You are the Corrie Producer: Who would you kill off?

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

Well, well, well, there's going to be a cull and carnage on the cobbles for Coronation Street's 50th anniversary when a train crashes onto the Street.

If you were the Corrie producer, who woud YOU kill off if you could? (And please don't say if you already know!)

Here's my top three for the firing line: Tracy Barlow, Molly Dobbs, John Stape. And here's my three that I would hate to see go: Rita, Deirdre, Gail. And my three to return who would bring tea and sympathy back to the Street: Spider Nugent, Mavis Riley, Curly Watts. What about yours?

Sneak Preview of next week's Canadian Corrie, July 25 - 29

In brief, here's what's coming up on Canadian screens next week in Coronation Street:

Nick has a new project and extricates himself from the factory. Who is he going to appeal to to join him? Gary heads to a war zone, leaving Eddie and Anna in fear. Sally tries to  bond with Molly and baby Jack. How do Molly and  Kevin feel about that? Ryan contemplates giving up a great opportunity. Chesney and Katy attempt to make their own opportunity.  Carla reacts badly to Trev's departure. Who does she call on to get her out of a jam? People are receiving anonymous gifts. Tyrone gets devastating news.

For more detail and photos, visit the Moosejaw Mercury on Corrie.net.

State of the Street - Sept. 2010 for Canadian Corrie July 2011

Yes it's the end of another month on Coronation Street in the UK timeline where we've reached up to the end of September 2010. 

September was definitely the Month of Natasha as the major storyline but it wasn't the only thing going on. Sophie and Sian ran off, leaving Sally to tear her hair out with worry. They're back but now Sally's hair is coming out in chunks while she tries to get her head around having a gay daughter. She will, don't worry. Ken's got a new son and grandson and Becky's got a new sister and nephew. Molly and Tyrone have a new baby and Fiz is pregnant with the spawn of Prisoner 666. More about the State of the Street here.

Is Corrie's Nick to blame for Natasha's downfall?

We've seen Natasha stride off the cobbles in a traditional black cab. Nick watched her go but didn't try to stop her. I felt a bit sorry for her and cheered when she confronted Gail but earlier in the show, I did a double take. She laid into Leanne and accused her of being a cow to her for the past few months and I thought "Excuse me???" Wasn't it Natasha that threw Leanne's prostitute past back in her face so that Nick would find out? She did it out of pure jealousy because she found out Nick and Leanne had been married in the past and looked quite friendly now.

Something that Nick had never bothered to tell her. Nick had also been leading on Natasha, in my opinion. He tried to lure Leanne away from Peter and she wasn't having it or him so he made do with Natasha. She probably knew it down deep but was over awed with his attention and fell madly in love. I don't really see how it could have been true love since he never really did anything to encourage it unless sex were involved (posh hotel nights, that sort of thing) and he resisted all of her attempts at committment for months, only moving in with her once he thought there was a baby on the way.

In fact, he even broke off with her when she tried to force the issue about moving in and only came running back when he had a chance to think about the baby which he initially rejected harshly.

But you know, if Natasha hadn't been so infatuated so as to ignore all the blatantly obvious signs that he just wasn't that into her, she might not have got pregnant, suffered rejection, had the termination and then lied about the baby leading to her discovery and suicide attempt. I'm not saying Nick shouldn't take on some of the blame but it's only a small part of it. Every chance he got he still went running back to Leanne and that had to hurt Natasha but it should also have told her how he really felt. Again, down deep I think she knew. I do believe that there are old hurts and unfinished business between Nick and Leanne but I also think she really does love Peter no matter that she may have looked at Nick on occasion with a bit of longing.

Natasha really did bring on most of her bad luck herself, out of desperation to be with Nick who was only excited about the baby, maybe more to make up for insisting Leanne have an abortion all those years ago. My conclusion? Natasha is her own worst enemy and should shoulder most of the blame this time around. And it pains me to say that because I really dislike Nick!

Fat Brenda's Cream Horn (July 20)

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

I'm writing this in Weatherfield library, I had to sneak in though because I've been banned from entering the building after I was caught defacing their Jeffrey Archer novels so I'll have to get on with it.

I've been waiting a long time for Gail to get her comeuppance and it finally happened, my ciggies tasted all the sweeter last night when Eddie told me she'd been sacked. She's nowt but a walking scowl with hairspray that one, strutting round like butter wouldn't melt; delving into that poor lasses medical records like that, it's a disgrace! If you accessed Gail's records it would say, 'meddles in everybody else's love life but ignores the flamin' obvious when it comes to her own. Constantly chooses unstable boyfriends over her family - prescribed: a slap!'

