Different directions on Coronation Street (Speculation, Rumours and one or two SPOILERS)

(This post was originally posted by Clinkers (David) on the Coronation Street Blog in July 2012.)


There are some storyline possible SPOILERS below as well as some speculation and rumours mentioned.  (but the blog post was too good not to re-post here!)

OK, hands up, guilty as charged m'lord. I'm one of the bloggers who, when the wind is blowing in the right direction, can happily (Julie) carp on about storylines and characters. I've ranted about the car crash that is Tracy Barlow/McDonald/Whatever and the life-crushing slice of misery known as Tina McIntyre. But enough.

At the moment Corrie is showing signs of steering away from the obvious. You know what I mean - plot devices employed by some dramas that may as well be signposted and decked out in flashing lights. Any easy one to anticipate on the distant horizon might be the coming together of Tyrone and Fiz. On paper it looks like an easy fix. Match up two old mates with a bit of history, both single parents and both characters who are popular with viewers. What's the betting though that the powers-that-be take us in a completely different direction? If rumours are to believed (and let's face it, we are suckers for a juicy rumour) Fiz may come to harm in a cheery festive gas leak storyline. With Tyrone as the cause of the trouble, this could drive a wedge between the two of them for years to come.

The Maria-Marcus relationship is another little twist, just as we settled down to the prospect of Mrs Connor settling down with meat-head Jason. Thankfully, we have the rather good Charlie Condou at the heart of this storyline so expect a bucketload of angst any day now.

Spanish night at Roy's Rolls could also be the making of Mary. Full marks to storyliners and writers for moving away from the somewhat tedious Mad Mary plots by making her a little more human. If she is to have any staying power in the Street, Mary has to be brought in from the cold.

One story which could be a winter warmer is the 'normal service has been resumed' version of Owen. The smug little family set up with Anna, the perpetually vacant-looking Izzy and explosive Gary could never last. Again, if rumours are to be believed, the Owen is going to get nasty with Tina (hurrah for that!) I'll be cheering on from a distance.

So how about it, storyliners? Why not take Tina in a different direction? Michelle Keegan is a talented actress so why not give her a fresh, positive, hopeful approach in 2013? As it is, she exists merely to snarl and whinge. She's a young biddy, an Ivy Tilsley in the making and a bit of a bore. Let's have a fun Tina and Tommy in the New Year. Or kill them off with a double dose of Deirdre's stuffed marrow and Victoria sponge 'cake'.


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New Corrie studio building to be demolished and rebuilt

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog October 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

There's a story in today's Manchester Evening News that says one of Coronation Street's new studio buildings is to be pulled down and rebuilt after a problem with the construction of a roof.

Corrie bosses insist it will only result in a ‘slight’ delay to the completion of the Corrie studios and are still aiming to make the move from the current Quay Street site next autumn.

A spokeswoman for ITV said: “ITV’s construction manager, Mace has recommended a rebuild of two steel structure areas on the new Coronation Street site. Construction of the main building and the Coronation Street lot, continues uninterrupted, as does production of the show at the current Quay Street site and we remain on track to begin ITV’s move to the new MediaCityUK base in the autumn.”


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Paul O’Grady launches court action against Corrie musical producers

This just in today from The Stage, another chapter in the long-running saga that is the Coronation Street musical Street of Dreams. It's like a soap opera all of its own.

Paul O’Grady’s management company has begun legal proceedings against the producers of the postponed Coronation Street musical Street of Dreams. Reckless Entertainment, the company behind the musical, pulled the show, which starred O’Grady, just two days into a planned arena tour in May this year.

Now BM Creative Management Limited, which represents O’Grady, has launched a bid to have Reckless Entertainment wound up through a court order.

It continues: “Winding-up does not mean that the creditors of the company will necessarily get paid. The purpose of winding-up a company is to ensure that all the company’s affairs have been dealt with properly.”
The Insolvency Service also warns that costs may also be awarded against a company serving the petition, if the court believes it has “used the winding-up procedure inappropriately, where the company has good reason for saying it does not owe the money”.

