Corrie Canada weekly awards for Jan. 13 - 17

Fashion WHAT? Nick's workout gear.

Green Eyed Monster award: Peter. He got what he wanted in the end though.

Oh, Grow Up award: Tracy and Liz exchanging insults like 13 year olds.

Worst Idea Ever: Deirdre hates Rob. So of course Tracy wants to move him in!

Time Warp award: From when Carla gave Roy the keys and sent him off to get his bag, there was time enough for Peter and Tina to go through round two, get dressed again, for Tina to sort out her hair and for Hayley to wake up and have a proper conversation with Carla.

Both Barrels award: Not only did Rob and Tracy do some prime cooking for Deirdre but they brought her a free telly from the shop.

Mad Cow award: Tracy trying to frighten her mother into letting Rob move in.
Runner up, Liz roughing Peter up in the Gents'! Wonderful stuff from writer Mark Wadlow!

I want one of those award: Tea towel... Keep Calm and Kill Zombies!

Doctor Who reference: Roy's brain really is like a TARDIS!

Appropriate image: Carla as Medusa. Yes, I can see it.


Lines of the week:
Deirdre "...without you shoving yer sexuality in me face while I'm eating me boiled egg"
Maddie "If it isn't Saint Sophie"
Carla "Why can't everyone just get on?" Peter "Drop the hippie act, it don't suit ya"
Deirdre about Rob in his pants "I've seen better. But...I've seen a lot worse!"
Tracy "Most parents would be chuffed to bits that their offspring wanted to hang out with them" Deirdre "Most parents don't have offspring like you!" (Whoah, the worm has turned!)
Carla "Do I look like I take sugar, Roy?" and about a quiet new year "saves waking up in a puddle of your own regret"
Tina "What've we done?" (and you've done it twice)
Deirdre "All this is outweighed by one simple fact. I don't like him"
Tina "I hate women who sleep with married men"
Eileen "Any self respecting flea would have bogged off to warmer climes"
Hayley "I won't see the daffodils or the poppies but I'll still smell the roses"
Jason "Cheer up, you never know what's round the corner" Sean "That's what worries me, J-boy!"
Kylie "One door gets slammed in your face, another one gets kicked in. That's just the way the mop flops"
Tina "Unless we've got a future, take your hand off my face" Peter "Depends on what you mean by future" (and that in a nutshell is a typical married man's response.)


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Pearl anniversay of a pearl's departure

(This post was originally posted by Llifon on the Coronation Street Blog in January 2013.)

One of our commenters on Graeme's blog post about Corrie exits, has requested this blog post – so here it is!

Today is the 30th anniversary of Elsie Tanner’s final departure from Coronation Street. For some of you, you may be shocked that it was 30 years ago!

It could be said that Elsie’s departure was a milestone for Corrie in a sense that it was bidding a proper goodbye to a legend – and on-screen as well. While the characters of Martha Longhurst, Valerie Barlow and Ernest Bishop were well-loved and popular, they weren’t regarded as Corrie greats like Elsie, Annie Walker and Ena Sharples were. And also Corrie had never said a proper goodbye to its big characters before this. Jack Walker, Minnie Caldwell, Ena Sharples, Len Fairclough and Annie Walker had all been written out of the programme off-screen due to death, ill health or scandal. Pat Phoenix herself left the programme for the first time in 1973 without any notice and it was quickly written that Elsie had got a job in Newcastle. A decade later, the writers were given a chance to give a proper goodbye to Elsie and in my opinion; it’s one of the best exits in Corrie history. 

Things had changed in Corrie in those ten years – those new characters in 1973 like Deirdre, Bet, Rita, Mavis and Alf were now very well established so the production team weren’t in a panic when Pat Phoenix announced that she was leaving in late 1983 – the show was in safe hands.

Viewers were left with two questions: why was Pat Phoenix leaving and how?

At the time, some believed it was the fact that Peter Adamson had been sacked and so Len Fairclough was being written out of the show. As you know, Elsie and Len had a close friendship and even though Len had tried many times to get Elsie to be his wife, she refused, saying she preferred him to be her friend rather than a husband. This close friendship sometimes caused tension between Len and wife Rita and between Rita and Elsie. And when Len married Rita in 1977, Pat Phoenix failed to attend filming of the wedding, stating that she felt that a part of Elsie’s character was disappearing with Len getting married.