Still, at least young Nicky has got that lovely Leanne Battersby to look after him in his hour of need. As ex drug-addicted, sex-working, lottery-scamming, insurance-swindling people go, she's great! Poor Peter, he'll be reaching for that bottle in the next couple of weeks, you mark my words.

And finally, what about Natasha! Can you believe it? Can you actually BELIEVE what she did?! She got in a flamin' black-cab instead of the Streetcars taxi she ordered! What's the point of having Weatherfield's premier taxi firm on your doorstep if you're not going to use it. I've complained to Weatherfield council about that driver hanging around The Rovers trying to pick up our customers but would they listen? No they flamin' wouldn't!

Right, I'm going... I think one of the librarians has seen me... if you want to keep up with life in the cab office then click here. She's coming over I'm going to have to g...

Coronation Sheep

This wonderful Bet Lynch Coronation Street sheep has been created for the Flock to Skipton public art festival starting in August this year. And guess which talented, artistic ex-Corrie actress has made it? It’s Jayne Tunnicliffe, who played Yana Lumb. Jayne’s used old Corrie scripts to make the papier mache beehive!

Jayne’s sheep will form part of the Flock to Skipton festival from August 14 – November 14 – you can find out more about it online here.

Also, why not visit Jayne’s creative, artistic website Voodooville where there’s loads of Corrie-related items for sale. And there's a bit more about her involvement in this exhibition with another photo of a few more sheep here.

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

Corrie Canada weekly awards: July 11 - 15

Reality Bites award: Gold star: It all came down around Natasha's head. The week started with an engagement ring and ended in an ambulance.


Nasty soup for breakfast: Gold Star: Is Owen showing his true colours? He certainly had nasty soup for breakfast this week.
Silver star: Nick isn't far behind. He has been horrid to and about Trev all week! Then he's took the chance to be nasty to Natasha, admitedly with a bit more provocation.

The Grass isn't Greener on the other side of the fence award: Sophie and Sian thought being on their own would solve their problems. Guess not.

Fear the temper of the red head award: Flamin' star: Rita isn't happy when she's flooded out!

The Reincarnation award: Gold Star: Gail has finally completely become Ivy Tilsley.

Do I see sparks award: Lusty star: Rosie called Jason thick but there was a big "but" in her eyes.

Lines of the Week:Rita: "Don't you go all Biblical on me, Norris, Go! Yer flamin' drama queen!"
Tina "How bad is it?" Rita "Like the Red Sea. Without the parting" (What was that you said about biblical?)
Kylie about Becky: "She'll soon get sick of me. People always do." (And why would that be?)
Audrey to Gail: "I think the word you were struggling for is 'Congratulations'"
David about Natasha: "When it comes to having it upstairs, she's practically a bungalow!"
Natasha: "You probably think I have no self respect" (yep) and "Deep down you're delighted. Now go jump for joy." (She's right.)
Nick: "We all sacked her. And one of us enjoyed it."
Gail: "What if she dies?" David: "Let's jump off that bridge when we get to it."
Jason "That's the last afternoon I want to spend with your sister!" (can we all say Phrase of Doom anyone?)
Nick to Leanne "The family i never knew i wanted" (and still don't, he's just got caught up in it all)
David to Gail "If Nick had a right to know there wasn't a baby, don't you think I had a right to know there was?"

Sunday Corrie Comments, July 17

Natasha's lies finally blew sky high, with a nudge from Gail who really did cross the line no matter how much she disapproved or was suspicious. It was none of her business and a huge breech of the trust of the position working in the clinic to snoop in Natasha's records. All because she wanted to prevent a wedding that Nick must have thought was the next step. Every time Natasha works on telling him, he comes up with another trump card. Down on one knee to propose in the factory? It must have been a long jump down off that high horse. Did you see Natasha's face? It wasn't even excited when he proposed, it was almost hungry, eager, obsessed. (Have i said lately how much i really really dislike Nick? Part of me feels he deserved everything he got with a huge dose of guilt with a cherry on top. That's not fair to Natasha who was pushed to a desperate act but she was also the authoress of her own downfall as well.)

