Coronation Street

Last night was an example of Corrie at its best, mixing drama and humour brilliantly. My favourite moment was when Shelley told the old woman how it was her who'd done the jilting, not him. "Good for you!" Nice.

So what happens now? I've not heard anything in the papers about Bill Ward leaving, although surely he can't stay after something like this. I'd also like to see Zak somehow become a full-time character. It's a reflection of Ralf Ineson's skill as an actor that he can be so likeable as Zak, yet so utterly loathesome as Finchy in The Office.

EDIT: Another thing... nice to see they've got Stelberg back on in the Rovers.

I agree, that was a great moment when Shelly told that old woman she was the one who jilted him.

I heard that Bill Ward has signed a new contract and gets together with Tracey Barlow. It could be a good storyline as Tracey to be on the receiving end for one bullying for once.

I agree about Zack, id love him to become a permanent character, however im sure I saw a wedding ring so I hope they dont write another affair into the storylines.

I went into Manchester city centre yesterday afternoon, to take a few photographs for a couple of friends who live abroad.
Now you're probably wondering what all of that has to do with Corrie. Don't worry, I'll be coming to that in a moment.

I decided to have a quick look at what used to be Granada Studios Tour. Surprisingly, the front entrance is still there:

http://djgm.co.uk/manchester/mcr-granada-tv-backlot.jpg

But, look what is now in place of what used to be the fake New York style street area . . .

http://djgm.co.uk/manchester/mcr-granada-tv-davenports-1.jpg
http://djgm.co.uk/manchester/mcr-granada-tv-davenports-2.jpg

I'd have thought that Granada would've dismantled the set of Davenports car showroom by now, unless there are
plans to bring a certain sleazy car showroom owner back into the show at some point in the not too distant future.

I agree with Jean about the length of storylines. They do sometimes go on far too long, I suppose the Charlie/Shelly storyline was a good example of that, then again, you could argue that this was needed to develop the storyline.

Nice photo's DJGM. I'll have to post mine from when I went to Manchester in August.

From BBC News;

Street bosses dismiss Hilda jibe

Coronation Street bosses have dismissed comments by one of the show's former stars that it lacks comedy, focuses on sex and has over-long storylines.

Actress Jean Alexander, 79, who played Coronation Street's Hilda Ogden for 23 years, made the comments to the Manchester Evening News.

A soap spokeswoman said 12 million people were "entertained by the drama" in the show every week.

"We don't subscribe to Jean's opinions," she said.

Hilda was recently named the UK's favourite soap star in a survey by TV Times magazine.

Alexander, 79, who left the show 18 years ago, said: "I don't like so much emphasis on sex and I also wish there was more fun in Coronation Street.

"Whereas a storyline would usually be played out within three weeks, today certain storylines seem to drag on forever," she added.

The actress will never return to the show, her agent Joan Reddin said.

"She thinks the character of Hilda Ogden moved on to bigger and better things, and it wouldn't work if she came back."

Re: Hilda's comments. How on earth can she claim there is a lack of comedy - the biggest criticism of the Street in the past few months is it's been too much of a sitcom!

As for long storylines - to give them some credibility they have to be. As I've said here numerous times before, domestic abuse goes on for months and years, not days and weeks!


Re: Davenports - I guess they'll keep the set up until they need to replace it!

Jean Alexander is a bit of a relic now I'm afraid. Her idea of comedy is two old codgers rolling down a hill in a bath on Last of the Summer Wine.

Corrie has had to move on to attract a new breed of younger fans, which it seems to have done, whilst not alienating those who've stayed with it for 40 years. On the whole, they get the mix about right.

I live near the studios. Davenports Showroom is the set that they use for all programs produced by Granada. which include a carshop. The start of the Granada Studios Tour will always remain there. It is trademark for Granada Studios.

I agree with you. I think Jean has become one of those miserable bygones like the rest of the Last of the Summer Wine cast.

Harsh but fair.

A couple of Corries Xmas storylines have been revealed by toady's 'Sun'.

As we already know Tracy and Charlie become a couple. Naturally everyone is outraged. To make things even worse She - without telling anyone else - invites him for Xmas dinner at the Barlow's.

Another Xmas plot will revolve around the progression of Rose & Craig's relationship - they have sex.

I cant believe that Tracy Barlow will dominate yet another Christmas storyline. In 2002 she made her return to the show in the Christmas Day episode, in 2003 she told Steve he was the father of her baby on Christmas Day, last year she was involved in that fight with Karen at the factory. I like Tracy as a character but cant they give someone else a chance to take the lead at Christmas.

As for Jean Alexander's comments, well I do think she has a point, the comedy years ago in Corrie was much better than recent efforts like the fish and the boxing, but I agree the show has had to move with the times. I dont like ITV's attitude to her comments, Jean worked on Corrie for 23 years and her and the likes of Pat Phoenix and Vi Carson made Corrie a classic soap.

My feeling is that Jean Alexander probably hasn't really followed the show for a long time. If memory serves she was saying something similar a few years ago (Sarah's teenage pregnancy storyline I think), and I'm not even sure it was true then.

I'm neither surprised by, nor can I disagree with the response from Granada.