Cosy crimes and gritty sagas by Corrie Blog editor Glenda, published by Headline. Click pic below!

Saturday 30 June 2012

Sean's magic hair on Coronation Street

With thanks to for the screen grabs, after lots of fans pointed out here on the Blog that there was a bit of discontinuity going on in last night's Corrie.

In the same episode on Friday 29 June, this was a shot of Sean on the sofa:




And here he is again, just seconds later in the bar of the Rovers with a new, shorter, hair do.


Corrie do continuity very well indeed. So when they get it wrong, it sticks out like a sore thumb.

See also: Steve McDonald and his magic sausage


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See Catherine Tyldesley at Salford Knicker Festival

You can see Coronation Street's Catherine Tyldesley, who plays Eva the cleavage Price, at Salford's knicker festival next weekend. It runs on Saturday 7th June from 4pm to 7pm at Crompton's at Waterside Bar and Restaurant, Monton.

Catherine will be joining celebs from Hollyoaks and Waterloo Road at the Waterside Bar and Restaurant in Monton to support the Knickerbokaglory Festival raising money for the British Heart Foundation.

Highlight of the day, will be the unveiling of a giant `knickerbokaglory' mural by local artist Fanny Gogh, which features knickers donated by celebrities like Sara Cox and Salford's Catherine Tyldsley

The Festival starts at 4pm and, as well as featuring the celeb unveiling of the 10ft mural, also includes outdoor live music from local singers and bands, a Waterside's Got Talent contest with celeb judges, a BBQ, curry tent and lots of ice cream, pop corn, candy floss and a bouncy castle for the kiddies.

Also see the website – click here


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Friday 29 June 2012

State of the Street - June 2012


June was an eventful month on the cobbles. We had a wedding...Yay! And a loan shark ...Boo! We had an affair hit the wall...Yay! And an ill-thought out engagement...Boo! Eva and Nick broke up...Yay!

It looks like Stella and Karl have too, for a minute at least. Nick and Leanne got back together... Well.. Kind of a Boo since it's a rebound, not true love on her part, at least.

For all this and more, check out State of the Street for June.


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Nick Tilsley - Mug of the week


Peter was not happy about Nick and Leanne. Considering how they had an affair behind Peter's back, it's not surprising. Peter was also really ticked off about Nick playing substitute Daddy and roughed him up a bit in a dark corner on the Street to warn him. Considering what Nick's done to Peter in the past, I can't blame him. Nick *did* scheme and plot to try to keep Peter drinking so that Leanne would leave him. Reprehensible. And you know? Nick's had that roughing up coming.

I can understand Peter being worried that Nick might supercede him in Simon's heart. Simon loves his daddy but doesn't have a lot of "like" on at the moment because of Carla's influence. I expect we're in for Peter's competitive gene to go into overdrive, fighting against Nick's influence. Simon, of course, likes almost everyone (except Carla) and Peter will see that as his affections being replaced. It may even lead to Peter and Leanne getting back together in the long run but due to Chris Gascoyne's leave of absence upcoming, it won't be for awhile. I'm guessing it'll be a Christmas reunion. That's kind of soap cliche so it'll probably happen.

Thing is, it's very clear that Leanne doesn't love Nick but Nick is going to take whatever he can get. Nick's going to get hurt yet again and there doesn't seem to be a way around it. According to a recent interview on This Morning (via Digital Spy) Ben Price admits it, he says that Nick knows the truth down deep. Ben also admits that he reckons Nick knows Leanne and Peter still love each other.

I guess that makes Nick the Mug of the Week, doesn't it?

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Review: Jack Rosenthal & Maureen Lipman exhibition

One of my top two Coronation Street moments this year so far has been to watch 1968 Corrie episodes, written by Jack Rosenthal, acted out in front of me in a Manchester pub, The Lass O'Gowrie.

My other Corrie highlight has been seeing the wonderful Fat Brenda show, live on stage in Harrogate, twice!

Anyway, the landlord of the Lass O'Gowrie pub in Manchester who arranged for Jack Rosenthal's 1968 Corrie episodes to be acted out in his pub, was invited along as a special guest this week to the Jack Rosenthal and Maureen Lipman exhibition at the University of Sheffield.

It's over to Gareth now to let us know what happened because in addition to attending the exhibition, Gareth managed the recreation of Stan and Hilda's wonderful meal out in an Chinese restaurant...

From Gareth Kavanagh:

"It was a delight to be invited to the opening of the Jack and Maureen exhibition of papers and personal mementoes at the University of Sheffield this Wednesday, just gone.  The University holds Jack's archives of papers, a priceless haul of papers, scripts, correspondence and personal moments spanning his incredible career and without it, we would never have staged Coronation Street 1968 at the Lass O'Gowrie in January.  Through my work with the scripts and papers within this amazing archive I came to realise that it was Jack who had created the Coronation Street I came to love in the seventies with my Mum on cold winter nights, while my Dad was playing darts.

Within this collection you can read treasures such as Maureen's school reports (must be more consistent in Latin!), appreciate Jack's BAFTA and read original submissions and Corrie scripts all lovingly curated by the Special Colelctions team at the University.  It's personal, moving and funny.  You realise how prolific the two of them were and how lucky we were to enjoy Jack's prolific talents over the decades.

Picture copyright: Gareth Kavanagh. Gareth is pictured on the right dressed in black with Maureen Lipman and some of the actors from the Chinese Restaurant scene including Joan Kempson as Hilda Ogden. Joan once played Edna Miller in Corrie.

Jack's widow, the great Maureen Lipman was on hand to open the exhibition and gave us a real sense of the man behind the work, regaling us with tales of his meeting the Queen Mother and his Jewish, northern and working class roots which defined him his entire life.  He was a man supremely confident in his skin, Maureen regaled us - the same with paupers and kings and that gift just shines in his work.  Clearly moved by the exhibition, Maureen told a tale of Jack's final night before he passed when she asked him if his dear old friend who had visited him had said anything to him.  "Yes," Jack replied, "He said he loved me."  Maureen asked what he had said back and Jack smiled, chuckled wickedly and replied, "Nothing; we just had sex then he left!"

