New Corrie star George Banks on being Gemma's Rockefella

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


There's a good interview with George Banks, who is the new addition to Coronation Street, playing Henry Newton.  Or as I like to think of him, playing Rockefella to Gemma's Cinderella.

Radio Times have the interview in which George says he was over joyed to find out he'd got the role in Corrie. He says: "I couldn’t believe it! I found out I had an audition on the Monday and then I came up on the Wednesday. I hadn’t heard by the weekend, so I thought I hadn’t got it, but my agent called me very early in the morning telling me I got the part. I told my wife not to tell anyone else – I really wanted to keep it a secret and try and watch the episode with my family, but I thought better of it and let the cat out of the bag.

"I left drama school in 2009 and I’ve done lots of theatre and plays that I’ve really loved and enjoyed. But doing TV was the scary new thing that I hadn’t done properly before. My first scene was with Malcolm Hebden [Norris] in the Kabin and he was very funny – he knew I was nervous but he was wonderful. Everyone here is so lovely to work with and I just settled right in.

You can read the full interview here.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Why Gemma and Henry could be classic Corrie gold

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


One of the highlights of Coronation Street, for this fan, right now is the Gemma and Henry storyline. Henry, or 'Newt' as he's known to his friends, will of course turn out to be Henry Newton.  

And if that name sounds familiar, then it should.  

Henry Newton is heir to the Newton part of the Newton & Ridley brewery who supplies the beers to all the best backstreet pubs in the Manchester area, the Rovers Return included.

But Gemma doesn't know this yet. She has no idea who Henry is, only that she fancies him. And he fancies her. What's not to like?

Well, the previews already tell us that Liz will be the one to rain on Gemma's parade when she tells her who her new fella is. Gemma goes into a slump, thinking that she's nowhere near good enough for Newt.

I say, give it time and let's hope Gemma and Newt end up behind the bar of the Rovers together. Now wouldn't that be something? Gemma as the new Bet Lynch!

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter