Coronation Street

http://www.itv.com/uploads/images/1171474425299_0.3880649235039231.jpg

Brassy Jodie Morton has ruffled a few feathers since she arrived in Weatherfield in the New Year, and there's plenty more confrontation to come when she is joined by the rest of her family next month.

Jodie, played by Samantha Seager, is delighted to be reunited with her dad Jerry and her three siblings – to whom she is very much a mother figure.

Forty-something Jerry, played by Michael Starke, has been a single dad for many years since his wife left him and is moving to Weatherfield to set up a fast food joint in the Diggory's old bakery.

Jerry wastes no time in using his charm on Gail and Claire but underneath he loves nothing more than his children.

Darryl and Mel, nearly 18, are twins on the surface, but their personalities couldn't be further apart.

Darryl, played by Jonathan Dixon, becomes the neighbour from hell when the family move into Charlie's old house, believing life is for living not working.

Meanwhile, Mel, played by Emma Edmondson, is already busy planning a successful future away from the fast food industry. But that doesn't mean she doesn't know how to enjoy herself in the meantime!

At 12 years old, Keyleigh is the youngest Morton, but even she is street smart and head strong. Played by Jessica Barden, Kayleigh desperately misses her younger half-brother Finlay who still lives with their mum.

But with her beloved granddad in tow, she quickly adapts to life on the Street.

more pictures of the family

Not sure what to make of them, will have to wait till they're on screen.

So it's Saddam Hussain to blame for the shortened credits then. I guess when they did return, they probably took the opportunity to cut them down - certainly fits in with the time frame people have been talking about.

"Here we go again. The front page of today’s Daily Star carries the headline CORRIE GAY SNOG STORM. The full story, on page seven, doubles up with CORRIE IN NEW GAY KISS SHOCKER. What’s got their knickers in a twist is the developing storyline which sees Sean Tully (Antony Cotton) lock lips with his ex, Sonny Dhillon (Pal Aron) — even though Sonny is going out with barmaid Michelle, played by Kym Ryder.

This rekindling of an an old romance is clearly too much for the tabloid to deal with. For the second day in a row, rent-a-quote John Beyer of Mediawatch UK is called upon for some colour. Disappointingly, though, his contribution is a bit dull today:

TV is bound by the broadcasting code and will have to make sure they comply with those regulations.

Well, duh. And your point is, exactly?

Clearly not satisfied with such an anodyne soundbite, the Star calls upon self-styled ‘family values compaigner’, Adrian Rogers:

People are too afraid to say what they really think these days but I believe a substantial amount of viewers will find this scene uncomfortable and quite shocking.

There is no shortage of competition these days for shows to attract as much attention as possible for the worst reasons.

At the end of the day shock is never a long-term substitute for quality.

You’ve got to love how these “family values” groups stay silent when, for example, we have a woman who fabricates evidence of an abusive relationship so she can claim that murdering him was actually an act of self-defence. Or a son who torments his mother with cards supposedly written by his deceased, serial-killing stepfather. Or a man who has an affair with his stepmother (and former babysitter) under his father’s nose. Yes, those are fine family values. But two men showing attraction for one another? Bring out the flaming torches!

The Star’s editorial, on the opposite page, is thunderous.

Now this is the 21st Century. Gays can get married and the days of victimisation are rightfully behind us.

But do we REALLY want to watch two men, or two women, or indeed ANYONE getting steamy at 7.30pm?

Well, Daily Star, Corrie has often been far steamier with straight relationships. And guess which paper has been enthusiastic about such scenes?

If only the days of “victimisation” really were behind us…

The Star has form for this, of course. In 2004 when Todd Langley and Christopher Finch, as Bruno and Karl, shared a kiss while on a night out on Canal Street, the paper similarly blazed with indignation. CORRIE IN GAY SEX SHAME, the front page cried out. The fact that there was (a) nothing shameful about it and (b) only a mad fool who really needs to get out more could confuse a quick snog for “sex” just made their case seem even weaker than it already was.

I covered the 2004 incident for a (now sadly defunct) blog that covered gay issues. What was interesting at the time was that, in the same week that Coronation Street (a soap with many gay fans, created by a gay writer) featured a rather sweet coming out story, the Star’s owner, Richard Desmond, launched a pay-TV soft porn channel for men called Gay TV, to site alongside his multiple straight porn channels. I wonder what family values campaigner Adrian Rogers thinks of those?"

I find it comforting to think that those who buy the Daily Star are generally only capable of looking at the pictures, and find the words too challenging.

Press releases announcing new characters should always be taken with a pinch of salt. They almost always announce new females as being 'brassy' or 'fiery' and that they are to have affairs with half the street. Half the time it never happens

This bit "Brassy Jodie Morton has ruffled a few feathers since she arrived in Weatherfield in the New Year" is good. All she has done so far is hassle Jason Grimshaw!

"Forty-something Jerry" ?

Mickey Starke is easily in his early 60s I'd say.

there's a few people getting character and actor names confused today





Tracey Ford and Todd Langley?, don't think I've seen those two

Yes I believe the Corrie omnibus does use a slightly longer version of the theme than the individual episodes as they have to fit in more actors/crew members on the credits as its five episodes.

Stan and Hilda were the main ones for calling each other "chuck" - its a shame we dont hear it anymore.

Enjoy the 1980s box set, Spencer - all those Reet and Alan Bradley episodes are Corrie Gold!

Not sure what to make of them either. So far im not keen on Jodie and her Granddad.

I like the Connor family though - especially Carla.

He's 49.

I don't like Carla and this stupid 'dungerees' storyline that seems to be all she ever talks about

It makes the factory set up even more unrealistic than it is anyway!

All the rest of the Connors are ok though

I am one of the few who actually likes the Connors as well.