Follow that!

As the floor dissolved into peals of laughter, it was my job to introduce the Chinese Restaurant scenes from episode #788 of Coronation Street, which were part of our Coronation Street 1968 celebration in January.  John Draycott, Joan Kempson and Christina Tam stepped up to the plate and smashed it out of the park.  It was every bit as moving and funny as it had been last time round and I think nothing was more fitting than to hear life breathed back into Jack's words once more. 

I think we were all left with the impressing of a life well lived and one well worth celebrating. 

A true privilege."

See also:  Review of the 1968 episodes acted out in the Lass O'Gowrie earlier this year.

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Fab Photo Friday - June 29th 2012

It's Friday again so it's time for this week's fab Coronation Street photo. With the imminent return of Lloyd Mullaney here's a couple of pictures of him. I'm really looking forward to seeing him back on the cobbles, Steve has seemed a bit lost without him for the past few months and with Eileen back working the switch at Streetcars we should be in for some great comedy moments.




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Corrie originals - Christine Hargreaves as Christine Hardman/Appleby


First appeared: 14th December 1960

Last appeared: 3rd July 1963

Christine Hargreaves played the role of young independent woman Christine Hardman/Appleby between 1960 and 1963.

Born in Salford in Manchester in 1939, Hargreaves was trained as an actress in the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and later starred on the stages of Northern England. In one production she starred alongside Arthur Leslie (Jack Walker) and it was indeed while acting with Arthur that they were both chosen to join the original cast of Coronation Street in 1960. Appearing in the second episode, 21 year old Christine Hardman felt trapped on the street and longed to escape. Amongst her storyline was losing her mother May to a brain tumour; a suicide attempt where old friend Ken Barlow had to talk her down from Ellison’s Raincoat factory rooftop; whirlwind romance and eloping with Colin Appleby in 1962 but he died in a car crash that year; and becoming engaged to Frank Barlow (26 year her senior) but called it off when she realised she didn’t love him. During her time on the Street, she worked at Elliston’s Raincoat Factory and later at clothes shop Miami Modes with Elsie Tanner and Dot Greenhalgh. She was promoted to a higher position in Miami Modes and was transferred. The last time Christine was mentioned on the street was when she sent a telegram to congratulate Elsie and Steve Tanner on their wedding in 1967 and by then was said to be residing in Southampton. During her three years on Coronation Street, Hargreaves appeared in 125 episodes.

Due to her short tenure, viewers struggle to remember Christine Hardman/Appleby. Although she secured many roles from the 1960s to the early 1980s, she wasn’t top of the bill. She played various roles in ITV Play of the Week (1962-1964), The Wednesday Play (1967-1970), Albert! (1969-1972), Softly Softly: Task Force (1972-1976), Z Cars (1962-1978), Play for Today (1970-1981), Crown Court (1978-1982) and Juliet Bravo (1980-1983).

Hargreaves died in 1984 aged 45 in London from a brain tumour. She made posthumous appearances in TV shows Mitch (1984) and Walter and June (1986) and films Nineteen Eighty Four (1984) and Nineteen Nineteen (1985). Christine’s fate hasn’t been addressed in the show.

Christine had married Klaus Voormann in 1965 and they had one child. They later separated.

Did you ever see or meet Christine Hargreaves? Do you have any pieces of trivia about her?

Research from Corriepedia, Wikipedia and IMDB.

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Sneak preview of tonight's double Corrie - Friday 29 June

Coronation Street, Friday 29th June at 7.30pm
SEAN’S CONVINCED MARCUS HAS CHEATED. As Sean wakes alone he's convinced Marcus has stayed at Aiden's. But Marcus is on Maria's sofa and is in no mood to explain himself to Sean. As he calls at no.11 to get ready for work Sean wants to talk now but Marcus insists he hasn't got time and they can speak later. But working himself into a stupor Sean follows Marcus to work and demands they talk before launching a slanderous attack on Aiden. How will Marcus react and how will his boss react as Sean causes a commotion at the hospital?
CARLA WONDERS WHAT PETER IS REALLY JEALOUS OF. As Leanne heads into town to look for work Nick takes Simon for breakfast. Witnessing this Peter's blood boils, leaving Carla wondering if it's not just Nick's relationship with Simon that Peter is jealous of!
SUNITA DOES BATTLE WITH EVA. Sunita’s determined not to let Eva force her out of her job. But does she have any ammo for the fight?
Elsewhere Norris has a lot of apologising to do if he's to make it up to Mary.

Friday 29th June at 8.30pm
SEAN AND MARCUS DISCUSS SPLITTING UP. As Marcus is given a lecture for being unprofessional Sean realises he's got it wrong and tries to apologise. Back on the street Sean regrets going in all guns blazing, insisting his insecurities just took over. Responding Marcus reveals he's never looked at another man but all this mistrust does prove there's something badly wrong with their relationship. As Sean pleads with Marcus to go back to the way things were Marcus isn't sure they can – they want different things now. Marcus wants a family but is Sean prepared to reconsider adoption? As both wonder where this leaves them could it be the end?
PETER AND NICK REACH A BRITTLE TRUCE. When Peter overhears Nick suggesting that Leanne starts works in the Bistro with him he's spoiling for a fight. Dragging him away Carla urges Peter to accept Leanne's moving on and draw a line under his acrimony with Nick for Simon's sake. Will Peter agree?
Elsewhere as Hayley heads off dancing with Norris all Mary's old feeling of inadequacy return, until Roy challenges her to game of chess.

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Sue Johnston hopes to start filming on Corrie next month

There's an update in today's Sun about actress Sue Johnston who should have made her Coronation Street debut as St Ella's mother earlier this month but the scenes were scrapped after she became ill.