As Adele Rose told Sean Egan in his book Coronation Street: The (Very) Unofficial Story: “The value of their relationship was always in the spikiness underneath the genuine affection they had for each other. It was far more profitable in terms of story and character to keep them with the love-hate relationship going on. He was the one who could say things to her that nobody else could and vice versa. If we ever brought it to any kind of conclusion, that would have been the end of both the characters' value to the show.” Many believed that Elsie and Len would be written out together, but producer Bill Podmore announced that Len’s exit had been written before Phoenix gave her notice.

Another possible reason for her departure was the fact that she didn’t want to enter old age on the show. She feared that Elsie would morph into Ena Sharples or Annie Walker, and she didn’t want that! She also wasn’t happy with the stories that were given to her. Despite being in her fifties, she still wanted to be involved with young, attractive men but it wasn’t reality. In fact, when she announced she was leaving, it felt it was at the right time. It felt the character was coming to an end.

As for how she’d leave, leaving with Len was out of the question. What about Dennis or Linda returning for their mother’s exit?

But as it turned out, the writers and production team had worked out a plausible exit storyline. Elsie’s old flame from 1961 Bill Gregory returned to the street to visit Rita after Len died in a car crash in December. Thinking Elsie was still in Newcastle with hubby Alan Howard, Bill was shocked when the neighbours told him that she was back at N°11. They reunited after 13 years (Elsie had rebuffed Bill for Alan in 1970) and Bill tells her about his wonderful life in Portugal as asks her to join him. Although she refused at first, Bill failed to back down and Elsie agreed in the end. She did a moonlight flit and took her photographs of Linda and Dennis and wrote a few letters and put her keys through the Barlows’ letterbox. She then reminisced about her catfights with Annie Walker and Ena Sharples and telling off Dennis. It was a great piece of writing! When the cab driver asked her when she’d be returning, Elsie gave a knowing smile and said: “Ah, now there’s a question!”.

Elsie never did return. Any chances of her returning were dashed two years later when Pat Phoenix announced she was dying of cancer. There have been rumours that she left the programme because she knew she had cancer. But who knows? Twenty seven years after last appearance, we found out about Elsie’s fate post-cobbles. She married Bill and they lived a very happy life in the Algarve. They both died in 2004 when their car flew off a cliff and were holding each other’s hands when they were found. A Hollywood ending for a woman who led a Hollywood lifestyle!

And there we are, the story of the departure of a classic Corrie character – the first siren and femme fatale. She’s not remembered for any accessory like Hilda or Bet but for her love life and the kind of storylines that we crave for these days!

Mrs Tanner, we salute you – a true Corrie and TV icon!

And to keep you entertained during the wet weather, why not sit down and watch this classic episode from the 4th of January 1984 below. Did you watch it first time round? What did you think when Pat Phoenix announced her departure? Let us know - we'd love to hear!

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Review: Coronation Street 2013 - deaths, births, snogs and Blackpool

Relive the Coronation Street year of 2013 through our fun, fan blog posts. 

What were your own highs and lows of Corrie this year? 

Find out what happened earlier this year in January 2013, February 2013, March 2013, April 2013, May 2013, June 2013, July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013, November 2013, December 2013




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Conversation Street podcast 76

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!

Michael and Gemma wrap up 2013 with the New Year's episodes. There's no character profile this week. Topics discussed include Peter and Tina's affair, David and Kylie finally coming to terms and Hayley's sad decline.




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Coronation Street review - December 2013

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

Here we go with our annual review of Coronation Street month-by-month, all wrapped up in a little reminder of what's gone on in Weatherfield this year.

December 2013
Carla and Peter get wed; Hayley’s given weeks to live; Peter fancies Tina; Sean fancies Todd; Tim takes up window cleaning;  Kal arrives; Andrea arrives; Maddie arrives;  Brian leaves; Dennis and Gloria grow close; the nativity play and drunken parent storyline gets recycled: “Don’t worry” says little Simon “this happens every year.”
   
Best gift of the month:  Rita and Norris buy Norris a new coat, so the nosy parker’s in a parka.
 
Unseen prop of the month: the Morecambe Bay corkscrew 

Bitch of the month:
Dennis:  “I used to rub  shoulders with the movers and the shakers, back in the day.”
Rita: “When I met you, you were rubbing shoulders with the winos and the drunks."
Ouch.

Find out what happened earlier this year in January 2013, February 2013, March 2013, April 2013, May 2013, June 2013, July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013, November 2013


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Peter and Tina: An affair to forget?

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

It was with a sudden jolt the other evening that I realised how much I currently hate Peter Barlow. Yes, before you say it, I know he's a fictitious character in a television drama and that it's meant to be an exaggerated version of real plodding life, but I can't help wishing he would just get out of my sight.

