Coronation Street's Top 10 baddies

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog February 2016, reposted to this blog with permission.)

With the return of Pat Phelan to Coronation Street, let's have a look back at some of the best baddies to have walked the cobbles.

1. Joe Donelli. In 1968 American GI Joe murdered Elsie Tanner's second husband Steve. He later held Irma Barlow and Minnie Caldwell hostage before killing himself.

2. Alan Bradley.  Stole Rita's house deeds, impersonated her dead husband Len and tried to suffocate Rita when she found out.  He was killed by a Blackpool tram in one of Corrie's most iconic scenes.

3. Terry Duckworth.  Sold his son Tommy and did a runner with the money paid to him to donate a kidney to son Paul. An all-round nasty piece who broke his mam and dad's heart, over and over again.

 

4. Jon Lindsay. The fake airline pilot who pretended to fall for Deirdre and she ended up in prison because of his fraud.

5 Jez Quigley. My favourite Corrie baddie, ever. Drug dealer behind the death of Tony Horrocks and manslaughter of Des Barnes.  Died while attempting to kill Steve McDonald in 2000.  Altogether, everyone... "Steven James McDonald... come on down!"  Camp as Christmas.  Watch the scene below.

6. Richard Hillman.  Such a good baddie I even wrote a book about him!  Norman Bates with a Briefcase. Left Duggie Ferguson for dead, killed his ex-wife Patricia, murdered Maxine Peacock and tried to kill Emily Bishop twice.  Kidnapped the Platts and drove them into the canal. They survived and he died. 

7. Charlie Stubbs.  Abused Shelley Unwin. General nasty piece of work who took up with the wrong 'un when he started dating Tracy Barlow. She killed him with an ornament.

8. Tony Gordon.  Murdered Liam Connor after he found out Liam and Carla were having an affair while Carla was married to Tony.  Escaped from prison, set fire to Underworld and died in the blaze Worse still, he pushed Roy Cropper into the canal.

 

9. Frank Foster.  Raped Carla when she called off their engagement. Such a nasty baddie that his own mother killed him.

10. Pat Phelan.  Creepy and slimy and great fun to watch.




Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street - official ITV tribute to a soap icon. Available here.


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John Stape: In loving memory?

(This post was originally posted by David (Clinkers) on the Coronation Street Blog in October 2011.)

And so the Grim Reaper once again pays a visit to Weatherfield and this time collects "Mr Chips" himself. John Stape is no more. Weep for him. Or maybe not. Given that the character had only been around for a few years, he certainly packed a fair bit in. Sometime teacher, sometime café assistant, sometime murderer. It would be fair to say that he didn't particularly excel at any of these. He was a useless kidnapper too as dozy Rosie discovered on two occasions. John was like one of those shambolic supply teachers you used to get in schools years ago. Eyes like Bambi caught in the forest fire, paper trailing from an hastily locked briefcase, gravy stains down his tie.

For all of this though, John retained some sense of humanity and, even to the bitter end, a sense of humour. The character craved normality and a family yet was thwarted in all attempts to secure this - usually thanks to his own stupidity. Will he be remembered as a classic Corrie character or will we forget him? John has certainly been unique - deranged schoolteacher with misguided principles. Will his death be the making of Fiz who can now bloom, free of a disfunctional marriage?

John Stape - Hero or Zero?

Goodbye Mr. Chips

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in October 2011.)

Thus endeth the saga of Stape, the man whose life had more twists and turns than the Monaco F1 track. I'm sure the writers had a lot of fun writing this storyline over the past couple of years, topped off with the irony of John calling himself Mr. Chips. Why? Find out here.

Kudos to Graeme Hawley and Jennie McAlpine! As often as I was frustrated with Fiz being such a doormat at John's selfish manipulations, they kept me interested, kept me watching and that's testimony to two talented actors.

Crying at Corrie

(This post was originally posted by IamSimon on the Coronation Street Blog in May, 2011.)

Watching Coronation Street's 'explosive week' climax last night with my mum was a sad experience. She wouldn't stop crying when John fell to his 'death'. Moments before his fall she kept shouting at the TV; 'I know what's going to happen...I know what he's going to do...DON'T DO IT JOHN!'.

I had an idea that John would survive, so it wasn't a big shock when it was revealed that John's body was not found. My mum rejoiced, thank goodness.

It got me a little emotional to be fair, as John has been a great character, he is really, underneath all the murderousness, a nice guy. It has been sad, as well as humorous, to see his downfall.