Fortunately, the paper reports that Sue is now on the mend and hopes to start filming again next month.

A source tells The Sun: “It’s taken a bit of time to write Sue back in because the writers needed to find the perfect scenario to introduce her character. The new scenario is even better than the first one. From the few days Sue was in before she fell ill, everyone was impressed at how wonderfully she fitted in.”

See also: First pic of Sue Johnston on Coronation Street as Gloria Price

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Spot the Corrie prop - June 29th 2012

Well done to Grant who correctly spotted that last week's ornamental jug can been found in Rita's flat. He also spotted that we've had the prop before and we checked and yes we have, so have a bonus point.

For this week's Coronation Street conundrum just tell us who this Father's Day card belongs to.


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Thursday 28 June 2012

Steve McDonald gurn of the week - June 28 2012

It's Thursday and that means it's time for the Steve McDonald gurn of the week. Thanks go to Coronation Street fan Martin for capturing this week's gurn.

If you've captured a good Corrie Steve gurn and want to share it via the blog, do email it in.

To see more gurnage from Stevie McGurn, have a look here, there's loads. Some good, some bad and some really very funny.

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Snoop Dogg and Cheryl Cole on Corrie? We say No, No, No

Take a celebrity desperate for attention, give them the name of the world's longest running soap opera and get them to name drop it as often as possible into every interview they do. The tabloids pick the interview up, the story does the rounds on t'internet and this fan's heart drops to the floor once again.

It isn't the first time Snoop Dogg has been mentioned wanting a role in Coronation Street. 


And now he tells The Daily Star he's heard Cheryl Cole talking about wanting to join Corrie and says he wants to appear on Corrie with Cheryl as his wife.

The rapper is an ex-pimp, and he also has a string of criminal convictions and has been tried for murder, tells today's Star: “People always think I’m playing when I talk about Coronation Street, but I swear it’s my favourite show on TV. They got everything – sex, murder, transsexuals. There ain’t no other show that can touch it. If the producers write a cool storyline for me and Cheryl I guarantee I will clear my schedule and come do a two-week shoot. The writers are sick on Corrie. I want to see me and Cheryl arrive on the Street as a couple from overseas. Within the first week I would expect Ken Barlow to have seduced Cheryl because you know that dog don’t let his age stop his skills with the women. Then a broken-hearted Snoop falls into the arms of a broken-hearted Deirdre.”

Please, no, never let it happen. And if by some freak of nature it should and we're told by Phil Collinson that this hapless hopeless gruseome twosome will be "the new Jack and Vera" then I'm giving up and turning over to 'Stenders.

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Wednesday 27 June 2012

Bill Tarmey launches Government petition for Brain Tumour Research

Bill Tarmey, who played Jack Duckworth in Coronation Street, has launched an e-petition on behalf of Padbury-based charity Brain Tumour Research.

Bill's son, Carl, was diagnosed with a brain tumour three years ago, at the age of 42 and Bill has become a patron of Brain Tumour Research to raise awareness of brain tumours.

The petition calls on the government to improve brain tumour diagnosis, enforce best practice in brain tumour care, increase the proportion of cancer research spending on brain tumours beyond its current 0.7 per cent and ensure that at least 7.5 per cent of adults with primary brain tumours are enrolled in randomised, controlled clinical trials.

Support and sign the petition at http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/35167

See also: Jack Duckworth voted fans' favourite Corrie character.

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Shobna Gulati named Rear of the Year

Coronation Street actress Shobna Gulati has won the Wizard Jeans Rear of the Year title.

Along with John Barrowman, Shobna was a winner in the Wizard Jeans Rear of the Year after winning a public vote for the cheeky title.

Shobna, who plays Corrie's Sunita Alahan, said she had to thank her mother for her prize-winning asset.

"I am really honoured and flattered to be a winner of this year's competition and for my bum to be etched into the history of the award's alumni - a list which includes so many other distinguished bottoms. And I'd also like to say thanks - in the words of Will.i.am, 'I got it from my mama'."

Barrowman is known for his role as Captain Jack Harkness in Torchwood and Doctor Who as well as his West End stage roles. "With tush tightly toned, cheeks firmly clenched and a big smile on my face, I'm thrilled to be awarded the accolade," he said.

Sally Allen, of sponsor Wizard Jeans, called the winners "two excellent examples of this year's ideal rear. Shobna's slim but womanly silhouette is a fine example of the happy, healthy female form for 2012 and John's rear is clearly admired on an international basis, judging by the number of fans who voted for him. No doubt his dancing prowess helps to keep him in tremendous shape."

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Corrie originals - Jack Howarth MBE as Albert Tatlock


First appeared: 9th December 1960

Last appeared: 25th January 1984

Jack Howarth played the role of grumpy pensioner Albert Tatlock between 1960 and 1984.

Born in Rochdale in Lancashire in 1896, Howarth attended the same school as wartime singer Gracie Fields. Like many of the Street’s early cast members, Jack Howarth began his acting career in the theatre. He later ran his own cinema during the 1910s and was also a member of the Lancashire Fusiliers during the Great War. He also ran his own theatre in Colwyn Bay, North Wales and that’s where he met William Roache (Ken Barlow) for the first time. None of them would think they’d work alongside each other for nearly 25 years on Coronation Street. He made his television debut in 1949 in The Cure for Love. During the 1950s in appeared in films The Man in the White Suit (1951) and Hobson’s Choice (1954) and TV shows The Secret Garden (1952) and BBC Sunday Night Theatre (1950-1953). In 1960, he appeared in Emergency Ward Ten, one of Britain’s first soap operas.

