Coronation Street writer profile: Martyn Hesford

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog July 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

A new Coronation Street writer has joined the ranks with Martyn Hesford penning his first Corrie episode which aired on Wednesday July 25th 2012 at 7.30pm. (Tonight's second episode in Canada)

Martyn has actually acted in Coronation Street! Back in 1979 he played a character called Harvey Stone.

After starting his career as an actor, Martyn turned to screenwriting and penned a number of highly acclaimed BBC award winning single dramas such as A SMALL MOURNING, winner of Radio Times Drama Award, starring Alison Steadman, BRAZEN HUSSIES starring Julie Walters and Robert Lindsay, and A LITTLE BIT OF LIPPY starring Kenneth Cranham.

As well as working on original pieces, Martyn has a particular specialisation in adaptations. NICHOLAS NICKLEBY starring Charles Dance, Pam Ferris and Tom Hollander, ITV 1 (Company Pictures). DR JEKYLL AND MR HYDE starring John Hannah and David Warner, Sky Movies (Clerkenwell Films/Working Title/Universal Pictures). THE OLD CURIOSITY SHOP starring Derek Jacobi, Toby Jones, Zoe Wannamaker, Gina McKee and Martin Freeman, ITV 1 (Carnival Pictures).

In 2007 Martyn’s drama, FANTABULOSA! starring Michael Sheen, which chronicles the life of much adored English comedian and actor, Kenneth Williams was nominated for a BAFTA for Best Single Drama.

His current projects include DANNY LA RUE, a film about the legendary female impersonator, for Leopard Films and SOMEWHERE CLOSE ALWAYS, a play for the theatre, workshopped at Hampstead Theatre and in development with Abbey Wright (assistant director to Danny Boyle at the National Theatre).

Sources: The writers company

If you can help update this Corrie writer's profile, leave a comment below or email me here.

To read about all of the Coronation Street writers, click here.


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The new Ryan Connor - what do you think so far?

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog July 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

He's not been back five minutes and the twitterverse is up in arms over the new Ryan, or as we like to call him here on the Coronation Street Blog, re-run-Ryan.  Why? Check out his past here.

Anyway, he's a bad 'un and no mistake, this time around. He's set fire to Kev's new house, tried to snog Sophie, dissed his mother, dissed the Kirkster, tried to cop off with Eva and threatened to sue Underworld after faking an accident. And then there's the drugs problem to come... 

Express your displeasure below.

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Fab Photo Frank Barlow

(This post was originally posted by Sunny Jim on the Coronation Street Blog June 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

It's time for this week's fab Coronation Street photo. This week it's back to the days of black and white again as we present some early scenes featuring Frank Barlow.

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The Bistro from Hell

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in July 2012.)

Another week, another argy bargy in the Bistro. It's become common place there and I wonder that the Bistro has any customers at all.

Between public arguments, the cleaning lady wiping under your feet while you eat, and natural disasters, that restaurant is doomed.

The first time around, it didn't even open because Peter got drunk and Leanne realised that it was too much temptation to open a bar with him.

The second time around it was destroyed by an explosion and a tram crashing through. Not really a good omen.

Nick opened it again and it's been a steady stream of disasters. He ran out of wine and had to steal back his stock from a dodgy dealer. He's had drunken women dancing on tables and shouting the odds. The aforementioned cleaning lady keeps sniping at the Maitre D'. The barmaid spikes the food with tabasco, food that the Mayor was served. The ensuing fight between Nick and David made the newspapers. Not the publicity he was hoping for.

One cook scammed Nick trying to make extra money for himself. Another cook used a recipe he was legally bequeathed causing the pub owner to threaten to sue them all. Most recently, Leanne's alcoholic ex-husband  staggered in roaring drunk shouting the odds at Nick after getting into a physical fight with him at his son's birthday party the day before.

People are always screaming at each other, arguing and fighting. It's a wonder anyone can relax and have a quiet meal or drink under the arches!


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Corrie originals - Arthur Lowe as Leonard Swindley

First appeared: 16th December 1960

Last appeared: 31st March 1965

Arthur Lowe played the role of pompous draper and lay preacher Leonard Swindley between 1960 and 1965 and then in spin-offs Pardon the Expression (1965-1966) and Turn out the Lights (1967).