I know Peter is just the latest in a long line of Weatherfield residents to commit adultery and I'm not going to go all holier than thou on that one. However, well, let's be honest, the man has only just married for the fifth time! The current infatuation with young enough to be his daughter Tina McIntyre seems to have sprung up from nowhere (as it were) and it is just totally seedy.

Of course the writers have it planned out that just as Peter cheats again, Carla is showing her human, fragile soft side as she cares and frets for poor Hayley. The contrast between these scenes the other evening was almost too much to bear. I cringed as Peter sat with the Croppers in the Rovers, showing a complete disinterest as he pined for Tina. What a creep!

It was good to see Liz warning him off in the Rovers' gents the other night, however I don't totally agree with her that's it's mostly Peter's fault. He may be twice Tina's age, but she hasn't really tried that hard to stay away from him has she? I know this is part of the grand plan for Tina so that she's alienated as many people as possible before she finally leaves in the summer. It's just all a bit much.

Tina the temptress has hardly had five minutes to get over Tommy's sudden departure and now she's snogging the face off both Peter and Rob. Who's next on her hit list, Norris? Before Tommy there was Graeme (thankfully not me) and David Platt and not that long ago she was fighting off an amorous Gary Windass. However I guess her one redeeming feature is that, unlike Peter Barlow, she hasn't married them all as well.

I do feel sorry for Carla as I think Hayley's death will really hit her hard. On top of that, any revelations about Peter and Tina may just push her too far. I'm loving Alison King's portrayal at the moment, she's a terrific actress and Carla is developing nicely mainly thanks to her blossoming friendship with the Croppers.

Another character who will suffer as a result of this affair is poor little Simon. Has there ever been a worse upbringing for a Corrie child than the one Simon has had to endure? He is constantly stuck in the middle of Nick and Leanne and Peter and Carla. Not a pretty place to be. I do wonder when the writers are going to follow up on Simon's bullying storyline as that seemed to climax and then peter out (pardon the expression). Surely Peter would be concentrating on his son at this time and his new wife, rather than chasing Tina hither and thither.

However, what do I know? Illicit affairs and secrets are the foundation stone of the modern soap opera so this latest story just carries on a grand tradition. Is it really what you want to watch five times a week though? I'm not sure I do.


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Eva Price vs Bet Lynch

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in December 2013.)

While commenting elsewhere this morning and mentioning Eva's qualities, it occurred to me that she's a bit similar to a young Bet Lynch. I know that's kind of sacreligious, comparing a newcomer to a legend - but hear me out.

When Bet first appeared, she was leggy and blonde and gorgeous. She wasn't overly ambitious, was out for a good time, could attract the fellas but she couldn't keep them long. She had opinions and let everyone know it and her temper sometimes got her into trouble. Over time as she became part of the Rovers' fixtures and fittings, it was only logical that she eventually had a shot at being the licensee, which she proceeded to stuff up. Alec Gilroy bailed her out and married her. She pulled herself up a little higher into the respectability cloud with her newfound status but eventually, after Alec left and she ran the pub for a few years on her own, turned on her leopard spotted tail and left. It turned out she wasn't very good at managing the pub and the books showed it. Bet had some street smarts but wasn't at the top of the IQ heap.

Eva is a leggy, gorgeous blonde. She's not university material but she'll do ok. She can attract fellas but so far, hasn't been able to keep them very long. They have mostly been following "If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with" camp, using her until someone better comes along. That might be different with Jason. I think Jason really cares about her for who she is. She's also not a long reach from his most recent ex, Rosie, though I think she's got a few more clues than our Miss Webster.  I think Eva has a touch more glamour about her than Bet as well.

These days, most of the younger actors don't stay in one role for a long time, however, so it's probably a moot point. But in my fantasy world of Corrie speculation, I can see it clearly. She's feisty and ballsy, she's a bit brassy and definitely opinionated. She's a bit too impulsive for her own good and that gets her into hot water at times. She then picks herself, dusts off and keeps going. She's got a romantic side, and would love to be married and raising babies with a really nice fella. Maybe if she gets that, she won't be interested in running the pub and probably she really isn't up to the task even with someone by her side, not if that someone is Jason.

And she's one of those characters most of us can identify with even if we're not leggy blondes. She doesn't really like working in the factory but she'll do it anyway because ... it's a job and she'll do the best she can with it even if stitching doesn't really come naturally. I love it when she messes up due to her own impulsive behaviour. I love her favourite expression, 'piggin' which she spits out when she's thoroughly disgusted with something or someone, often herself. I love watching her relationship with Jason growing, clearly she is wearing her heart on her sleeve and secretly "squees" when he shows her how his feelings are growing. It's been interesting to watch her finally find some closeness to Leanne, the sister she didn't know existed. She's got a good heart, she's got a great sense of humour, she's got strength and she's a lot of fun to watch.