In 1960, he was chosen to play the role of 65 year old curmudgeonly WWI veteran Albert Tatlock in new drama serial Coronation Street. Appearing in the first episode, Albert is fondly remembered for his flat cap and glasses and boring his residents with his wartime stories, Albert was Britain’s Mr Grump. A widower throughout his tenure, romance did enter Albert’s life occasionally. Clara Midgeley proposed to him in 1965 but he declined. He became engaged to Alice Pickens in 1969 but they called off the wedding when the vicar’s car broke down and they saw it as a bad omen. He proposed the next time to old friend Minnie Caldwell in 1973 in a bid to bid to solve their financial worries but Minnie called it off when she grew tired of his habits. Albert’s life revolved around his allotment and he enjoyed reminiscing with Minnie and Ena Sharples in the Rovers snug while supping his rum. He was elated when his niece Valerie married Ken Barlow in 1962 and when their twins Peter and Susan were born in 1965. He was devastated when Valerie was electrocuted in 1971 and the twins were sent up to Scotland to be brought up by her parents. Albert maintained a close relationship with Ken who moved in with him between 1972 and 1973 and from 1976 onwards. Albert disapproved of Ken’s marriage to second wife Janet Reid but warmed towards his third wife Deirdre Langton and encouraged them to live at his house after they married.

By the early 1980s, Jack Howarth’s health began to deteriorate. In 1984, he took time off from the serial and was expected to return but sadly passed away in March that year of a liver complaint while holidaying in Llandudno, North Wales. He was 88. He’d been awarded an MBE the previous year for his charity work and his association with the disabled. Albert Tatlock was killed off in May while visiting his daughter Beattie, around four months after his final appearance. At the time, Jack Howarth was one of two members of the original cast still in the show – William Roache was the other. Over 23 years, he appeared in 1307 episodes. Albert’s presence still remains at No. 1 with his photo on the mantelpiece and Ken often recalls Albert’s fatherly advice over his own father Frank.
 
Jack had married Betty Murgatroyd in 1929 and had two children: John (b. 1930) and Anne (b. 1939).

Did you ever see or meet Jack Howarth? Do you have any pieces of trivia about him?  Did you know he once featured on a Damned single?

Research from Corriepedia, Wikipedia and IMDB.


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Sneak preview of tonight's Corrie - Wednesday 27 June

Coronation Street, Wednesday 27th June at 7.30pm

PETER’S DEVASTATED BY LEANNE’S NEWS. Eva and Stella are shocked as Leanne reveals she is with Nick. She promises they only got together last night but Eva's furious and insists either Leanne moves out or she will. With all eyes on her Stella is forced to ask Leanne to leave. As she pack her bags and heads for Nick's, Stella's sad to be losing her daughter, asking if she's sure she loves Nick. Leanne's not sure but reckons love is overrated, she followed her heart with Peter and had it broken, this time she's decided to follow her head and she knows Nick won't hurt her. Stella thinks it's a recipe for disaster but will Leanne listen? Meanwhile when Eva tells Peter the news he storms over to the Bistro finding Leanne and Simon with Nick. As he lays into Nick will Leanne doubt her decision?
SEAN FEARS THE WORST WHEN MARCUS STAYS OUT. It's frosty between Sean and Marcus after last night's row and when Violet cancels Dylan's visit this week their moods worsen. Tensions rising Marcus storms off and heads into town with Aiden for a drink. But when Aiden comes onto him will Marcus respond?
NORRIS DEEPLY OFFENDS MARY. Mary's keen to attend another dance class but Norris is desperate to put her off, explaining to Emily that she's a terrible dancer. But will Norris be able to let her down gently?
Elsewhere Eva orders Sunita round at the Rovers as she does her best to force her to quit.

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Love the one you're with, Leanne



There's a song about that sort of thing. If you can't be with the one you love, love the one you're with - and I think that's exactly what Leanne is doing. She's the love of Nick's life. Is he the love of hers?

I don't think so and it's got nothing to do with him "always" wanting to be a dad. Yes, I know you've all been hollering about the rewriting of that little piece of history.  But maybe that's not why he said it. Here's what I think about it. Maybe he didn't really mean it literally. What do you think?


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Tuesday 26 June 2012

Anne Kirkbride on being different to Deirdre

Anne Kirkbride, who plays Coronation Street's Deirdre Barlow, tells this week's 20th birthday special Inside Soap magazine, that she doesn't answer when anyone shouts out "Deirdre!" in the Street.  Wise woman!

She was asked: "What do you think when you go to the shops and see yourself in magazines?" and replied: "To be honest, I differentiate between me and Deirdre, so if it's a Deirdre front cover, it just wouldn't be something I'd worry about."

And then she was asked how she feels about meeting Corrie viewers when she's out shopping. "Everyone is really lovely when I'm out and about - but I only answer to people if they call me Annie. If they've gone to the trouble of knowing my real name, then I really appreciate that. If people just yell 'Deirdre' though, I don't turn around."

Sounds like a sorted kind of woman. You can follow her on twitter @annekirkbride - but just don't call her Deirdre.

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Craig Charles: "Steve and Lloyd are Corrie's odd couple"

In this week's 20th birthday issue of Inside Soap magazine, there's an interview with Craig Charles who talks about the return of cabbie Lloyd Mullaney to Coronation Street.

Craig says that after a bumpy start between Steve and Lloyd, the paid end up being best mates again and might even move in together.

"I'd love for Lloyd and Steve to play the odd couple for a while," he says. "There's so much scope for comedy in that, and it would be in the great Corrie tradition too. We could be like the new Stan Ogden and Eddie Yeats - sat there in our boxers, string vests on, watching the telly, eating burgers and talking rubbish. It'd be great fun!".

Sounds great to this Corrie fan, Lloyd and Steve together are great to watch.

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Jack Rosenthal & Maureen Lipman exhibition


Jack Rosenthal emerged from the newly created Granada television studios in Manchester to become an award winning playwright and television screen writer, penning many Coronation Street episodes.

Maureen Lipman continues to have an enduring, successful and wide-ranging career which includes theatre, television, film, radio and print.