Born in Hayfield in Derbyshire in 1915, Arthur Lowe made his acting debut in 1945 in the theatre and made his film debut three years later in London Belongs to Me alongside Richard Attenborough. During the 1950s and 1960s he took roles in The Three Musketeers (1954), ITV Play of the Week (1958-1960), No Hiding Place (1960-1961), Z Cars (1962), ITV Television Playhouse (1960-1963) and Armchair Theatre (1960-1968).

In late 1960, he won the part of 44 year old Leonard Swindley in new serial Coronation Street. Making his debut in the third episode, Lowe would play Swindley for five years. During his tenure, Swindley managed clothes shop Gamma Garments and was chairman of the Mission committee. Among his storylines were clashing with Mission caretaker Ena Sharples; running for council; organising various community activities; and becoming engaged and jilted by assistant Emily Nugent who’d admired him from afar. Swindley left the area in 1965 when he was promoted as Gamma Garments’ Area Manager and left the management of the shop in Emily’s capable hands, who he had remained friends with him despite her jilting him. During his period on the cobbles, Lowe appeared in 200 episodes. Swindley’s fate hasn’t been addressed in the show. In 1980, he sent a telegram congratulating Emily on her second wedding to Arnold Swain. In 2012, Emily referred to Swindley while reminiscing about JFK’s assassination in 1963.

Swindley’s popularity amongst viewers garnered him his own sitcoms after his departure from Coronation Street with both Pardon the Expression and Turn out the Lights being broadcast between 1965 and 1967. In actual fact, Swindley was not a role Arthur enjoyed playing, even though he played it for a total of seven years. It is fair to say that Lowe is the most successful of those actors who left the serial and is indeed best known for playing another character, who was indeed as pompous as Swindley. In 1968, Lowe won the leading role of Captain George Mainwaring in new BBC sitcom Dad’s Army. Dad’s Army was a hit with viewers and in 2004 it was ranked 4th as the Greatest British Sitcom. The sitcom, mainly consisting a cast of vintage actors, ran until 1977 and made Lowe and Mainwaring a household name. Indeed, it is Mainwaring that Lowe is best remembered for portraying, and many people are surprised that he was a regular character on Coronation Street in the early 1960s. Concurrently with starring in Dad’s Army, Lowe had roles in Doctor at Large (1971), The Last of the Baskets (1971-1972) and as the narrator in children TV series Mr Men in 1974.

When Dad’s Army came to an end in 1977, Lowe later secured leading roles in other sitcoms like Bless Me Father (1978-1981) and Potter (1979-1981). Sadly by the early 1980s, Lowe’s alcoholism spiralled out of control and in 1982 he died of a stroke, before he was due to perform on stage in Birmingham. He was 66. He’d made his final interview on Pebble Mill at One only a few hours before his death. He later made posthumous appearances in sitcom A. J. Bentworth, BA in 1982 where he had the leading role and then in TV series Wagner in 1983 that starred Laurence Olivier and Richard Burton.

Arthur had married fellow actress Joan Cooper in 1948 and son Stephen was born in 1953.

Did you ever see or meet Arthur Lowe? Are you fan of Captain Mainwaring and Dad's Army? Do you know any trivia about Lowe?

Research from Wikipedia, Corriepedia and IMDB.

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Rewind on Ryan Connor

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog July 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Right, then. Ryan Connor is back on Coronation Street. He looks a little different as he's being played by a different actor but he's back and by all accounts, will turn out to be troubled.

His return has prompted me to write a blog post to remind ourselves about Ryan Connor. And so, here we go.

Ryan turned up in Coronation Street when the shiny-haired Connor clan hit the cobbles in 2006. The Connor clan included brothers Liam (now dead) and Paul (now dead) their sister Michelle and her son Ryan.

Mother and son lived happily together until Ryan started being stalked by a stranger. Anyway, the stranger stalker turned out to be a man called Nick Neeson who believed Ryan was his real son, and that the poor lad who was living in Nick Neeson's house and had been brought up as his son, Alex Neeson, was Michelle's real baby.

There'd been a baby mix-up at the hospital when Ryan and Alex were born and a DNA test confirmed this.

So, got that? Ryan is not Michelle's real son, Alex is.

Confused Ryan moved out of the flat with his mum and Alex moved in with his. Confused viewers tried to keep up with the plot as one dark-shiny-haired-son replaced another in Michelle's fickle affections.

