Corrie's magazine advert for Lewis the escort

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

The Lady magazine is not a magazine we take here at Blog Towers. You know, it's rather posh. Well, posh it may be but it's heartening to hear it's got a sense of humour. The magazine features in this Thursday's episode of Corrie (tonight in Canada), says Digital Spy, when Rita spots an advert for Lewis the escort.

And real-life readers of The Lady can see Lewis's advert for themselves in this week's edition of the publication. The notice promotes a "discreet male escort" with "years of experience" and features a picture of Lewis alongside two fictional phone numbers.

A Coronation Street spokesperson said: "The Lady heard the magazine was going to feature in an episode, and they approached us with the idea of using the advert in the actual magazine."

Eagle-eyed Corrie fans will have spotted that the latest edition of The Lady pictured above has another Corrie connection. Joanna Lumley's the cover girl and of course, she played Ken Barlow's girlfriend Elaine Perkins in Corrie back in 1973.

McDonald Family goes to Blackpool circa 2003

I thought you might enjoy this photo from the Wayback machine. It's November 2003. Steve and Karen have just got divorced and re-engaged because she wants to remarry in a big splashy ceremony (be careful what you wish for!) Tracy Barlow is pregnant but nobody yet knows that Steve is the father and has married Roy so that he has legal claim on the baby he thinks is his.

Meanwhile, Jim McDonald is still in prison for the manslaughter charge stemming from when he confessed to beating Jez Quigley who later died from his inuries. Liz had remarried Jim in prison and she's now working in a pub in Blackpool. Jim suspects that she's seeing another man and sends Steve up there to check on her. Karen goes along for the ride, anticipating having a bit of a lark on the promenade. Alas, Jim is impatient and breaks out of prison and most of the McDonalds are reunited.

You can read more about the Blackpool Shenanigans, which also include a return by Bet Lynch and a sub plot with Ashley and then-nanny Claire on holiday, and falling in love over here on Corrie.net (starting at November 17)


Photo: Mark Campbell/Rex Features

What will happen to John Stape? (Spoiler)

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

There's a speculation of a possible upcoming storyline near the end of the first paragraph.

The Stapester's getting a lot of stick at the moment, but he's one of my favourite Corrie characters so I'm going to leap to his defence. Okay so he's been a bit of a plank at times, not to mention a criminal, but hey, he's done his time and he wants to turn his life around. That's why he went for the job as an adult education teacher. Yes, he lied to the education authorities as well as to himself about the CRB check, but I don't think he's deep down evil (not like sleaze-meister Grandad George - and where's he disappeared to, lately? up to no good in Berkshire, I reckon.). Stape wasn't planning to kidnap any more pupils - he's been and done that, and well and truly learned the error of his ways. But those CRB checks are very unforgiving. He's not going to get back into teaching again, ever - unless gets desperate and steals someone else's identity, School of Rock style - which is a possible upcoming storyline. Personally I really hope he doesn't go down that route and end up inside again.

No, there must be other solutions for John. But what on earth ARE they? Okay, Roy's Rolls isn't a bad job, but the pay must be terrible not to mention the leccy/soap powder bills he must run up, getting the pong of chip fat and bacon and sausage barms out of his clothes. But that's the least of his worries. What about his long term future? Will he turn into a "Ken", pottering away on the Weatherfield Gazette, polishing his leather elbow patches and tinkering with a novel that will never see the light of day? I hope not. I think the Stapester deserves better.

By the way - I notice that there is an author called John Stape, who wrote, among other things, a biography of Joseph Conrad. I wonder if that's where the idea for the character's name came from?

Corrie Weekly Awards, week of Jan. 10 - 14

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

Awards for last week's Canadian episodes.

You had that coming award: Gold Star: Molly, not Pam. Pam told her the truth, all of it and Molly couldn't take it so she smacked Pam.

Shameful award: Gold star: Jesse. But we always knew he had an eye for Julie. (She might have given him mixed signals but he was only hours away from wanting Eileen back.)
Silver star: Nick wussing out on visiting his mother.
Bronze star: Kevin handing over Sophie 50 quid because it's easier than saying 2 sentences of apology over again.

