How old is Deirdre's chain belt?

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

I was just wondering about Deirdre Barlow's chain belt. I thought that she only had the one - a gold-coloured one - but clearly the one shown in this photo is different - kind of silvery with a black leather-style detail.

As far as I can remember - and I've not been taking my Gingko Biloba as regularly as I should - chain belts came into fashion in the mid to late sixties. And went out again maybe in the early seventies. I'm not sure I've seen one for sale since about 1976 but I'm no fashion expert and maybe I don't go to the right places.

At any rate I'd say Deirdre's chain belt ranks with Liz McDonald's zig zag necklace-thingy as an iconic piece of Coronation Street "wardrobe".

And now we have a better clue. Flaming Nora dug up this photo from an episode in the 1970s that clearly shows the belt! Well, while it's obviously not the very same belt in this picture, we can clearly see that our Deirdre has always been fond of a belted chain. This picture is taken from a 1970s episode in which the belt featured in a storyline involving little baby Tracy and feckless husband Ray.

50 Years Of Corrie In 50 Days – 1975

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

Day 15 of our 50 day countdown of Coronation Street - written by blogger Sunny Jim.

Coronation Street celebrated its 15th year with the burning down of the warehouse and the death of popular character, Edna Gee. The Fire Service and paramedics worked with the production crew to create the blaze, making it the most ambitious disaster the Street had ever screened.

The neighbourhood was being plagued by three young tearaways who were former pupils of Ken Barlow. They were constantly cheeking the residents and indulging in acts of petty vandalism. Albert Tatlock reported them to the police but the youngsters thought that Ken was responsible and wrecked his house in revenge. The fathers of two of the boys tried to bribe Ken into not going to the police but Ken wouldn’t take the money and thinking that society was to blame, didn’t take the matter any further.

However, the boys thought that the police were after them so they broke into the warehouse and spent the night in a store room. In the morning they left a cigarette burning in there and a fire started. The storeroom happened to be Edna Gee’s favourite place to go for a crafty smoke herself and when she opened the door she was engulfed in flames and died instantly. The fire took hold and the entire warehouse was razed, leaving Fred Gee a widower and all the workers unemployed.

1975 saw the marriage of Deirdre Hunt and Ray Langton. Deirdre was engaged to Billy Walker but when Ken Farrington handed in his notice, the storylines had to be rejigged. With the wedding date set and both mothers having bought the same outfit, both Billy and Deirdre started to have second thoughts. Billy broke it off and jetted off to Jersey to take a bartending job. Deirdre and Ray then amazed all the Street residents by getting together and after a whirlwind romance they were married at the local register office.

Also in 1975: Graham Haberfield (Jerry Booth) dies; Lynne Johnson is murdered and Len Fairclough is the chief suspect; Carlos proposes to Mavis to get a work permit; Gail Potter and Tricia Hopkins get conned by a modelling agency; Betty Turpin wins Newton & Ridley’s ‘Personality of the Pub’ competition; Stan Ogden wins free beer for a week.

Sneak Preview of next week's Canadian Corrie, Aug. 15 - 19

Here's a sneak preview of what's happening on Coronation Street in Canada next week.

Becky has to scramble to cover up Kylie's absence and later, on her return, Kylie offers up a shocking suggestion. Anonymous flowers are freaking out John. David's health excuse causes much concern and confusion. Claire and Ashley battle it out and Ashley's scheme could have devastating effects. Will he get caught out?

For more details and photos, check out the Moosejaw Mercury on Corrie.net.

50 Years Of Corrie In 50 Days – 1974

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

Day 14 of our 50 day countdown of Coronation Street - written by blogger Sunny Jim.

Coronation Street had done location shooting before but in October 1974 a new first was established when 2 episodes were filmed in Majorca. In the Rovers, Len Fairclough insinuated that women new nothing about football. In an attempt to prove him wrong, Bet Lynch got a few of the women together and they entered a spot the ball competition in the local paper. They were amazed when they won first prize, a holiday for two in the Bahamas. Bet negotiated with the paper and managed to get the prize changed to a holiday for eight in Majorca and so Bet, Deirdre, Emily, Annie, Rita, Mavis, Betty and Hilda headed off for a week of sun, sea and sangria.

Behind the scenes, the cast weren’t too impressed by the ‘holiday’. While the crew were put up in a 5-star hotel, the actors stayed in the 2-star hotel where the action was filmed. They were called at 6am each morning for make-up which was done in a room next to an open sewer that smelt disgusting. And when scenes were being filmed in the swimming pool, genuine holidaymakers were ordered out of the pool and away from the poolside and were not best pleased.