And then Ryan left for University in Glasgow and hasn't been seen since.  I don't know how much Irn Bru he's been drinking up there in that Scotland, but he's gone from this:

to this:

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Smoke on the cobbles

(This post was originally posted by Clinkers (David) on the Coronation Street Blog in July 2012.)

There was a time, down Weatherfield way, when it would have been remiss of a character not to have an ashtray somewhere about their home. If you turn back the clock to the sixties and seventies, everyone was at it - whether it be Mike Baldwin with "one of my little cigars" or Emily Bishop toking on a crack pipe - Corrie was wreathed in fumes.

Which makes it so astonishing when you see a member of the cast light up nowadays, such as the second regeneration of Ryan Connor. Even more bizarre then that it is a young character with a bad habit. Maybe that's what it is all about - giving the new lad an edge. It's been done before. Jamie Baldwin and Gary Windass sported ciggies in early episodes. Sisters Becky and Kylie were forever billowing smoke from their nostrils. The less-than-subtle message being that it's only those from thr wrong side of the tracks who partake in the evil weed.

Of course, it wasn't always the case. Back in pre-history, Elsie's continuous puffing was almost an accessory. Even early days Rita and the nascent Audrey never said no to a fag. It goes without saying that the poorer characters - Bet, Hilda, Vera - relied on their cigarette breaks. The likes of Annie, Emily, Betty, Ena and Minnie never partook (although Doris Speed was an avid smoker in real life).

The younger blokes in Weatherfield have generally steered a path of abstention, save for the slightly 'gone to seed' middle aged gang of Steve, Lloyd and Karl (maybe his strange colouring is nicotine yellow?)

The Street's most celebrated smoker is Deirdre, often to be spotted huddled in the back alleys, dragging on a Superking. Deirdre has made it an art form and forty years of fumes have left us with that rich, baritone voice. Give her another twenty years and she'll be Darth Vader in a twinset.

A bit of social observation then. The glamour of the sixties smoker has given way to bad lads with bad habits. Fags for the memory...

See also: Corrie producer defends Street smokers. 

See also: Pictures of Coronation Street women smoking - past and present - on screen and off.


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Alison King talks about her four month Corrie break

Alison King, who plays Carla Connor in Coronation Street, has told What's On TV that she's ready for her four month break from Corrie to spend more time with her family this summer.
The actress has had a dramatic year playing factory boss Carla Connor, and her character is set to leave the country for a few months with boyfriend Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne).

"It's three years since I had a baby (daughter Daisy Mae) and I've been working for all of that time so I haven't been able to spend too much time with my family," Alison said.

"I plan to have a nice holiday and spend time at home getting jobs done on the house, all very normal stuff. But I love playing Carla and I'll be back at work on October 1."

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Rob Donovan, What do you think so far?

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog July 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

So, he's been around for a week now, long enough for us to start forming opinions on Carla Connor's brother, seeing as how it looks like he'll be running Underworld while big sister's away sailing the seven seas on the good ship HMS Peter Barlow.

What do you think of Rob Donavon, then?

I like him, so far. He's slotted in nicely, quietly and well. In our house though we reckon his voice should be slightly more gravellier (is that a word?), his hair should be darker and he should get rid of that god-awful jacket with the elbow patches on it. 

He's also a bit too mild for someone who's just done a stint in the nick, even if he did do it for his dear old ma. Needs more edge, methinks.

Apart from that, it's a thumbs up from this fan.What do you reckon?

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Video: Alan Halsall and Natalie Gumede on Corrie abuse story

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog July 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

On this morning's BBC One Breakfast television programme Alan Halsall and Natalie Gumede, who play Tyrone Dobbs and Kirsty Soames on Coronation Street, were interviewed about Corrie's male domestic abuse story.

Natalie explains Kirsty's abusive nature is because of her father's abuse to her when she was a child and from betrayal by fellas during her life. She now she feels that attack is the best form of defence. Natalie said it's the most extreme behaviour she's ever had to act in any role. Speaking about any maternal instinct that Kirsty might be feeling soon, Natalie says that's something they're exploring in Corrie right now as it's the last day of filming while wearing the baby bump!

Alan spoke about meeting a male victim of domestic abuse and says Corrie are working with the charity Mankind - who are receiving a large number of calls since the storyline was featured on the soap.