Rosie Webster Media award: Gold Star: Norris learned how to use that fancy new camera pretty quickly. Is it going to get him in trouble? (and quite a zoom on that baby too!)

We're not really related award: Gold Star: Nick and David: "Half brothers."

Best image award: The tumbleweed rolling back along Victoria Street after Jesse was run out of town.

Lines of the Week:
Tyrone: "We could change the name of the garage... 'Webster, Dobbs and son'" (and it's appropriately ambiguous too!)

Molly to Kevin: "I'm staying round here to make a go of it with my family like you are trying to make a go of it with yours!" (Much as I hate to say it, she's got a good point.)

Norris about the reunited couple: "It's like marital hokey cokey" (Isn't that the one where you put ... well and then you shake it all about, so to speak?)
Eileen "I thought i was getting a life belt and i got an anchor!"
Janice about Nick: "If he were a stick of rock he'd have pillock written right through it" (Word!)
David to Graeme about his crush on Rosie "You're one step away from going Stape on her!
Graeme's voice mail "Please leave a message after the sheep...baaaaaaaaaaaa" (Brilliant!)

Graeme: "These hands are deadly weapons. They should be kept in mittens by rights."

Eileen: "Always the statue, never the pigeon, me." Julie: "To sisterhood." (and not before time!)

Corrie Crazy airs again tonight

Corrie Crazy is on CBC Newsworld tonight at 8 p.m. for any of you that missed it the first two times around. For any new readers, this is a documentary that was made last year about why Coronation Street is so popular with Canadian fans.

The host is Debbie Travis who is a fan herself, and born in the Manchester area. She takes you to Manchester with some footage shot at Granada studios with some of the cast as well as on location to a shoot at a train station. The second half of the documentary tells about the stories of fans in Canada from various parts of the country including right here in Halifax!

I was a part of the documentary along with my fiance (who gives me Corrie presents for Christmas and even wrote me a song about Corrie this year!) who i met in a Corrie chat room 7 years ago. They also sent a film crew to a local ping and they went on one of the naval vessels to talk to Mark, a sailor friend of mine.

Sunday Corrie Comments, January 16

So off we go for another week of Sunday comments. Don't forget to check back tomorrow for Lines of the week and weekly awards!


Looks like Molly has got her feet back under Tyrone's table. He's happy as a pig in muck but Auntie Pam knows damn well she's taking the easy way out and told her off good and proper. Home truths only get her face slapped in return and it was Molly that needed the slap, not Pam! (well not really, i'm not advocating violence, but this is telly, ok?) Meanwhile Bill's telling off Kevin and Kevin, for all he says he doesn't care and doesn't want anything to do with Molly or the baby, can't seem to concentrate on anything else. I'm not Molly's fan at all but i'm even less Kevin's fan these days. HE's really acting like an arse, even more than when he was actually having the affair.


Tina's grief seems to be hitting her harder and harder. I'm sure it's her first time with real loss and she doesn't seem to be able to handle it at all no matter how much support she's getting. It's a lot to take on, mind you, on top of your father's death, you have to deal with the fact that you believe he was murdered by his wife, a step mom you liked. She could be getting into trouble though. And every time you go out your door, you're looking at the house where he lived and encountering the family of his killer including your psycho ex which sends you right round the bend. Poor Jason is at his wits' end (a short trip). Weird, though, They are moving back to the flat since it didn't sell and Sean was all upset because he had to tell Eileen? It's not that big a deal is it? They're only over the road. She even agreed. I think Sean's a bit of a drama queen at times! (understatement?)

Gail has a cellmate. Pity it wasn't Jackie Dobbs ;) This one seems ok, though, so perhaps Gail won't have to sleep with her eyes open. She's practical and sarcastic but isn't horrible at least. Good thing, too, since Gail is going to be in jail until the trial! And did you see how Gail and David hugged in the visiting room? I bet you never thought you'd see that! It was really sincere too, on David's part. He's really cut up about this. Audrey is snobbish about the other inmates and visitors and got herself in hot water by suggesting Gail hadn't told them everything. She wasn't implying that Gail killed Joe but tempers are high.