However, on screen they all had a fabulous time. Bet fell for a holiday tycoon and stayed on, only to find that he had moved on to another conquest; Deirdre, who was engaged to Billy Walker, won Annie’s approval by rejecting the advances of another holidaymaker; and Mavis surprised everyone by having a fling with a Spanish electrician (played by Malcolm Hebden).

Also in 1974: Blanche Hunt makes her first appearance (initially played by Pat Cutts); Maggie Clegg marries Ron Cooke and they emigrate; Cyril Turpin dies; Gail Potter, Eddie Yeats and Vera Duckworth make their first appearances; Lucille Hewitt leaves; Deirdre Hunt dumps Ray Langton and gets engaged to Billy Walker; Minnie Caldwell and Albert get engaged; Rovers Amateur Dramatic Association produce The Importance of Being Earnest; The Hopkins family buy the corner shop; Susi Hush becomes first female producer.

50 Coronation Street facts

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

Did you know that Eccles is played by 3 different dogs? Or that the first scene in episode one was planned to be a cat jumping out of a dustbin? Or that David Barlow was originally going to be called Enid? I didn't and some people might be tempted to call me a Coronation Street anorak.

 These and 47 other facts, some quite well known others slightly more obscure, can be found in an interesting article over at the Daily Mail website.

David Platt cries Wolf

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in October, 2010.) and The State of the Street

David Platt is a very interesting character. He's had a lot of anger issues but this year, he seems to be maturing a bit and getting his life back together after a few very rough years. Now, after an impulsive and aggressive move on Tina, his ex and the girlfriend of his best friend, he's in trouble again. Graeme found out and fought with David and David is now accused of running over Graeme deliberately. But David doesn't remember it, or so he says. He's certainly gained a reputation as a liar but is he lying this time? I've looked at it in more length on my other blog here, see what you think.

Corrie fans give David Platt benefit of the doubt

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

In the latest poll here on the Coronation Street blog, we asked Corrie fans if they thought David Platt was telling the truth about blacking out before running down Graeme Proctor.

198 votes were cast with more than half of fans giving David the benefit of the doubt. The votes were cast as follows to the question: Is David telling the truth?

Yes, he's innocent, 52%
Possibly, give him a chance, 28%
No way, he's evil, 19%

50 Years Of Corrie In 50 Days – 1973 (The Kabin)

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

Day 13 of our 50 day countdown of Coronation Street - written by blogger Sunny Jim.

In 1973 Len Fairclough bought Biddulph’s, a run-down newsagent cum café cum lending library at 16 Rosamund Street and installed his lover, Rita Littlewood as manager. Rita wasn’t much impressed by the place at first, calling it ‘a grotty little hole’ but was won round when the upstairs flat was thrown in as well. Rita wanted to call the place Rita’s but was overruled by Len who decided upon ‘The Kabin’. Rita soon realised that she couldn’t run the shop single-handed and despite suffering from a severe bout of hiccoughs during her interview, Mavis Riley was taken on as her assistant.

The following year, Len tried to sell The Kabin when he received an offer of £5000 from developer Douglas Wormold but when he’d originally bought the shop, he’d put it in Rita’s name and she refused to allow the sale to go through. In 1978 the café area was closed down after the authorities were alerted to its inadequate toilet facilities by Joe Dawson who was opening a café next door. Eventually the lending library became a record library, which in turn was closed down too when Alan Bradley persuaded Rita to let him run a video library instead.

In 1990 Rita closed down the Rosamund Street premises and relocated The Kabin to Coronation Street itself and moved into the flat above the shop. Two years later the business brought romance into her life when she was wooed by confectionery salesman Ted Sullivan. The pair married but the marriage was short-lived as Ted had a brain tumour and only had months to live. In 1999, Rita’s long-term foster daughter, Sharon Gaskill returned and in an attempt to keep her in Weatherfield, Rita gave her The Kabin, working there as her assistant. When Sharon was reunited with her fiancé, Ian Bentley, he forced her to sell the shop so they could buy a house together. Rita swallowed her pride and bought the shop back from Sharon for £40,000.

