Sneak preview of tonight's double Corrie - Monday 20 May

Coronation Street, Monday 20th May 2013at 7.30pm

TINA AND GARY FAIL TO KEEP THEIR SECRET INTACT. Mindful of the recent upheaval in their family, Izzy proposes a meal at hers to heal rifts. Throwing himself into his relationship Gary promises to help but when Tina demands he meet her at the yard, where she has a go at him for tackling Tommy and arousing suspicion with Rita, he’s horrified to see Ryan’s walked in on their row. What has Ryan heard?
TRACY AND ROB HAVE HAD ENOUGH OF PETER AND CARLA. Peter and Rob are like a pair of rutting stags at the bookies. Fed up Rob slips into the back for a bit of afternoon delight with Tracy, who’s put out by Carla’s demands that she step in as delivery driver while Kirk’s off sick. But when their absence allows the coffee machine to leak all over the floor how will Peter react?
ROY RETREATS INTO HIS SHELL. Hayley attempts to get Roy to acknowledge his bereavement but he steadfastly ignores her. However when Sylvia insists they visit St. John’s grave together will Roy agree?
Elsewhere Stella plans a bank holiday Monday re-launch for the pub, as she thanks Karl for his support. Chesney decides it’s time to shed his Mr Nice Guy image.

Monday 20th May 2013 at 8.30pm

SECRETS AND LIES TUMBLE OUT AT IZZY’S MEAL. As the group gather at Izzy’s she’s determined to put all the family stresses behind them. But unsure of what Ryan now knows about him and Tina, Gary’s on edge. As soon as he gets chance he pulls Ryan aside, telling him to forget whatever he heard. Under pressure Ryan admits to Katy that he heard something about a kiss. Horrified will Katy blow Gary’s secret?
ROB’S SEETHING WHEN CARLA SIDES WITH PETER. Peter’s had enough of Rob and tells Carla he can’t work with him any longer. Left with little choice Carla tells Rob he’ll be returning to the factory. Bitter, Rob’s fed up of being treated like an underling, not a sibling! Egged on by Tracy, what will he do?
ROY PAYS HIS RESPECTS TO HIS FATHER. Finding St. John’s headstones Sylvia, Hayley and Roy pay their respects.
Elsewhere Karl snaps at Gloria for interfering with the pub’s rebuild, claiming he wants everything to be just right for Stella. Chesney starts pumping weights as he makes plans to bag himself another woman. But is it more to do with his insecurities over Ryan?

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Pics: Coronation Street collect British Soap Awards 2013

Well done to Coronation Street for winning eight awards in this year's British Soap Awards, including the award for Best Soap.  Read all about the awards here and view red carpet pics of the Corrie cast here.

Below are ITV official pictures from the awards show.

Michell Keegan (Tina) wins Sexiest Female award

The Coronation Street team with Corrie creator Tony Warren next to Jennie McAlpine.

Malcolm Hebden (Norris) clearly very happy at winning the award for Best Soap.

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Pics of Coronation Street cast at British Soap Awards

Coronation Street won eight awards at the British Soap Awards, held last night in Manchester on Saturday 18 May. 

Read all about the winners here. 

And feast your eyes on the pictures below of some of the Coronation Street cast in their best bib and tucker.  Don't they scrub up well?

Pics courtesy of Getty Images and Digital Spy who have pics of all of the soap stars.

Alan Halsall and pregnant wife Lucy-Jo Hudson

Jennie McAlpine's dress was made by Antony Cotton's mum, Enid!

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Coronation Street wins eight awards at British Soap Awards

The winners are announced in the 2013 British Soap Awards and Alan Halsall and Natalie Gumede came up trumps along with several other awards handed out for our favourite soap.

The eight awards are as follows:

1. Coronation Street won Best Soap.
2. Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs) won for best actor
3 and 4. Natalie Gumede (Kirsty Soames) came away with two BSA awards, Best Dramatic Performance and Villain of the Year.
5. The Best Storyline was Kirsty's abuse of Tyrone.
6. Patti Clare (Mary Taylor) won Best Comedy Performance.
7. Nigel Havers (Lewis Archer) took the gong for Best Exit.
8. Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) won again for Sexiest Female.

All in all, Corrie won eight awards. A full list is available at Digital Spy.

Well done, Corrie!  The awards show will be aired on ITV1 tonight at 8pm.

See all the pictures from the British Soap Awards 2013 here.

