FIRST PICS of new Rovers Return on Coronation Street

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

Like a phoenix rising from the ashes these are the first pictures of Coronation Street’s Rovers Return restored to its full glory. It’s been more than two months since an explosive fire ripped through Britain’s most famous pub, causing the deaths of two people and leaving a scorched out shell where the boozer once stood.

But from the flames emerges a new refurbished Rovers and on Sunday 26th May the pub will re-open its doors to the residents of Coronation Street.

It’s a re-opening which landlady Stella Price (Michelle Collins) has been dreaming about for months but in true soap style the opening night isn’t without its dramas as barmaid Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) goes into shock premature labour.

Tina is carrying Gary Windass (Mikey North) and Izzy Armstrong’s (Cherylee Houston) surrogate child, but after a row over Gary’s misjudged pass at Tina she’s suddenly overcome with crippling pains and an ambulance is called to the pub as the birth of the baby looks imminent.
As Tina’s raced to hospital the rest of the residents get into the spirit of the evening, but some are still emotionally scarred from the events of the fire on that fateful night.
Dev Alahan (Jimmi Harkishin) lost the mother of his children, Sunita, and is still struggling to come to terms with that loss, while arsonist Karl Munroe (John Michie) who was responsible for her death is enduring his own personal battle with his conscience as he fights to keep his crime uncovered.
The Rovers may have had a facelift but the secrets and lies hidden there remain.
Actress Michelle Keegan says of Tina’s birth: “She’s probably been in labour all day, certainly since the start of the Rovers opening, but it’s a slow labour and she doesn’t know that’s what it is. It’s not until it all kicks off that the pain suddenly worsens and she goes into labour behind the bar.

“She’s not due for another two months and she’s scared. Tina doesn’t understand why the baby’s coming so early, she’s only 7 months gone and she’s only a 21 year old girl so she is very frightened.”

How it once was - the Rovers Return from days gone by.

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