BM Creative Management and Reckless Entertainment refused to comment.


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Nigel Pivaro's tribute to Bill Tarmey

Nigel Pivaro, who played Coronation Street's Terry Duckworth, has written a moving tribute to Bill Tarmey, who passed away this week. 

Nigel now works as a journalist and writes a tribute to Bill, who played his on-screen Corrie dad, Jack Duckworth.

Nigel reveals the chemistry between Bill Tarmey and himself when filming Duckworth family scenes and admits things didn't always run smoothly behind-the-scenes. 

It's an insightful piece and worth reading.



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Corrie chit chat

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog October 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

It's about time we had another 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
Paula Lane (Kylie Platt) opened a new Poundland store.
Sol Heras (Ryan Connor) says his scenes are like those in a Carry on film.
Catherine Tyldesley (Eva Price) is worried that topless photos she once sent to a now ex-boyfriend will turn up online.

Ex-Corrie cast
Bruno Langley (Todd Grimshaw) on being back on stage in The Mousetrap.
James Roache (Ken Barlow's grandson) confirms he'll not be returning to Corrie.



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Will the new Corrie producer axe cast members?

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog October 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

There's was non-story in a recent Daily Star that quotes "a cast member" and "a Corrie source" saying that cast are fearing new producer Stuart Blackburn coming in next year in case he wants to sack a load of them.

I hope he does.

The Star quotes one cast member saying:  “There’s three groups of stars on Corrie – the untouchables like Barbara Knox, Bill Roache and Eileen Derbyshire, the long-term contractors and sexy ones like Kym Marsh  and Michelle Keegan. And then there’s the rest of us. Most people are either on six-month contracts or one-year contracts, so we all know any of us could be on our way out the door within weeks of him arriving. Whenever a new producer starts you get called into their office to meet them and discuss your ­character – if you get called in for a second time it’s not good news!”

The source added: “There’s a lot of worried people here and agents are all trying to get their stars longer contracts before he starts."

I suspect this story is a load of piffle to be honest but let's go with its theme. If you were Stuart Blackburn, coming in as new producer to Coronation Street and wanting to make a mark on the show - who would you sack?  Top of my hit list would be St Ella.

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State of the Street - October

(This post was originally posted on the Coronation Street Blog October 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

It's Hallowe'en and it's the end of the month. That means it's time again to chat about some of the storylines that we saw on Corrie this month.

Lloyd's got a new love and family and that's wonderful for this fan! I'm happy to see the return of Wendy Crozier.  I've loved the cafe international theme nights, much to my surprise and I'm interested to see how the Marcus and Maria romance will play out. Kirsty and Tyrone keep me glued to the screen, too.

Lewis? meh. Pub of the year? A bit flat aside from Dennis' shenanigans.  Tracy and Ryan? Bleurgh! 

It's been a mixed bag of stories this month. Read more about it here.


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Michael Le Vell interview, Sophie Webster in intensive care

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog October 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Over the last two episodes on Coronation Street saw yet another road accident and this time it's Sophie Webster who's been knocked down, run over and shipped to hospickle in intensive care.

Michael Le Vell, who plays Sophie's dad Kevin Webster, is interview in The Radio Times where he talks about Sophie accident. Ryan Connor's involved in Sophie's road crash, as you knew he would be.  Sophie gets knocked over after pulling Ryan back from the brink of disaster following a drunken bender. After scoring some coke and starting a fight, Ryan is a man on the edge. High on drugs, he starts to play chicken on a dual carriageway, but it’s Sophie that’s the one left badly injured. To make matters even worse, Ryan flees the scene of the accident once the ambulance arrives.

Michael tells Radio Times: “The hospital tells Kevin and Sally that Sophie has suffered a fracture to her spine and that she faces an operation. They will only know whether there is any significant nerve damage once they operate. The doctors explain that no operation is 100 per cent safe and that, because they will be working so close to Sophie’s spinal cord, that there is added risk involved. They can’t tell Kevin at that point whether or not Sophie will be able to walk again. This latest news tears Kevin’s world apart.”

