Video: Corrie cast sing Fairytale of Weatherfield for Text Santa

Every year in the UK there's a charity fund raiser at Christmas called Text Santa and the Corrie cast and crew do a little production just for it. Here is the video to watch the Coronation Street cast singing Fairytale of Weatherfield for ITV's Text Santa.

By the wonders of YouTube, you can watch it right here:


You can read our special lyrics of the Weatherfield version of Fairytale of New York here.

Text Santa raise funds for charities including - Age UK, Barnardo’s, BeatBullying, British Heart Foundation, CLIC Sargent and Help the Hospices.




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Coronation Street Blog interviews the Corrie Casting Director

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog December 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Janet Hampson is a Casting Director on Coronation Street and has very kindly given us an insight into her role on our favourite show. 

You can check out Janet's website here.

Q: What does a Casting Director actually do?
It varies from show to show, but in essence you use your knowledge of who is out there, and the show’s requirements to suggest and bring in actors to meet the producer and director.  Sometimes I make a direct approach to an agent when a show wants a specific person, and then it’s up to me to sell the show (if it’s a brand new one for example) and help to persuade the talent to join the cast. Finally, and usually, we negotiate contracts.

Q: Can you explain your background and how you got into the casting profession and into casting for Coronation Street?
I originally trained and worked as an actor for eight years before moving into production. After a stint directing in Radio Drama I found myself producing comedies for E4 and BBC3. As I started on very low budget pilots I was usually responsible for several things including casting. Finally one of the non tx pilots I cast (Lunch Monkeys for BBC 3) was commissioned, I cast the series and never looked back.

Q: What are the main things you look for when casting for Coronation Street in particular?
Coronation Street has a very clear identity, and a very loyal audience. So one of the important things to get right with new cast joining the show is the ‘fit’ with our existing cast.  It’s a hard thing to explain, but we take a lot of time to find people with the right feel. It goes without saying that we are looking for talented actors who enhance the show, who bring their own particular skills and – hopefully – who also love the show.

Q: Is a Coronation Street casting purely your decision or is there a team who decides? Who has the final say?
Some roles are cast by the Casting Director in conjunction with one of our lovely team of directors.  However when we are casting a new long term character the process starts with an initial search and early auditions with the casting department, and goes on to screentests with our cast, on set. The screentests are then edited and circulated to our senior producers and Creative Directors for that final decision.  As Coronation Street is a fast moving show, I’m pleased to say that those final decisions never drag on.

Q: Are there any casting decisions on Coronation Street you feel particularly proud of or fond of and have there been any casting decisions you feel just weren’t right for the show?
I’m pretty new to the show but there are some new characters coming on screen I’m very excited about.

Q: What unique challenges and opportunities does casting for Coronation Street have as the longest running drama series in the world?
The unique opportunities casting Coronation Street brings are easy: we have a fantastic team of writers and a wonderful production team that turn the scripts to TV gold. As ITV’s flagship show we have a huge share of the audience and so we also offer a chance to be seen by that audience.  The challenge is to cast every part with the same care as the long term regulars.  We cast every week, and I’m always on the lookout for strong actors new to the show.  If someone catches our eye, they can find themselves being asked back quite quickly.

Q: We know that Sophie’s new girlfriend has been cast to an unknown actress. Is there anything you can tell us about this please e.g. the process, the outcome?
The process was the same as for all our new regulars, we write a character breakdown and this goes out on Spotlight.  We sift through those submitted and invite our chosen actors in for an initial audition in the office.  We make a selection from this to show to our producer Stuart Blackburn, and we then discuss who to bring in for a screentest. The new character you refer to is played by a young  unknown actress, Amy Kelly.  She’d come to the attention of an agent who thought she’d be great for the role – and she is.

Q: Are there any new Corrie characters being cast that you can tease fans with at the moment?
Well I’m looking forward to seeing Amy as the character you’ve just referred to – not long now.

Q: Do you cast for extras too and how can people become extras, do they have to go through an agency for example?
My colleague Joanne Moss casts all our background artists and yes, they do all come via agencies.

Q: What advice would you have for other people interested in entering the profession e.g. where do they start?
The usual way is to start as an assistant to an established casting director, though of course I didn’t.  It goes without saying that you need an interest in actors and can spot talent.  It helps if you like people, have a good head for business and some charm, but it is a role you can make progress in if you have a talent for it.

Q:And finally, we all love Fat Brenda, the best Corrie character that we’ve never seen.  If you were casting for the role, who would be your top three favourite choices for that role?
Fat Brenda is an enigma and should remain that way I think.  We all have our own impression of Fat Brenda, don’t we? 