So there she was, with Gail banging on at her in one ear and Fiz in the other and every time she tries to tell Nick, he proposes or does something else sweet. Finally, Gail furiously told Nick and exposed Natasha for a liar. If she'd found out any other way, i would probably be on her side. I'm not on Natasha's side either but as i said, Gail had no right. The transformation to Ivy Tilsley is complete. Ooh and when she told Audrey, David and Maria, didn't David come back great, he knows that Gail loved being the one to tell Nick and he was right to throw it in her face that she kept from him the news that Tina was pregnant at all. She's probably won't lose Nick but it would serve her right if he never spoke to her again.

Nick doesn't go to his mother for sympathy. Would you? Nope, thought not. Where does he go? He makes a bee-line straight for Leanne (and Peter). Natasha was right about his wanting Leanne and Peter, being a naive sucker, even pushes Leanne at him for support in this time of need. *gag*

Leanne seemed a bit taken aback at the wedding announcement, didn't she? And she was right in there like a dirty shirt willing and able to support Nick in the hospital. Is she getting cold feet for her own wedding? Natasha didn't like her getting all friendly with Nick and that was part of it all. For all that Natasha was so obsessed with getting her claws into Nick, you'd think she'd have put both their names on the door buzzer, not just hers.

Eek! Flood in the Kabin! Now I got thinking about that. Years ago Derek drilled through the store room in the Kabin, that's that little back office area, and it went through the ceiling through the floor and into Reg Holdsworth's waterbed. That is the other flat, the one Tina and Jason own. Not the one Rita lives in. Yet when Tina and Graeme let Rita's bath overflow, the water came down all over the Kabin. Tina's been locked out of her and Jason's flat so it couldn't have been that one.

So, Rita has had her credit card details stolen. Right after Norris had the computer from the Kabin fixed by a fly by night. But he accuses Graeme and Tina? Let's think about this logically shall we?

Oh so Sophie and Sian are bunking down in a squat. ewwww...The accomodations suck, the job sucks, it's just not working out is it? Sian is more afraid of her father's reaction than being on her own but Sophie does have a supportive family. Most definitely a supportive sister that's for sure. Sophie called home and Rosie wasted no time making Jason drive her to find the girls. I'm surprised, given what Rosie was barely wearing, that Jason could even keep his eyes on the road! (Really, though, all she had to do was do up a few more buttons and it would have been relatively decent) Well they're back and Sally is gutted that Sophie thought she'd be that disapproving. Really, Sally is just trying to get over the shock and surprised of it all and in fact defended the girls to Sian's ignorant bully of a father admirably.


So it's not ok for Gail to be horrible to Natasha but Nick can treat Trevor as vile as he wants to? Not in my books he can't. Norris got burned cheese on toast in the cafe. Surely Roy isn't allowing Kylie to do any cooking? Kirk got off that assault charge. No evidence. Wonder why they didn't go back after Gary? Seems Gary isn't having any more of what Kylie is offering. Smart boy, stick with Izzy, mate, she's a little belter.

Seems to have taken the thought of Ciaran moving to Glasgow to make Michelle realize what she wants, him! Eileen is taking her revenge out on Owen and his bank accounts, getting back on him for treating Jason badly and for leading her on while hopping in the sack with Liz. This could be bad. Kylie is continuing to wrap both Steve and Becky around her little finger. She knows darn well that Becky wants Max and is quite willing to let her have him but it'll be on her terms and the hoops she's got them jumping through are massive.

Sneak Preview of next week's Canadian Corrie, July 18 - 22

In brief, here's what's coming up on Canadian screens next week in Coronation Street:

Kevin's left holding the baby. Sally struggles with acceptance while Sophie and Sian settle in. Natasha makes a decision and has a few things to say about it and Nick wastes no time moving on. Identity fraud leads to accusations. Trev and Carla are coming unglued and Carla may turn to someone else for help. Jack comes home to roost. Is there more behind his return than he's letting on? David nearly crosses a line. Gary gets ready to face war.

For more detail and photos, visit the Moosejaw Mercury on Corrie.net.

Corrie's new direction

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

Change, some would argue, is what Corrie doesn't need, in many respects this is perfectly true, but in other ways it has needed to change for a long time, and it finally has. It's a very subtle change, but it is perhaps the most important aspect of the show: Direction - Both behind the camera, and in respects to where the show is heading.

Over this past week, Corrie has been directed by Dr. Who director, Graeme Harper. He's no stranger to the show as he directed episodes in 2005 too. A director is the creative powerhouse who decides what scenes should look like and where characters should be stood and how characters react. All these things are pretty important to how the drama and tension can unfold.

