Gloria Price to be a classic Corrie matriarch

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

There's an excellent interview in The Radio Times with Sue Johnston, who appeared on Coronation Street last night as Gloria Price.

Sue describes Gloria as “A horror!” and within minutes of appearing on the cobbles, Gloria brands the Rovers Return “grotty” and startles a kimono-clad Ken.  Sounds great fun

Sue has appeared in Corrie before, with a  short stint as bookie’s wife Mrs Chadwick. In the interview with Radio Times journalist David Brown, she says: “I remember it so clearly because I was terrified. At the time, the characters were truly legendary and some of the actors were very intimidating. It really was true that if you sat in somebody else’s seat in the green room, you’d get in trouble. Thankfully, Liz Dawn [Vera Duckworth] took me under her wing and we’ve been close friends ever since. She was one of the first people I called when I knew I was going to be in the show and she was delighted. 

“One of my strongest memories from 30 years ago was being in the ladies loos when Doris Speed [Annie Walker] entered. I froze. This was Doris Speed! I stood in awe as she chatted away to me ten to the dozen. She then brought her Annie Walker wig out of her bag still talking away. She popped it on, snapped into role, left the toilets and walked straight into the Rovers. I thought about that on the first day that I walked onto the Rovers set and had a chuckle to myself.”

Read the full interview here.

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Interview with Sue Johnston as Gloria Price (slight spoilers)

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

These are the first shots of Sue Johnston’s arrival in Coronation Street as meddling Gloria Price.

Gloria arrives out of the blue from her home in Spain to surprise daughter Stella (Michelle Collins) and granddaughter Eva (Catherine Tyldesley). But it is Gloria who gets the surprise when she discovers that Stella’s fella Karl has been playing away with Sunita Alahan. And she is finally re-acquainted with her long lost granddaughter Leanne (Jane Danson).

As these pictures show Gloria wastes no time in confronting Karl (John Michie) about his affair and letting him know exactly how she feels. Larger than life, ballsy and outspoken Gloria will be in the great tradition of strong Weatherfield women who don’t take no for an answer and live life to the full. It soon becomes clear that Gloria has been economical with the truth about her reasons for leaving Spain and the sparks fly between her and her daughter as she tries to stamp her mark on the Rovers.

And the ladies of Weatherfield quickly discover that they will have to keep an eye on their men as she sets her sights on both Dennis and Lewis.

Corrie producer Phil Collinson said: “I'm delighted to welcome Sue Johnston to the cast of Coronation Street.  She is a national treasure and a stunning actress.  She has been at the heart of the very best comedy and drama the UK has produced over last 30 years and will step into the heart of Coronation Street as her character, Gloria, takes up running The Rovers with daughter Stella.”

Sue will make her Corrie debut as Gloria on Wednesday September 5th.

Interview with Sue
Thirty years ago a role in “Coronation Street” was SUE JOHNSTON’S first job in television. Now after a hugely successful career that’s seen her star in major television dramas, soap and sitcom, as well as creating at least two characters that became household names with Sheila Grant and Barbara Royale, Sue returns to the cobbles as Stella’s straight talking mother Gloria Price.

TELL US ABOUT GLORIA PRICE
I think people will be in for a surprise as she’s not the sort of character I’m usually associated with. She’s certainly not got the warmth or maternal instincts of Barbara or Sheila, in fact she’s a terrible mother.  I’ve still got so much to learn about her past with Stella but it’s fair to say she hasn’t always been there for her daughter and she gave her a bit of a rough ride when she was growing up. She’s very straight talking and just doesn’t care what she says and to whom she says it. She’s the sort of person who takes pride in shooting from the hip. It never wins her any friends but she’s clearly not bothered about that.  She wastes no time in ruffling feathers when she arrives in Weatherfield, which she thinks is a dump. As well as being blunt to the point of rudeness, she’s also a terrible flirt which is terrific fun and a great combination to play.

HOW DOES GLORIA LOOK?
Her appearance is also very different to many of the parts I’ve played in the past. I decided I didn’t want to go down the path of showing my cleavage and wearing animal prints.  Gloria’s a bit of an old hippy and I wanted her dress sense to reflect this. I went out shopping with the wardrobe department and we’ve chosen long skirts and flowing tops with lots of colours and lots of layers. Her look is very distinctive.

