Coronation Street writer Jonathan Harvey gets wed

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog October 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Pic: https://twitter.com/jameswharton

Congratulations go to Coronation Street scriptwriter Jonathan Harvey who got married on Saturday, 14th October. 

Jonathan married his partner Paul Hunt in a ceremony in London followed by an evening party that was attended by some of the Coronation Street cast.

Here's Corrie writer Damon Rochefort giving Jonathan a kiss on his wedding day. He put the picture on Twitter saying:  So happy for my wonderful #bezzie @JOJEHARVEY #harveyhuntwedding what a day!

Pic: @DamonCorrie on Twitter

Find out more about Jonathan Harvey, Damon Alexis-Rochefort and all of the Coronation Street writing team here.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Corrie writer Jonathan Harvey releases new novel

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog September 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)


Coronation Street writer Jonathan Harvey has released his sixth novel this week. It's called The Years She Stole.

2017
Pregnant Rachel Taylor is enjoying a holiday in Morocco when she gets the phone call to say her mother hasn’t got much time left to live. With a head of mixed emotions she returns to the village where she grew up to say her last goodbyes. It’s true to say their relationship had often been strained and Rachel had never quite understood why. When clearing out her mother’s things she thinks she finds an answer, and her world is changed forever.

1978
Shirley Burke is on a family holiday at Butlin’s when she first sets eyes on Doug, a man considerably older than herself. When his daughter goes missing one night, Shirley’s the one who finds her and returns her to him. When his gratitude turns into something else, Shirley realizes this is her time to shine. But Doug is married, and her young life is about to get very complicated.

Rachel and Shirley. Two women from different decades. Somehow their lives are entwined and neither can know the impact one woman will have on the other until it’s way too late . .

Find out more here.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Coronation Street writer wins Culture Award

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

Coronation Street scriptwriter and award-winning playwrite Jonathan Harvey won the 2016 Winq Culture Award yesterday in that London.

The award was presented to Jonathan by Coronation Street's Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster) and Dan Brocklebank (Billy the vicar Mayhew).

Read Winq magazine's interview with Jonathan here.



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Gold Star Corrie

When I noticed the writing credit for tonight's Coronation Street given to Jonathan Harvey, I knew we'd be in for a good episode. He never lets me down and so it was thus. Tonight's Corrie was a joy all around, with wonderful dialogue and excellent acting. I'll try not to do what amounts to an episode summary because that's not my job! It's difficult not to, though.

Jenny Bradley is back and while she might be over the worst of it, she is still shakey and defeated.  Sally Ann Matthews was excellent tonight as was Barbara Knox. I was immediately drawn in by them. You could really feel Jenny's depression weighing her down, and Rita's loving support. I really felt for Jenny and just wanted to hug her!

Brendan found an hour away from the wife and Mary took full advantage for a bit of afternoon delight. (Oh, my eyes!) Brendan really makes my skin crawl and I feel bad that Mary has been sucked in by his false ways. I do like that Erica is so kind to Mary and when this all blows up and Mary's heart is in bits, I think Erica will do her best to help. Can't fault the acting, though,  Ted Robbins  is doing a top job as the love rat Brendan!

Elsewhere, it turns out that Jamie has been nabbed by the police and "sang like a canary". I wonder if he could get charged with attempted murder in addition to assault? I liked that Steph apologized to Carla even though, of course, she had nothing to apologize for, but it was so very Steph, I thought.

The other main thrust of the episode was Audrey and Ken, circling around each other. Sue Nicholls was superb, as Audrey, touchy, out of sorts and feeling awkward around Ken. Ken has  been following her around like a puppy since Nessa left, that should have been pretty obvious to Audrey that he has feelings for her! Then Audrey collapsed with chest pains and was terrified she was going to die without telling Ken she loved him! As you do. Judging from the smile on his face, I don't think he minded at all! Some wonderful acting from Sue Nicholls tonight, especially!

Nobody was shouting, nobody was making a big dramatic mountain out of a molehill, nobody was even plotting revenge, for once. I'm not sure I was even watching the same show that aired on Monday night! I'd like more of this, please! I don't mind a bit of dramatics but when it's 90 miles per hour all the time, it doesn't half wear you down now and then!

