Tristan Gemmill Interview: Robert's cancer shock

Why did Robert not attend his doctor’s appointment?

Robert is refusing to face facts but as time goes on we will see it is to do with his fear of hospitals from the time he watched his father die of cancer.

What is his reaction when Michelle broaches the subject?

Robert just can't handle it, he's terrified that he might go the same way as his father but he is not able to share that with the one person he really probably should share that with and that's Michelle.

At the hospital, Robert admits that he discovered the lump weeks ago. How does Michelle react?

Michelle has been the voice of reason. Testicular cancer is one of the cancers that if you catch it early then you have a better chance of long term survival. In his heart of hearts he knows that.

What happens after Joseph runs into the road?

Robert ends up at the hospital and Michelle uses that time while he is immobilised to get the urologist in. Robert, even though he feels backed into a corner, reluctantly agrees  to an examination. The doctor says there is definitely something there which he needs to check out  so he recommends that Robert to gets a scan immediately.

The urologist breaks the news to Robert that the lump is most likely malignant and that they’ll have to remove his testis. What’s Robert’s first thoughts when he is told he needs an operation as soon as possible?

Robert feels that everything is getting out of his control and that is an important aspect for Robert - he likes to be in control of stuff.  He basically says, “thank you for making me aware of it, I’ll think about it,” but he just wants to get out the door.

Why does he hide this from Michelle?

Robert doesn't know how to deal with this, he watched his father die of cancer.

How do you think Robert would react to find out that it was cancer?

That’s Robert’s Room 101, that's his worst fear. Everything he has fought to be, for example with the business, and who he has fought to be with, Michelle - the thought of everything to be taken away in the same way he watched his dad go. He is terrified to the point of being frozen with fear and that's why he won't talk to anyone or do anything about it.

Later, in an attempt to forget his illness Robert heads to the casino. What happens next?

The pressure has got to him and he makes some poor decisions. He’ trying to pretend nothing is wrong but he can’t stop.

What was your first reaction when you were told about this story?

There is a fair amount of responsibility depicting something that is sadly quite common and I wanted to portray it in the most realistic way as possible. I hope to do it justice. If we can contribute to getting the message out there that if you find these things early, you can do something about it then I think we can do some good.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Video: Tristan Gemmill on Robert's testicular cancer news

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


Tristan Gemmill, who plays Robert Preston, was interviewed on BBC Breakfast this week where he spoke about Robert's testicular cancer storyline.

Tristan is very well spoken in real life, it was quite odd hearing him talk a little bit more posh than Robert does in Corrie.

He says that Robert's in denial at first about the cancer news, which we've seen play out on screen now.

You can watch the video interview here.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Tristan Gemmill Interview: Robert's cancer shock

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

Why did Robert not attend his doctor’s appointment?

Robert is refusing to face facts but as time goes on we will see it is to do with his fear of hospitals from the time he watched his father die of cancer.

What is his reaction when Michelle broaches the subject?

Robert just can't handle it, he's terrified that he might go the same way as his father but he is not able to share that with the one person he really probably should share that with and that's Michelle.

At the hospital, Robert admits that he discovered the lump weeks ago. How does Michelle react?

Michelle has been the voice of reason. Testicular cancer is one of the cancers that if you catch it early then you have a better chance of long term survival. In his heart of hearts he knows that.

What happens after Joseph runs into the road?

Robert ends up at the hospital and Michelle uses that time while he is immobilised to get the urologist in. Robert, even though he feels backed into a corner, reluctantly agrees  to an examination. The doctor says there is definitely something there which he needs to check out  so he recommends that Robert to gets a scan immediately.

The urologist breaks the news to Robert that the lump is most likely malignant and that they’ll have to remove his testis. What’s Robert’s first thoughts when he is told he needs an operation as soon as possible?

Robert feels that everything is getting out of his control and that is an important aspect for Robert - he likes to be in control of stuff.  He basically says, “thank you for making me aware of it, I’ll think about it,” but he just wants to get out the door.

Why does he hide this from Michelle?

Robert doesn't know how to deal with this, he watched his father die of cancer.

How do you think Robert would react to find out that it was cancer?

That’s Robert’s Room 101, that's his worst fear. Everything he has fought to be, for example with the business, and who he has fought to be with, Michelle - the thought of everything to be taken away in the same way he watched his dad go. He is terrified to the point of being frozen with fear and that's why he won't talk to anyone or do anything about it.

Later, in an attempt to forget his illness Robert heads to the casino. What happens next?

The pressure has got to him and he makes some poor decisions. He’ trying to pretend nothing is wrong but he can’t stop.

What was your first reaction when you were told about this story?