It got me thinking of other emotional moments in Corrie. Recently Jack Duckworth's death was very emotional. I thought I was going to cry, but I didn't. I did however shed a tear...or two with the deaths of Fred Elliot, Mike Baldwin and Liam Connor.

I also remember being really upset during the Tram Crash week during the deathbed wedding of Peter and Leanne's, I honestly thought Peter was going to die. The acting of all involved in that scene was astounding.

Coronation Street does emotion well, with a few exceptions. Because, being in its 51st Year, we have grown to love and care about the characters.

Although I do not watch any other soaps, I have heard that the same can not be said for some of them. Recently a character was murdered in Hollyoaks, after only being in the show 5 minutes. That is not enough time to care about the character.

Paradise Lost

(This post was originally posted by Chewy on the Coronation Street Blog in May, 2011.)


So that's where John was all along - in the attic, reading the aptly titled 'Paradise Lost'. Becky and Steve lost their little paradise in the Rovers, as Max was taken from them after the truth was revealed.

John and Fiz's little piece of paradise is long gone though, with Fiz locking her doors, thinking that John is out, when really, he is much closer than she thinks.

I am really liking this week of special episodes, Graeme Hawley, Jennie McAlpine, Simon Gregson and Katherine Kelly have been brilliant so far.

John Stape, DA (Deranged Abuser)

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in May, 2011.)

He's an abuser. He's an abuser as much as if he was physically violent.  He's emotionally beaten Fiz down until she thinks she's the bad one, she's no good and it's partly her fault. She was even willing to run away with him up until she discovered he'd kidnapped Chesney and the Hoyles and she heard him admit to murder. I have hated John Stape for a long time but it's reached new levels this week. How DARE he!!?

He dares because he's completely snapped. His guilt and desperation have driven him into madness. When he tried to snatch Hope from Maria, I think he felt that if he had the baby, Fiz would follow and she'd do what he wanted. And she nearly did, too!

He's put her in one impossible situation after another. She might have been naive and loyal but she didn't deserve this. I don't know what's going to happen on that hospital roof, but if I was Fiz, I'd be sorely tempted to push him off! Oh, I know, that would make me as bad as Stape but wouldn't it be a crime of passion or something? Temporary insanity?

Huge, massive, immense kudos to Graeme Hawley who has pulled out all the stops and then some and it's only half way through the week!

Should John Stape die? (Spoilers)

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in May, 2011.)

The final chapter in the Stapegate saga hits the screens over the next several episodes. By the end of next week, we should know his fate. We know it's going to climax on the roof of the hospital but spoilers are still circumspect as to whether John will die or escape.

Personally, I want him to die. This isn't as harsh as it sounds. I think there are good reasons for it. Read about them here (Spoilers) and let us know what you think. Should Stape be dead and buried or live to haunt Fiz another day?

Coronation Street post-tramcrash - better, or worse?

(This post was originally posted by Seapenguin on the Coronation Street Blog in May, 2011.)

I've not been blogging here much lately due to total apathy regarding the state of the street. Up until the tram crash I'd watch avidly, but it's much easier for me now to walk away and put the kettle on than ever it's been in the past.

I think the scripts have picked up a bit recently, with a bit more humour, but I think the actual storylines are woeful with far too many in your face issue-driven plots. Homelessness. Transvestism. Sexuality. Schoolgirl mums. Broken families. Marc/Marcia must be a nadir. They've "done" cross-dressing before (Ida Fagg anyone? Duggie Ferguson even! Different world wasn't it?)

I find some of the new characters unappealing - Roy's mum, Ken's grandson. So far, I've no desire to get to know them any better. The two that keep me going at the moment are Kevin Webster (just does angry so well) and believe it or not, Owen Armstrong! He's getting some good lines and I like his gruff delivery.

As far as the Stape blockbuster goes, I will watch it with interest next week out of respect to Graeme Hawley, who has been terrific throughout. But overall, I'd far rather have seen him get back into therapy and settle down nicely with Fiz and the baby than run amok on a rooftop.

I remember people commenting a month or three ago that Coronation Street was just hitting a post-tram crash/post 50th slump, and that it would pick up again. Personally, I think that it has picked up but only very minimally. Anyone else got any thoughts?

Praising Graeme Hawley

John Stape is broken and in hospital. Poor Fiz, when she had to tell John he needed to go to hospital she looked scared to death. John, as the doctor said, was disassociated and as Fiz said, he just wasn't "there". Graeme Hawley has been playing Stape for a few years now, through one mishap after another, lately more and more twisted and bizarre. The whole Stapewich chronicles has been black comedy, farce and a great storyline to watch. And it's not over yet! John is just having a rest, Trust me on this, there's a long way to go yet.