Top marks all around to everyone!





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


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A quickie with Jonathan Harvey

(This post was originally posted by Little Vienna on the Coronation Street Blog August 2015, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Jonathan Harvey - prolific and terrific!

Us diehard Coronation Street fans know we’re in for a treat when certain names appear at the beginning of an episode. When it says 'Written By' ... Julie Jones, Damon Rochefort or, of course, Jonathan Harvey, you can sit back and relax knowing the next half an hour is going to be an absolute belter!

It was with this weight of expectation that I began reading Jonathan Harvey’s new book, ‘The Secrets We Keep’, and I have to say, it didn’t disappoint. It’s funny and sad with twists and turns that keep you totally engrossed until the very end. It's about how 'doing the right thing' is open to interpretation and how history repeats itself from generation to generation. That's what I think anyway!

I caught up for a quick chat with the award-winning writer and all-round lovely fella to ask a few questions about his new book.

LV: Congratulations on the book.

JH: Thank you very much.

LV: Each chapter is written in one of four distinctive voices; which character did you enjoying writing the most?

JH: I enjoyed writing all of them. As I’d get to the end of one chapter I’d think, oh great, I’ve Cally to get to next, or Owen … kind of like … a multifaceted personality (laughs). Once I got into Danny’s story, the bloke who’s gone missing, I really enjoyed writing that, but, to be honest with you, it was nice to then come back to the other people. It’s just like writing a play I suppose; you’ve got more than one character and you don’t really have a favourite. So no, I enjoyed all of them I suppose.

LV: It’s very dark, Danny’s journey, isn’t it?

JH: It’s very dark, yes.

LV: In the acknowledgements at the beginning of the book you said Kathy Burke was encouraging you to go darker and deeper. Was that in respect to Danny and his story or was it just in general?

JH: Just in general really – she wasn’t guiding me somewhere. I suppose my first novel was more comedic than the rest of them, probably, but it was just about having the confidence to tell a story and not think you’ve got to make jokes all the time – it’s more about that really.

LV: What’s been your proudest achievement as a writer?

JH: I suppose my happiest memory would probably be at the Cannes Film Festival in 1996 when Beautiful Thing was in competition and having a free suit from Paul Smith and walking up the red carpet feeling a bit glamorous. It’s the things like that I remember. It’s more of a joyous thing when you’re with a load of other people.

LV: Beautiful Thing has really endured hasn’t it? Why do you think it still resonates with people so much?

JH: Oh I don’t know. I’m not very good at judging all that. People related to something in it. Even if you’re not gay – it was like, you know, first sharing a bed with someone you fancy and all that so … it’s hard to say. I’m not good at judging my own work so the fact that it still resonates amazes me … So I’m not really the best person to ask!

LV: Have you got another novel in the pipeline yet?

JH: I’ve got about two thirds of the way through my next one, yes.

LV: Oh my god! You’re quite prolific really aren’t you?

JH: …Yes! (Laughs)

LV: Are you always going to be doing Corrie or is writing novels something you want to do full-time?

JH: My ideal world would be just writing my novels and writing Coronation Street – they’re my two favourites.

LV: And are you doing something with Tracy Ullman?

JH: Yes. I’m doing the new Tracy Ullman show.

LV: Excellent! I saw Kathy Burke tweeting about it – she let the cat of the bag but I didn’t know if it was general knowledge yet.

JH: I can’t say what I’m actually doing but yes, I’ll be writing a few characters for her.

LV: That’ll be something to look forward to. So what advice have you got for aspiring writers?

JH: Write! That’s the only advice you can give. If you want to write, find the time. Look at Sue Townsend, who wrote Adrian Mole when she had a million kids and a full time job. She stayed up till three in the morning every night writing Adrian Mole. If you want to write, just put the hours in and write - that would be my advice.

LV: My last question is, will we ever see Fat Brenda or do you want her to remain an enigma?

JH: (Laughs) I don’t think we’re allowed to say she’s fat any more.

LV: I noticed that actually, the last reference to her was just Brenda!