HOW DOES GLORIA ARRIVE IN WEATHERFIELD?
She comes from Spain where she’s been running a bar.  Her reasons for leaving are murky to say the least. Aside from the fact that they involve a man called Cliff and something a bit dodgy to do with his business, it’s clear she’s playing her cards very close to her chest when Stella quizzes her about her sudden appearance. Although she’s thrilled to see Stella and Eva and to meet Leanne, it’s not long before she’s showing her true colours. Stella never does anything right as far as Gloria is concerned, and she thinks running a grimy pub in a Manchester suburb represents her hitting rock bottom. She thinks the Rover’s is beneath her, and therefore so is anyone who drinks there. That doesn’t mean when she’s given the chance to rule the roost she doesn’t lap it up of course. When Stella goes away she leaves Gloria in charge and she decides she’s going to save the Rovers by putting it on the map at any cost.

HOW DOES SHE REACT TO THE NEWS THAT STELLA HAS THROWN KARL OUT?
She’s devastated. She thinks the world of Karl. She doesn’t care about his money problems and his womanising or that he’s had an affair with another woman. She thinks you have to pay a price to end up with someone as good as Karl and makes no bones about telling Stella she’s made another huge mistake by getting rid of him. One of the first things she does when she arrives is try to engineer a reunion. She knows perfectly well how much Karl has hurt Stella but that doesn’t matter. She won’t listen to anything anyone says. She’s always in the right and she’ll stop at nothing to get her own way.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE THE FIRST TIME YOU WALKED DOWN CORONATION STREET?

I played Mrs Chadwick the bookies wife and it was my big break. It was whilst I was playing the part that I was seen for this new soap that everyone was talking about called “Brookside”, and I got offered Sheila Grant. I’ll never know if Mrs Chadwick might have become a regular character because I only did a few episodes. But I remember it so clearly because I was terrified.

At this time the characters were truly legendary and some of the actors were very intimidating.  It really was true that if you sat in somebody else’s seat in the green room, you’d get in trouble. Thankfully Liz Dawn took me under her wing and we’ve been very close friends ever since. She was one of the first people I called when I knew I was going into the show and she was delighted.

One of my strongest memories from thirty years ago was being in the ladies loos when Doris Speed entered. I froze. This was Doris Speed! I stood in awe as she chatted away to me ten to the dozen. She then brought her Annie Walker wig out of her bag still talking away. She popped it on, snapped into role, left the toilets and walked straight into the Rovers. I thought about that on the first day that I walked onto the Rovers set and had a chuckle to myself.

WHAT WAS IT LIKE COMING BACK?
Not at all like the old days. I was still incredibly nervous because obviously I’m working with all these terrific actors who’ve created iconic characters but everyone has been welcoming and very kind. I’ve just filmed some scenes with Barbara Knox, because Rita is one of the first people Gloria goes into combat with, and she was wonderful. Because the characters are so familiar and I’ve always watched the show as a fan, I have to make sure I call people by their real names. So far my only mistake has been calling Craig Charles Lloyd and he laughed when I apologised.

DID YOU EVER EXPECT THAT YOUR CAREER WOULD BRING YOU BACK TO THE STREET?
I never really thought about it. I’ve never really planned my career, I’ve just sort of rolled along and thankfully I’ve been incredibly lucky. When Phil Collinson called my agent however to say they were interested it did feel like fate and it’s happened at an ideal time. My son Joel lives in Manchester and he and his wife Zoe have just had Rory my first grandchild. So my house in Muswell Hill, where I’ve lived for eighteen years, is on the market and I’ve decided to move near Manchester to be close to them.  It’s a time of big change but it feels right. I’m entering a new stage in my career and my life

WHO DO YOU MOST GET RECOGNISED AS, BY FANS?
I’ve been very lucky to have played parts that have become so familiar.  Most recently people shout out Barbara, and I like that. I love working on “The Royle Family” and I’m pleased that my contract on “Coronation Street” allows me time off to film the Christmas Special that is definitely happening this year.  I also still get Sheila and it’s usually at a Liverpool match or by younger people who I always think couldn’t possibly remember “Brookside.” I hope one day people might shout out “Gloria”, but of course I really like people calling me Sue best of all.

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

What are you first impressions of Gloria Price on Coronation Street?

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

Sue Johnston is an actress I've long admired and I think in my heart she'll always be Brookside's Sheila Grant to me.  I've been looking forward to her arriving on Coronation Street for a-g-e-s.

And now she's turned up last night as Gloria Price. Mum to St Ella and grandma of Leanne and Eva.

