I was shocked to see that Whats on TV has a Coronation Street cover this week, and not just that but a small picture of Rita on the cover! I'm going to have to buy it this week for the Rita article
I wouldn't bother, it's really not much...
Spoiler ***
Next week Norris finds Rita slumped in a deep sleep in her flat, he thinks she's dead and announces it to everyone in the shop
***
The famous red This Is Your Life book given to Coronation Street actress Pat Phoenix has been donated to a charity shop in Greater Manchester.
The actress, who played glamorous Elsie Tanner on the ITV soap in the 1960s, appeared on the programme in 1972.
The book contains photographs of the star alongside her famous friends and Coronation Street colleagues.
It was given to the Springhill Hospice charity shop in Rochdale anonymously and will be auctioned next month.
Phoenix died of lung cancer in 1986 aged 62, shortly after marrying the actor Tony Booth, father of Prime Minister's wife Cherie Blair.
She was handed the red book when she appeared on This Is Your Life by presenter Eamonn Andrews.
The programme documented the lives of celebrities, and the mementoes would be kept in a large red book which would be handed to the star at the end of each show.
A spokeswoman for the shop said: "We don't know why the person decided to give us the book but it was a wonderful gesture.
"We hope it raises plenty of money for the hospice, as it is a real one-off treasure for Coronation Street fans."
From the Sunday Mirror:
BUST-UP ON SET FOR CORRIE
By David Hudson
CORRIE stars Craig Charles and Bruce Jones nearly slugged it out toe-to-toe in an amazing off-camera slanging match.
The raging pair had to be separated by a crew member at Granada studios before Charles was sent away to cool off.
Trouble flared last week when Jones, who plays Les Battersby, accused Charles - womanising cabbie Lloyd Mullaneya - of being hungover as he struggled with his lines during a shoot. They went for each other and turned the air blue, but they did not come to blows."
A studio source said: "Bruce accused Craig of being unprofessional and they had to be separated."
A spokeswoman said Charles, 41, complained of food poisoning and was sent to his hotel to recover. He is said to have phoned previously crying off because of personal problems.
------------------------------
Sounds like its as action packed off screen as it is on screen.
Im looking forward to tonights episode. Cant wait to see Rita "dead!"
That was brilliant tonight from start to end. Norris finding Rita "dead" was hilarious. And we got to see her flat for the first time in years.
Gail is also fab when she gets angry and I loved that argument between her and Eileen in the Rovers. Blanche and Vera sitting there watching everything was good as well.
That was brilliant tonight from start to end. Norris finding Rita "dead" was hilarious. And we got to see her flat for the first time in years.
Gail is also fab when she gets angry and I loved that argument between her and Eileen in the Rovers. Blanche and Vera sitting there watching everything was good as well.
10/10 for tonights
It was an excellent show tonight, some fantastic lines - Blanche saying it was no wonder Norris couldn't feel Rita's pulse "under all that make-up!"; and Gail's comment linking Eileen's feet to "the state of her net curtains", it had me roaring with laughter!
It's a shame they don't have the writer's name at the end too, as I missed the first couple of minutes last night, and was wondering who was responsible for what was a rather good episode. My guess was actually Jonathan Harvey as the camp factor normally increases when he's writing!
The line about Eileen's feet and her net curtains has to be a Corrie all-time classic!
Both of tonights episodes were very good. I think Zak adds something different to the never ending Shelly and Charlie saga.
Yes, I agree. I found myself a lot more interested in the storyline last night. Let's hope the improvement we've seen in the last few episodes means the summer lull is over.
***