Coronation Street

He does leave when Carla returns, that has been officially confirmed-- you'll be pleased to know !

True Luke didn't say on the show, that he was only sticking for short while. However: Given that Luke was introduced when Carla left (bearing in mind Alison King's maternity leave), I feel it would've been a reasonable guess that he would be a temporary character: Since Carla gave him permission to run the factory on 'her behalf'; considering Carla's/Alison's return in some months time, I think it would've been an educated guess that this would be a tactic (on Carla's part) to keep her chair warm at Underworld.

As it happens, Craig Kelly then said on Loose Women that he was only in it for a short while. Anyway, it'll be nice to see Carla/Alison back on the cobbles, I'm sure you'll agree

Jez, you appear to be the man in-the-know. Is it true that Rita Fairclough (Barbara Knox) is leaving Coronation Street for two months extended break? I am just getting back into Corrie and noted that Rita has hardly changed in the last seven years or so. I quite like the character, but the actress just wants a break, apparently.

How could the Kabin possibly function without Rita? (Perhaps Mavis will come back as a stand-in.....)

I know he is leaving - what im saying is when it was announced Craig Kelly was joining the show it wasn't said he was only joining the show for 8 months to cover for Carla's leave - he was joining as a new character on a year long contract like everyone else. It was implied he would be there at least a year if not longer. Craig Kelly then quit - if he hadnt quit he would have been there after Carla returned. He also bought the factory from Carla after a few weeks which would imply Carla wasnt coming back if anything (except we know she is returning because Ali is on leave and hasnt quit)



Apparently Barbara has been written out of the show for 6 weeks due to ill health. I would love to see Mavis return but think that's unlikely.

Mavis left because Thelma Barlow was so upset at the sacking of Peter Baldwin and the killing off of Derek

(if I remember correctly she actually threated to leave if they killed off Derek, that did, so she did)

Funny you should mention Peter Baldwin. I saw somebody who looked like the spitting image of him today..don't think it was him though.

Perhaps Barb just wants a break from the show due to exhaustion. She's had a lot of scenes in recent times even if it is just behind the counter in The Kabin.

Yes, also Thelma said a few years back that Corrie isnt the same anymore and wouldnt want to return.

She did stick around for a fair while after Derek died though didn't she?

Carla has been gone so long that I cannot remember what her voice sounds like. Although I only watch Coronation Street because of Mrs InventThamesValley2 I have come up with what I think the theme tune should sound like as it has become a parody of itself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4bGG_8TLaY0

So, erm... you've sped it up.

Radical.

that was so she could be be given a proper exit story, where she got a job as a dinnerlady in the same canteen Sunita worked in

and you all thought she brought a guest house in Cartmel

A while but not long - IIRC Derek died around Easter 1997 and Mavis left that October. Prob at the end of her contract.

Anyway TV Choice has a Corrie cover at long last today for the wedding. A few other tv mags like TV Times do as well - not Whats on TV tho who still havent any Corrie covers

Yes it does seem to be a succession of EastEnders blondes on the covers looking wretched and bitchy.

I guess their distribution is greater in the south, where EE is the more popular soap.