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Corrie Canada Sneak Preview Jan. 20 - 24

Without further ado here is a brief sneak preview of what you'll see on  next week's Corrie in Canada.

Carla catches Peter in a lie. Tina gives Peter an ultimatum. Michelle isn't pregnant and wants Steve to pay the price. Beth gets the sack. Kylie and David are reconciled. Roy's quest for strawberries goes awry.

For more details and photos, visit the Moosejaw Mercury at Corrie.net



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You don't mess with Liz McDonald

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

No need for words on this blog post - a smashing litle scene and a great picture that says it all.



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Corrie producer Stuart Blackburn - one year on, what do you think?

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

It's been just over a year since Stuart Blackburn took over from Phil Collinson as Coronation Street producer.

When Stuart took over the reins at our favourite show, he gave an interview to the Manchester Evening News saying all the right things: "My vision of Corrie is really simple. The first episode wasn’t whimsical, it wasn’t a comedy, it wasn’t a nostalgic love-fest. It was gripping urban drama done on popular television for the very first time. It was kind of revolutionary – the lives, loves and aspirations of the working classes. What I want Corrie to do is retain that wit, the warmth and optimism."

So, what do you think of the last 12 months since Stuart Blackburn took over?  I'd give him 9/10 because as soon as he took over, he called Bev Callard to get her back in the show as Liz McDonald, he's brought back Todd Grimshaw, and has been given the unenviable task of killing off one of Corrie's best loved characters in Hayley Cropper because the actress who plays her wants to leave the show.

But he's also got rid of Brian, which I can't understand, because he was a fantastic character that could have been developed so much further.

Under Stuart's reign a few more characters are leaving this year, thankfully (for this fan) this includes Our Lady of the Back Room St Ella and her mum Gloria but I will miss Peter, Tina and Marcus.

Behind the scenes, he's had to deal with Michael Le Vell's high profile court case (and William Roache's court case which begins later this month) and the sacking of Chris Fountain.

So what do you think so far, Corrie fans?  Has Stuart Blackburn delivered on his vision of Corrie mentioned above?  I think he has, and look forward to everything that's in store for 2014 on the Street.



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Coronation Street review - November 2013

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

Here we go with our annual review of Coronation Street month-by-month, all wrapped up in a little reminder of what's gone on in Weatherfield this year.

November 2013

Todd returns and starts work at Streetcars;  Grace bullies little Simon; Roy redecorates; Steve signs up for college; Carla asks Hayley to make her wedding dress; Brian lies to Julie about wanting to foster kids; Beth’s caught cheating at Underworld; Nick goes into meltdown; Deirdre goes to Canada to be with Ken; Hayley starts chemotherapy; Tina flirts with Peter

Bistro chef's problem of the month: Soggy shallots.

And this month we learned the cab office biscuit tin etiquette: “Never eat the last one. Never!” 

Find out what happened earlier this year in January 2013, February 2013, March 2013, April 2013, May 2013, June 2013, July 2013, August 2013, September 2013, October 2013



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State of the Street - December 2013

It's been a month of highs and lows, not a lot of laughs, and more than a few of us were seen arm-crossing and eye-rolling at the screen. Thank you to Michelle and even Liz for showing us how!

We've cried through Hayley's decline, shaken our heads at Kylie going off the rails, and inquiring minds want to know if Faye did lose all her friends and if Grace got cautioned by the police as well.

Read more about the State of Coronation Street in December here.



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What makes a good Corrie exit? Now there's a question

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

The end of another year. I must be getting old as I don't know where the time is going. It's been another action packed year in Weatherfield and I'm sure 2014 promises much of the same. For there are many changes afoot in the new year, mostly involving cast departures. As we reach the end of the year, it seems appropriate to look at some happy (or not so happy) endings.

2014 will see several characters leave Coronation Street. Within the space of a few months we'll lose Hayley, Tina, Dennis, Gloria, Stella and Marcus. One or two I'll be really sad to see  go - the rest not so much. I think you will all know my views so I won't specify! All these impending departures have made me wonder whether it is better for well-loved characters to depart quietly in a taxi or in a blaze of glory? I'm sure we'll see a mix of both methods in the months ahead.

We already know that Hayley will have a sad, emotional goodbye while it looks like Tina's departure might spark a "dramatic" whodunnit. Will Stella and Gloria depart in the back of one of Steve's cabs? And what about Dennis and Marcus? Will they leave Weatherfield alone? We recently saw Brian drive out of the street in his van without much ceremony. Earlier this year we lost Sunita in a very explosive manner, however poor Shobna Gulati then had to endure many scenes lying in a hospital bed playing unconscious - hardly the best of both worlds.