In 2000, Rita and her new assistant Norris Cole underwent training to open a sub post office. As Norris became more and more involved with the running of The Kabin, Rita agreed to him becoming a full partner in the business. In 2009 after the death of Norris’s brother Ramsay, Rita decided that life was too short to spend so much time working behind the counter of a backstreet newsagent and sold her remaining share to Norris who had been left £172,000 in his brother’s will. After going on a cruise, Rita returned to the Street and started working at The Kabin again.

Also in 1973: Elsie and Alan Howard move to Newcastle; Alf becomes mayor; Joanna Lumley appears as Elaine Perkins; Ken visits the twins in Scotland and returns with a wife; Tricia Hopkins makes her first appearance; Deirdre Hunt starts working at the builders’ yard; Mavis Riley starts dating Jerry Booth.

Speculation Street (with spoilers through the link)

Reading comments about the media and all the speculation surrounding Coronation Street's upcoming 50th anniversary spoilers has me thinking.

We read so much that is pure speculation based on actors we know are leaving, oh yes, they're ALL GOING TO DIE the headlines scream! Are they? Some will, no doubt, but the media is clearly guilty of winding us up a lot of the time so that they can sell papers and it seems to work because none of them seem to be suffering much.

Anyway, I've written a bit more about it over here. (But there are spoilers about characters known to be leaving and, in some case, how.)

Street Style: Julie Carp is Corrie’s Sweetheart!

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

I want to start out by saying that I have always admired Julie Carp's mod girl style.  I have wanted to do a Street Style edition on her for ages.  The only problem is that most of the lovely vintage pieces that Julie wears are REALLY hard to find!  Even something similar.  Well, I couldn’t find that lovely blue cupcake number that she wore a couple epi’s ago, but I was in luck and I did find Julie Carp’s highly coveting pink and white polka-heart dress!

Isn't it completely fabulous?  I know a lot of us out there must just love this but could never see themselves having the guts to pull it off.  But, just look how fantastic it looks on Julie!

I do not know if Julie’s dress came from this shop, but I found this dead-ringer at Vivien of Holloway online.  I think Julie’s poor old spinster sister Eileen needs to get to Vivien’s ASAP, don’t you?  Get the dress HERE.* Check out all the other lovely pieces that Vivien of Holloway has to offer!

50 Years Of Corrie In 50 Days – 1972

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

Day 12 of our 50 day countdown of Coronation Street - written by blogger Sunny Jim.

1972 saw the arrival of a new producer, Eric Prytherch, and he decided that the current cast was getting a bit long in the tooth and needed some younger characters. To this end he brought in Diana Davies to play Norma Ford and Anne Kirkbride as dolly-bird Deirdre Hunt. Diana was a northern actress who had been seen regularly in Family at War and so was a well known face to TV viewers. As soon as the series finished, Prytherch snapped her up. Eighteen-year-old Anne, like many Street actors, had trained at Oldham Repertory Theatre though she had been spotted in TV play Another Sunday and Sweet FA, written for Granada by Jack Rosenthal. She was originally given just one episode but was such a hit that her part was built up over the next year with the plan to be a love interest for Ray Langton.

Barbara Mullaney (now Knox) had appeared in an episode in 1964 but 1972 saw her return, retaining the same first name she’d had in her first appearance. Following the marriage of Elsie Tanner to Alan Howard, it was felt that Rita Littelewood could step into the role of sexy redhead which was now vacant (back in the 70s it was impossible for a married woman to be sexy apparently). The original description of Rita reads: ‘In mid-thirties, Very attractive in a blowsy way. A sentimental good-time lady. Irresponsible, with muddled values but in a good way.’

On April 3rd, Miss Emily Nugent, spinster of this parish married, Mr Ernest Bishop. Ernest caused some worries amongst the bridal party by nearly being late for the wedding. Wracked with last minute nerves he had to be driven round and round Mawdsley Street Chapel several times before steeling himself for the ceremony. The wedding went without any other hitches and after honeymooning in Edale, the Bishops took up residence in No. 3.

Also in 1972: Elsie Tanner gets a pink bathroom suite (about which Hilda Ogden said: ‘Only a Jezebel would have a pink bath. That’s not a flipping bath, it’s phonographic’); Alec Gilroy makes his first appearance; Stan Ogden is accused of being a peeping Tom; Billy Walker is offered the tenancy of the Rovers but turns it down.

Loving Dozy Rosie on Corrie

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


Over the past few years, I felt Rosie's character had run out of steam, and the only reason Corrie were keeping her on is so they could throw her in skimpy costumes, which came off as a little desperate.