“Sophie tells Kevin and Sally straight away what happened to her. She confirms that Ryan was being stupid and playing in the road. But what Sophie does not want to do is involve the police. She begs Kevin and Sally not to reveal Ryan’s identity and tells them that Ryan is her friend.

Michael also talks about whether Sophie's accident will bring Kevin and Sally even closer. Read the full interview at the Radio Times.


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Krissi Bohn has Corrie contract extended

Krissi Bohn has Corrie contract extended

Coronation Street newcomer Krissi Bohn, who plays Lloyd's daughter Jenna, has had her Corrie contract renewed for another six months.  

Posting to twitter, Krissi wrote:

How massively exciting - contract extended by another six months!!!! Wahoo!!! #corrie

And when we tweeted back from @corostreetblog to say congratulations, she told us:
thank you! I love being Lloyd's daughter!!  

I'm enjoying what I've seen of Jenna so far on Corrie. I love the fact she's very much Lloyd's daughter - a bit cheeky, headstrong, funky, with a heart of gold.  I just hope the writers don't set her up with Jason Grimshaw too soon because every girl on the cobbles seems to have to cop off with him. 

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We say good bye to Bill Tarmey aka Jack Duckworth

It is with great sadness that the Coronation Street and Bluenose Corrie Blogs have to announce the death of one of Corrie's most well loved actors - Bill Tarmey. Between 1979 and 2010 he played the loveable rogue Jack Duckworth and enjoyed a wonderful partnership with Liz Dawn, who played his wife Vera. He'd also been an extra on the show since the early 1970s.

Bill managed to create a wonderful and cherished character, loved by millions across the UK, Ireland and abroad.

A testament of this was the fact that Jack came out on top in our poll to find the greatest Corrie character.

Sad news indeed.

The Guardian have a moving obituary in which they quote a wonderful phrase from Bill:

"I'm just an ordinary guy who got really lucky."

Read about Bill Tarmey's life in The Guardian's obituary, written by Dennis Barker, here

There is also an excellent article on the BBC news with tributes from some of the current Corrie cast who worked closely with Bill, and from Liz Dawn who played Vera Duckworth.

There's another tribute to Bill here from William Roache as well.


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Anne Kirkbride's art work goes up for sale

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog October 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Artwork by Anne Kirkbride, who plays Coronation Street's Deirdre Barlow, has gone up for sale.

There's an exhibition on at the Wendy J Levy Contemporary Art Gallery in Didsbury where Anne's paintings are currently on display.

The Wendy Levy gallery is a select and friendly gallery showing original paintings, drawings and sculpture by well-known artists. 

Anne's paintings will be on show until Friday 19 October.

All of Anne's paintings are for sale so check them out here.


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Fab Photo Punchups

(This post was originally posted by Sunny Jim on the Coronation Street Blog in August 2012.)

It's Friday again so it's time for this week's fab Coronation Street photo. Congratulations to Corrie extra Nicola Adams on winning Gold at the Olympics but she's not the only woman to have trodden the hallowed cobbles who can pack a punch.

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Bring back Tricia Hopkins to cheer up Corrie's Gail

Ex-Coronation Street actor Kathy Jones, who played Gail's mate Tricia Hopkins, is one of the many people I follow on twitter.  This week I gave Kathy a #ff on twitter - she's at @KathyJones_ and in that tweet I said I'd love to see her back on Corrie as Tricia, even just for a flying visit to cheer up Gail.

Kathy replied to say: "Oh thank you so much for the #ff and thank you too for the 'bring Tricia back' comment. x I'm willing if they are. x"

So there you are, Corrie.  Let's have Tricia back to put a smile on Gail's face.   Kathy was recently seen interviewed on The Corrie Years which has been shown over the last few weeks.  You can see her in action in the Gail Potter section starting here at 1'.12" via YouTube.

Kathy Jones' website is here.