I guess at least these actors are lucky, they will get the chance to play out a proper exit storyline, whether it be long or short. Looking back to cast departures in the past, some were not so fortunate. Original characters Annie Walker, Albert Tatlock and Ena Sharples made their final appearances without saying goodbye to the loyal Corrie audience due to the ill health or sad demise of the actors behind these Weatherfield legends. The same fate befell Bert Tilsley due to Peter Dudley's death and Len Fairclough following various revelations about actor Peter Adamson. It will always be a great shame that legendary performers like Doris Speed and Violet Carson were not allowed a final on screen flourish. 

So what are my own favourite exits? If we're going for a dramatic demise, it has to be Alan Bradley. The culmination of his long running storyline with our Rita was and is iconic. My two absolute favourites however are much more low key. I just adored Elsie Tanner's farewell in January 1984. Unlike some of her costars at the time, Pat Phoenix was given a well-rounded, thoughtful final curtain. The return of Bill Gregory, one of Elsie's first on screen loves, completed the circle and gave Elsie a fitting, happy goodbye. I still get the shivers whenever I watch her striding down the darkened Coronation Street for the last time, clutching her photos of Dennis and Linda, while famous scenes are hauntingly touched upon in the background. 

Finally, who can forget Hilda Ogden's feel-good farewell on Christmas Day 1987? Poor, downtrodden Hilda had spent years scrimping and saving, coping with Stan's lazy work shy attitudes and loving him fiercely all the same. She finally achieved the status she craved when she went off to Derbyshire to take up the position of Dr Lowther's housekeeper. Hilda's final scenes in the Rovers, complete with community singsong, was a warm touching tribute to both the legendary character and also to Jean Alexander who played her so beautifully for 23 years. 


So those are my favourite endings. What are yours? 


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Coronation Street review - October 2013

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

Here we go with our annual review of Coronation Street month-by-month, all wrapped up in a little reminder of what's gone on in Weatherfield this year.

October 2013

Roy and Hayley go to Blackpool; Liz McDonald returns; Michelle starts work at Rovers; Eva starts work at Underworld; Chesney starts work at Prima Doner; Ryan leaves; Tim hides from Sally in his flat; Nick wakes from his coma; Owen has a run-in with Phelan; Daddy Connor arrives from Ireland; Tina chucks a brick through Barlow’s Buys window; David moves in with Tina.

Characters mentioned this month we'd like to meet: Big Garth off the market.

Find out what happened earlier this year in January 2013, February 2013, March 2013, April 2013, May 2013, June 2013, July 2013, August 2013, September 2013


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Corrie Canada weekly awards for Jan. 6 - 10

If looks could kill award: Liz and Michelle, after meeting Andrea.

Sourpuss award aka who peed in your cornflakes: Michelle

Bromance award: Tyrone and Jason! Love that the writers have finally remembered that they're good mates.

Dad of the year award (tarnished): Tim handed Faye cash right out of his wallet on the day. Didn't even get a card to put it in.

Fashion disasters: Norris' snorkel anorak. Might be appropriate for Canada's winters but probably overkill for Weatherfield.
Lloyd's got a snowflake jumper as well.
Michelle's new green top really was nice and I liked Tyrone's sweater as well.

Pants on Fire: Steve made out he found Michelle's top. Andrea actually picked it out!

One Hit Wonder award: Leanne said she'd always leave if anyone hit her just once. Now she knows it's not as simple as all that, under these circumstances.



Lines of the week:
Kylie "Listen to you all, purer than the driven snow!"
Peter "I've already got a wife, I don't need you being in a mood with me as well"
Peter "World's overrated"
Jason "Does Santa have a wife?" (of course. Mrs. Claus is legendary!)
Deirdre "Heat kills germs. Just watch out for the teeth marks, we'll just have to carve round them!"
Rob to Lloyd re the jumper "Respect for the knitwear, Mate!"
Rob about Deirdre "She's making a halo out of mistletoe" Steve "Oohhhh that's someone that could make mistletoe into a weapon of mass destruction"
Mary after singing an inappropriate carol "Why didn't I go for Bing?"
Deirdre "Come to Deirdre" (shudder)
Hayley "I want to book it before we go while I still believe I can (go)"
Nick "You don't want to upset the Beast of Weatherfield"
Leanne to Kylie "Don't let your temper or your pride make the wrong call. Trust me. I speak from bitter experience" (and she does)


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