After all, soap law says he'll have to pay somehow and this breakdown isn't it. Graeme Hawley has been just brilliant as the many sides and moods and extremes of John Stape. The character isn't really  likeable, I find him far too selfish and narcisstic and I hate how Fiz has been reduced to a shadow of her former sparky self by him,  but he's so interesting to watch and that's down to Hawley's fantastic performance.

On my UK blog, I wrote something earlier this year about John Stape and all his adventures to this date. If you want to get back up to speed, have a look. No spoilers there.

Will the dead rise on Corrie?

(This post was originally posted by Merseytart on the Coronation Street Blog in December, 2010.)

When Phil Redmond was planning the famous "body under the patio" storyline for Brookside (another UK soap), he concluded that Trevor Jordache should stay hidden "until the actors decide to leave".

Corrie's got its own version of the hidden corpse now: Colin Fishwick, buried underneath Underworld's floor.  So the question is - will he ever be found?

It's a well known soap rule that people must be punished for their misdeeds.  Karmic retribution is waiting for John Stape somewhere along the line.  But I can't help thinking that Colin's going to stay there and never be seen again.

Think about it: he's not just buried, he's entombed.  Colin's inside a solid lump of concrete six feet under a factory.  He's not going anywhere, and Carla Connor's not likely to order the ground be torn up any time soon.

Brookside had a drainage issue cause flooding in the gardens, meaning that the neighbours dug around the patio and found Trevor's body.  It's possible that a similar case of shoddy workmanship could turn up at Underworld - but how hard is it to get concrete wrong?  And even if they did dig down, would they find Colin?

I'm curious to see what the writers do with this.  Perhaps Colin will only resurface once John has confessed all.  Perhaps he'll return from the dead as a zombie.  Perhaps - and right now this is my favourite - perhaps John will literally get away with murder.  There's something about his bumbling crime spree that I find hilarious, and I'm hoping it'll continue for a long time yet.

John Stape, Serial Idiot

(This post was originally posted by Chewy and me on the Coronation Street Blog in January 2011.)

He's been dubbed 'Frank Spencer with a bad temper' - Poor John hasn't had it easy, what with people randomly dropping dead around him at inconvenient times.

He must be the only serial killer/ex-kidnapper in soap that people feel sorry for, he obviously goes into things with the best of intentions, but somehow it always ends up going wrong for the poor soul.

I bet he wished he just stayed a drama teacher now. I have to wonder though, what does the future hold for the poor guy? I'm covinced there will be another death before he is discovered.

And further to that, Come walk with me through a brief history of the shenanigans of John Stape, former English Teacher of this parish. Try to follow the twists and turns in his  Coronation Street journey around the bend to madness for surely, that is where he is heading.

With a third death at his feet, he's about to snap under the weight of the guilt. I'm sure it won't be long before he's a gibbering heap muttering "I only wanted to teach!" Read about it here.

What's Next for John Stape

(This post was originally posted by Seapenguin on the Coronation Street Blog in December, 2010.)

Looks like Gary Windass isn't the only person battling his demons on Coronation Street last week.


Alarmed by her husband's deteriorating mental state, Fiz made an appointment for John Stape to see Dr Matt (by the way - is it me, or does Dr Matt look like he'd be great in a "Just for Men" advert?).

"You seem very...troubled," mused the concerned G.P., writing a prescription for sleeping pills and suggesting John see a counsellor.

John is refusing counselling at the moment, and I think we all know why. He's racked with guilt over Charlotte's death, and he's torturing himself with the idea that baby Hope is suffering because of his evil deeds. He's longing to get it all off his chest, but he knows that if he talks, he'll end up in jail. Again.

What will he do? John Stape's a popular character. Many viewers would like him to stay on the Street and make a life for himself with Fiz and the baby. I know I would. The Stapewick saga has been terrific black comedy and the writers have done an amazing job keeping the sympathy of the viewers with John despite his horrific trail of death and destruction . Months ago I suggested half-jokingly in a blog post that one way forward could be for him to have psychotherapy. We've been up the ginnel a few times since then, but I'm just wondering if this is where we're now heading? Difficult though. I'm pretty certain that a psychotherapist would be obliged to break confidentiality if John 'fessed up to manslaughter/murder and so forth. Then John would be forced to bump them off, as well, in order to avoid jail...oh, where will it all end?

My own blog is here

Who's your favourite Corrie man at the moment?

(This post was originally posted by Seapenguin on the Coronation Street Blog November, 2010, reposted to this blog with permission.)