See also: Tricia Hopkins, Corrie pin up of the week circa 1975

See also: Tricia Hopkins - then and now



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Corrie originals - Doreen Keogh as Concepta Riley/Hewitt/Regan

First appeared: 23rd December 1960

Last appeared: 31st December 1975

Doreen Keogh played the role of original Rovers barmaid Concepta Riley/Hewitt/Regan between 1960 and 1964 and made guest appearances in 1967, 1972 and 1975.

Born in Dublin circa 1926, Keogh was trained at the Abbey Theatre School in Dublin before moving to London. She secured roles in repertory theatre and made her TV debut in Lady Precious Stream in 1950. For the remainder of the 1950s, she concentrated on her theatre career and didn’t return to TV screens until an appearance in Emergency Ward Ten in 1960. That year, she was cast in the role of 34 year old Rovers barmaid Concepta Riley in new drama serial Coronation Street. During her time on the cobbles, Concepta’s storylines included marrying Harry Hewitt in 1961; giving birth to son Christopher the following year; having a fraught relationship with stepdaughter Lucille; marriage problems with Harry; and Christopher being kidnapped by an unstable Joan Akers in 1962. Although she was the first Rovers barmaid, she only stayed in the post until she married Harry and became a housewife and mother. In 1964, in a bid to revamp the show by getting rid of deadwood characters, new young producer Tim Aspinall axed the whole Hewitt family. Lucille was salvaged as ITV bosses felt a street without children was unreal. Harry, Concepta and Christopher were written out in August 1964 when they all moved to Ireland where Harry took over the garage of Concepta’s father. Upon her departure from Coronation Street, Keogh had a one-off appearance in new Midlands soap Crossroads. While Harry visited Lucille in 1965, it wasn’t until 1967 that Concepta visited for the wedding of Steve and Elsie Tanner. Upon their visit, Harry was crushed to death under a van, leaving Concepta a widow. She left again for Ireland. Keogh returned to the role in 1972 when Concepta announced to Annie Walker and Lucille that she was getting married to Sean Regan who also came to introduce himself. Upon his visit, Sean made a pass at Bet Lynch. Bet didn’t tell Concepta who married Sean that year. Concepta visited the street for the final time in 1975 and admitted to Annie that she was aware that Sean slept around but still loved him. Overall, Keogh appeared in 321 episodes in total.

Since her departure from Coronation Street, Keogh has secured many acting roles over the years including in Z Cars (1974), Minder (1984) and Play for Today (1974-1984). In 1989, she was cast in the role of Mary O’Hanlon in new Irish soap opera Fair City, a role she would play until 1995. In 1998, she appeared in two episodes of hit Irish sitcom Father Ted. She also starred in Irish drama series Ballykissangel as Imelda Egan between 1997 and 1999. Additionally she’s had roles in comedy The Royle Family (1998-2006), comedy-drama Cold Feet (1998-2003), hospital drama Holby City (2004) and made her latest TV appearance in drama Cutting It (2005). She appeared in Irish film How About You in 2007. Keogh as appeared as herself in various Coronation Street linked programmes like Classic Coronation Street (1991), Life after the Street (2001) and Coronation Street Secrets (2003). 

Keogh currently lives in County Wicklow, Ireland. She has been married twice and during her time on Corrie in the 1960s she enjoyed a romance with on-screen husband Ivan Beavis (Harry Hewitt).

Have you ever seen or met Doreen Keogh? Have you any pieces of trivia about her? Would you like Concepta to visit Weatherfield? Who'd remember her -  only Ken, Emily, Dennis? Maybe some of the other veterans remembered her from her visits in the 1970s. What do you think?

Research from Wikipedia, Corrie Net, IMDB and Corriepedia.

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Yay or Nay - should Kevin Webster have a shave?

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog October 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

To beard or not to beard? That is the question.

Should Kevin Webster shave his Coronation Street beard off - or is there anyone out there who likes it and thinks it should stay?

If you remember, Kevin had his moustache shaved off once at a party on the Street. Two brownie points to anyone who can remember who did it?

Have a look at more hirstute Corrie men here.


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