Jack and Maureen met at Granada, married and shared their lives together for over thirty years.

The exhibition uses items from the Jack Rosenthal Drama Scripts Collection and the Maureen Lipman Papers, both held by the University of Sheffield Library’s Special Collections Department, to illustrate the development and diversity of their careers and the way in which shared family values came together to produce a creative partnership.

This fab exhibition is now on at the Western Bank Library at Sheffield University until August 19th. All details here.

See also: Jack Rosenthal's Coronation Street
See also: Review of Jack Rosenthal's 1968 Corrie episodes - performed in a Manchester pub!

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Coronation Street Weekly Update June 25 2012

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All the wit and warmth of Weatherfield, none of the waffle

Available from
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Greetings and welcome to the Coronation Street Weekly Update.  Find out more about the Coronation Street Weekly Updates and why they've been written for th'internet since 1995 at http://www.corrieweeklyupdates.btinternet.co.uk 

And so without any further ado, here we go with this week’s Coronation Street update.

We’re loving Eva the cleavage in our house this week, she’s wonderful to watch, all wobbly and watery, crying her eyes out over losing Nick and crying them out again when she finds out that Nick’s still in love with Leanne. She finds out Nick’s still in love with Leanne when she walks in the back room of the pub and Nick’s telling Leanne: “I still love you, Leanne”. Proof if ever it were needed.  Leanne has her head turned by fellas so often it’s on permanent swizzle and before we know it, she’s giving him a kiss up the ginnel.  Leanne warns Nick that she and Simon now come as a package. “I’ve always wanted to be a dad,” he replies, conveniently forgetting that he once forced Leanne into having an abortion.  How convenient for Nick that Leanne’s forgotten too.

When Eva’s not crying her eyes out over some fella, she’s keeping them firmly focussed on Sunita and Karl as she knows summat’s up between the two of them. Eva tells St Ella that she thinks barmaid Sunita, played by Barbara Windsor, and boozer Karl, played by Sid James, are having a right old carry on. St Ella throws Karl out (again) and within minutes takes him back (again) but she thinks he’s lying to her about his gambling, not his gambolling.  Meanwhile, Sunita trundles back home to Dev now that Karl wants nowt to do with her. Our favourite Desperate Housewife asks Dev to marry her and the Dev-ster says yes but only one of them is happy and it ain’t Sunita, no. 

In Roy’s Rolls, Hayley’s hyped up about going ballroom dancing. When Norris and Mary get wind of Hayley’s dance class, Mary drags Norris along after she finds out he’d once danced with Vera Duckworth in Blackpool’s tower ballroom. Well, he says he danced, but I think we all remember him best for that very, very long slide along the floor that he did on his knees.   

And finally this week, Marcus (in a very bad shirt) walks out on Sean calling him spiteful and selfish after he’d moaned all night long.  Marcus had only been lending an ear and a shoulder to cry on to his mate Aiden from work and Sean sulked all night instead ‘cos Marcus was giving his attention to somebody else.  Watch out Sean, or it’ll not just be Marcus’ ear and his shoulder he’ll be lending out.
And that’s just about that for this week.  

This week's writers were  Julie Jones and Jonathan Harvey. Find out more about the Coronation Street writing team at:
http://coronationstreetupdates.blogspot.com/2008/11/exclusive-all-current-corrie-writers.html

Glenda Young
--
Blogging away merrily at
http://flamingnora.blogspot.com

When Corrie gets it wrong


See also: The truth about Leanne and Corrie's nasty Nick

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Spoilers for next week's Corrie, July 2 - 6

Without any piffle, here's the storyline for the week ahead on Coronation Street, all wrapped up nicely in 50 words or less.

Note that the schedule for next week has changed. Check out the revised schedule here.

Week of Monday 2 July – Friday 6 July, 2012


Izzy’s pregnant, Lloyd returns and fights with Steve, Peter fights with Nick, Hayley and Norris go dancing, Marcus moves in with Maria and it all kicks off at the school sports day.
   
The full weekly preview, with loads of pictures is right here on Corrie.net

Missed last week's Corrie?
Catch up with the Coronation Street weekly updates

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Monday 25 June 2012

Corrie double episode review, Monday June 25 2012


We are all aware that language changes and even the famous lexicographer Doctor Johnson couldn't stop it despite his intense efforts. What then would he have made of Mary's new word 'coinkidink' as in coincidence, the 'coinkidink' being that both she and Norris are lovers of dancing. Mary comes over all excited and manages to persuade Norris, who is 'not one to boast' despite calling himself a 'smooth operator'  to go to Hayley's dance class.Mary is further overcome by revelations of Norris at the Tower Ballroom in Blackpool. She conjures up the magic of the place by her vivid  description of ''the swish of gowns, the flash of sequins and the magnificent organ rising out of the ground.' Mary with her slightly insane,outmoded view of life is a brilliant creation and it would be interesting to know  what others think. Her 'electrifying shoulder shimmies' may well rival Hayley's celebrated leg work which is apparently second to none.

Good to know that Mary had prepared herself for the dancing by 'carb-loading.' She informs us that she has devoured six power bars and a baked potato.' As Norris points out they're not scaling the North Face of the Eiger  Praise to the writers for the stunning line that Mary was 'channelling  Isadora Duncan' to whose free spirit she likens her own. According to Mary, Isadora was a free spirit who had an 'almost indecent lust for life.' Not entirely sure that Isadora would have demanded an Eccles cake though to recover from a sugar dip in the way Mary did. Out of Mary's earshot, Norris compares Mary to Anne Widdecombe. Perhaps we're all deluded to some extent?

What a mess! The love triangle;or should that be rectangle, given Peter's inevitable forthcoming involvement? Another fine performance by Eva who does 'nasty' so well  but also gains great sympathy from the viewer. She certainly has it in for Sunita. As the rejected affairee walks in to The Rovers for her shift, Eva says, 'Button your blouse up Sunita, it's not a knocking shop.' Vicious! But then she is trying to protect her mother, who does love the 'recovering' gambling addict Karl.