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Where have you seen Roy's stepmother before?

If you're wondering where you've seen Roy Cropper's step mother who turned up on Coronation Street last night, then wonder no more.

The character of Margaret Cropper is played by actor Helen Cotterill.

Helen is a veteran actor from British television and theatre. Her TV work includes other soaps, dramas and her film work even includes Les Mis!

Read her very impressive CV here.

See also: Where have you seen...?
Eric's wife Doris, Audrey's date Henry, Lewis' friend Patrick,The Corrie Registrar, Marcus' friend Aiden, Kirsty's parents, Jenny Sumner, Corrie's prison Governor, Sunita's Aunties, Ken and Deirdre's pottery teacher, Tommy Duckworth,  Mrs Hargreaves who died in Audrey's salon, Sally Webster's fella Jeff, Joy Fishwick's investigator, Charlotte's Parents, Ken Barlow's grandson James, Ken Barlow's son Lawrence, Dr Matt Carter, Saucy Charlotte, Izzy's dad Owen Armstrong,The Corrie coppers, Colin Fishwick, Trevor the binman, Connie Rathbone, Uncle Umed,Julie Carp's mum, Luke Strong, Sophie Webster's boyfriend, Eileen Grimshaw's dad, Norris' girlfriend, Graeme Proctor,Molly's Aunty Pam, Maria's mum and dad, Gail's dad, Scary Brian, Tina's dad, Tony Gordon's henchman, Little Simon Barlow
 
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My wonderful trip to Weatherfield (Part Two)

In part two of my report on my very exciting trip to Weatherfield, I'll be bringing you up to speed on what Stuart Blackburn had to say about Coronation Street under his tenure. I'll also be filling you in on what happened when I joined the journalists for round table interviews with some lovely Corrie actors, and finally I'll bring you one or two interesting (and slightly unusual) titbits.

So to begin...incoming Corrie producer Stuart Blackburn used one word to sum up how it feels to sit in that particular hot seat - awe. Mr Blackburn very obviously has a passion for the Street. He spoke quite movingly about what it means to him and where he wants to take the programme while he's in charge. Stuart said he felt honoured to be working with such an outstanding cast and crew. His vision is to maintain Corrie's position as Britain's best television drama, highlighting its down to earth, working class roots and not forgetting the impact it originally had back in the 1960s.

No major spoilers were revealed, although the next few months will see certain storylines peak. The Platt’s will feature heavily – Nick and Kylie’s secret will grow (poor David!) We will also see more of the Price family as Stella and Karl move their relationship to the next level, although there may be a few surprises along the way. There will also be more of Carla, Peter, Rob and Tracy as well as the development of the major storyline focussing on Roy and his family. I’m sure regular blog contributors will all have thoughts on these!

Now the thought of round table interviews with regular journalists put the fear of god into me I freely admit. We gathered in groups at three different tables while the actors rotated round us in pairs, while Stuart Blackburn listened intently from a safe distance. Unfortunately for me, most of the journalists asked what I would call safe, mundane questions – they were obviously very well-versed in the art of such things. I was slightly awestruck by the entire event, however there were a couple of interesting moments!

First up were Stella and Karl, aka Michelle Collins and John Michie. When the journalists introduced themselves, they missed me out (!) so Michelle locked eyes with me and made sure I was included. When I said I was from the Coronation Street Blog, her immediate reaction was to ask whether I was the nice or the nasty blogger! I was like a rabbit caught in the car headlights! Before I could reply, John Michie stepped in and confirmed that as I was a fellow Scot I must be the nice one! I wasn’t going to disagree!

Next up were Cherylee Houston and Mikey North (Izzy and Gary). I really warmed to both these actors – I could have listened to them for much longer. They both very obviously care about their characters and the street in general and were keen to point out how much they had learned and how far they had developed since they arrived on the cobbles.

Finally we met Michelle Keegan and Chris Fountain (Tina and Tommy). By this point I was becoming a tad frustrated with some of the questions my journalist colleagues were asking so I stuck my brass neck out and asked one of my own! All the journalists were asking the same kind of questions about what it was like to work with a baby, how the actors felt about their characters’ storylines...so I chipped in with the last question of the day. I was keen to hear what these younger actors felt about working with Corrie legend, Barbara Knox (Rita).