Alan says that Tyrone confesses in the next couple of weeks to Tina about Kirsty's abuse after Tina finds him in the garage covered in bruises. He says Tyrone wouldn't ever fight back, or leave Kirsty, becuase he's so timid and laid back, which in real life is an issue for male abuse victims.

Watch the video here on the BBC website.

And in other news, Corrie actress Natalie Gumede told us here at the Coronation Street Blog something about her scene where she smashed the framed photo of Jack and Tyrone.  See below for our little conversation on twitter - Natalie is on twitter @nataliegumede and Alan is on twitter @alanhalsall

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John Michie on being a Street sex symbol

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in July 2012.)

John Michie, who plays Coronation Street's Karl Munro, gives a good interview to The Sun today and says he's a bit taken by surprise that young women find him sexy.

He says: “I was out with some of the boys in the cast a few weeks ago, somewhere I was a little bit too old to be, and I was stunned by the reaction of younger women. I thought to myself, ‘I should have joined this show ages ago!’ There is a lot of female affection for Karl. Fans want photos and kisses on the cheeks. There was a lot of attention and we caused a bit of a stir. I’m a middle-aged man but all these young women came up. It was quite flattering and very surprising.”

He also says the fan mail that comes in for him at Corrie is a bit racy too: "We get loads of fan mail. Because Karl has this young female following, the mail can get a bit steamy. It makes me blush, actually. I’m blushing now."

John says he hopes to stay in the soap as long as possible: “I’m loving it. As long as it carries on like this, I’m staying here. Why would you leave? I’ve been pretty busy for a few months, but if you’re in Corrie you might as well be in it and go for it. I’m happy to do as much as they throw my way, really.”

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Best known Street in the land - Coronation Street

(This post was originally posted on the Coronation Street Blog June 2012, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Following on from the gem of the song I found yesterday, here's another one dedicated to Coronation Street. This song is sung by New Zealander Rex Franklin who was born in 1935. From the characters mentioned, I think the song was released in 1968. In the song, he mentions: Ena Sharples, Len Fairclough, Jerry Booth, Minnie Caldwell, Jack and Annie Walker, Stan and Hilda Ogden, Elsie and Dennis Tanner, Albert Tatlock, Emily Nugent, Ken and Valerie Barlow, David and Irma Barlow, Lucille Hewitt and Les, Maggie and Gordon Clegg. 1968 is the only year these characters can possibly appear together. Again, I'd never heard this. Here's a synopsis of Franklin's career over the last 50 years. Does anyone have any trivia about the song or the singer himself? Maybe Corrie fans from New Zealand and Australia can help us out? It'd be much appreciated! And again, it is the same person who has posted the video on YouTube: Cymrobach1 (Little Welshman 1!). Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Corrie Canada weekly awards: August 6 - 10

 Gentle moment of the week: Roy practicing chess moves with the salt and pepper shakers!

That went well award: For all of Gary's complaining about babysitting, he was well chuffed about being a dad!

Deal with the Devil award. Mata Hari Star: Tracy thought she could be a double agent to spy for Steve and ruin Lloyd's new company. She was rubbish at it and went too far.

In Joke award: Lloyd said you "Smeg" monsters, channelling Red Dwarf!

Are you new here award: Gold Star: Seriously, would Lloyd REALLY take anything Tracy says as truth let alone hire her???? Do the math..."really bad day"...Tracy's first day on the switch. Coincidence?
Silver star: Carla reckons 9 year olds love smoked salmon, hummous and olives for party food?? And why was there champagne/sparking cider (or whatever) on the table and sad songs on the stereo?
Bronze Star: You'd think Tracy would finally clue in that Steve doesn't want her after all this time but no, she still tries and still gets knocked back. And Steve... Can't understand why Tracy won't help him out. You spent the last episode or two slagging her off and trying to eject her out of her home without any notice. What do you think?

Sports Day award: Well, wrestling *is* a sport after all.

Off the wagon award: No surprise here. Peter's back on the booze again. When the going gets tough, the tough get drunk and ugly.

Restaurant from Hell award: With the collapses, explosions, arguments and fights that happen regularly in the Bistro, I'm surprised they have any customers at all.

Sibling rivalry award: Rob and Carla certainly seem to have had a rocky relationship

Repartee award: Tracy winding Norris up. This could be fun.

Useless Suck Up Twit award: Brian really is clueless. He can't even stand up for a kid being bullied because the bully is related to the school governor.