JH: Even though I created her I’m not allowed to mention her. (Laughs)

And with that, Mr Harvey was away to write six novels, two award-winning plays, two episodes of Coronation Street and a comedy… all before lunchtime! It makes you sick really doesn’t it - he'd be easier to dislike if he wasn't so damn nice.

‘The Secrets We Keep’ is out now on PanMacmillan. You can even meet him in person when he does a book signing and Q&A session at Waterstones in Liverpool on the 27th August. Details here

Follow me on Twitter here @LittleVienna 

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Review: Jonathan Harvey’s new book, The Secrets We Keep

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog August 2015, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Coronation Street scriptwriter, author, TV writer, award winning playwright and novelist Jonathan Harvey has a new novel out in the shops later this week.

It’s called The Secrets We Keep, and it’s his best book so far.

I’ve read Jonathan’s new book and I loved it. With every book he’s written his stories become more complex and involved, his characterisations more vivid and the storytelling more intense.  The Secrets We Keep is a book I couldn’t put down. I know people say that, but I really couldn’t, ask my husband.  He couldn’t get a word out of me while I had that book in my hands.

The Secrets We Keep is about a man who walked out of his house five years ago for a pint of milk, and never came back. The story is told from the point of view of his family members, his wife and his two children. The family find a left luggage ticket in the pocket of one of his old coats and suddenly they’re thinking… What if he’s not dead? What if he’s still out there somewhere?

There’s more, much more, to this book than that. It gets dark... but to reveal more would be to spoil it. All I can suggest, and I suggest it strongly, is that you buy this book, read it and enjoy it.

It is Jonathan Harvey’s best and strongest novel to date and I loved it. 10/10. 

Buy it from Amazon.ca here.



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Corrie writer Jonathan Harvey's new novel - out in July

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog June 2014, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Coronation Street writer Jonathan Harvey is the author of two previously published novels. His third book - The Girl Who Just Appeared - will be launched on July 17th.

What's it about?

London 2014. Holly Smith has never fitted in. Adopted when just a few months old, she's always felt she was someone with no history, the girl who just appeared. All she has is the address of where she was born - 32B Gambier Terrace, Liverpool. By a bizarre twist of fate Holly discovers that the flat is available to rent. She travels north and moves in. When she finds a biscuit tin full of yellowing papers under the floorboards, she wonders if this might hold the secret to her past.

Liverpool 1981. Fifteen-year-old Darren negotiates life with his errant mother and the younger brother he is bringing up. When the Toxteth Riots explode around him Darren finds himself with a moral dilemma that will have consequences for the rest of his life.

Flitting between the present and the past, we discover how Darren and Holly's lives become intertwined. Will Holly uncover the secrets of her past? Or will she always feel like the girl who just appeared?

Find out more at Pan Macmillan

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Review: The Confusion of Karen Carpenter by Jonathan Harvey

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

Jonathan Harvey is one of the Coronation Street writers and he's also written a few plays and the award-winning TV show Gimme Gimme Gimme.

The Confusion of Karen Carpenter is his second novel (All She Wants being the first one) and is just as sharp and witty as the first.

Karen Carpenter is in her late 30s and has been saddled with not only the name of a famous but dead pop star from the 70s but also with a mother who seems to be having a midlife crisis. Karen is also coping with the sudden departure of her husband, who left a note on the kettle and walked out of her life. Between that, and grieving the loss of a baby several years before that, she's not coping well.

Karen's a teacher. She meets the father of one of her students at his wife's funeral. Is he an unfeeling ladies' man or has she got the wrong end of the stick? She's got a lesbian friend at school and is sure the friend fancies her. Or has she got the wrong end of the stick? It really all falls apart when her husband comes back into her life and we discover why he left in the first place.

The dialogue is fun, witty and sometimes very poignant. The situations are in turn hysterically funny (a Brazilian waxing from hell) and heartbreaking, and everything in between as Karen works her way through the tunnel and finds some hope. It's all you would expect from one of Coronation Street's best writers. (I haven't seen any of his plays, which by all accounts are just as wonderfully written!) I look forward to more from this talented writer.

The Confusion of Karen Carpenter will be available  in bookshops and on Amazon.co.uk after August 15 and will be available in Canada by the end of August according to Amazon.ca



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