I was really impressed by how genuine both Michelle Keegan and Chris Fountain were in their replies. Both actors are clearly in awe of Barbara and rightly so. As you would expect Ms Knox is always on time, always knows her lines and never, ever makes mistakes! She is also a very giving actor, helping these younger actors develop and refine their characters. I got the feeling that although both the actress and the character are legendary and much celebrated, the lady behind the Queen of the Kabin is actually very down to earth and normal, while also quietly demanding a bit of respect. And fair play to her I say! Their final comment was that everyone knows when Barbara Knox is on set! I bet she has the same wonderful aura about her that the Street does when you first experience it.

 And finally, some interesting little titbits for you:

• Mikey North (Gary) is regularly handbagged by old ladies in the street – regardless of whether his on screen character is misbehaving!
• Michelle Keegan (Tina) quite obviously finds Norris hilarious! Every time he appeared on screen, her distinctive chuckle could be heard quite clearly!
• Michelle Collins quite frequently wants to give Stella a good shake! This pleased me no end...
• Continuity go so far as to give Sally’s garden a name, and update Rita’s intercom to “Tanner” but they leave the Good Luck cards on Stella’s mantelpiece blank!
• According to Chris Fountain (Tommy) Michelle Keegan has a terrible singing voice that nobody can bear to listen to!
• Stuart Blackburn told a story that involved a pair of speedo shorts. However I doubt our readers are quite ready for that particular denouement...

I hope my blogs have given a good idea of just how thrilled I was to be at Coronation Street. It was such an amazing experience to see the Street, the studios and to meet some of the cast. I really hope you have enjoyed reading about my fantastic adventures in Weatherfield!

Special thanks once again to Joe for the fantastic photos

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When Corrie's good, it's very, very good

Last night's Coronation Street ended with Roy and Hayley on the sofa, in a scene that brought a lump to my throat and reminded me why I continue to watch Coronation Street after 40 years a fan.

It was a scene with no fireworks, no hunk with their top off, no cleavage being shoved in our face, no Stella.

It was a scene that sung out with brilliant acting, a moment that could signal the change of one of our favourite characters, showing a chink in the armour of what is one of the strongest marriages and relationships in Coronation Street's history.

Roy opened up his heart, as much as he's ever done, to Hayley, to his mum and to us the viewers about the disappointment he felt about opening up an old wound - at Hayley's insistence.  The writer was Susan Oudot.

"I had no desire to read that letter," he tells Hayley.
"No, I know that, but..." she tries to interrupt.
"When one is abandoned there is a void as a child," he continues, "even as a teenager and a desire for that relationship which no longer exists, and there are, as you rightly suppose, many unanswered questions. But all of this I'm glad to say is diluted by age, healed by time and I can honestly say that I was contented."
"I know that but he wanted to see you," she butts in again.
"Yes yes, yes and I, I allowed myself to be intrigued by what he might have to say but now I'll never know."
"But you had to read the letter, how could you not?"
"Very easily, at first very easily, but you pushed and you pushed and well, now.... I'm no longer contented."
"Roy, I'm so, so sorry, I only did what was best for you. If I'm in any way to blame..."
"But you are. You are, Hayley. You are to blame."

Bravo to David Neilson and Julie Hesmondhalgh for a wonderful performance.  This is the sort of stuff that should be winning the soap awards for our favourite serial drama.


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Fourth Corrie actor accused of sexual assault

From today's Sun

A fourth Corrie star was last night said to have preyed on a girl of 12 hunting autographs at the show’s TV studios. The revelation he faces a police quiz stunned the soap — already rocked by allegations against Bill Roache, Michael Le Vell and Andrew Lancel.

The latest alleged victim confided in a friend: “I didn’t realise what was going on.” The chum told The Sun: “She used to go to the studios to get autographs. It was a real highlight when the stars stood and talked to you. Sometimes they invited the girls into the studios.”

The famous actor is no longer in the ITV1 soap but his long-running character was a household name.

His alleged indecent assault on the wide-eyed schoolgirl is said to have happened in the late 1960s — and her continuing trauma is so severe she even now involuntarily writes his name on scraps of paper.

Now in her mid 50s, the woman has told cops the star gave her lifts home after befriending her.
One of her allegations is that he did something “very inappropriate” to her within the studio complex in Manchester.

She was interviewed for more than six hours on Wednesday by police in Devon, The Sun can reveal.
The star, who the Sun cannot name for legal reasons, is now being investigated by Lancashire Police. Last night Lancashire Police refused to comment.

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