I started off by saying "male", as I think that's the term they use in the soap awards, but that sounds a bit 'orrible to me, so I'm saying "man".

I have a top three. They move around from one to three, two to one, and so forth, but basically it is a stable on-going three.

Not wishing to depress anyone in my top three by the way, but possibly best to bear in mind that I'm an "older woman", and thus I'm steering well clear of the Jason Grimshaws of this world except to advise them to wrap up warm, it's parky out.

Number one at the moment - and he is keeping me glued to the screen - is Peter Barlow. I especially like his scenes with Ken, and with Simon, and I thought he and Leanne made a lovely couple. (Leanne - what ARE you thinking?! Nick? puh-lease!) I'm also enjoying his scenes in the bookies with the frantic Stape at the moment. "I like your style, John." I love the glances he gives him! Last but not least, Peter can really work that casual "leaning against the bookies' smoking a fag then flicking it into the gutter" look. Wonderful.

Number two would be John Stape. Never mind that the Fishwick fiasco has dragged on for an eternity, I still find Graeme Hawley really entertaining to watch. John and Fiz are a terrific couple - or could be, if only there wasn't a dead Fishwick lurking under the factory floor. I keep hoping against hope that the Corrie powers that be will find a way to keep him in the show, instead of bumping him off.

Number three is Eddie Windass. Normally, he'd be either one or two, but as he's not in it much at the moment he's slipped in the ratings - only slightly mind. Eddie's one of the most entertaining Corrie characters ever, to my mind. I only wish he was in it more.

Bubbling under the top three are Owen (yes, I know he's got a horrible personality, but let's face it, he's got a brilliant gravelly voice), Ken Barlow (no, I've not got a "thing" for him, but I always enjoy watching him) and, to be honest, if he wasn't dead - Colin Fishwick. That 'tache!

Anyone else got any favourites just now, who keep them watching?

John Stape on Corrie - What's going on??? (spoiler)

(This post was originally posted by Seapenguin on the Coronation Street Blog November, 2010, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Going by the bits and pieces I've picked up from spoilers and so forth, my impression is that John Stape murders Charlotte by bashing her head in with a hammer. Nice. (What is it with Corrie just now - tram crashes, bloodbaths, murders...)

Anyway. Will this really happen, or is it just another red herring? I haven't the foggiest.

However, Stape is definitely reading about a nine point nine nine on the tension scale at the moment and despite showing flashes of the old Stapian wit it's clear that his nerves won't take much more. He's laughing maniacally and getting into bother from Peter Barlow for screaming at wrong numbers in the bookies. He's thinking about Edgar Allan Poe stories and wondering if it's his heartbeat he's hearing or Fishwick's. Is it Charlotte who's driving him to the brink of insanity by making the silent phone calls and sending the mysterious flowers and letters? Personally I'd be surprised - but then I generally am. Who else could it be though? Who else knows about the body hidden in the old sump hole under the factory floor?

I do hope that John doesn't bash Charlotte's head in with a hammer! I could live with him bungling another death, but not full-blooded murder. However...if he DID get done for murder, perhaps there could be an insanity plea, and he could stay in Corrie albeit as an inmate of a maximum secure unit, receiving therapy sessions and being visited by Fiz and the baby on a weekly basis? I just don't want the Stape saga to end!

Brian Packham - another familiar face in the Stapewick saga

(This post was originally posted by Seapenguin on the Coronation Street Blog October, 2010, reposted to this blog with permission.)


The John Stape saga roller-coasters magnificently on to goodness only knows what ghastly conclusion, and I'm enjoying every minute of it.


I saw a clip of what sounded like an amusing interview in Inside Soap magazine (interview no longer available) with Graeme Hawley (John Stape - as if anyone needed reminding) in which he said that the character is like a cross between Richard Hillman and Frank Spencer. So true.


Every addition to this storyline is a gem. The dialogue is hilarious and all the actors involved have been absolutely terrific - the late-lamented Fishwick himself (David Crellin), Charlotte (Becky Hindley), and now I'm really enjoying the liaison between Brian "might have slept with a pupil" Packham (played by Peter Gunn) and Julie Carp. The scenes in Far Fusion were great. Peter Gunn is just perfect in this role. He has one of these "where have I seen you before" faces, and like many Coronation Street actors that's probably because he's been in a lot of different TV roles such as A Touch of Frost and Doctors, to name just two out of many. He's also been in some good films such as Brassed Off and When Saturday Comes.

John Stape - what next?

(This post was originally posted by Seapenguin on the Coronation Street Blog August, 2010, reposted to this blog with permission.)