There is a fair amount of responsibility depicting something that is sadly quite common and I wanted to portray it in the most realistic way as possible. I hope to do it justice. If we can contribute to getting the message out there that if you find these things early, you can do something about it then I think we can do some good.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

5 Corrie couples who shouldn't be together

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

There are couples I love on Coronation Street such as Tim and Sally, Johnny and Jenny, Newton and Ridley. And then there are those who, for this fan, just don't work. This doesn't mean that I don't love the individual characters but when they've been put together with, for me, the wrong person, it falls flat and they have no chemistry on screen. You may well disagree and I'd love to hear from you in the comments.  Here then, are my five least favourite couples on Coronation Street.

Toyah and Peter. I've written before about how much I love Georgia Taylor as an actress and how much I enjoy Toyah on screen.  But where's the feisty, fighting Toyah that we knew and loved from back in the Battersby days? Where's the drive and determination gone? Remember when she wanted to be a journalist, an eco-warrier with Spider? Now, that drive and determination has gone into her IVF and baby-making plans, she is consumed by it and it's become dull.  She and Peter have zero chemistry and neither of them look comfortable behind the Rovers bar. Bring back Spider for Toyah. Carla's coming back - will she take up with Peter again? And finally, bring back Liz to the Rovers for us all.

The only good thing about Anna and Kevin together is that Debbie Rush is leaving the show and their relationship will soon be over. Kevin's a Corrie legend, king of the bomber jacket. Anna's the required Street harpie. Apart they're fantastic. Together? Dull as ditchwater.

Oh, please don't hate me when I say that Billy and Todd shouldn't be together. I love watching these two as a couple, I really love it. But I want them to split up before Todd breaks Billy's heart, which he surely will one of these days.  That's the only reason I don't think they should be together because with these two, pain and heartbreak is just an episode away.

I'm going to say it and I'm going to say it loud. I LOVE Kym Marsh in Coronation Street. She's a fantastic actress and her character has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. She deserves every award going for the baby Ruari storyline which broke my heart in a million pieces. Michelle divorcing Steve made sense but putting her together with Robert Preston was a mistake of the highest order. The man is far too boring for someone as bright and sparky as Michelle. He dulls her light, split them up, please Corrie, and let her sparkle again.

And finally, Zeedan and Rana Nazir. She likes girls, Zee, and she's just not that into you. Dump her, get into your Speed Dahl van and drive far, far away.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Robert's new silver fox hair - Yay or Nay?

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

Love it or loathe it, there's one thing you can't do and that's ignore it. I might well be talking about Coronation Street itself this week as it's divided opinion strongly with the Pat Phelan and dark storyline from last Friday night.

But no, it's not Corrie I'm waffling on about now.

It's Robert's hair, of course.

Why did it take Michelle so long to notice he'd gone grey last night in Corrie? The nation were shouting at the screen from their sofas. "What's happened to his hair?"

Clearly, Grecian 2000 (other hairdye products are available) isn't available in the big house.

But what do you make to Robert's new silver fox look? Yay or Nay? 

I think I'd have to channel Les Dennis' Mavis on this one and say ... "I don't really know!"

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Corrie Secrets Revealed: Behind the scenes at the Bistro

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


Tristan Gemmill, who plays Robert Preston in Coronation Street, is interviewed in this week's Inside Soap magazine and he reveals some smashing secrets from behind the scenes at the Bistro.

He says: "I can tell you there's a spelling mistake in one of the food mantras on the wall in there. Let's see if any of your readers can spot it!  There's also a reservations book and sometimes other actors will sabotage the page that you need to open in a scene - and let's just say it often involves unsavoury drawings or a word that doesn't belong in Coronation Street!"

Tristan also says he loves working with Kym Marsh (Michelle), that he's a big tennis and rugby fan and in real life he has three children.

Asked who he'd swap places with on the set of Corrie, he says Connor McIntyre, who plays Pat Phelan. "The way that Connor manages to keep you enagaged with Pat, even though the character has done some unspeakable things, is testatment to Connor," he says.

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Tristan Gemmill reveals what's next for the Bistro

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


Tristan Gemmill, who plays Robert Preston, was interviewed in Soaplife this week. By way of What's On TV we can share his interview with you.

Tristan talks about the current storyline at the Bistro and who he thinks is behind the damage that's being caused.

“Robert feels totally responsible for the nightmare that’s unfolding. And being the hands-on guy that he is, he decides he has to fix it his way… and it sort of spirals out of control because of that.’

So, Robert believes Rich is responsible for the attacks on the Bistro?
“Yes, but Rich has a strong alibi. Robert, though, is convinced Rich is responsible and he can’t get this out of his head.”

Why does Robert offer Chesney Brown £5000?
“Robert notices Chesney jump when a plate smashes and he worries Chesney may have psychological scars after the Bistro attack. Adam Barlow’s threatening legal action on Chesney’s behalf, but Robert offers Chesney a pay-off he can’t afford to try to avoid more trouble.”

