Coronation Street

Why has the 'Newton & Ridley' branding been taken off the Rovers?

That's not a current picture of the Street.

In 1995 - when Jack and Vera bought the Rovers - it became a free house. The "Newton & Ridley" text was accordingly pulled off the sign. The blue board you see next to the upstairs window replaced a green board that had the "Newton & Ridley, Best Bitter" logo on it. (The sign on the blue board says "Rovers Return Inn, Free House".)

In about 2006 or thereabouts, the "Newton & Ridley" text was restored to the Rovers sign - I'm not quite sure why - and a newer version of the old green board was placed, rather strangely, at the side of the building. I believe it was around that same time that they began to replace some of the old tiles that had fallen off in the Rovers doorway, and they repainted the dirty lower bits of the bay windows (I don't know what you call them!)

EDIT: here's a slightly more updated (and wintery) pic of the set, illustrating the changes made to the Rovers that I was talking about:

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/01/11/article-0-07C469B8000005DC-672_468x286.jpg
(source: Daily Mail)

Here's the latest promo image
http://images.mirror.co.uk/upl/m4/jul2010/1/4/image-2-for-corrie-tour-comp-gallery-114459954.jpg

I think it got the Newton and Ridley branding back when Liz and Steve took over

Also, the entrance got a bit of a sprucing up too

Old board
http://www.rexfeatures.com/images/thumb/679796ok.jpg

New board
http://www.rexfeatures.com/images/thumb/1004452c.jpg

I doubt characters such as Ken, Emily and Rita would be killed off in such a tragedy unless any of them announced they wished to leave the show. The most likely death will be Molly - we're pretty certain she'll be killed off and it makes sense to tie it in with this. Other than that though, I doubt it will be a significant character who has been in the show a long time that would be killed off.

Roy, Hayley, Molly, Molly's aunt and Dev please!!!

Maybe Jack will be another to go?

Why not got the WHOLE HOG?

make the tram crash at high speed... it breaks a main gas pipe and that cause a Hugh explosion, killing everyone and destroying the street. and the show becomes Hevanation street ...

Trevor the binman may be another, although I doubt anyone would ever go out with Carla after that.

I hope Molly's Auntie Pam doesn't go. I like her.

I don't believe it will be a big clear out - to me all the oldies, the McDonalds, the Platts and the Barlows are untouchable.

We definitley know Trev the Bin Man, Molly & The Peacocks are leaving. That would probably be sufficient for the tram disaster.

For me, they could add Kirk as well if they like.

Im hoping the binman will be gone before Dec - sorry I just cant take to him. I think Ashley will definately be killed off, not sure about Molly - ive read somewhere she is being killed off but it could be before the tram crash????? Im sure one of the soap mags said complications in child birth but that could just be guess work.

Weren't we told she would be killed at Christmas?

Not sure - ive lost track lol!