Over the past few years, the show has tended to play it safe on set in respects to how scenes should look; the camera was always in the same position, showing only small sections of the set, it was like looking through a small window into Weatherfield. Now, in 2010, we are being given a bigger window into Weatherfield, we can see more of that little world. For me this is a great thing as I have always wanted to see more and more of the show.

Though here is the thing I really like - Longer scenes. In the past, scenes tended to end as soon as two characters stopped talking. Now, for example - as soon as we see two characters finishing off their conversation, the attention focuses on two more characters in the same location.

It might be just me, but I really appreciate things like this, it makes the show feel more alive, this new outlook of Corrie makes me realise just what Phil Collinson was attempting to show with the new titles. I hope to see more of the same in the years to come!

Do the right thing Natasha!

I am watching Monday's episode of Corrie now.  I think the reason I have been happy to let my episodes accrue on the PVR is because Natasha's phantom pregnancy is driving me crazy!! Its really been going on far too long now.  All she had to do was fake a miscarriage about a week after they got back together, that's what I would have done.  I say that's what I would have done I really don't believe I would have gotten myself into a situation like that.  I suppose loneliness can drive you to anything.

I must say I am excited to find out the reaction of Nick when he finds out.  I wonder if she is just going to tell him or if maybe Gail sneaks a peek at her medical records.  Dr Matt will not take too kindly to that I'm sure.

Our Nick really does want to be a daddy.  Maybe he shouldn't have forced Leanne into having their baby aborted and announcing to the Street it was a miscarriage (1998ish).  Whats goes around comes around Nicky boy.

A blast from Coronation Street's past

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

Coronation Street has so many memorable storylines. I'm not likely to forget the current one with John Stape, and I think the forthcoming one involving the Windass's soldiering son Gary, played by the excellent Mikey North, is going to be really good. Anyone else have a favourite, or memorable for whatever reason, storyline?

Sometimes it isn't the really big ones that stick in your mind. I'm probably not going to remember the Underworld fire (though it was good!) but I will remember Stape standing next to that concreted-over sump hole. (By the way, what IS a sump hole?) And I'll always remember Eddie Windass in his dressing gown, recycling his rubbish (sigh!).

One cracker I'd clean forgotten about was mentioned in a comment recently. It involved the late lamented Fred Elliott, and fake Thai bride "Orchid"/Stacey Hilton, played by Casey Lee Jolleys. It wasn't that long ago, either - 2004 and 2006, and Casey Lee won a Heritage Award for best comedy performance in a soap opera. As far as I can gather, Casey Lee is now running a dance academy in Bolton.

What's the most iconic Corrie prop?

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

I was glad that most people voted for Coronation Street's Ken and Deirdre Barlow to stick it out. No marriage is a bed of roses all the time, and we all need to sit round the table and have a full and frank discussion now and again. Don't we, Ken and Deirdre?

And my goodness - their dining table has heard more than a few tales of woe. I must say that some of my favourite Corrie scenes have taken place around that table. Especially those with Peter, Simon and the sorely missed Blanche. I love that they still have photos of uncle Albert and Blanche nearby - and on a recent episode there was one of Adam. Does anyone happen to know if it is the original table, or recent? And does anyone else have a particular Corrie prop they'd hate to see disappear? Feel free to tell me I need to get a life!

Edited to add: Yes, the dining room set is the one bit of furniture/props that has been there since the beginning. It was Uncle Albert's originally. 

Corrie Canada weekly awards: July 4 - 8

I think he's finally grown up! Mushy star: Steve! Awww he's realizing how lucky he really was with his family, rocky road though it were at times.

That's the way to impress the Social: Gold Star: Kylie getting drunk, staying out all night, showing up to the hearing drunk. Stealing from the Rovers' till and Becky's wallet and coming on to Steve when he caught her red handed.

Wearing Blinders award: Gold Star: Becky just isn't willing to accept that Kylie really isn't what she thinks and Kylie is very good at pulling the wool over her eyes. She won't even believe the worst of Kylie no matter who tells her about it.
Silver Star: Though he did ask her out once, Owen doesn't fancy Eileen and she doesn't see that he fancies her friend.


How can I miss you when you won't go away award: Gold Star: Gary wasn't too impressed with Kylie in the cold light of day.
Silver Star: Claire. Just leave already! You're on my last nerve, woman!

You never change award: Gold Star: Liz just can't resist a rough and tumble fella.