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Julie Hesmondhalgh wins Royal Television Society Award 2013

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog November 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Photo copyright @alanhalsall via twitter

The Royal Television Society Awards (North West) 2013 took place last night in Manchester.  Julie Hesmondhalgh, who played Hayley Cropper, won the award for Best Performance in a Continuing Drama.

Well done to Julie!

15. Best Performance in a Continuing Drama
Julie Hesmondhalgh – Coronation Street. ITV Studios - See more at: http://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/2013/10/the-royal-television-society-north-west-awards-2013-nominees-in-full/#sthash.IbKpCWxX.dpuf

15. Best Performance in a Continuing Drama
Julie Hesmondhalgh – Coronation Street. ITV Studios - See more at: http://www.prolificnorth.co.uk/2013/10/the-royal-television-society-north-west-awards-2013-nominees-in-full/#sthash.IbKpCWxX.dpuf

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CBC Schedule changes for Christmas and New Year's week

Heads up, Canucks, here's the CBC schedule for Corrie over the next two weeks:

Dec. 23rd no show
Dec. 24th no show
Dec. 25th no show
Dec. 26th 7-8pm
Dec. 27th 7 - 8pm
Dec. 28th Sunday omni 8 - 10am

Dec. 30th 7-8pm
Dec. 31st no show
Jan. 1st 7-8pm
Jan. 2nd 7-8pm
Jan. 3rd 7-8pm

 You can see the sneak previews from both weeks here on Corrie.net at the Moosejaw Mercury


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Goodbye Granada from the production crew

A link to a wonderful video just scrolled past on our twitter feed. It was uploaded to Vimeo by  Matt Hilton (@quarterbluematt so is a 3rd Assistant Director at Coronation Street. It's a goodbye to Granada studios from all the production crew and behind the scenes faces that we never see. These men and women are the backbones of Corrie, wiithout whom we couldn't enjoy Coronation Street as we do. It's just as big a change for all of them moving to the new Media City site as it is for the actors!

Here's the video through this link.


And since today is the final day of filming on the old set, the Manchester Evening News also has a feature. They include lots of links to various articles they've had featuring photos and video and other related items. This one in particular has loads of links all in one place.

We don't know what the first day filming on the new location will be yet, but we'll be watching closely to spot the differences, including the second Rovers window and the external door to Roy and Hayley's flat outside the cafe!



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Sneak Preview for Canadian Corrie for Dec. 23 - 27

Without further ado here is a brief sneak preview of what you'll see on  next week's Corrie in Canada.

Hayley meets her grandchildren. Peter gives Tina the brush off before heading out on honeymoon. Everyone's horrible to David and Nick makes Gail choose between her two sons. Dev meets Kal, a friend of Gary's who sets Dev up in a new fitness routine. Julie finds out about Brian's job offer thanks to a spiteful Todd. Dennis is tempted by the music biz.


For more details and photos, visit the Moosejaw Mercury at Corrie.net



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Where Carla and Peter's wedding was filmed

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog December 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

If you're wondering where Peter and Carla's wedding was filmed last night on Coronation Street, it was filmed at Colshaw Hall in Cheshire.

See also: Where Carla's wedding dress and Michelle's bridesmaid dress came from

See also: Where to buy Sally's red frock and Tina's blue playsuit from the wedding.

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Pics: Carla and Peter's Coronation Street wedding

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog October 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

There are paparazzi pictures online of Coronation Street filming Carla Connor's wedding to Peter Barlow.

The pics show the cast and crew filming in Manchester as the couple shoot scenes for their upcoming wedding.

Carla, played by Alison King, is seen walking around with a white wedding veil around her head while wearing a pair of dungarees.  Carla's bridesmaid looks set to be Michelle Connor, wearing a gold bridesmaid dress. 

Have a look at the pics here.

 

If the wedding goes smoothly (well it might, you never know) then it's the 3rd marriage for Carla with previous husbands Paul Connor and Tony Gordon.  And it's the 4th marriage for Peter with previous wives from a bigamist marriage, Shelley Unwin and Lucy the florist (Simon's mum) and Leanne Battersby.

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Analysing Peter Barlow

(This post was originally posted by me on the Coronation Street Blog in December 2013.)

I've been thinking a lot about this Tina and Peter thing.  I know to most people it seems a bit of a stretch but I think it's a lot more plausible than the icky Molvin pairing of a few years ago.

Peter's had a year that's kicked him squarely in the ego and Tina's on the rebound. You could see this train wreck coming a mile away.  Carla should have as well. After all, she stole him from Leanne in the first place and he *does* have the Barlow genes.

Read more about it here.