Underestimating award: Roy doesn't see that Mary is indeed Doo-lally. Hayley does.

Fashion fail award: Brian was following safety rules but he did look ludicrous in that bike helmet.

It's All About Me award: Peter interrupts business meetings, conversations, disappearing first on his own and now with Simon, you name it, because his problems are more important than anything else. He doesn't know who he *can* talk to about Leanne taking Simon away? Um. Solicitor?

Reality check award: Peter is finally realizing he made the wrong sacrifice. Simon is more important than anything. Pity he didn't think of that before.

Heart in mouth award: Ken and Leanne thought they might have to identify Peter's body.

From a Bang to a Whimper: Carla and Peter are over.

From a Whimper to a Bang: Kirsty flew off the handle again.

Lines of the week:
Steve "I have a cunning plan!" (does that make anyone else shudder?)
Steve "When it comes to fighting dirty, I know which side I want Tracy on!"
Lloyd to Tracy "Have I got MUG written on me forehead?"
Peter "You never lose your basic speed" (says a smoker who's going up against a regular runner")
Steve "We could call it Judas Cabs if that makes you happy"
Nick baiting Peter "You should have Victim tattooed across your forehead"
Peter "He's smarmy, and he's smug and he's not bringing up my son!"
Nick to Gail "Battersby's not a swear word anyway she's a Barlow now" Gail "They're not much better"
Owen "You've only been back together 5 minutes and he's not long gone off his rocker"
Carla "It's me, me, me" Peter "No, it's Simon, Simon, Simon"
Anna "Here he goes again. The Sage of flamin' Weatherfield"
Nick about carrot cake "You don't see many rabbits with glasses on" (channeling me dad who always said that! I still hate carrots! I wear glasses. connection?)
Beth to Tracy "You're the best housemate I ever had" (Really????)
Mary "I'm afraid i mated your husband. Twice"
Roy "I know it's easy to dismiss Mary as an eccentric" Hayley "That's probably down to the fact that she's completely doo-lally" (And Roy doesn't see it. Yet.)
Tracy "Hayley in sequins...You all teeth and tight trousers. Yeah, actually, it's put me off me cheese" Norris "Pity, I thought a lump of cheddar might shut you up"
Ken to Peter "You could have chosen to prove me wrong"
Norris to Beth "When you said you wanted to take Tracy out, I thought you meant for a drink!"
Carla "You drag me down and that's something I don't need any help with"
Simon "Dad. You're drunk" (And everyone's heart breaks)
Carla "Peter, this is not a conversation, it's a broken record"
Peter "I can see things very clearly lately" (through booze goggles)
Carla "You think you can walk away" Leanne "But you can't"

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Sunday Canadian Corrie Comments, August 12

Fare Ladies cabs is threatening to do in Streetcars' business but Steve has allowed Tracy go get hired on as a spy and saboteur. I can't believe that Lloyd would *ever* trust her, so you know what? He deserves whatever he got since he was more interested in getting one back on Steve. I do think she went a bit too far, ruining the engines like she did. But she just doesn't get it does she? No matter what she does, Steve isn't going to want her back, romantically. And he should know better than to trust her with anything. Lloyd found out, chased Steve all over the school field and wrestled with him and they got sent to the Head's (Principal's) office. Very funny seeing them get chastized. They made up in the end and are splitting the cost of the cab repairs so Tracy has cost Steve more money!

Steve and Lloyd made friends again, became roommates and merged their businesses anyway. I hope Steve keeps up the lady drivers, though, that's a good selling point. Tracy figured all was well again and she could be friends with Steve. Not so. She doesn't get it does she? How many knock backs can you take before you do?  Steve's next scheme is to pay Beth and Tracy to get out of the house so Kevin can move in the next day, even before contracts are exchanged and there's a formal closing. Kevin is being a bit unreasonable wanting the tennants out in 24 hours. Surely that's illegal? I'm sure there is a tennant's board or something Tracy could go to and he mentioned the Citizen's Advice Bureau but he decided to bribe them out instead and money talks. I repeat YET again, surely her name is on the deed and she's got a say in this all? WHY are we always treated like fools when it comes to stuff like that? Real Estate transactions always seem to happen in LaLa land on Corrie.