Gloria's staggered back from Spain to lie low in Weatherfield.  Stella's reaction wasn't what she was expecting - but never mind that. What did you think of Gloria Price turning up in Coronation Street tonight and Sue Johnston's first episode as Gloria?

Leave your rant, vent or boquets below...

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Coronation Street tops shortlist for Inside Soap Awards 2012

Coronation Street has picked up the most nominations in the Inside Soap Awards 2012 shortlist.

Digital Spy reports that Corrie leads the way this year with 16 awards nominations, compared to 13 for EastEnders, 12 for Hollyoaks and 7 for Emmerdale.

Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow) is nominated for Best Actor.

Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) is nominated for Best Actress.

Natalie Gumede (Kirsty Soames) is nomated for Best Newcomer.

Readers of Inside Soap - Britain's best-selling soap magazine - began casting their votes for each of the categories in July. The voting has now closed for all categories except 'Best Soap'.

Inside Soap's editor Steven Murphy commented: "We can't wait to reveal the winners of this year's Awards. As always, it's the Inside Soap magazine readers who choose who wins in every category, and this year the competition has been tougher than ever.

"It's been an amazing year in the world of soap, and the Inside Soap Awards are always a fantastic way to celebrate."

The winners will be announced on Monday, September 24 at One Marylebone in London.

VOTE FOR CORRIE AS BEST SOAP HERE

Canadians can vote, too!

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Corrie Canada weekly awards: September 10 - 14

Sex Bomb award: Steve has a lot of self confidence, you gotta give him that.

Crawling Back award: Rob is back with Eva but Stella's not too happy about it since he was coming on to her 5 minutes ago.

Pants on Fire award: Ryan lied about going to the gig but was busted in minutes by Sophie.

Shouldn't have sacked me award: Gobby star: Tommy announced to the whole pub that Kirsty abused Tyrone so Tyrone told everyone Tommy was using the garage to transport drugs.

Spark out award: Awww lickle Jack was sound asleep during his scene with Sophie.


Punching above your station award: Tina's never worked in an office before and she's going to do bookeeping for Owen? It might not be rocket science but it's not that simple. Invoicing, Payroll...
Pants on Fire award: 

•  Karl told Kevin there were no other complaints about the smoke alarms. I don't believe Rita let him out of the Kabin without tearing a strip off and getting her money back.

• Sean pretended he had a date.
• But the gold star has to go to Ryan who pretended he was only at the factory to see his mother and said Rob attacked him!

Nightmare on Coronation Street award: Tracy's seduction of Ryan had the intended effect.

Punters from Hell are Everywhere award: Lewis wishes he had opened a little bar in Greece, but there are demanding customers there too!

Burned your bridges award: Tracy didn't have anyone to look after Amy. Sure you could suggest Emily or Anna or someone but I don't suppose most people would be willing to do Tracy a favour.

Enabling award: Rewarding Ryan's bad behaviour by buying back his guitar is pretty stupid.

Cliche award: So in order to make sure we know Ryan really is a bad'un, he puts a hoodie on to rob from the factory. Add to that, the Contrived award because that way Rob wouldn't recognize Ryan when he walloped him over the head and oh, don't forget the Fashion Fail award. Those pushed up sleeves with the hood up looked ridiculous and the hoodie looks too small on him, as well.

Lines of the week:
Sean about the vase "That deeply offends my finely honed sense of style" (mine too!)
Stella to Rob "I didn't have you down as a sensitive type" (I don't think he is)
Steve to Michelle "You can't keep him under house arrest all the time"
Aidan "Marcus and I do Body Pump" Marcus "You do, I'm more 'body lump'."
Rob upon seeing he knocked out Ryan "Oh $hit" (Ok he didn't say it out loud)
Rob "Come on Ryan, don't do this to me" (Um, you did it to *him*)
Steve "He's just a kid!" (he's 20) Rob "He's a thieving cokehead who was trying to rob me!"
Dev to Sunita (piling on the guilt) "Stealing from your children to pay for your lover. That's a new low even for you" (ouch)
Jason, suffering wine instead of beer "I don't know why she's getting all Bistro on us"
Rob "Take off the rose coloured specs. Your son's not Harry Potter, he's Pete Dockerty!"
Tracy "Was it something I said?" (Isn't it always?)
Steve "Tracy is the cupid of hate!"

