Coronation Street

Or rather, you can't fault the computer that sends out the stock automated reply in response to your e-mail!

I find it insulting that you say I have low standards just because im enjoying Corrie at the moment and you are not. What would you like me to do? Say im not enjoying it when I am? I always give an honest opinion, and even as a dedicated fan of the show I will slag it off when I think its poor.

I think Steve Frost is doing an excellent job as producer as there have been so many excellent storylines in Corrie over the past year (the last 6-9 months especially). Plus the mix of drama with comedy has been the right balance under Steve Frost. Storylines like Charlie cheating on Tracy which resulted in the excellent double episode with Charlie's murder, the two hander with Tracy/Deirdre, Tracy's trial and exit. Danny's exit and all the stuff at the factory has been good, as was Jason/Holly/Eileen. Im also loving the current storyline with Claire and Ashley and all the stuff that came before it with the postnatal depression storyline, the fire and its aftermath was good (people complained about the rewriting of the storyline at such short notice but Corrie pulled it off), and all the stuff with the Connors has been brilliant since they arrived - im only sorry that Paul left so soon - Michelle discovering the truth about Dean's death was rather rushed and I feel that had Paul not quit then it would have played out for longer but Sean Gallagher quit so it couldnt be helped, and again Corrie pulled off a great exit for Paul.

Steve Frost got rid of a lot of the dead wood characters and introduced some great characters like the Connors as I mentioned. The Mortons im not that keen on but they actually arent *that* bad. I dont like Jodie, the youngest daughter or the grandfather but the others are ok.

As for cast being underused - I agree Violet has been underused but she is getting more storylines now. Barbara Knox did over 100 episodes last year so was far from underused compaired to how many eps she did in 2004 and 2005- not sure how much she has done this year so far. Eileen Derbyshire has always been quite underused (same as Betty Driver) - perhaps they dont want to do many episodes - they are all over 70, and Betty is 87. And Emily had the storyline with Ernie's killer coming back not so long ago.

Roy/Hayley/Tracy/Steve/Karen - well if that wasnt an over hyped sensational storyline then I dont know what was. The storyline was good but went on for far too long - from Mid 2003 right up until Karen left at Christmas 2004. Wasnt keen on Todd/Sarah storyline either sorry.

You only ever slag it off in hindsight. It's always good to you, unless you're talking about past years.


The double episode of Charlie's murder was average. It was better than the two other 'big' episodes - Mike and Fred's deaths - but still nothing at all of the gravitas of the Hillman episodes where he murdered Maxine.

The two hander was Tracy/Deirdre was good but again not a patch on the Gail/Richard confession one.

And the trial was quite well done, bringing up past events, but we all knew she'd be found guilty. It would have been sensational if they'd gone with the supposed other ending of her being freed.


Danny's exit was good but the whole Frankie/Jamie thing was ridiculous, especially if you watch older episodes of the family, the 'love' sprang from nowhere and seemed forced and contrived. Debra Stevenson isn't even that great an actress. I know you love Danny beyond belief, so I won't slag him off. To be fair he is very good, and his exit was well done.


Oh, it wasn't that great at all! It was okay, but it was far too quick a storyline and too predictable. It would have been an interesting way to develop Jason but no, the mother had to come back and claim her kid.


Well, that storyline COULD have been brilliant, but due to the rewriting it has been pretty crap in parts. Some of the bits in the hospital were so bad it was embarrassing - neither Claire or Ashley acted in character at all, or realistically.


Like I say, the Connors are good. However, Paul's death was quite rubbish to be honest, it had the potential to be brilliant but didn't quite reach the mark. Carla is brilliant though. Liam is quite good, but seems to be average at times (sorry, Jez, I know you absolutely adore him) and Michelle is pretty good, though her relationship with Steve is quite annoying.


He didn't get rid of enough. Why are the likes of Kelly still here?


So you dislike most of the family, oddly leaving out Darryl who is just hateful, yet they aren't *that* bad? Surely you can concede they are one of the most annoying families ever? Even the Harris family were better. Compare them to underused families like the Websters and realise how pants they are.


What, the stupid 'can't think of what to do with Violet, so let's have her go all broody' storyline? That's no way to give her something to do. Pregnancy storylines are notoriously boring.


You're right about Ernie's killer. That wasn't bad actually. Barbara Knox may have done over 100 eps but they were still probably mostly 3 minutes or so in the Kabin with Norris. Her plot with that wrinkly bint was boring to say the least.


It was a long running storyline but by no means dragged out. So many twists and wonderfully connected. From the date rape, to the pregnancy, to the wedding crashing, the christening crashing, and how it affected Roy/Hayley, and Steve/Karen, with Tracy revelling in it all, it was classic. Karen losing 'baby Leo' was just heartbreaking, and the Christmas storyline in which Karen left after going a bit crazy was superb IMO.

Can you really take the last year or so - which has been better than 2005, for example - and say it's Corrie at its best when comparing it to classic years like 2003/2004?

In the words of Homer

DOH!

I bet we all got a reply with a space missing between 'be' and 'available'

You are wrong there. I have slagged Corrie off straight after ive seen episodes in the past - the Battersby-Brown wedding is one instance that springs to mind, that episode was really appalling. There have been other occasions too. So no I dont always say Corrie is good - as I said in my previous post im always honest with my opinions.



Thats your opinion. I preferred Charlie's murder double to any of the Hillman episodes to be honest.



Opinion.

I preferred Tracy/Deirdre to Gail/Richard.



I thought people didnt want sensational storylines though? And its people choice whether they read spoilers or not before the episode airs.



I agree the Jamie/Frankie stuff wasnt good as they had a mother/son relationship, but thankfully it didnt last long thanks to Debra quitting. I also agree that Debra Stevenson isnt a good actress - Bradley Walsh acted her off the screen in most of their scenes together, and even Rupert Hill did when he isnt that great himself (IMO)



I was disappointed that it turned out Charlie was the father of Baby Holly, but the storyline was still good and very enjoyable. Sue Cleaver put in a good performance.



They did a wonderful job rewriting so many scenes at such short notice, when they already have such a huge work load. In what way didnt Claire and Ashley act in character? Julia Haworth has been fantastic in this storyline and the previous postnatal depression storyline - she should win Best Actress awards next year IMO.



In what way didnt Paul's death "reach the mark?" It was excellent.

The "will they wont they" stuff with Steve and Michelle was a bit boring but now they are together its better.

Yes you are quite correct, I adore Liam



Well he got rid of most of the annoying ones - Keith, Nathan, Diggory to name but a few. Kelly isnt one of my fave's, id have preferred it if they had kept Joanne instead.



Well if 3 out of 7 of them is most of the family then yes. The twins, the youngest kid and Jerry I dont mind. Compaired to the Websters of course they are "pants" as you put it but thats not really a fair comparision to ask me to make when Sally is one of my favourite characters. Compaired to the Battersby-Browns I would say they are no worse than them.



This isnt a normal pregnancy storyline though is it. She has been told that time is not on her side if she wants to have a child - thats the storyline. At least its more interesting than the usual "who's the father" storylines soaps do.



Apparenrly Barb has done 38 eps so far this year. About half way through the year thats not bad. Maybe she doesnt want to do too many scenes/episodes.



It was my least favourite Christmas episode this decade because of the way it was so hyped. They were clearly trying to compete with Eastenders by making it all doom and gloom - Karen loses her baby, Karen kidnaps and possibly kills Amy etc. I prefer a lighter episode on Christmas Day. Thats why Christmas Day 2005 and particularly Christmas Day 2006 episodes were better IMO.



Yes.

You are of course entitled to your opinion Jez and nobody can say that you're not a true Corrie fan - but I personally find it astonishing that anybody could say this past year has been superior in quality compared to 2003/2004.

2003 before and after Richard Hillman's death was good as we had Peter/Lucy/Shelly which I really enjoyed and the Roy/Hayley/Tracy/Steve Karen, which whilst good did drag on for far too long (to the end of 2004). I bet if Karen hadnt left whe she did that storyline would have dragged on well into 2005.

2004 was a good year - im not denying that - Cilla/Reet was fantastic and I was so happy they gave Barbara a decent storyline. I also really enjoyed the stuff with Sally turning into a snob although im glad that Sally is now more like she was before. Todd/Sarah as ive said I wasnt keen on but it had its good moments such as Gail/Eileen fighting in the street, and everyone ending up supporting Todd in the Rovers and telling Les to shut up - but overall I wasnt keen on that particular storyline.

Mad Maya was brilliant - despite there being 8 episodes in one week which frankly were not needed. Id say Mad Maya is one storylines ive enjoyed as much as the ones over the past 12 months.

Even 2005 had its good moments - I did like Ray Langton coming back, plus the start of Danny/Leanne. But overall 2005 was quite a poor year.

So yes whilst I did enjoy most of the stuff during 2003-2004, and less during 2005, I still prefer 2006/7.

Personally I find it astonishing that people think Corrie is currently going through a "rough patch" however we are all entitled to our opinion so fair enough.

if they kept trying to 'top' the last big storyline it would get too much Like Brookside

and we know what happened there don't we

can't let that happen to corry otherwise in 20 year's time there'll be no programme and a kwik save on the site

Strangely my reply did have a space there, although mine was sent by 'DUTY OFFICER - PR'. Otherwise it was the same though.

Well while I attempt to hide my utter astonishment I will say I am very happy for you that you have come to enjoy the show and feel it is at its best in its current state.

Teletext is reporting that sacked Corrie star Bruce Jones is to write a no holds barred book about his time on the show.

If its anything like Lynne Perrie's book it should be worth a read!

And poor you Jez, your hero Steve Frost is stepping down apparently. LOL. New boss will be Phil Collinson of Doctor Who. Reports of a 'mass cull' are now rife and are rumoured to include Norris, Dev, Emily and Jack and Vera. Reg may return.


EDIT: Story in full