Nick didn't manage the situation with the sisters well by his own admission. Sympathy all round then for the manless, jobless and now sisterless Eva who turns to drink to escape her head. Leanne can just about match Eva calling her paranoid and possessive and throwing out, 'No wonder you can't keep a man.'

Eva launches another attack on Sunita as Sunita breaks some glasses. 'Clumsy cow,' she hisses,'Good job you're not still living here, the place would be trashed.' She's not yet finished as she tells Sunita that she'll take money from her wages to cover the costs.' And there's more! When Dev says he's going to make an honest woman of Sunita, Eva wishes him, 'Good luck with that.'

Marvellous stuff  and more mayhem to come. Didn't Peter and Carla look miserable tonight? Carla and a baby? Maybe.            .


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Winner announced in our 'Keep Calm and Put Corrie On' t-shirt

Congratulations go to Coronation Street Blog reader Faye Talbot in East Sussex who has been drawn at random from loads of correct entries, to win this fab Coronation Street t-shirt.  The competition we ran is here and the deadline for entries was today, Monday 25 June at 6pm.

If you'd like to buy one, have a look at Click My Clobber website. There is no UK delivery charge on orders.

Thanks to everyone who entered! Good luck next time.

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Inside Soap magazine celebrates 20th birthday

This week, Inside Soap magazine celebrates its 20th birthday. That's quite a milestone. It's also quite a magazine! Running a Coronation Street fan website, I take an active interest in the soaps mags and, without wishing to sound like an advert or anything, Inside Soap magazine is the only one I ever buy because it's the only one that's ever got anything worthwhile to read in it.

The birthday edition of Inside Soap magazine is out in the shops tomorrow - Tuesday 26 June - with a 24 page soaps supplement.  You can see Anne Kirkbride (Deirdre Barlow) looks excited about it already.

Inside Soap editor Steven Murphy blogs about the birthday celebrations here.

Read our exclusive interview with Inside Soap editor Steven Murphy.

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Corrie originals - Violet Carson OBE as Ena Sharples


First appeared: 9th December 1960

Last appeared: 2nd April 1980

Violet Carson played the role of hag in a hairnet Ena Sharples between 1960 and 1980.

Born in Manchester in 1898, Carson had a successful career prior to her debut in Coronation Street. Her career was mainly radio based and was a regular member of the BBC’s Children’s Hour from 1928 alongside Wilfred Pickles and Trevor Hill. Corrie’s creator, Tony Warren, appeared on Children’s Hour and that’s how Carson got the role of Ena many years later. She made her television debut in 1957 in A Job for the Boy and appeared in various programmes between 1958 and 1960.

In 1960, Violet was cast in the role of 61 year old battleaxe Ena Sharples in new serial Coronation Street – a role she would play for twenty years. Debuting in the first episode, Ena made her mark as the nosy, gossipy and moralising battleaxe of Coronation Street. Her feud with street siren Elsie Tanner dominated her early storylines, with them having slanging matches in the street and catty remarks. When not clashing with Elsie, Ena was to be found drinking milk stout and gossiping with fellow cronies Martha Longhurst and Minnie Caldwell in the Rovers snug. A staunch Christian, Ena worked as the caretaker of the Mission Hall on the street until its demolition in 1968 and then the Community Centre between 1971 and 1973 and then from 1975 until 1980.

Known for her trademark image of wearing a hairnet and a double-breasted raincoat, Ena would also clash with Annie Walker and Leonard Swindley over various matters. Having lost husband Alfred since the 1930s and driven her children away, Ena, although she didn’t admit it, was devoted to her friends. She was fiercely defendant of best friend Minnie and helped her out when she had money problems. Violet Carson’s experience of being an accompanist came out when playing Ena, who could also play the piano and would lead sing-alongs in the Rovers and taught young Tony Parsons to play the harmonium.

Playing Ena made Violet Carson a household name in Britain and abroad. She toured Australia in 1968 to visit loyal fans and was awarded an OBE in 1965. She did however admit that playing Ena had become a burden and that Ena would take over but Violet stayed loyal for twenty years. During the 1970s, Violet was plagued by ill health and suffered strokes and heart attacks. From 1974 onwards, she would only make sporadic appearances in Coronation Street. During her absences, Ena was said to be in Lytham St. Anne’s with old friend Henry Foster or visiting family in Hartlepool. Due to her frailty and affected speech, Violet Carson would only appear in few scenes and, although there were still signs of the old battleaxe still there, Ena as a character mellowed and became a grandmother figure to the residents of the street. When Minnie left for Whaley Bridge in 1976, Ena socialised and reminisced with old friend Albert Tatlock and her frosty relationship with Elsie thawed as they both grew older with Elsie even offering Ena a bed when the Community Centre was being refurbished. In 1980, Ena became fed up of the Centre still being renovated and left for St. Anne’s once more. Both the producers and indeed Violet Carson herself believed Ena would return, but sadly didn’t. Carson fell ill and all return storylines for Ena were scrapped. For twenty years, Carson appeared in 1150 episodes and at the time of her departure, was one of five members of the original cast still in the programme.

Three years after her final Corrie appearance, Violet Carson died aged 85 after failing to recover after an operation for an abscess. She had been living in Blackpool for many years and that is where she died. Ena wasn’t officially killed off, but died prior to 1989.

Violet Carson married George Pepworth in 1926 but became a widow in 1929. She never remarried and thus was a widow for 54 years.
   
Did you ever see or meet Violet Carson? Do you have any pieces of trivia about her? Any memories of her on Children's Hour?

Research from Wikipedia, Corriepedia and IMDB.