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Coronation Street Fun Pages

Coronation Street fan (and lovely woman) Christine Warren here in Canada runs the Coronation Street Fun Pages website. They've recently moved servers and are now available here:

http://www.warrenpress.net/Coronation_St_Fun_Pages.html If you have her site bookmarked, you'll need to change it.

Give them a look - there's a lot to see.


Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Forget-me-not Plots on Corrie

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

Last week when Michelle and Ryan were in a screaming match and he was hurling insults at her, was anyone else waiting for him to throw "You're not my real mother!" at her? Because she's not, you know, and that would have been the perfect time to say it.

But we're supposed to forget that because that baby switch plot was a major storyline but turned into one of the most ill-conceived ever, pun intended. There's more mulling about it over here. Can you think of other major storylines that seem to have been brushed under the carpet like that?

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Sunday Canadian Corrie Comments, September 16

The morning after, Steve is merrily singing in the kitchen and Michelle is worried about Ryan who didn't come home from "the gig" except of course he didn't go to the gig and Sophie thanking him in front of Michelle and Steve was an automatic Busted!

Ryan tried to whine about Steve ditching him. Ryan got his arse sacked as well this week. Steve was justified though, he needs reliable staff. It looks very much like he's becoming more addicted to the coke and seems to have sold his guitar for his latest fix. Coming home to Michelle off his gourd wasn't really the smartest thing to do either but then doing cocaine isn't very smart to start with. I think it's time for tough love again. Call the cops or chuck him out.

Michelle thinking spending a Sunday in with his mummy will help him stay off drugs. Might do just the opposite. Rob made her work and Ryan wasted no time scouring the flat for ready cash. How cliche was that, though, for Ryan to put his hood up to rob the factory? It was SO contrived. How else would Rob not recognize Ryan. *sigh* If you didn't want to get caught, using the keys is a bit of a giveaway x Anyone investigating would have it figured out in no time even if Rob hadn't caught Ryan red handed. Yet again Ryan is out to scam the factory to save his own backside, pretending he was there just to see Michelle and Rob attacked him. I cheered when Rob clocked him one. He's had that coming.

And there is clear evidence that Rob is telling the truth and Ryan is lying. The office will look a mess from Ryan's rifling through it and the cash box will show knife marks from Ryan trying to force it open. Come on Michelle open your eyes! Well the thing is, Ryan really is a rubbish liar and every lie he comes out with is never very clever. He's caught out in minutes as per usual saying he was bringing them to her in the factory. Really? Lame. So when backed into a corner, he goes on the attack, verbally, and really lays into Michelle. He was really nasty but then that was his point and i cheered when Michelle clocked him one! So Steve and Michelle do what? Reward his bad behaviour by buying back his guitar for him? Idiots! They should just let him leave, not make it easy for him to stay.

I'm not entirely sure those tears he shed all over Steve's shoulder were real but now that he's bared his soul, is he cured? In the world of soaps, yes, probably. Michelle, meanwhile, has taken on all the guilt that he meant her to take on so Steve offers to move in to support her. Isn't this what happened last time? Steve had to carry Michelle through crisis after crisis and it dragged him down in the end. Tracy even congratulated Steve but she's determined not to let it lie. She didn't get the job and turned her nose up at the kebab shop until she sees that Ryan is working there and the lightbulb goes on. She's going to seduce Ryan in spite of the fact that she's the same age as Michelle because it will wind up Steve and Michelle to no end. It's already have the desired effect! Ryan probably thinks all his birthdays have come at once.

Meanwhile the creepy client from hell had his hands all over Michelle and ran Lewis ragged in the Bistro. And I did chuckle over Lewis moaning to Audrey about wishing they'd gone to Greece after all. Does he think the tourists in Greece would be any less of a pain in the arse? There's always one in every crowd! Audrey is taking them on a cruise. Lovely!

Sean's back and very tanned. Paul and Eileen seem to be sailing along quite happily. I'm really baffled about his house. If he's sold it, which I guess we are to assume he has, surely he could have offered her some of the furniture if it was in better nick than hers but apparently we aren't supposed to think of things like that. Well apparently my questions were very valid. Paul had the furniture in storage and brought it to Eileen's and it sounds like he must have sold the house.

