Sunday Canadian Corrie Comments, January 8

Happy 30th Birthday, Leanne and what a birthday present she got, eh? Her mother, who happens to be Stella and who abandoned her when she was a baby, shows up. Leanne's not impressed as you would imagine and Stella was ready to run away. Peter talked them both around but if they make some sort of relationship, it's going to be a steep and rocky road. Oh and I don't know about  you, but a birthday party in the local Rovers for a milestone birthday probably wouldn't be my first choice but this is tv, not reality, right? well it's all out in all it's ugly truth now and i've never seen such an appalling exhibit of pretend emotional acting as i have out of Michelle Collins as Stella. I'm willing to give her a chance but this kind of thing is definitely not her forte, is it?

I think it was good that Peter made a brief remark about his dad, i.e. he does understand about being abandoned. Hmmm Leanne's name could have been Betty. Betty Battersby? Betty Barlow? Nah. I don't blame Leanne for being angry. Nearly 30 years without contact is bound to harden your heart even if it turns out your gran and dad kept the cards and presents from you. There was plenty of time for contact once Leanne grew up and there can't be *that* many Les Battersbys around. She just got scared the more time that passed. And as much as Leanne doesn't want Stella in her life, Stella keeps nosing around, giving presents to Simon directly. What was Peter supposed to do? 

Poor Leanne is pretty bruised over this whole thing though she's got a little secret of her own! She's pregnant! Peter's in shock. But did you catch what she said, about not having done it before? She has, you may remember, back when Nick made her get an abortion. Anyway, she's pregnant, Carla guessed and Leanne wasn't too happy that the secret got out to the wrong ears. Carla? She did what she always did, the man she loves is having a baby with his wife (remember Liam?) so she backs off and into the man around the corner. Love the one you're with, so to speak. Leanne was quite nasty to Carla when she found out Carla knew. Quite uncalled for really.  

Eva seems like a scheming cow, getting all the gossip on Peter and Leanne and Cheryl should have kept her mouth shut, telling strangers private stuff.And finding out you have a half sister only sent her into an Olympic gold medal strop. She really is irritating. I can  understand her being shocked and upset but she sure knows how to make a situation all about her. I do think Stella made the wrong choice. She should have told her daughter and Karl she'd had another child once.

It's not a good week for Fiz. All that circumstantial evidence has got her arrested and her charging at Sally didn't really help matters, either. I really don't think there was any need for Hayley to go charging into the party to apologize to Fiz. Sally was a great pot-stirrer too, she's a cow, isn't she? I do wonder why solicitors on Corrie allow the police to harass the person they're questioning. They always sit there silently.

The problem is that Fiz lied about knowing John was pretending to be Colin and about the inheritance to start off when the police came calling. If she'd been up front from the start, she might not have got in so deep. I think she should insist on a polygraph test. It might not be legally admissable but it would still be in her favour. Instead, she's charged with murder in addition to the fraud. Thus passes the Deirdre Barlow "I didn't do it" award from Gail who had it last year.

Chesney is really having a hard time with it and he doesn't want to abandon Fiz or Hope but Owen made him see that he really has to ask for help and go along with what Fiz wants. So the Croppers have the baby to mind. Didn't I love Chesney taking a chunk of hide off Norris in the cafe and cake-facing him!!!! Now that Fiz doesn't want to have the baby with her in the nick, though, that's going to be a lot more responsibility on Chesney's shoulders even if Hayley and Roy will be minding Hope.

Roy and Hayley really are a rock aren't they? What would Fiz (or a lot of other people) do without them? At least Fiz doesn't have a menacing cow for a roomie. Her cellmate sounds to have been in and out of jail more than once. Fiz is already looking at defeat, saying things like she doesn't even want Hope to know who she is if she's convicted. Now you know that's not going to last.

Becky is looking emotionally bruised and it looks like she has finally hit that reality wall, between Stella already advising her to get a solicitor and overhearing less than flattering things about her. So...it's back to the Croppers'. But you know, she's the one that left, she's the one that spit at Steve and didn't think she could forgive him for what he'd done, she's the one that initially refused to accept his apologies. Steve finally hit the wall and backed off. Yes, they do still love each other, but you know that big blonde elephant called Max would always be in the room between them and that resentment would come back and bite them. 

Ken must have been torn. His grandson was hosting a charity do but his daughter-in-law was turning 30 with a party. The charity auction was ok. Dennis made a good speech. I don't know how many wallets he opened further than they would have. Carla's, i think, for sure. Norris might have had to let the moths out first. And it didn't take Norris very long to find out about the charity scam, either! He has no business really, whining about that voucher he bought. Just because the charity ran off with the money, doesn't mean the voucher still isn't good.

Speaking of the charity, Sophie wanted Kevin to help out the charity and when he wouldn't she signed him up for a very conveniently delivered online banking opportunity and took it. So much for Christian values. And would  you bet that 20,000 pounds that this all turns out to be a scam? Sophie thinks it will be a loan and he'd get it back but it's too good to be true innit?

