There are no secrets in Weatherfield

(This post was originally posted by Clinkers (David) on the Coronation Street Blog in February 2013.)

Here we are then, yet another Corrie 'bombshell', another 'explosive' week for the residents blah blah blah. Realistically though, it feels as though there is little drama to be wrenched out of this whole affair. Rovers burns? We know. Sunita meets her maker? Yes we know that too. Hastily written-in character perishes? Yes, we'll tick that particular box as well. Everything we need to know about the entire saga has already been laid bare which brings about the question - does secrecy have more value?

Nowadays it's the norm for all TV dramas to unveil plotlines weeks before they air. Ok, they sometimes roll out that tedious 'we've filmed two endings' nonsense which fools no one, especially as most media outlets will have named the departing actor anyway. It's not often that soap producers can keep a secret. In terms of Corrie, possibly the last one of any note was Raquel's surprise visit to Curly back in 2000. ITV took this very seriously, even going as far as taking the actors to an off-location set so that their colleagues did not get wind of the plot. Away from Corrie, the producers of BBC Radio 4's The Archers managed to keep quiet about the killing-off of a major character on the programme's sixtieth anniversary programme.

In the media savvy twenty first century it would be a difficult job but it would be rather special if Corrie could offer up a story with a twist which has not been signposted for weeks on end. It could be anything - a death, an unknown character trait, a confession - that part isn't particularly important. The dramatic potential of a quick, shocking moment could pay dividends. Just for once, play a trick on us all. Leave us gasping in surprise or recoiling in shock as something totally unexpected happens. Come on Team Corrie - accept the Coronation Street Blog Challenge!



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