Eileen is quite happy to sit on Lesley's sofa and use Lesley's sideboard (well so would i be, it's nice furniture after all) and hates Lesley's vase. As do i. I wonder where they had to go in Manchester to find that prop or if they took a black vase and started painting it. Right Fugly, innit? Eileen had a little dinner party while Paul was working and invited Jason and Maria, Marcus and Aiden. Jason was *such* a caveman, moaning about having to drink wine and then Aiden turned up with beer! lol! I feel sorry for Sean who still has to watch Marcus now parading Aiden around. To the point where he has to lie about a date to save face. Naturally it's going to all go wrong when Eileen invites Marcus and Aid instead. Sean came home, got tiddly and made an idiot of himself and then knocked over the Fugly vase and broke it. Eileen made him replace it but it turned out Paul didn't like it anyway and he smashed it to make Eileen feel better. I wonder if he's going to pay Sean back?

Rob is scratching at Eva's skirts again and it seems only so that he can be closer to Stella, the dirty dog. Eva doesn't have a clue and if Stella told her, you know Eva wouldn't believe her.

Tommy's sacking is only making Tina even more hateful towards Kirsty and Kevin had to back Tyrone's decision but in the past Tyrone has overrode Kevin's decisions to sack and unsack folks. It gets worse. Tyrone and Kirsty were cooing in the pub and Tommy was so disgusted he spilled the beans in front of everyone. Tyrone then told everyone Tommy was transporting drugs out of the garage, and that most definitely made Tommy look like he was holding a grudge over being sacked so Tyrone seemingly wins that round (except we know the truth). Eveyrone's now going to be against Tommy and on Ty's side. Tommy probably can't go to a tribunal about being sacked now because the drugs thing would be a much better reason for being fired. Rock and a hard place? It's going to put more pressure on Tommy financially.

Tommy is now desperate for a job but Jason points out he's a pariah now that everyone knows about the drugs. Tina's idea is to get another job herself, having taken on Tommy's debts as hers as well. Working for Owen as a bookeeper/secretary with absolutely no experience? Invoicing and payroll aren't as simple as all that. Eileen may have had some office experience in her background when she did the job but even she made a hash of it and he's willing to take on Tina? More fool him. Of course she did a good job in her trial because she cleaned up the place, organized it and found some paperwork. I'm not so sure that means she can keep the accounts etc but now she's working extra hours, Tommy's working evenings and nights and they'll never see each other except in passing. You gotta do what you gotta do.

Except Tommy's working all the hours available and Kirsty made sure to wake him up and needle him a bit more about the money, which Tina paid her. Good scene with Kirsty threatening Tina even if it was with a ketchup bottle. Tina really does need to bide her time instead of antagonizing Kirsty but it does take two and Kirsty's just as bad. She messed Tommy around on the pizza order and then made sure that there was a buyer for Jason's flat so they'd have to move out. Where did it get her? Tommy in a car accident! I bet she doesn't feel the least bit guilty either.

Tina really does come across as obsessed and Kirsty does take great pleasure in winding her up and intimidating her and Kirsty always ends up looking like the one with the upper hand, grace under pressure.Tina is always losing her temper and making wild accusations, or, they're wild sounding because Kirsty is very good at being subtle.

Brian got a pay rise and is now a SuperHead. Kirsty overheard them talking about buying a flat and made sure they knew that Jason's flat is still for sale, effectively un-housing Tina and Tommy. I suppose Tina and Tommy could trade with Brian and Julie and rent their flat.

It seems Kirsty did go to see about a councillor between last week's episodes and this week's episode because Tyrone mentioned the councillor's name, so that's good but she's got a long way to go.

Tracy didn't get the job because Steve ran off with Michelle to look for Ryan instead of minding Amy. Nobody else available. (Emily? Anna? Sophie? Then again, i don't suppose most people would be that willing to do Tracy a favour) I'm really surprised Michelle didn't take Tracy down in the pub after she had a go at her about Ryan. Since when did Dev actually provide uniforms for the kebab shop workers and how can he afford to have a variety of sizes to choose from, just lying around? Tracy was being pretty obvious flashing her bra at Ryan. My God he's only 20, he can probably barely contain himself!

Karl went door to door trying to flog the alarms and it seems like he managed to sell a bunch of them to locals. But then, things went pear shaped. Looks like those Chinese smoke alarms were as dodgey as expected and now Karl has to give back all that money he took. No surprise there. It's been done before. Karl proves himself to be inadequate yet again.

How long will it be before Sunita admits to herself that she picked a loser just to get out of a relationship she didn't want? She had to admit to Dev she "cleared out" the joint account. Did they only have 500 pounds in it? Doesn't seem like a lot. I'm surprised Dev never noticed. Obviously not one he or she uses for household bills and it wouldn't be the business account anyway. Dev is right to castigate Karl. It only puts more pressure on him and Sunita is on his case constantly now. I really don't understand why Stella doesn't spitefully tell Sunita that Karl keeps begging her to take him back. And Sunita going around practically door to door to find him? Makes her look even more clingy and possessive.


Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Fat Brenda's Cream Horn

Well you see loveys, I offered to be a surrogate for Katy and Chesney but they said no cos of me Dunhill smoking… and I’ve been through the change an’ all. Terrible time that was. I used to go and see Doctor Carter every day and ask him if he could give me summat. He always refused no matter how many times I lifted me denim skirt.
Where was I?

Oh aye, Katy, Chesney, Owen, Fiz, Gary, Hope, Izzy, Fay(e), baby flamin’ Joseph and Anna - “It’s no problem we’re family - now give me yer baby!” - Windass. Well technically yer not actually family are you lovey? But if it makes you happy!
“Can I borrow a quid Anna love?” I asked.
“Course you can, yer family, Brenda!” she replied.
“I don’t think we are, Anna?”
“But we’ve met haven’t we, Brenda?”
“Yes Anna love,” I said, “we’ve definitely met.”
“And you once had a conversation with our Gary didn’t you?” she asked getting dangerously close to me face and smiling like a deranged woman.
“Erm, yes Anna, love.”
“WELL WE’RE FAMILY THEN!” She lunged at me!

I ran for it; terrified. But she was fast - too fast. She started after me making a makeshift lasso from her pinny and before I knew it I was face down on Viaduct Street and she was on me, twisting me arm up behind me back. I thought it was gonna break loveys!
“I’m nice aren’t I?” she screamed.
“Yes lovey yer nice” I wept!
“It wasn’t me that didn’t want to pay Joe McIntyre when he fitted that perfectly good kitchen that marked the beginning of his downfall and eventual death was it?”
“I think yer gonna break me arm Anna!”
“Was it?!” she shouted.
“No lovey! No! It wasn’t you!”
“I give out good advice to folk don’t I? I say stuff like ‘Aww, you should do that thing that you weren’t gonna do but now you are gonna do cos I told you to and I’m serving you breakfast!’”
“Yer advice is belting Anna! Now please! Yer hurting me!”
“And we’re a family aren’t we; you, me, yer friend Bernice, Mike Baldwin, Chesney and the queen an’ that?”
“And Eddie” I said, trying to join in.
“Who?”
She stood trying to remember who that was while I made me escape. Thank Cliff for that!

What I want to know is, if Ryan’s on cocaine an’ that, what the flamin’ is Michelle on? I mean, it’s so powerful it’s wiped her memory of exactly what Steve did to her when he was getting tutti frutti with Becky behind hers and Ryan's back! Mind you, I think it’s time Michelle swapped Ryan for her real kiddy, Alex especially now Ryan is fandangling with Tracy! Never go to university loveys, it changes you!

I like Marcus’s new boyfriend! Oh loveys, here was me thinking all gay fellas like Doris Day and wearing leather chaps but Aidan has showed me that they CAN like action films an’ all! Oh thank you! I’m better educated now and I know now that I should NEVER judge folk on what their sexual orientation is! He drinks BEER too! I thought there was a law against gay fellas enjoying beer cos they all had to have wine, Malibu and Taboo or a mix of all three but yet again Aidan has broke the flamin’ mold and I thank him for it! THANK YOU!
It’s nice to meet Gloria. She arrived in a cloud of Yardley Lace and was straight down to business, meddling, assaulting and being a right witch – I think I’m gonna get on with her! Gloria and Brenda - like a young Cagney and Lacey!

It’s time to talk about Kirsty...Oh loveys, she’s a couple of ciggies short of a twenty pack is Kirsty. Like a vending machine pack I suppose - I hate them things, can’t they just sell ‘em from’t behind the bar? Four ciggies short they are! And then what do you get for buying ‘em? You get sent outside in all weathers to smoke ‘em!
Where was I?
Oh aye, Kirsty!

She’s off her head that one! Ty looks frightened for his flamin’ life half the time. He spoke to me last week and he was constantly looking over his shoulder - cos she knows he’s carrying a torch for me after that night I brushed that chewing gum out of his back hair – Cliff knows how it got in there! The only positive thing about Kirsty is that she winds up the gob on legs - Tina! You don't know what goes on behind closed doors loveys but I can only imagine Tina scowls just as much in private.

Right, I’m off now. I’m hiding me Blue Ribbands in’t cab office now Eileen’s back. She’s not got any better since her return. Still full of herself! Especially for a lass who spends her days sat on a dead woman’s furniture and lives with a fella who prefers to stay in't house where his wife was electrocuted sticking some Freshco cheddar in a toaster than in his own posh semi-detached!

Weirdos!

Remember loveys; life is like a gastric band, it can be restrictive and cause discomfort but ultimately it’s worth it when you consider the alternatives!

I'm on tweeter here: @fatbrenda

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Kate Ford nervous about her new storyline

From ITV.com this morning we hear from Kate Ford about Tracy's new storyline, her seduction of Ryan Connor. Tracy is devastated that Steve and Michelle are now living together and, after believing he led her on when she was ill, vows revenge. Nothing new there, then.

Kate explains that it seems like Ryan is only in it because it winds up his mother just as she is only getting back at Steve and Michelle. Kate was nervous, however, at the prospect of an on-screen romance with someone so much younger.

" I felt slightly out of my comfort zone." she says and adds that now that they're used to it, it's quite fun. We fans have been saying that it's a never-ending story, Tracy wanting Steve, and Kate thinks "I think it’s that old classic of wanting what you can’t have, I don’t know how she’d feel if she ever got him, whether she’d be bored after a year or two. I think it’s because she’s never truly had him that she’s so anxious to have him in her life. She can’t bear the fact that he doesn’t fancy her and he doesn’t love her."

It probably won't last too long but it'll probably have the intended effect on Steve and Michelle. How much do you want to bet Ryan's drug habit will then mysteriously disappear?
Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Michelle Keegan wins TV Choice award as Best Actress

The TV Choice awards were awarded earlier this week and Michelle Keegan who plays Tina McIntyre on Corrie won Best Actress. She was overwhelmed at winner and, according to TV Choice's tweet, she said she didn't think she'd win and hadn't prepared a speech!

Unfortunately, Coronation Street lost out to Eastenders for the Best Soap award and Natalie Gumede was robbed of the Best Newcomer award. (Ok, admittedly, we're not objective here at Blog Towers where Natalie is a favourite!)

Here's a photo of Michelle on the red carpet and you can see other photos from the procession here.

Congratulations go out to Michelle from us all!

There's a full list of winners at the bottom of this page.

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Fab Photo - Sally and Kevin

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

It's time for this week's fab Coronation Street photo. It's been a while since we've seen the wonderful Sally on screen (could she be the cougar?) so if like me you're missing her, here are a few pictures of her over the years. Do you know why Sally and Kevin are looking so shocked in the first picture?

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Sneak Preview of next week's Canadian Corrie, Sept. 17 - 21

Without further ado, here's a brief run down of next week's Coronation Street on Canadian Screens:

Remember we're now back to one half hour and the time changes to 7:30 local time from t his week onward. 

Stella's mum, Gloria, arrives and sets about stirring things up.
Tommy has a broken leg which impairs his earning ability and the financial pressure increases.
Everyone is freaked out over Tracy and Ryan's relationship.
Tina's actions cause Kirsty to go into labour and baby Ruby Dobbs is born in the Rovers.Things go from bad to worse for T&T and the Dobbs/Soames family.
Izzy changes her mind.

For more detail and photos, see the Moosejaw Mercury at Corrie.net


Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Shobna's Lovelife Could Be Improved

Judging from an interview in the People today, it sounds like the lovelife of Shobna Gulati isn't all that far off from Sunita's rubbish relationships. She admits she's not been very lucky picking the right man and recently found herself single again after another man let her down. Shobna would only say "It was more about what he wanted to get out of it, with me being in Corrie." Don't you hate when that happens? I'm sure a lot of celebrities find themselves in similar situations.

Shobna admits she thinks she's never really been in love though has loved her boyfriends after a fashion. But she may have learned one lesson, when you hear those mental alarm bells going off, pay attention. She still believes in finding that figurative Handsome Prince and love at first sight and says she's got a childlike nature. Hmm..

She talks about her current storyline, Sunita's affair with Karl Munro and says it has improved her popularity and made Sunita more human, more real. I'm not sure where she's getting that from but Sunita certainly has changed. There's also mention of the upset over Twitter where she was subjected to racial abuse and more. She says "It's bullying and you shouldn't stand for it, not in your relationships, in your life or on Twitter. I don't do social networking because it brings back school bullying memories." It's too bad, because she did like the interaction with true fans.