Beth is more than willing to take the money and run and found a place to live but Tracy's having trouble so Emily offers her a room, no matter that Ken did try his best to divert Emily from asking. And again in a house that only has two bedrooms. They must have Tardis qualities.  You know, Beth and Tracy seem to have made friends of a sort. Unusual for Tracy, innit? Now I'm not Tracy's biggest fan nor Norris's but having Tracy winding up Norris all the time, that could actually be amusing!

The custody battle is reaching the breaking point. There were rival birthday parties and birthday pressies and Peter's resentment about Nick really boiled over at the Bistro party. Can you believe Carla thought a party for kids included olives and hummous and sad songs? Yes, so can i. Even Peter was amused at the idea. The party was more of a family do and it still hurt Peter that Simon gets on so well with Nick.Peter's self esteem is really taking a hit and that's dangerous.

Then Nick's party did far better, with a clown and a great cake. His present made Peter feel pretty inadequate too. Not sure an 8 or 9 year old should really have a laptop but there you go. Simon wanted both Peter and Nick to go to Sports day and the rivalry ramped up in a burlap sack. Of course Nick won, he's a runner while Peter smokes and doesn't exercise at all. It was inevitable. Don't think Nick doesn't know exactly what he's doing, too, I'm sure he loves rubbing Peter's nose in it all the time.

Peter went beserk over the laptop and Nick most certainly provoked him further into a fight in front of Simon and he had the nerve to blame Nick and Leanne. She was right, Peter is the only one to blame.  Leanne is now planning to move away and take Simon with her. You know, she was doing the same thing that Peter was doing to her, refusing to let him see Simon because of his routine.

Now Peter knows about Leanne leaving. He didn't realize she was taking Simon with her. He went completely off the rails. He interrupted Carla at work, and when she wanted to put him off, he laced into her accusing her of being glad Simon would be gone. He really was out of control and then a strange man roughed him up. That turned out to be Carla's brother, newly out of prison and newly renamed Rob, (he used to be Darren unless she'd had two brothers in prison).

 Peter then went to Ken and as usual, turned it around on Ken's parenting skills, especially when Ken thought it might not be such a bad thing for Simon to be gone for awhile.  Peter's drinking was the last straw for Carla and she was out of there. He continued on blaming her the next day, accusing her of chasing him. She did, of course but he certainly is no stranger to temptation, what with his father's genes. He pushed her away well and proper. 

When she left, he figured he could try to get Leanne back. She wasn't having any of that.

Even if you still had a few leftover feelings for someone, if you were confronted by a begging angry drunk, would you take him back? Me either. Nick might not be the right man for her, but after what Peter's put her through, he isn't either. Though it's a soap, chances are they'll reunite eventually, a one night stand or something.

So what's Peter's solution? Why see if he can lure Leanne back. Like that was going to work. I suppose he figured he lost everything and he went off alone and disappeared. Nobody knows where and when a tattooed body turned up at the morgue, Ken and Leanne had to go see if it was him. It wasn't of course. Soap Law dictates that it wouldn't be. Leanne says he's not the suicidal type, but he could easily have fallen in or over drunk. Now he's sober and has run off with Simon!

I bet everyone's heart broke a little when Simon accused Peter of being drunk and later in the week, felt he had to check his father's breath for booze. Poor kid shouldn't have to be so wise at his age.

I still think Nick is going to get his heart broken by Leanne even if it's not over Peter. Gail still doesn't like Leanne any more than she ever did, does she? And Nick's right, Gail's love life has nearly always been a disaster. Glad to see Nick admitted he was the one that let Leanne down when they were married.
 
Eva needs to grow up, too. Why shouldn't Stella give Simon a birthday card or go to his party? She's his de-facto grandma after all. It might seem like Stella keeps taking Leanne's side over Eva but you can't help when one of your kids needs you more. Eva just wants attention like a four year old. She may get some now that Rob has his eye on her. He's a massive flirt and she's enjoying it.


It's very hard for Sean to see Marcus around but yet, even so, he can't help not having a go at him when he sees him. They are promising not to flaunt new boyfriends but Marcus made arrangements to meet Aiden in the pub and he knows very well what Sean thinks of him, even if Aid isn't a boyfriend. It was kind of insensitive of Marcus.