Vile award: Gold Star: Kylie coming on to Steve! Don't touch her with a bargepole, mate! You don't know where she's been (but we do)
Silver Star: Why is Nick so awful to Trev in the office?

Down in Flames award: Gold Star: Natasha's lies are getting more and more out of control. Time is running out.

Lines of the Week:
Pam to Molly "You're messin' with people's hearts and hearts is fragile things"
Ashley "You just click your fingers and I'm just meant to jump?" Claire "You do normally"
Sunita to Claire "I hate seeing you like this" Claire "No, you hate feeling guilty. Deal with it!"
Rosie about models "we're not all thickos you know"
Kylie "I'm sick of being treated like muck" (stop acting like it, then) and about Becky "Did she have my top on???"
Steve to Kylie "Pull the other one" Kylie "Well i did offer!"
Kevin "visiting a mate and a colleague" Pam "Double the disloyalty, then!"
Steve "Rock. Hard place. Steve"
Quinny to Carla "I am a whiz at nighttime maneuvers" Carla "Well you're missing the target now" (shot down in flames!)
Kirk "Too much of a rebel, me. That's always been my problem" (Aww bless 'im!)

Betty "I'd storm out if I had the energy!"

Sunday Corrie Comments, July 10

Cold light of Day and Gary has most definitely realized what he lost vs what he got. Major regrets about Kylie, methinks. Then he couldn't get rid of her because she wanted to avoid the court case. Now, was she just scared or does she even want Max? She says yes/no/yes.... Becky really seems to have taken little Max to fill that hole in her heart that the rejected adoption and lost babies opened up. Becky figured she could pretend to be Kylie in court. But wouldn't there be people from Social Services there, people that know Kylie? Well she didn't have to in the end but I doubt it would have worked.

So Kylie got Max back because she's nominally got a job and has a home. How much you want to bet she'll be perfectly content to let Becky do all the work? Steve's got her number and he didn't even need any prodding. Becky sure doesn't have Kylie's number, even after some initial suspicions when she went missing before the court case. Kylie continues to wrap Becky around her little finger but she can't wrap Steve around it. He knew darn well she stole from the till so to get around it, she figured she could seduce him. Eeeeek!


Mary didn't have any trouble attempting to make inroads into Norris' bed, taking full advantage though she got the motorhome back. Knowing someone else used it won her another night under Norris' roof. I know know, though, if i thought Mary was aiming for me, i'd be scared lol

Auntie Pam has her knickers in a knot over the baby and Kevin. What happens now the baby is actually here? Gary kicked off again, getting all protective over Izzy and then got into a fight with the lads outside. Odd that Kirk took the blame, though, there doesn't seem to be any earthly reason why he would do that, nice guy or not. I think Trevor is beginning to see that taking that job with Carla really was a bad idea and Nick's bullying is the least of it. I don't think he likes being Carla's pet.


Claire is bound and determined to move away. This time it was Claire who couldn't be gracious in the wake of Sunita's apology. I can understand her point of view but I also think she's a bit over sensitive as well. Oh way to go CBC, you cut Claire off right in the middle of a sentence.. "Anyway...." chop! and she quit her job, which they cut as well, on the weeknight eps. Thing is, Ashley doesn't want to move. But if they just move to another area, he could still just commute to the shop.


Serving the public is most definitely not the job for Kylie. Come to think of it, probably no job is! Definitely sparks between Gary and Izzy. Poor Kirkeh knows it too.

Peter talking about how quickly a bar could start up again in the old Joinery and how much Leanne would love to run one has most definitely put the spark of an idea in Nick's head. Watch this space.


Nick is more and more excited about the baby and wants to be all domestic. But really, it's not Natasha, it's the wee sprog. And the weight of all that stress and pressure is weighing her down. Reluctance to talk about the pregnancy is highly suspicious too. Nick puts it down to his mother giving her a grilling but most newly pregnant women love to talk about every ache, pain and symptom. She nearly told him, sat there in tears but thick Nick thinks she's upset because Gail doesn't approve.

Poor Eileen, crushing on Owen and he's hopping in the sack with Liz, her bezzie mate. It's a good thing young Katy is such a good liar herself, she knew her father lied to Eileen and kept a straight face and backed him up. Sean spilled the beans, and rightly so. She wasn't happy but at least she broke from tradition and didn't toss the drink in Liz's face. For a price, and seeing Chesney was the payoff. Laughed at Ciaran instructing Sean on the ways of women i.e. never come between a woman and two blokes or a bloke and two women. IT's true, too.