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Last chance to enter to WIN 'Keep Calm and Put Corrie On' t-shirt

Competition ends today, Monday 25 June at 6pm

Wahey! We're offering Coronation Street Blog readers another fantastic chance to win one of these wonderful t-shirts that read 'Keep Calm and Put Corrie On'.  How brilliant is that?

Overseas fans can enter this competition.

Entries from moneysavingsforum, Loquax and all other competition entries website will not be included.

To be in with a chance to win this wonderful t-shirt, all you have to do is answer the following three questions correctly.

Q1: How much these t-shirts retail for at the Click My Clobber website. You'll have to hunt around the site to find the t-shirt!
Q2: On the Click my Clobber website, how much is delivery in the UK?
Q3: Here on the Coronation Street Blog, what day of the week do our Steve McDonald gurns regularly appear?

Email the three right answers to me by the deadline of Monday 25th June 2012 at 6pm.  With your entry, please tell us what size and colour t-shirt you would like if you win, as follows:

Ladie's t-shirts: colours are red, black, white, sky blue, charcoal, kelly green, sunflower yellow, royal blue, pink, fuchsia and deep navy And the sizes are: XS (about 6-8), S (8-10), M (10-12), L (12-14) and XL (16)

Men’s t-shirts: colours are black, white, red, sunflower yellow, kelly green, olive green, purple, grey, royal blue, sky blue and navy. And the men’s sizes available are: S, M, L, XL, and XXL.

The winner will be drawn at random. Good luck!
 
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Sneak preview of tonight's double Corrie - Monday 25 June

Coronation Street, Monday 25th June at 7.30pm

Corrie schedule for this week
 
NICK BARES HIS SOUL TO LEANNE AND DEVASTATES EVA. Leanne's in turmoil, she may now officially be caring for Simon but she's still hurt as she watches Peter and Carla together. When Leanne then admits to Eva that she's not the person to speak to Nick about their relationship, Eva decides it's time she told Nick how she really feels herself. Baring her soul she begs Nick for another chance but Nick insists it's over. Crushed Eva suspects there's someone else. Nick's forced to admit there is but won't say who. However when Audrey advises Nick to tell the girl how he feels he goes over to the bar and explains to Leanne that he's still madly in love with her, always has been and always with her. How will Leanne react?
EVA’S SUSPICIONS GROW. Eva’s got her eye firmly on Sunita, convinced something has gone on between her and Karl but without the evidence to prove it. When Stella heads out, leaving Eva in charge of the pub, Sunita's face falls. Is Eva onto her?
SEAN’S SUSPICIOUS ABOUT MARCUS’ WORKMATE. Sean's put out by the amount of time Marcus is spending with new colleague Aiden. To appease Sean, Marcus offers to take him out for dinner, just the two of them. But when he arrives back from work to find Aiden with Marcus how will Sean react?
Elsewhere Mary railroads Norris into taking her ballroom dancing.

Monday 25th June at 8.30pm
LEANNE COMES TO A DECISION ABOUT NICK. As a stunned Eva asks Nick and Leanne what's going on Leanne tires to explain nothing has been going on but Eva slaps her, convinced she's been playing her for a fool. Leanne denies this but as Nick states that Leanne is the love of his life Eva is cut to the quick. Seeing how upset she is Leanne orders Nick out, has he blown it?
AIDEN FRACTURES SEAN AND MARCUS’ RELATIONSHIP. With Aiden upset after a family row about his coming out Marcus refuses to leave him. But as Aiden then crashes their meal Sean struggles to hide his discontent. When he suggests Aiden's not welcome how will Marcus react?
EVA MAKES SUNITA’S LIFE HELL. As Eva makes Sunita clean the toilets she seethes. Witnessing the tension, and worried Eva may be about to expose his affair with Sunita, Karl assures Eva of his loyalty to Stella. Thinking he's put an end to the sniping Karl heads upstairs but Eva isn't prepared to lay off Sunita just yet, she wants her out!
Elsewhere Hayley takes Norris and Mary along to one of her salsa classes.

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Sunday 24 June 2012

New Zealand Corrie fan wanted by Coronation Street Blog

Are you in New Zealand and a huge Corrie fan who knows how to use either Blogger or Wordpress? Then please get in touch with me at glenda.young@btinternet.com

We're looking for a Corrie fan in New Zealand to run our Coronation Street Blog in blogger and twitter in New Zealand timeline.

We already have our blogger Tvor who runs the blog for us in Canadian timeline.

If you're *seriously* interested and can send an example of a blog you're already running, please email me and we'll talk!  Kia-ora!

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Soap fans vote Coronation Street most realistic

It's Inside Soap magazine's 20th birthday this week and they recently commissioned a survey asking soap fans what they think of their favourite shows.

The results came in as follows, with most soap fans saying they want to see more humour, rather than grim storylines, in their favourite shows. Can't argue with that!

Four-fifths of viewers believe there should be more funny moments in the plots of the series, according to the poll.

More than a third - 36% - said they wanted to see fewer stories about affairs in TV soaps, and 30% said they would prefer to see less emphasis on "murder and mayhem" in the shows - although a quarter said they actually wanted to see more.

Just over two-fifths (42%) said the shows rarely or never reflected their own lives, and just 18% said a portrayal of a real-life issue in a soap had actually helped them.

Soap fans said Coronation Street was the soap which most accurately reflected reality, chosen by 40% of the sample of 1,000 people. EastEnders was second, chosen by 30%, while Emmerdale came third on 19%.
Emmerdale was chosen as the fictional location where viewers would most like to live, with Walford's Albert Square runner-up.

Inside Soap magazine editor Steven Murphy said: "It's interesting to see how Britons continue to love soaps and their family values, as well as the escapism it provides them with."

Read our exclusive interview with Inside Soap editor Steven Murphy.

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Should Corrie feature the Olympics?