Tyrone and Kirsty had a nice little holiday but when he was showing T&T their holiday photos, she went off on one again. It sort of seems like it could be hormonal except she was a bit psycho before she got pregnant, too. Then Kirsty had some pain and Tyrone was busy helping out Fiz, nowhere to be contacted. That doctor seems to be able to drop everything and make house and shop calls at the drop of a hat doesn't he? And why when Kirsty was about 20 feet from the medical centre? Kirsty was ok, but lashed out at Tyrone for being with Fiz, assuming they are having an affair. She's unreasonably jealous. AND she dissed Jack's memory!!!

Mary's moving in on Roy who's really just enjoying the chess games. It's pretty obvious she's developing a crush and she's rude to Hayley, too. She'd better keep her hands off Roy, that's all I can say or we'll have to call Becky back from Barbados to sort Mary out.

Gary really was chuffed about the baby. I'm sure there are medical concerns and Izzy is worried they can't afford it. They did see the doctor straight away to cover all the bases but it looks like it should be ok, with care. Even though Izzy didn't want to tell anyone yet, especially his dad, Gary was too excited and burst out with the news in front of the whole family.  Owen went deadly quiet when he found out, when I thought he'd blow his stack. It was probably a worse reaction than losing his temper though. It's understandable that he'd be worried for her but surely the doctor's words would reassure him. When he finally did speak his mind, it wasn't pretty. It's not going to be easy, of course, and she'll have challenges as a mum but there's no reason she can't do it. But this is going to give Gary a good reason to get over protective again.

Anna bought new trainers for Faye but they weren't the cool ones that she wanted so she turfed them in the bin and ditched the school sport day because she's being bullied! You weren't surprised were you? I would think there would be more reason to bully her because her dead mother was a drug addict but i guess kids can find anything to pick on.  Anna found out fairly quickly which is good because I don't think I could have stood it lingering on too long. Brian, coward that he is, when Anna brought it to him, realized one of the bullies was the daughter of a Board of Governors member and tried to brush it all off. He even decided to punish both Faye and the other girl after a fight.

Unfortunately, that's often what does happen, regardless of who started it but in this case, the dirt's going to hit the fan because the school failed to see that there was  a bullying problem and it's the issue of the moment and getting a lot of publicity, as it should. Julie gave him hell and does anyone think it was ironic that Owen then bullied Brian into doing something about the situation? But kudos to the gran, she was horrified and took the child into hand and made her apologize, though it wasn't very sincere. Brian was sincere with his apology at least. In the end.

Lloyd only had three cabs? He bought the Primo cab company, surely it had more than that? Three cabs isn't really  enough of a threat to a long established business like Streetcars that most definitely has more than 3 cars. Oh, but after he said he couldn't run a company with no cabs, he drove off in one to the Sports Day.

Brian was espousing stretching before exercise while shoving a cupcake down his gob. I don't think serving trays of alcoholic jello shots is entirely appropriate at a kids' party where a child could mistake it for plain jello. Marcus made a lovely meal for Kirk for the inconvenience of sharing the flat.

I think i like Rob but it's early days yet. And he needs a better haircut.  And  yes, he would have known Michelle because they all would have known each other years back, Carla's family and the Connors. Michelle had to fill in Rob on what happened to Carla in the last year. I wonder if he already knew about Tony before that?  What do you think of Rob? He seems to have taken business courses in the nick and tried to bluff the client. He took the wrong strategy. It didn't go well and Carla was furious. Rob had to back track and lured her to the pub later and at least he managed to re-bluff her into a contract. Result!

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News on the CBC catch up and fall schedule

Now then, everyone has been wondering when the hour long CBC Corrie catch up is due to finish. Corrie fan Deborah alerted me to the latest news out of CBC which was published in a tv magazine from British Columbia, TV Week.

A spokesperson for CBC was quoted and said that starting on Monday September 3, 2012 at 6:30 p.m. Coronation Street will be 30 minutes long. Starting on Monday September 17, 2012 it will move to the new fall time of 7:30 p.m. with the 30 minutes episodes.


By our calculations, on Friday August 31, the last one hour Corrie on CBC, we'll be seeing episodes from the UK airdate Monday, August 20. That puts us an unprecedented 2 weeks behind the UK.

The closest I can ever remember was 6 weeks. As the UK airs extra episodes or special hour long episodes and as CBC puts CBC off for various reasons, (CBC is airing the next two Olympic games, by the way) we could still fall back a bit if they don't catch us up but I doubt we'll ever again  reach the record of near-11 months we were at one point.


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