Meanwhile, David figures he ought to take matters into his own hands and tries to interrogate some of the witnesses in the Lake District, bringing Graeme along for the ride. Probably made things worse (The visit, not bringing along Graeme who seems to be just the right person to bring along for a road trip with his flask, maps and music!!)

Sally's at Auntie Phyllis's? What? Who? It must be a relative of one of her parents because Sophie doesn't have an Auntie Phyllis. She's got an Auntie Gina and an Auntie Debbie. And having two capable teenage daughters, why is Kevin so concerned about having to make a meal? Can't they do it? Surely Rosie can at least pop stuff in the oven or the microwave and I'm definitely sure Sophie can probably put a decent edible meal together.

Sophie is being set up with a lad from school that Ryan knows but it doesn't go too well. Perhaps if he'd not been so forward? Perhaps not. It's Ryan's fault for implying Sophie would be up for a "good time" and really, he just wants her out of the way so he can spend more time with Sian.


Of course adult students are keen, they *want* to be there! NO idea what John thought he was doing trying to teach. Wouldn't he think he'll get caught? I'm sure they'll still do a background check?

Lewis is sniffing around Audrey again. Must be a slow week in the gigolo trade. Norris got a good look, too, and ended up using that camera on his phone, the one he didn't even want. Guess it has advantages when you're a nosy busybody. Rita seems awfully curious as well and Audrey finally confides in her about the escort. And why not, at her age, have a nice looking man take you out to the theatre and other engagements. Problem is, Audrey's head is turned very easily and a smooth, charming bloke like Lewis could have her head in the giddy clouds of infatuation!

I love Eileen's wolf whistle text alert! Jesse wants another chance but what's this? He's kissing Julie?? He loves her??!!!?? It didn't take him very long to get over Eileen, did it? B@stard! He's had his eye on her for awhile, though Julie is far more loyal than to give in to an attraction. Julie didn't want him so i guess he figured he could get back in with Eileen and it's "oh i love you Eileen, give us another chance"  so he wouldn't have to move home to Mummy. Sisters must stick together! Eileen sent Jesse packing with a tumbleweed following him down the dusty cobbles. Wonderful!


Nick can't even break up a little fight! I'm at a loss as to why Nick can't take a couple of hours to visit his mother. Too scared of Carla to go? Too scared of the jail? What a weakling! He's no match for Carla! And anyway, why? He owns part of the business. It shouldn't matter what Carla says. She might have a majority share but she's not the boss of him if he's part owner. Nick's answer to it all? Pay for a better lawyer for Gail which he should have done from the get go.

Odd that Nick has to put his overcoat on over his suit to walk 15 feet to the factory. And he sure didn't like Janice spreading gossip about his lack of prowess in bed. ANd by the way, where does Trev get off teasing Janice about what she eats?


It might be chilly but it's also March in Weatherfield, not flamin' January in Edmonton ;) The factory bees complained that working more to make up for Kelly's absence meant they still wouldn't get paid more but it would, wouldn't it? I thought they were being paid on a quota/pieces completed basis? Or they used to be. So if they work more, they should get paid more. Graeme has a major crush on Rosie Webster! Graeme was really brilliant this week! I think he's an awesome character! I wrote a bit about Graeme as a free spirit on my other Corrie blog here some time ago if you're interested.

Let's see. Sunita has been living in a large posh house in a leafy Manchester suburb for 5 years and the kids are no doubt going to a local school so why on earth is she A. saying their school is closer to Coronation Street and B. wanting the four of them living in a flat with half the space of the house and C. saying the kids aren't rooted when that's the only house they've ever known? Why can't Dev move into the house and drive to work?

Elsie Tanner and Pat Phoenix - Unforgettable

In the UK last week, there was a half hour special on Pat Phoenix who played the wonderful Elsie Tanner, one of the most iconic Coronation Street characters ever. It has been shown before, originally airing in April 2000,  but not in Canada. Thanks to the magic of YouTube, however, you can see this documentary that is chock full of interviews from coworkers and friends who knew her. It's great stuff to see old photos and interview footage of Pat and to hear what she was really like. This photo is from her pre-Corrie days when she was acting in reperatory theatre around England. No wonder she was able to instill that air of glamour in Elsie!
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3

Cross posted to the Coronation Street blog and State of the street

Next Week in Canada (Jan. 17 - 22)

On our screens in Canada next week... More bad news for Becky, Graeme is a hero, Tina tells Jason some truths, Rita goes out on the town, David takes risks for Gail, Dev and Sunita consider a new house. For more details on these spoilers, with pictures, check out the Moosejaw Mercury on Corrie.net.