Michelle offers to bail him out financially. How does he feel about that?
“Robert’s independent and he wants to sort out his own problems and he doesn’t want money to get in the way of their relationship. So he goes to the casino. He thinks it helps him unwind, plus he could win some money.”

Does it help him unwind?
“No. Michelle is furious when she finds out and they have a big argument. Robert says he got them into this mess and he’ll get them out of it, but this doesn’t hold water. Michelle points out this will count for nothing if the Bistro goes bankrupt because he loses more money. There are some icy moments between them and Michelle insists that from now on they tell each other the truth about everything.”

Then Michelle’s car is vandalised…
“Michelle clearly doesn’t know about it, so Robert goes into protection mode and he gets it fixed without telling her. When she finds out, they fall out again. These attacks are starting to unravel Michelle and Robert’s relationship.”

Michelle’s clearly in serious danger…
“And Robert will do anything to protect her… We will see just how far he’s prepared to go. This turns out to be quite a significant departure for him.”

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Who's the real target, Robert or Michelle?

Michelle has been throwing Phrases of Doom all over the place over the last few episodes, thinking everything is going to be ok, all the troubles are over now. It makes me shudder when I hear all that. It only means the worst is yet to come.

Macho man roughs up the apparent culprit behind all the aggro but Rich insists he's not to blame. What if he isn't? Who else has it in for Robert, who else might be mounting a campaign to scare Robert into submission over some imagined slight? The only other one I could think of might be Adam, trying to scare Robert into a bigger settlement for Chesney but that seems a bit extreme, even for Adam.

What if Robert isn't the target at all? What if Michelle is the target? The graffiti was generic enough, "R.I.P.", the fire "bomb" only damaged the sign outside the restaurant where she worked and wasn't tossed through a window or the door. The flat was overturned but nothing was taken and the back window of her car was smashed while she wasn't in it. The car, by the way, that nobody knew she owned. I suppose that was bought with her divorce settlement. Apparently she's going to be kidnapped or suspected to be.

If she's the true target, who would it be? My money's on Will. Does anyone else find it odd that he's reappeared just before all this started? He would certainly be holding a grudge. He told Maria he regretted his silly crush on a married woman but many a man who starts off seeming reasonable has turned out to be off his rocker.

What say you, kind folk? Could Michelle be the real target? If so, who and why?

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Robert and Michelle: A Poem

(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in August 2017, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Robert and Michelle, they're so boring

That current storyline leaves me snoring

 Michelle with Steve was barely viable

Putting her with Robert is totally risible 

Please Kate Oates, make it stop

I can't decide which character I'd rather you drop

Arms folded; dead-eyed stares

All those impossibly black dyed hairs

Come on Corrie Street, bring it to an end

Before you send this viewer completely round the bend 

 

By Graeme Naylor (Channeling Pam Ayres).

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter

Tristan Gemmill reveals what's next for the Bistro

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


Tristan Gemmill, who plays Robert Preston, was interviewed in Soaplife this week. By way of What's On TV we can share his interview with you.

Tristan talks about the current storyline at the Bistro and who he thinks is behind the damage that's being caused.

“Robert feels totally responsible for the nightmare that’s unfolding. And being the hands-on guy that he is, he decides he has to fix it his way… and it sort of spirals out of control because of that.’

So, Robert believes Rich is responsible for the attacks on the Bistro?
“Yes, but Rich has a strong alibi. Robert, though, is convinced Rich is responsible and he can’t get this out of his head.”

Why does Robert offer Chesney Brown £5000?
“Robert notices Chesney jump when a plate smashes and he worries Chesney may have psychological scars after the Bistro attack. Adam Barlow’s threatening legal action on Chesney’s behalf, but Robert offers Chesney a pay-off he can’t afford to try to avoid more trouble.”

Michelle offers to bail him out financially. How does he feel about that?
“Robert’s independent and he wants to sort out his own problems and he doesn’t want money to get in the way of their relationship. So he goes to the casino. He thinks it helps him unwind, plus he could win some money.”

Does it help him unwind?
“No. Michelle is furious when she finds out and they have a big argument. Robert says he got them into this mess and he’ll get them out of it, but this doesn’t hold water. Michelle points out this will count for nothing if the Bistro goes bankrupt because he loses more money. There are some icy moments between them and Michelle insists that from now on they tell each other the truth about everything.”

Then Michelle’s car is vandalised…
“Michelle clearly doesn’t know about it, so Robert goes into protection mode and he gets it fixed without telling her. When she finds out, they fall out again. These attacks are starting to unravel Michelle and Robert’s relationship.”

Michelle’s clearly in serious danger…
“And Robert will do anything to protect her… We will see just how far he’s prepared to go. This turns out to be quite a significant departure for him.”

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Tvor @tvordlj on Twitter