"All he wanted to do was teach" - and look where he is now. Think on, anyone doing a B.Ed. or whatever they are nowadays.

I know some people can't stand Coronation Street's John Stape, but I'm a fan and I'm always hoping for more developments. I enjoyed the odd - very odd! - glimpses we had of him while Fiz was in Majorca, propping up the Rover's bar in a filthy debauched stupor.

And lately when he's "snapped" and lost his temper there have been flashes of a really sinister Stape, which is genuinely giving me the willies. If Fiz hadn't returned and announced her pregnancy - and didn't Stape's desperate grin look almost maniacal when he heard - he was heading for hell in a handcart. Now, he says that he'll be content to be a family man and clean toilets or whatever, but I can't see that lasting more than five seconds. Where is this going? Will he be able to cope with the knowledge that Fiz is blithely running up knickers on top of Fishwick's corpse? Is he capable of feeling guilt, or just self pity? And is Fiz going to put up with him, or pack her bags once and for all?

Until recently, the general opinion seemed to be that Stape would end up under "the tram". Due to his nefarious doings, there seemed to be no other way forward for him - if you can call being mashed under a tram a way forward. Others have suggested that he might redeem himself by rescuing someone from the wreckage. Personally, I've no idea how this will evolve, but I'm hoping they can spin it out for a bit longer and keep Stape in Corrie.

Corrie's John and Charlotte - What do you think?

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog August, 2010, reposted to this blog with permission.)

I'm no fan of John Stape, as regular readers may know, because he's taken the shine off our Fiz. But I have to admit I'm really enjoying his stolen identity, Colin Fishwick dead body and fruity Charlotte story. It's turning into a farce, with a dark humour edge, a storyline that I'm enjoying very much. But if John Stape should die in the tram crash, I'll not miss him and hope Fiz gets her sparkle back, whatever happens.

But I will always remember this storyline with a smile, it's been an unusual one to say the least, and I hope Charlotte makes her way into becoming a permanent character on Coronation Street too. But never mind me, what do you think?

Charlotte, the Madness Continues

She's only been in Coronation Street a short time, but already I'm loving Charlotte "Church" Hoyle.

She's man-mad (or at least, mad for Stape), she's totally off the wall, she's dressed like she walked through a market stall explosion and I have a very odd feeling about her....something related to the (SPOILER through the link) upcoming storyline to do with the return of Colin Fishwick.

Read all about it over here (Includes small spoiler and some speculation).

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in June, 2010, reposted with permission.)

Graeme Hawley denies being attacked by mad fan

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog in July, 2010, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Graeme Hawley, who plays Coronation Street's John Stape, has dismissed reports that he was attacked in a bar by an angry fan.

Newspaper reports today claim that Graeme was caught in a headlock in a Manchester bar by a fan who was upset about John’s fling with Rosie Webster. But Graeme was bemused by the story – saying that fans are never anything but friendly.

He said: “I suddenly started getting call this morning from friends and family asking if I was ok – I had no idea what they were talking about until someone pointed out the story. I have never been grabbed in a headlock by anyone, occasionally people will make jokey comments about John – particularly throughout the Rosie storyline, but it is always in good humour and I have never felt threatened. It is true that I tend to avoid crowded bars etc but that is as much to do with the fact that I am 36 and a dad as the fact that I am a famous face! I am happy to say that I have never found myself in a situation where I felt threatened. The fans are passionate about the show but that is what makes working on Corrie so great. John is the sort of character that does prompt reaction from people – but that is great, it means people are interested in what you are doing."

Jennie is glad Fiz stands by her man

There's a nice long interview in the Daily Record with Jennie McAlpine, who plays Fiz Stape on Coronation Street. Because Fiz is married to love rat Stape who keeps coming up with schemes and plans, Jennie has had a great year with her character with lots of screen time and juicy storylines. Any actor would be glad of that! She does admit that she doesn't think she'd put up with it for real, mind you, but does agree that love can make you do a lot of things you didn't think you would.

Jennie figures "teflon John" could go on and on if he keeps surviving all the scandals and pickles John seems adept at getting himself into. She's also glad that everyone likes Fiz. Actors like to play bad characters but then they get hassle on the streets and in the shops! She says that there's lots coming up for Fiz and we know that Stape's identity theft plan has been uncovered so (spoiler through this link) watch the fireworks! Will Fiz and John survive it? It sounds like they could! (More's the pity! yes, I know, but I couldn't hold back any longer. I love Fiz but John Stape is just awful! He might be better if he had any cheeky charm at all.)