I need your opinion, dear readers

Currently, this blog is, for the most part, spoiler free.

But...would you like any of the following types of posts to appear on this blog? Either of these two types of blog posts will probably involve spoilers but I would use my discretion and continue not to reveal any major plot spoilers (I.e. Gail's in jail and there's going to be a trial, that's pretty obvious, but the verdict shall remain unposted until it's aired)

1. Preview of next week's Corrie (in Canada). Obviously these will be spoilers and I can link to the corrie.net site where the spoilers will actually be decribed in further detail, with just a few brief statements about what's coming up.

2. Upcoming casting/new character spoilers which may involve some minor spoilers to do with a new character (i.e. they may be a love interest for someone else)

3. Returning character spoilers.

And while i'm at it, would you prefer the Lines of the Week to stay with the Sunday Comments or shall i leave them with the weekly awards?

What say you?

Cheshire pub gets starring role in Corrie

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

When you're watching Coronation Street tonight, look out for the Church Inn. It's a pub in Mobberley in Cheshire and features on Corrie tomorrow night.

The pub was home to Jack P Shepherd (David Platt) and Graeme Proctor (Craig Gazey) on Monday, February 8, as they came together to try and find a way to free Gail from jail. Pub owner Stephen Bedford said the pub was a hive of activity, with more than 50 production staff heading down to the village for the one-day shoot.

“It is a wonderful opportunity to be in something like that and be seen by so many millions of people,” he said. “The locations manager phoned up and asked if they could have the pub for a day’s shoot. I have done similar at other places before, so I knew we weren’t on the end of a wind-up.”

David Platt doesn't 'alf do my head in

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

Is anyone else having a hard time getting their head around the new and improved David Platt? The one that is genuinely concerned for his mother's well being and seems willing to defend her to the bitter end? This is the lad that pushed his mother down the stairs and left her for dead!

I wonder if his hatred for Joe was just that much stronger than his supposed hatred for his mother? Let's face it, he did hate Joe. Well, it didn't start off well when he found out that his girlfriend's father was with his mother but it went rapidly downhill when he moved in, usurping David's place at the head of the table, so to speak. Joe certainly didn't win any points when he got addicted to pain pills and tried to rob the health centre. Gail didn't chuck him out. You'd think that would turn David against his mother even more but he took it all out on Joe.

I think he realized how much Joe was dragging Gail down and then when Joe's whole "fake my death" scheme went under, literally, Gail called David for help. She actually needed him and without even knowing what the problem was, he hopped a train to the Lake District. That in itself was a miracle.

Since discovering the whole scheme, David was more than willing to do whatever it took to help his mother, even lying for her and covering up by throwing Joe's mobile into the canal which was a bad move after all. Still, seeing him the other day hugging his mother and really meaning it? My head was spinning! I'm sure Manipulative David hasn't gone away and at least he's still spending all his free time sniping at Nick, who's also come back to usurp David's position as the only "man of the house". But he's actually there for his mother and that doesn't 'alf do my 'ead in!

Rita's back and don't you love it!?

Just because I'm so tickled to have Rita back on the Street! Barbara Knox was recently awarded with an MBE along with costar Eileen Derbyshire and she also did a television interview on Paul O'Grady who does a talk show in the UK. Ms. Knox is notoriously private and interviews are rare. You can see the interview via links to YouTube on this post.

Weekly Awards, week of Jan. 3 - 7

A new feature for this blog. I also write for The Coronation Street Blog, which is a UK timeline blog and i do these awards after watching the episodes each week. This post originally appeared in March 2010 and covers the episodes seen in Canada last week. Hope you like it.

Boy am I glad to see you award: Gold star: Simon!
Silver Star: Rita!

