Why aren't Deirdre and Gail friends?

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

It's a simple question and I wish I knew the answer. Not only do Gail and Deirdre not appear to be friends, they hardly ever seem to share any screen time.

Which is odd considering they are both about the same age and have both been residents in Coronation Street for roughly the same time. You might think given all the shared history involved - memories of past street residents, high times and low times, they might have a rather unique bond. Yes, I know there was that incident with the cream cake, which will always stand up to repeat viewing, but they have more in common than a bit of flying cream slice.


Both Deirdre and Gail have a rather chequered history when it comes to men. Deirdre ended up banged up thanks to con-man, pilot-cum-tie-seller Jon Lindsay, while Gail was taken in by serial killer Richard Hillman. Both Deirdre and Gail have also married the same man twice - Deirdre of course married Ken in 1981 and again in 2005, while Gail wed Brian Tilsley in 1979 and again in 1988. 

And the pattern continues with their offspring. Neither Deirdre nor Gail have children to be proud of. Deirdre gave birth (spawned) Tracy-Luv, who's high point onscreen so far has been calling her mam a "rotten cowy tart" in the days when she listened to Bros and sported a different face. Gail meanwhile clings on to a family comprising Nick(y), Sarah-Lou (I will always hate that name) and Demon David. If I listed all their misdemeanours this wouldn't be a blog, it'd be a thesis. 

And of course let's not forget that Demon David and Tracy-Luv have actually disappeared upstairs together. Sadly not to play some tapes. 


Anyway, given the remarkable similarities between the two Corrie stalwarts, why do they rarely appear together and never seem to have been friends? Would you like to see a Gail/Deirdre storyline?




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