Corrie's been "blasted" today in The Sun for not including the Olympics in its upcoming storylines. I say "Good on them!". Coronation Street's about the north, not that London.  I can't see many of the characters being able to afford and/or wanting to travel down to London to watch sports when they can sit in the Rovers Return with a hot pot and a half of stout and then go home and watch th'Olympics on telly if they want to.

The Sun quotes a Corrie source saying:  "Any references to the Olympics will be in passing and relevant to how it affects our residents, so not overt or heavy at all. It's different for 'EastEnders' as it's on their doorstep."


Quite right too.


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New Facebook group for Corrie fans in America

Coronation Street fans in America can now get together on Facebook to discuss goings on in Weatherfield.

Check out the new American Corrie Fans group on Facebook here. 

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Corrie weekly awards: June 18 - 22

 Crosby Stills and Nash award: Gold Star: If Eva couldn't be with the one she loved... but she couldn't love the one she was with either and he knew it.
Hollow Victory star: Dev might have "won" but it's only because Sunita was rejected by Karl and Eva has it all figured out.

Deaf as a post award: How come Neither Tracy, Beth or Craig heard the estate agent knocking that sign up onto the bricks?

Undermining award: Karl is most definitely pouring poison into both Stella and Eva's ear. He's got Eva on side and she'll push her mother to get Sunita out. Stella pouring poison in Leanne's ear about Peter spending time with Simon.


Soap Cliche award: Scupper the house viewing with a messy, smelly house and bad behaviour.

Over compensating award: She can barely stand to be in the same room as Dev. So she goes back to him because Karl has rejected her and asks Dev to marry her!


Guilt Trip award: Peter thinks giving Simon to Leanne is the same as Ken sending him away to Glasgow after his mother died.

Overcompensation award: Having a baby with Carla isn't going to replace the Simon shaped hole in Peter's heart.

Beatification award: Maybe the Powers that Be are reading the blogs. St. Ella actually referred to herself, sarcastically, as Saint Stella! She must be a saint, though, she took him back.

Lines of the Week:
Karl "You're mother's a sucker for a sob story" Eva "Sunita gives damn good sob"
Stella about Dev "He'll cherish you to death." (for about 5 minutes)
Stella "I wanted to change the world. I wanted to change you. Now I just want to change the locks!"
Leanne "Addiction I can cope with, I'm not keeping the bed warm for another woman."
Stella "You know me. 'Saint Stella'" (Wait a minute...)

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Saturday 23 June 2012

Dribblesome Dev

It's been a funny old Corrie week then for viewers in the UK. In what appeared to be a nostalgic nod to the 1970s, the show appeared on Monday and Wednesday only. What next? Power cuts? David Cassidy back in the charts?

For me, star of the week was our very own Wooden Spoon, Eva. I am obviously going to have to adjust my opinion of this character who emerged from food-stomping, handbag-toting sourpuss, to joyous megabitch. Whoever fed her those scenes earlier this week deserves an OBE. Or at the very least a meal voucher for the Bistro. Eva is obviously destined to be a shiny, funny mistress of the strop. How wonderful it was to see her round on the hapless (and indeed hopless) Sunita, the latter of whom had just sold her soul to the Dev(il).

Dev. Dear old Dribblesome Dev. There he sat, in a sea of snot and tears, mumbling and then BELLOWING as only he can. Within minutes though, he was resplendent in some dodgy John Travolta-esque shirt, booming at the Rovers regulars about his forthcoming nuptials. Round we go again. Still, at least it puts an end to the grotesque bonk-a-thons between Britain's Best Bosoms and Karl, a character who seems to be inheriting the vocal style of the late Sir Jimmy Saville.

Beth, that hybrid of Janice Battersby and Cilla Battersby, continues to go from strength to strength and, for this viewer, is more watchable than either of the other two.

The end is nigh, apparently for, Sean and Marcus. Hurrah! Maybe there will be a chance for Marcus to breathe a little and perhaps develop away from the claustrophobic Grimshaw Towers. Charlie Condou is one of the show's better actors and Marcus would make an ideal mate for the resurgent Eva. Let them shine!

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Friday 22 June 2012

Coronation Street Tours - the correct information

If you're coming to Manchester and would like to know what fan sights you can see - and what's closed to the public - check out our Coronation Street Blog post right here. It's all there, all correct, all bang up to date. 

This blog post has been put together by yours truly along with suggestions sent in by other Corrie fans. If you read this elsewhere on the internet, it means they've nicked it from us - shame on them!  If you can add to this list, do please let me know.

Visit the exterior of the Granada TV  Building on Quay Street. On the entrance, up the steps leading into the building are blue plaques dedicated to some of the Corrie classic actors.  Well worth a look.

Corrie walking tours around Manchester are operated by the following:
New Manchester Walks
Visit Manchester 

Also check Mark Llewllin's blog for any upcoming Corrie locations tours by coach - his tours are fab! The next coach tour is on Friday July 27 and run by Elite Coaches. Check out details here.

Places to visit in central Manchester:

The Old Grapes pub owned by Liz Dawn (Vera Duckworth) on Little Quay St.
The Lass O'Gowrie pub in Charles Street.  The Lass is a very Corrie-friendly pub with Corrie artwork on the walls and some of their real-ales named after Corrie characters. Well worth a visit. Their website is here.


Further out from Manchester:
The Navigation Inn, once owned by Pat Phoenix (Elsie Tanner)
The Lantern Pike Inn, where Tony Warren wrote his first Corrie scripts
Doris Speed's house, commemorated by Manchester City Council with a plaque

If you can add to this list of places for Corrie fans to visit when they're in Manchester or the surrounding area, do please leave a comment below, with a weblink if you can, and I'll add details in.


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GRITTY SAGAS BY CORRIE BLOG EDITOR GLENDA YOUNG, PUBLISHED BY HEADLINE. CLICK PIC BELOW!

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GRITTY SAGAS BY CORRIE BLOG EDITOR GLENDA YOUNG, PUBLISHED BY HEADLINE. CLICK PIC BELOW!