Coronation Street

CORONATION STREET'S GREATEST EXITS - Sunday 7 September 2003 at 7:00pm


As long suffering Curly Watts prepares to leave the street for his new life in Newcastle with wife Emma, Coronation Street’s Greatest Exits takes a trip down memory lane to see how some of the nation’s best loved soap characters have made their dramatic exits.

The most recent memorable exit was perhaps the soap’s most dramatic ever. Richard Hillman, played by Brian Capron, had the whole nation on the edge of their sofas as the twists and turns of his evil deeds against Douggie, his ex-wife, Audrey, Emily and Maxine unfolded. But the dark destroyer finally got his comeuppance when his plans to take Gail and the kids with him to the next life resulted in just his drowning. For actor Brian Capron, the role was a huge challenge, with his spectacular exit making him one of the most hated characters in Britain at the time: ‘I was even attacked in Scotland,’ he says.

There are the spectacular exits of characters like Hillman, Jez Quigley and Alan Bradley – who was memorably mown down by a Blackpool tram in 1989 – and then there are the tearjerkers… When it was time for actress Amanda Barrie to leave the street, the soap’s producers developed one of the saddest exit storylines of recent years. Tackling the difficult issue of terminal cancer, Alma was diagnosed as having inoperable cancer in a moving scene with Audrey, played by actress Sue Nicholls.

And who could forget the sad farewell of the Street’s most loved character, Hilda Ogden. Actress Jean Alexander had created an icon, but after 23 years in the soap it was time to rest Hilda’s curlers. As Hilda left the Street to take up a job with Dr Lowther, the nation went in to mourning. Jean recalls the letters she received – with thousands of signatures begging her not to leave.

Coronation Street’s Greatest Exits exposes some theories as to why so many of the strong women leave the Street in that black cab … the high heels they wear make it difficult to walk on the cobbles. From Bet Lynch and Liz McDonald to Elsie Tanner, that black cab has transported viewers’ favourite characters to catch trains and planes, and allowed their passengers a poignant look back on the Street as they turn the corner forever…

Coronation Street’s Greatest Exits features interviews with Coronation Street producer Keiron Roberts, executive producer Carolyn Reynolds, soap expert Tina Baker, and the following current and former cast members: Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts); Brian Capron (Richard Hillman); Mark Eden (Alan Bradley); Lee Boardman (Jez Quigley); Chloe Newsome (Vicky McDonald); Amanda Barrie (Alma Baldwin), Jean Alexander (Hilda Ogden); Sally Whittaker (Sally Webster); Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow), and Bruce Jones (Les Battersby).

Bit of a ridiculous cliffhanger into the 8.30pm episode tonight. We all know Curly is going, so why this pointless attempt at a will he or won't he cliffhanger ?

I dont really like Curly that much so was glad to see the back of him and Emma so I wasnt really interested in that cliffhanger either but I suppose it was good for those people who dont read the spoilers in mags/ on the web. Its a shame they didnt take Mick and that Maria cow with them - those two are really annoying me.


And Gail how could you - telling porkies to that social worker. I am shocked

Im suprised Gail didnt go mad at Sarah tonight though - I expected Gail force 8 at least

And, if it was a clear stary night, where did all the rain come from when Curly and Emma were driving off?

I for one am glad Corrie is acknowledging gay people exist

..as they are the only soap not to have covered this I believe.