Then, new producer Phil Collinson comes in, and suddenly, Rosie becomes one of my favourite characters. Last week's episodes had me in stitches, as Dozy was trying to prepare tea before going to see Alfie (not Alfie Moon surely?).

The scenes sat really well with her character, I hope the writers carry on taking the character down this path, she could become a classic character in no time. Though the recent news was a little disheartening, but as it's only on the DVD, I'll let Corrie off the hook.

Corrie Canada weekly awards: August 1 - 5

Fashionista award of the week: Julie's fab pink halter dress with pink hearts!

I'm sure I've got the wrong end of the stick award: Gold Star: Emily reminiscing about her first time in a posh restaurant. Steve thinking she's talking about a lap dancing club.
Silver Star: Norris found out he jumped to the wrong conclusion about who was guilty about the identity theft.

I appear to have got the right end of the stick award: Gold Star: Graeme found out about David's attack on Tina. The dirt hits the fan and Graeme ended up broken on the cobbles.

I thought I was in the clear award: Gold Star: John Stape... it's all starting up again! John Who? Mr. Big?? and Fiz is getting fed up.

Liar Liar award: Oh heavens, even Fiz is lying and cooking up stories. Poor Julie is getting the short end of it all.

Nudge Nudge wink wink award: Flickering star: Brian winks at John so much it's like he's got a nervous tick!

Will someone hire this woman award: Gold Star: Gail needs to get a job and stop nosing on the neighbours through the salon blinds.

Heartbreaker award: Gold star: Finding out Jack only has weeks to live and seeing him swap memories with Betty, calling the baby "Puddleduck", making everyone happy anonymously, and all the rest.

Lines of the Week:
Brian "At least you know you've got someone to talk to! I always thought we were more than just colleagues you know" (John ..."Wha?")
Brian "Just one question... who's John?"
Graeme "I feel like i'm losing my entreprenerial mojo."
Norris "How many bananas do you think I weigh?" (a bunch? hah!)
Rosie "It's my origami day" Sian "I think she means tsunami"
Norris "Do you want me to grovel?" Rita "Do you know, I hadn't thought of that but I quite like the idea." Emily "*I'd* like to see you grovel!"
Graeme about David "Under that bitter and twisted veneer lies a very sensitive young man"
Fiz to John "I don't know about witnessing a murder, I think I'm about to commit one!" John "Looking on the bright side, at least he believed me!" (and that's a good thing?)
Brian's wife Margaret "Julie Luv, book yourself an eye test and a course of self esteem lessons"
Fiz about Brian "There are rumours he slept with a student!" Julie "No wonder he and John get on so well!"
Sophie "Look at the flamin' kitchen!" (yes. Quite.)

And a couple of WTF moments:

I seriously don't believe that Dev would spend a half hour sticking spoons to his face. This is the man who was dressed to the nines and was comparing himself to the plumage of the Bird of Paradise last week.

How did a little fire extinguisher put out a fire in the whole kitchen? And how did Rosie have the presence of mind to do it?

50 Years Of Corrie In 50 Days – 1971

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

Day 11 of our 50 day countdown of Coronation Street - written by blogger Sunny Jim.

1971 promised a fresh start for Ken Barlow and family as he accepted a job as a teacher in Jamaica. Valerie was concerned about leaving Uncle Albert behind but the thought of a better lifestyle away from Weatherfield for her and the twins won her over to the idea. They sold their car, bid farewell to the family and left the twins with Uncle Albert so they could enjoy their last night on the Street partying with their neighbours in the Rovers. Ken waited in the pub while Valerie got ready at home. She tried to mend the plug on her hairdryer with a vegetable peeler but this didn’t work and she ended up jamming the plug into an already overloaded socket. She let out a single gasp as the electricity shot through her and as she fell, she knocked an electric fire into a packing case. The credits rolled as flames licked around a teddy bear.

The fire at the Barlow’s gave the writers the chance to demolish the maisonettes which had never really fitted into the show. They were demolished after serious structural faults were brought to light by the fire and were replaced by a community centre and a mail order warehouse. These locations gave the writers much more scope for storylines and the introduction of new characters. The community centre soon became a hub for local activity with night classes, flower shows and amateur dramatics and new employees at the warehouse included Ivy Tilsley and Mavis Riley.

Also in 1971: Barlow twins move to Scotland; Annie Walker serves watered down gin; Irma Barlow (nee Ogden) leaves; Jerry Booth returns; Ernest Bishop proposes to Emily Nugent; Stan Ogden forms SODU (Stan Ogden District Union).

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.