Soap cliche of the week: If she faints, she's pregnant and if she's had sex with two people, one of whom she shouldn't have, she's pregnant and doesn't know who the father is. It's Classic Soap Opera Plot 328. which leads us to...
Best (Worst) Reaction Ever: Kevin setting the scan photo up in flames!

Could she/he be any more theatrical? BLACK star: Gail coming down the stairs, wild eyed, with a high operatic aria in the background. Sheesh!

You'd think she'd be used to it award: Gold Star: Gail burying her third husband. Mind you, he was the only husband she loved when he died.

Trying too hard award: Gold Star: Kelly panting after Nick who clearly doesn't care.

No chance of getting in her pants award: Silk star: Nick: Once Carla found out he got inside info from Kelly, he didn't have a prayer.

Deja Vu award: Gold Star: Kelly telling Nick that one of these days someone will stab him in the back. She meant it figuratively. Does she realize that's how his father died? Literally!

The Deirdre "I didn't do it" Rashid banner is handed over to Gail Platt!

Lines of the Week:

Rita "Helloooo Street!!!" (And it's great to have her back!) 
Tina about Gail: "She's been lying about how my dad died and I don't want to look at either one of her two faces while I'm burying him."
Nick "Some of us can't afford to fall apart, David" (but you could show a bit more concern or worry for your mummy)
Kelly to Nick "One of these days someone is going to stab you in the back" (she didn't mean it literally but you do remember that's how his father died!)
Norris about the warring funeral "teams".."Bit odd, don't you think?" Dev: "Decorum, Norris. Decorum" (Too bad Tina couldn't restrain herself at the funeral)
Peter: "Oh my baby!" (ok, did anyone else have tears running down their face at that line?)
George: "I am deeply sorry for all the trouble I caused." (And so you should be!)
Eileen about Gail: "She'd have trouble cooking a fish with the head still on."
Rita: "I don't think I give Norris' staying power much thought."
Kevin to Tyrone: "Congratulations!" Tyrone: "Cheers, mate, who's the daddeeee!!!" (um, yeah.)
Nick "Business is all about exploiting the opportunities" (while grinning at Kelly through the window, poor cow)
Jason: "Too much thinkin' makes you miserable" (Oh, so that's why you're such a happy chap!)
and finally...


Kelly "I'm Kelly Crabtree!!! The one with the legs!!!!"

Deborah hits the Corrie media trail once more

There's an online shop out of Ontario called Blighty's that carries food, candy and gifts from the U.K. They have real shops, too, called Blighty's Tuck Store and are found in the Greater Toronto Area. Luckily, if you don't live there, you can shop for your favourites online. They also carry a small  range of Coronation Street  gifts!

That's not the main reason for this blog post, however. Blighty's has a monthly newsletter that they send out and in this edition, found here online at their blog, there's an interview with Deborah Cyr. You may recall that Deborah won a contest that names her officially as Canada's Number One Corrie Fan. She won a trip to Manchester and to the set and met a number of Corrie actors. Regular fans of this blog may recall we interviewed Deborah after she won the contest and she also sent a great description of her trip to Manchester.

My fella and I had the pleasure of meeting Deborah face to face at a ping in Toronto in October 2010 and she's every bit as friendly and enthusiastic as she comes across in the interviews!

Subscribe to Blighty's newsletter here where you can set up an RSS feed or subscribe by email. Just a warning, though, the newsletter sometimes has spoilers and Blighty's site has spoilers as well. .

Sunday Comments, January 9

Ok gang, I've started to do a bit more with this blog. Rather than putting the lines of the week here, i'm going to start putting Weekly Awards on the blog on Mondays that will include Lines of the week. Check back tomorrow for the lines of the week and the awards..

Phew, Simon's ok! It's a bit far fetched that a 6 year old would be able to find his way back to Weatherfield overnight on a train or three all by himself, then getting through the city from the train station to Coronation Street alone, without anyone noticing at all but there you are. I'm surprised Peter didn't knock George right into Victoria Street when he came to grovel. He thinks Simon really is better off with Peter. Ya think?