Mind you, his excuse that he worked hard for it doesn't wash. It was a scratch card win and him moaning about the house and everyone's things that he *did* work hard for still has nothing to do with lending the money to a charity for people that have nothing. It's all a moot point, though, because the people running the charity were scammers. And if Kevin *had* wanted to donate, if he was smart he would have done a little research into the charity before "lending" that much money because I don't think charities actually ask for loans do they?

Money transferred night before the auction. Sophie didn't tell Sian what she'd did, until she told her in the middle of a busy cafe. Yes, very good place to have a confidential conversation instead of in a private house. Very good. How old are you again? Even Sian knows Sophie did the wrong thing. Thou Shalt Not Steal, remember that? Day of the auction, where's the auctioneers and the punters? We missed it? We didn't get the house even though it went for the amount of money the charity had? Um, where's the shelter/soup kitchen? It was here yesterday. What do you mean, it's going to be a bar? (they sure gutted it fast, didn't they?) Uh oh.

And yes, Kevin is allowed to be angry, really angry, but as always, he goes wayyyyy over the top. Tracy is suspicious about James, too. He brought the police in but at least Sally managed to talk him out of turning Sophie in. That's what i mean by over the top. I think the police should be involved in investigating the charity, of course. Kevin earlier said it was part of a deposit for a flat but we didn't see him making any possible moves in that direction, did we? Sally ought to remind him of that. Anyway, he had to report it or there would be no chance at all of getting the money back and if they don't catch the owners, there won't be. Not likely the bank will give it back.  We did see Kevin nearly bash James' head on the brickwork. That's typical of Kevin.

If i was James i'd be threatening the police right back at him for assault! At this point we don't know if James is guilty but I wouldn't bet money on his innocent, me. Sian isn't being very supportive either but then you can also understand that. Doesn't look like Kevin is going to get it back since he said he made the transfer but he was defrauded... why wouldn't he get it back? James didn't get the money he thought he was going to get either. Yes, Folks, he was in on it! And now he didn't get the cut he thought he'd get, James seems intent on scamming his own grandfather with a house evaluation of Number 1. What's he up to? And he was nasty to Amy who was witness to the man in the house. I reckon a 7 year old is going to be his downfall.

Owen wants to buy Anna's house but she feels put in an awkward position. Sean still seems to think Dylan is more of a plaything, it feels to me, while Marcus is far more dad-like.

More mother-in-law from hell bitching. I love it! Gail is being a right cow isn't she and an interfering mother-in-law and Kylie is not shy in winding her up either. But Gail, bringing only David a sandwich for his lunch? He only lives two doors away, he could go home and get his own anyway so bringing him one and not one for Kylie was stirring it. I laughed at the "High Noon" between the rival cooks on the cobbles! And as expected, Kylie's idea of a meal is barbequed burgers and booze.

And come on, Gail, be fair, writing a list on both sides of the envelope? I've never done that in my life and i make a lot of lists. I probably wouldn't have thought to check the other side, either! Where would Kylie ever have learned to cook, anyway? Well Gail's pot-stirring went a bit too far and Kylie got her own back by telling on her about the bribe. I thought Gail's face was going to implode on itself! I knew Kylie and Gail under the same roof was going to be fun to watch! I can't blame David and Kylie for wanting to move out but I don't think, at least until he comes into full ownership of the salon, that he has a right to the flat.

Gail was ready to go on strike and i can't blame her. Kylie and David really are taking advantage of her and not pulling their own weight. Audrey is getting sick and fed up with all the squabbling and is making off with Marc. And was that a kiss we saw? It was! And i'm sorry to say, I can't stand him and his way of schpeaking through clenched teeth. Gail thinks he's a really nice man and he is, but he does have a secret and Audrey is a bit nervous to get involved with anyone yet. Audrey's ok with Marc as a friend, where Marcia is concerned but is really not too sure about being with him more than that if that's going to be part of the package. I can't blame her. I cringe when i see him dressed up. His wig is atrocious and his dress sense is as bad. I think he could benefit a lot from Audrey's input. It was interesting to see Audrey interact with the other couple.

Frank spent 500 quid on a handbag for Carla and wanted to go with her to the meeting about her mother's will. Hmmm Must be love? I think Frank is definitely smitten but Carla? Rebound. The factory office is awfully small to have two doors. I'm sure it did, Sally came in one behind Frank and went out one behind Carla.  Amber's back! Sunita isn't too  happy to see her. First thing Amber says to her is a swipe about her weight. Can't blame her then.

Didn't take Cheryl long to take over the house. Decorating is great, but it's her way or the highway. Dennis is now officially part of the Grimshaw family. With Julie in the mix, he may regret that!

I wonder who they're making all those yellow bras for? No other colour. Just yellow. Loved all Sean's suggestions for everyone's party clothes. D.C. Redfearn is lovely but i wish he'd either grow that damn beard or shave. Deirdre's pottery made appearances again this week. I love that it's been a running thing, and she's proving that practice does not make perfect!