orange Apple hi-phone but was anyone interested? No!

How has Eileen managed to keep Paul? He must feel so bad about the death of Leslie that he’s punishing himself by being with Eileen to alleviate the flamin’ guilt!

“Thanks for letting me be a fireman, Eileen.”

She’s very generous in’t she? Aw, thanks for letting me be a switchboard operator Eileen! THANKS FOR THAT! THANKS FOR LETTING ME GO TO THE TOILET EILEEN! THANKS FOR LETTING ME EAT ME OWN CARAMAC EILEEN!

I'm gonna eat this on't bog just to annoy Eileen!

So there’s Eileen and Paul… as I’ve mentioned, and Karl and Stella and there’s Tracy and Rob who must be the only two people in history to go in’t nick and come out with posher accents! D’yer reckon they got them electrocution lessons that help you talk like you’ve a plum in yer gob? Back when Tracy used to listen to her Bros tapes in her room for months on end and take them hecstacy tabletty things she was all “Eyar, mam an’ that innit an’ that!”

Ryan and Katy are in love (don’t fall asleep loveys, they are interesting – honest!) and their story is very moving. Boy meets girl, girl is with a miserable moaner who ignores his partner's wishes and gives money to his sister who’s on’t run with a suspected domestic abuser, girl gets job in local kebab shop, boy teaches girl how to fill her pitta, girl gets bored of being moaned at by ginger fella, boy… I’m bored just typing this… and it’s chipping me nail polish!

And last but not least there’s Gary and Tina! He dun’t half fancy her! I see him looking at her the same way I look at chocolate finger – all lustful!

Talking of lust, did I tell you I went to Doctor Carter’s pain clinic last Friday? Oh loveys, it’s not even half as exciting as it sounds! I thought, oooh belting, an hour with Doctor Carter, walking the tightrope between pain and pleasure; doing all sorts of weird tutti frutti stuff wi’ paraphernalia an’ that; Fifty Shades of Grey with me as Anastasia Steele and him as Christian! I mean, I’m not into owt like that but I’ll try it the once and see how I feel.

Ooh Doctor Carter! Me nethers...

Anyhow, I sprayed meself liberally with me Yardley Black Lace and went in, “I’m ready Doctor Carter” I said pulling me Juicy velour tracky bottoms down… I looked up and there’s Sylvia sat with a look of horror on her face at me flashing me best thong off to every OAP in flamin’ Weatherfield! Fifty Shades of Grey hair it was, loveys! I was mortified! I had to pretend me nethers were hurting to avoid any more embarrassment and he saw me behind a screen and said he din’t see owt unusual down there – so at least that’s summat.

This is me Yardley - honest!

I can’t wait for’t Rovers to open again. I hate the Bistro, the (Ben) prices are outrageous!

Kylie’s had her scan and I can confirm that it’s definitely human… I know there’s been debate.

I like the way Rob says stuff like “footfall” and looks at pieces of paper in a knowing way cos he he thinks it makes him look like a businessman; like he knows what he’s taking about! It dun’t wash wi’ me! He knows nowt! A business course in Strangeways prison?! The only course he’s ever done is a course of antibiotics!

Poor Bill Webster and his dicky ticker, he’s had one too many of Pam’s manky butties!

Anyhow, I'm off for a Dunhill so I'll see you later or summat... bye!

Tweeter!

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Jason and his gimlet

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog May 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

I don't know about you but I had to google to find out what a gimlet is.  And here it is, it's a thing for making holes.  Not a giblet, a gimlet. So now we know.

According to dictionary.com, a gimlet is "a small tool for boring holes, consisting ofa shaft with a pointed screw at one end and a handle perpendicular to the shaft at the other. Mind you, it could also be "a cocktail made with gin or vodka, sweetened lime juice, and sometimes soda water."

Is that the first time the word gimlet has been used on Coronation Street? Maybe we should try to get Corrie to write in a word of our choice from the Coronation Street Blog? Many years ago on the usenet group rec.arts.tv.uk.coronation-st we put a challenge to the writers to include the word 'melange' in the script and it did turn up! It's an unlikely word to be heard on Corrie and especially as the person who said it was Vera Duckworth too.

So what with melange and gimlet, what other words should appear randomly in the script? Oh go on, let's see if we can get them to write it in, just for us.    I suggest the word funicular.




Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

State of the Street - April 2013

Looking back on the month of April we've had a few frustrating storylines worth a rant or a nitpick. I've speculated on how I'd like the surrogate story to turn out and expressed a modicum of sympathy for Faye. There's the pain of watching Karl flail around trying to cover his tracks and suck up his guilt.

Peter and Carla are finally back on the front burner and as much of a misery as Leanne can be, I will look forward to this one. And I've gone all pedantic over the two current pregnancies.

To read more about it, check it out over here.



Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Coronation Street Chit-Chat: Corrie news catch-up

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog April 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Here we go with Coronation Street chit-chat, a catch-up of some of the shorter news stories that have been happening but haven't made it into their own blog post.  And so, here we go.

Current Corrie cast
Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow) opens a horse sanctuary.  
Lisa George (Beth Tinker) opens a bank.
Michelle Collins (Stella Price) opens a kitchen and bathroom showroom.  She also opens a beauty salon.
Kym Lomas (Michelle Connor) launches a Corrie competition in Irish Tesco.
Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs) and Lucy-Jo Hudson (Katy Harris) are expecting baby girl
Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) hopes for door left open when she leaves Corrie and is voted world's sexiest woman.
Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Stape) talks about her nomination for British Soap Award best on-screen partnership
Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald) forgets where he packs his car and thinks it's been nicked.
Catherine Tyldesley (Eva Price) on beauty and boyfriends
Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow) on learning from his on-screen son Simon (Alex Bain).

Ex-Corrie cast
Bruno Langley (Todd Grimshaw) on stage in The Mousetrap
Suranne Jones (Karen McDonald) on Norris getting lost in her boobage
Judy Holt (Lesley Kershaw) raises awareness for Alzheimer's Disease


Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Sue Cleaver in plaster after Coronation Street injury

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog April 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

When you saw this scene of Eileen Grimshaw on Coronation Street running along a train platform last night, spare a thought for the actress who plays her, Sue Cleaver.

While filming the scenes of Eileen rushing along the train platform trying to stop fireman Paul from leaving, Sue did herself a mischief.

Speaking to TV Choice, (by way of Digital Spy)  Sue  said: "It's like Brief Encounter because Paul's on a train and Eileen's chasing up the platform.

"Unfortunately, I got a bit enthusiastic during filming, tore my Achilles tendon and have been in plaster for a few weeks. It's only just come off."

Ah, so that explains this picture of Sue Cleaver using a crutch and hanging on to cast member John Michie, who plays Karl Munro, last month.

You can follow us on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook