Coronation Street

Ive been catching up on all the episodes of Corrie as ive been away (again!), this time to Granada Land. I made it up to the studios in Manchester for the first time since 1997, and we walked up to the gates outside where Corrie is filmed and saw the back of the corner shop and the Websters house, but couldn’t see further down the street. And we saw some of the cast from a distance coming off the set and going into the studios – I saw Fizz, Kirk (wearing that jacket he always wears) Warren, Tommy, Tracey, and someone I didn’t recognise but I understand she is a new worker at the factory yet to be seen on screen. Also Johnny Briggs came out of the studios and walked right past us. Then Tina O Brien arrived in a taxi and waved to the crowd, and a few mins later the same taxi left with Debra who plays Frankie in it. There were notices outside the gates saying the cast were not allowed to stop and sign autographs (was never like that in the old days), and there were 2 guys with cameras hoping to take some snaps of the stars leaving/arriving. A load of other people came off the set as well, extra’s and crew. Well worth going along to the studios if you are up in Manchester IMO, although I wish they would bring back the studio tours, im lucky I went on them twice but I wish they would bring them back.

Also noticed outside the main entrance to Granada studios they have plaques for 4 street actors who have now died – Doris Speed (Annie), Pat Phoenix (Elsie) Vi Carson (Ena) and Alf Roberts.

Anyway, I thought the episode shown Sunday was brilliant – classic Corrie comedy with the Duckworths. Last nights were also great, im not keen on Sean, hope he tones down his campness. Blanche and Deirdre were also good in last nights episodes.

And I love all the mentions of Classic Corrie in recent episodes with characters like Elsie and Ena - gone but never forgotten. Long may it continue!

Also its worth mentioning this weeks edition of What’s on TV has a Corrie cover with Steve/Karen and Tracey!

You've been up in Manchester Jez?

Yes, and I couldnt be in Manchester and not go to my beloved Coro St My brother and I found directions to the studios on a map in the shopping centre.

Well I was in Manchester the week before last and had a walk down to the Granada Studios. I noticed then they'd put a wooden board and door across the back of the passage by Dev's Shop so you couldn't see anything, was that there when you went?. I suppose that's because with the increase of scenes taking place outside Sunita's flat door, these scenes would be able to be viewed out on the public street which would be no good.

I also noticed the red paint flaking off the 1960s 'Granada TV' sign on the main offices!

You also goto Canal Street?

There was something in the papers about that quite recently. They had to introduce the rule after some cast members kept getting hassle from stalkers.

Yes, there was a wooden board, with a doorway at the bottom so the cast/crew can go in and out of the outside set. I just assmumed that was always there to stop people seeing filming on the outside set.

You have the main enterance to the studios on Quay Street, then you go up the side and come to some gates (which were open, but a warning not to go any further). We were chatting to this woman who told us that Les Battersby had just left the studios and said hello to her, so we decided to hang around and see if anyone else would leave the studio, but apart from Johnny Briggs who walked past us and said nothing (a few of the crowd were shouting "Mike Mike"), all the other seemed to go straight off the outside set and into the main Granada Studio (via another entrance at the top)

And no Owan I didnt go down canal street

Ok Its been a great few weeks of Corrie lately!

Did you like my grabs of Jack on the previous page?

Not quite!

Any one notice that the bag of Crisps Maya was handed were from Lidl.

Well, she's a classy bird!

I've noticed something a bit odd about Corrie. In this age where smoking is increasingly frowned upon Corrie's Deirdre has been seen smoking several times recently, strange since her character has never somoked in the 30 odd years she's been in the programme.

I wonder what the explanation is for this strange editorial decision?