There can't be a funeral on the Street without some palaver can there? Not most of the time at least. Tina was the one making a scene this time, haranguing Gail about killing Joe. Good god could the scene with Gail coming downstairs to the Operatic aria be any more drama-queen? And Gail looking at Nick and fixing his tie, boy the Nick Sunshine sure shines out of his backside where she's concerned doesn't it? Tina's mother didn't come, something about not wanting to be a hypocrite. How about wanting to support your broken hearted daughter? And Why on earth would Gail be going on about Joe's depression at his funeral? Wouldn't there be a nicer way to remember him? Mind you it *was* all depression and addiction and loan sharks, i suppose.

Surely there were more people attending the funeral that Graeme could have got a lift with? But no, hardly any neighbours there, even long term ones that have known Gail for years! Ok, the Barlows were otherwise occupied, but no Sally? Her best friend? Oh Joe we hardly knew ye! This is the third husband Gail's buried. Martin should think himself very lucky he escaped alive! Talk about the Black Widow!

So even though the police admitted there wasn't enough to charge Gail, they arrest her anyway because she's thinking of visiting Sarah in Milan. Tina blew it all out of proportion and nobody in their right mind thinks Gail could possibly kill anyone! Tina thinks Gail got her to lie to the police when Joe was already dead. Well she did but Gail didn't know Joe was dead! It's more damning circumstantial evidence.

So there's David on his own. However can he manage to survive without Gail? Pah. I agree with Nick, time he learned to look after himself and indeed i'm sure he can. Gail's charged with murder with family there to support her but tempers are hot and David and Tina get into a slanging match after Gail is denied bail. I guess we'll have to put up with Gail whispering "I didn't do it" a la Deirdre Rashid. Wouldn't it have been funny if her cellmate would have turned out to be Jackie Dobbs, banged up for something the minute she was chucked out of Tyrone's house? Gail was like a scared rabbit in the prison, though. Hiding away and then scurrying away from the other inmates who were giving the newbie a hard time.


Molly's pregnant! Not really surprised and naturally she's not going to know who the daddy is. I'd really like it to be Tyrone's but it wouldn't be nearly so dramatic would it? Kevin burning the scan photo was a bit mean, though as was telling her to get rid. If that didn't put her off him, and it didn't, i don't know what will. She's clearly delusional. Kevin had a wakeup call and it's not guilt. He's loved Sally for most of his adult life. Marraiges go a bit stale and he got infatuated. End of. Yet he keeps creeping around Molly even though he doesn't want to know. Creep is exactly the right word! So what's she going to do now? Three guesses. The first two don't count. Tyrone snapped up his chance, chucked out his mother, and took Molly in. She went. It was easier wasn't it?



Mary's on the competition trail again, and won a Bronte weekend in the countryside, almost hours after she entered! Who with i wonder???? Rita's back and looking very "well rested" i think the term is. Speculation has the actress having had a face lift with the switchover to HD broadcasting imminent in the UK at that time. If she has, the surgeon was very good. Now she's got to figure out what she wants to do and working with Emily isn't going to do the trick. She'll end up back in the Kabin sooner or later, rest assured, seeing as Mary wants to drag Norris away for a romantic weekend.

Oh Ace!!! David was watching a Bugs Bunny cartoon! I always wonder why Tyrone has to ask Kevin for time off for various reasons. He's half owner, he shouldn't have to ask permission!


Wasn't Nick a rat b@stard??? He shags Kelly, gets her to spy on the factory accounts for him and then sacks her because Carla says so. Carla doesn't trust her, of course, and if she was wise, she wouldn't trust him either. He's a spineless slimeball and this is just the beginning of it. Watch this space!

Surely Kelly could go to a tribunal for that? Oh i'd sue the lot of them until they had no skin left on their backsides. Yes, she was wrong to spy but he asked her to. I suppose she'd end up being torn apart at a tribunal and made to look the villain. Nick and Carla would gang up on her and lie probably but they treated her like dirt, i say. It's too bad none of her coworkers backed her up either but i don't suppose most of them liked her either. But didn't she tell them all what for before she left?

So that's the last of Kelly with the Legs. She wasn't really a very nice person most of the time but she did keep things interesting now and then. At least she walked out of Weatherfield, confident and looking to her future. And you know? She just might do ok for herself.