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Fab Photo Friday - Shelley the bride that never was

(This post was originally posted by Sunny Jim on the Coronation Street Blog in November 2013.)

It's time for this week's fab Coronation Street photo. With lots of talk this week of upcoming nuptials, here's one of my favourite ever Coronation Street wedding scenes.

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Video: Coronation Street over the years

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog November 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

At the recent press reveal of the new Coronation Street set, this amazing and quite moving montage was shown.  You can now watch it here via the wonders of YouTube on the Coronation Street Blog.

See also: Coronation Street new set - our visit in full



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Corrie Canada weekly awards: Dec 6 - 13

Writer win! For years fans have been referring to Liz's wardrobe as Mutton dressed as Lamb. This week, we find out that's Deirdre's opinion, too!

It's not my problem award: There may be  auditors but the state of the books will be down to Stella for the most part, wouldn't it? Why is Michelle blaming Steve for the mess of the accounts? That much paper can't possibly have been generated by 5 minutes' ownership.

Sticking your nose in award: Sally had no business being in the middle of the family crisis and sticking her oar in.

Voice of Reason award: Gary's holding them down to a dull roar. Faye isn't evil. 

Deja Don't: If I was Peter, after the last explosive stag do he barely survived, I wouldn't want to tempt fate again, either.

Are you new here award: I guess Michelle really doesn't learn anything from history or she would have known Steve was up to no good from the start.


Fashion Stripes award: Tim and Peter matching.

Lines of the week:
Hayley "Every time I get into a groove you disturb me"
Gary "Real friends don't get you in trouble"
Peter "I have proper things that I have to worry about"
Peter "Me in a boozer, surrounded by drunks and sausage rolls. Now you're *really* selling it to me"
Carla "God bless Tina and all who sail in her. She's like Mary Poppins with bonnier hair"
Roy to Hayley "I get you. I always will"
Liz on history "Stuff happened. Get over it"
Kirk "Yin and Yang, weren't they Siamese twins?"
Carla "This last couple of years I've made a slapped backside look cheerful"

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State of the Street - December 2013

November on the Street focussed on Faye and Grace's reign of bullying with Mary and ultimately Simon taking the brunt of it, ringled by Grace. Anna was always the last one to find out these things. David is lurching around looking like a lost puppy. He's had it all coming to him but you can't help but feel a tiny bit sorry for him, too. Nick's still offending and scaring people with his rages and outbursts and Leanne's looking tired and nervous. Hayley's still with us and we're following along as she and Roy work through the rough road they're on. All this and more on State of the Street for November.




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Sunday Comments December 15

Too many coincidences and Anna is just going to have to believe that Faye is in it up to her neck. She didn't even object when Owen banned Grace from the house. That should have been a clue right there. Anna was determined to at least put a believing face on in it to fend off the force of Barlow but alas, there's even video evidence so there's no denying it. Mary niggled it out of Asha and bared the evidence. Boy,  are there some huge apologies in the offing here.

Grace put the full frontal attack on Faye to try to keep her quiet but they got suspended (excluded) anyway for fighting. She stayed quiet, stayed schtum.  Gary was right, friends don't get friends in trouble. Saying she's sorry isn't enough and she has to suffer the disappointment of the ones she loves, too, especially her newfound dad.  Sally got her nose in there and probably shouldn't have been there and Tim couldn't get out of the house fast enough. Tim thinks everyone is blaming him for abandoning her. He shouldn't have run out scared, in that case. He just wants to be Faye's friend, not a proper dad.

Faye wasn't willing to say Grace is the ringleader. She'll lose her BFF. Probably the best thing for her.  Grace's parents are no help.  Anna confiscated Faye's phone. I hope she took Asha's phone back to her as well. Faye ended up with a juvenile caution on her record. What happened to Grace? Is she getting one as well? We didn't get to see the talk between Anna and Leanne, more's the pity. After Anna's being blind to everything and smug about it, it would be good to see her eating a bit more crow and she ended up shouting at Faye and taking it out on her.

But now Brian is involved. Grace and Faye are not in his school but Simon is and there will be action taken, police action. With the police involved, and Grace giving Faye the evils (and a mother that seems to make it all about her), will Faye tell the whole truth and nothing but? Yes, it will.

Poor Simon, kind of hard to rise above it when there is video evidence of your humiliation all over the internet. The kid is terrified and hates that everyone knows. Now that the cat is out of the bag, he's probably scared that Grace is going to beat him and everyone will see his humiliation. So Tina ends up having to mind Simon but doesn't she work in the pub at all in the daytime? She's not been lately.  