I've always liked Sunita and Shobna herself is quite a sparky personality. I've seen her in an "Evening With.." type show here and she really had the crowd in her hand.


Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook

Corrie originals - Pat Phoenix as Elsie Tanner/Howard/Tanner

First appeared: 9th December 1960

Last appeared: 4th January 1984

Pat Phoenix played the role of street siren Elsie Tanner/Howard/Tanner between 1960 and 1973 and then from 1976 until 1984.

Born in Mancester in 1923, Pat would appear regularly on the BBC’s Children’s Hour in the 1930s. Phoenix initially worked at a gas department in Manchester and would attend amateur dramatics in her free time. She joined the Arts Theatre of Manchester and would star in repertory works. She made her break in 1948 in film Cup-Tie Honeymoon alongside Sandy Powell and future Corrie co-star Bernard Youens (Stan Ogden). For the remainder of the 1940s and 1950s she would only star in theatre works with the likes of Thora Hird and Harry Worth.

But in the late 1960 her fortunes changed as she was cast to play the role of 37 year old femme fatale divorcee Elsie Tanner in new drama serial Coronation Street. Debuting in the first episode, Elsie was indeed the star of the show for many years and, alongside the characters of Ena Sharples and Annie Walker, was the original soap strong woman. During her first stint on the cobbles (1960-1973), Elsie’s storylines included sparring with battleaxe Ena Sharples and busybody Hilda Ogden; divorcing first hubby Arnold; having twelve liaisons; rekindling with old flame Steve Tanner (he was given the same surname as Elsie due to her popularity) and marrying him in 1967 but the marriage ended in 1968 when Steve was murdered by Joe Donnelli – the marriage had already soured anyway; and marrying Alan Howard in 1970 but the marriage was tempestuous due to Alan’s money problems and alcoholism. Elsie became a popular character and made Phoenix a household name. A fiery redhead, she held various jobs in her first stint, working in clothes shops, a florist, a launderette, managing a hair salon and was a warehouse supervisor.

By 1973, Phoenix had become bored with the role and sought a return to the stage and left unannounced. But her role as Elsie proved a burden to her as she suffered from being typecast. Her only TV appearance was in Charles Dickens’ World of Christmas in 1974. Her sudden departure from Coronation Street provided a challenge to producers – this was evidence that no character could last forever. Add to this the long absence of Violet Carson over the same period and they faced a conundrum. The programme suffered with a dip in ratings as many saw Elsie’s departure as an end of an era.

But in 1976, with new producer Bill Podmore at the helm, Phoenix begged to return to the show. Over time the ratings rose and with Phoenix back and Violet Carson making more regular appearances it seemed that the serial was getting back on track. Thus began a so called golden age. During her second stint Elsie’s storylines included seven romances; taking in lodgers; and divorcing Alan. She found employment at Mike Baldwin’s new denim factory as a supervisor. She left the factory and worked at Jim’s Café before returning to the factory as a machinist. During her second stint, Phoenix often clashed with producers over the fact that Elsie’s men were in their 60s and that it gave her an ageing image. In 1983, Phoenix once again decided to depart the programme but gave enough notice so that Elsie could have a dignified exit. Elsie made her final appearance in January 1984, doing a midnight flit to Portugal with old flame Bill Gregory. It was revealed in 2011 that Elsie had died in a car accident in Portugal in 2004. Over the 20 years she was in Coronation Street, Phoenix appeared in 1631 episodes. During the 1960s, she was second only to Doris Speed (Annie Walker) as the one who made the most appearances. Following her departure she starred in Constant Hot Water (1986) and Unnatural Causes (1986). That year it was announced that she was diagnosed with lung cancer. A lifelong smoker, she quickly deteriorated and passed away aged 62 in Cheadle, Greater Manchester.

Pat was thrice married: to Peter Marsh (1953-1961), Alan Browning (1972-1979) and Tony Booth (1986). Browning played her on-screen hubby Alan Howard and they fell in love on set. She had had a fling with Booth in the 1950s and they rekindled their romance in 1980 and they married when Phoenix was on her deathbed.

Did you ever see or meet Pat Phoenix? Do you have any pieces of trivia about her?

Research from Corriepedia, Wikipedia, IMDB and 40 years of Coronation Street by Daran Little.

Follow the Bluenose CorrieBlog on Twitter and Facebook