You like to have the groom's input into wedding arrangements but when there's something so important like an upset child in crisis, you need to leave him to it. There are priorities and flowers aren't one of them and I know Carla isn't the world's most maternal person but even she can see that Simon has to be a priority. Why didn't Carla hire a wedding planner from the start?

It's unfortunate, she's coming across as very selfish and it's not that Peter doesn't want to get married but that's what Carla thinks. A wedding is usually a bigger deal for the bride than the groom, the pomp and circumstance, that is. The stag night seems to be the last place Peter wanted to be and when you think about it, the last one he had he barely survived. No wonder he'd rather have a quiet night in!

Carla fears she will drive Peter away. A. he's already halfway out the door and B. It wasn't about her being bossy, it was about his self esteem taking a kicking. and C. a bit of cold feet? I liked the scene with Carla and Rob talking things over and making peace. Peter isn't going to like hearing about it, oh no he isn't and he let Carla know well and truly. Excellent scenes between two excellent actors.

I know Fiz and Tyrone probably hung out with Tommy and Tina so Fiz and Tina would be good mates but we hardly saw that so it's weird seeing them act like good friends. I wondered why Peter went so far from his doorway to light up but he'd told Steve he smoked a lot that day so I suppose he was on his way to the shop for more cigs. And all the more convenient for Tina to come past, I guess. She later came back with him and a bottle of milk so perhaps he was going for cigs.

Tina's getting sassy with Peter and he's lapping it up. I think he's been feeling low and his self esteem has been having a kicking lately. The crisis with Simon and Carla's seeming indifference to it, and he's ripe for a pretty face. Them Barlow genes will out, you know. Even Liz can see something's up. She's flirting and he's got it bad. Denial is a river in Egypt. 

Yes, Peter's old enough to be her father like Kevin was for Molly but Peter's a lot better looking and sexier than Kevin ever thought of being. This one, at least, I can understand. Liz caught them a little too close for comfort in the gents'. I don't think Liz is going to be able to unstoke that fire. Peter's on an ego soothing trip and she's on the rebound.

It's nice to see that Kirk hasn't forgiven Beth and forgotten so quickly. Makes a refreshing change. It took quite a few days. I bet she won't be so cocky again. She wants to keep Kirk in her life and this made her stand up and realize he's not quite the pushover she thought.

Hayley's telling Roy over and over to leave her alone to work on the dress and he persists. She seemed to get on with the chemo treatment ok. I don't blame Roy for worrying and hovering. She's biting off more than she can chew. Looks like she was the one behind Mary's offer of a chess game. Kept Roy out from under her feet for awhile.  More goodness with Carla and Hayley together.

Trying to get Roy to face funeral plans is an uphill battle so she did it in a roundabout way. It's a bit underhanded but Roy always seems to manage to find other priorities to get out of doing the hard emotional stuff. She's right, it's not too early to set up the arrangements for the funeral and not just as a reality check for Roy but he just can't do it. Really, though, it would be better if he knew what she was planning rather than have everything be a surprise to him. He finally got his head around it with an hour or two alone time to absorb it and they're able to move ahead.

Why is Michelle blaming Steve for the mess of the accounts? That much paper can't possibly have been generated by 5 minutes' ownership. Liz seemed to recognize the accounts book, calling it "that old thing", implying the previous period of ownership. Therefore Stella would have used it as well if it's still ongoing. It's a bit contrived so that Michelle has yet another reason to mouth off at Steve, that and the school thing as well. Oh shut up. Mind you, Steve doesn't help matters, avoiding work and skiving.  This couple has never gelled for me and I'm losing the will to live.

Steve seems to have a new BFF and he's spending time and talking on the phone and lying to Michelle about who's on the phone. He's such a terrible liar, too and Lloyd, as a good mate does, keeps schtum. It's about time Michelle followed up with a phone call and busted Steve. A four hour lesson? Really?

The olives have made a reappearance at the Bistro! Yay!


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Coronation Street's new set - time lapse photos of the big build

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog November 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Yesterday, we visited the new Coronation Street set and you can see our own pictures here.

Below are the official ITV pictures showing how the new set was built.  To see a bigger version of each picture, just click on them.

November 2011: The build begins

July 2012: The footprint of the new Street takes place.

3rd September 2012: The Medical Centre and Bonded Warehouse.

November 2012: The viaduct behind the Rovers is clearly identifiable.

February 2013: The roofs of the modern terraces and the Kabin takes shape.

April 2013: Brickwork nears completion on the main terrace and the roofs are on

April 2013: Coronation Street is clearly visible from the air.

April 2013: Brickwork races on and the Corner Shop awaits its main windows.

July 2013: The famous cobbles are laid.

October 2013: The ginnel is almost complete.

November 2013: Coronation Street Trafford, first official picture.



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