From the Mirror:
The Great Dane first appeared on screen in 2003 and was given to Chesney – played by Sam Aston – by mechanic Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall). Since then they have forged a strong bond and the pooch has gone on to become one of the most famous animals on TV. But when Schmeichel, who was named after the Danish former Manchester United goalkeeper Peter, becomes ill, Chesney makes the heartbreaking decision to have the dog put down. The distressing scenes will be shown in the next few weeks. A Corrie insider said: “It will be heartbreaking for Chesney – and for viewers. But bosses think the time is right for Schmeichel to leave the show.” Schmeichel has been played by four different Great Danes during his eight years on the ITV1 soap, as the animals used have either died or became too old to cope with the demands of filming the five-episodes-a-week show.
From me:
Nooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!!!!!!!
28 comments:
Great Danes only live on average 5 or 6 years. And he wasn't in 5 shows a week - he used to vanish for weeks on end - disappearing in a 2 up 2 down terrace and I have yet to see any "sign" of him in the back yard. Scriptwriters didn't think it though - if a dog is introduced he has to be in every episode filmed in that house - something they forget and they can't "send them up to listen to my tapes in my room" as the did with Tracy Barlow for years on end
Ummm...you know that Schmeichel has pretty much outlived most other Great Danes, right? He's not going to be like The Simpsons is he? More than two decades later and Bart is still only ten years old. Let him go peacefully. It's time :-)
I have never really enjoyed watching storylines while using Schmeichel as I am not a lover of pets to start with, and quite often I would just start to watch Corrie with a bite to eat, and be put off with my food due to the Schmeichel storylines.
Heartbreaking for viewers? What planet are these people on? IT'S NOT REAL.
Dog Gone It
Some of these dog lovers are barking mad...a dog is a dog, not a human!
I guess if 7 years is average life span then it is realistic to put it into the storyline however sad it will be for some viewers. To be honest I am an animal lover but don't like big slobbering dogs especially in small houses with small yards.
What a shame. I hope they replace him with Cantona or another dog with personality. :)
It's a bit ridiculous for the paper to say he couldn't cope with the filming schedule since he was only in the occasional episode but anyway... The dog has probably passed his usefulness as far as the storyline but at least they aren't just having him disappear without a word like most of the pets on the street. He and Eccles have been the only two recently that have continued to appear now and then.
And it's sad, but as others have mentioned, Great Danes don't live long lives and with the baby about to be born in a few months, and Fiz and Hope to be home eventually, it just wouldn't work.
i think noooooooooo was my reaction too!
i think noooooooooo was my reaction too!
Anonymous, you are mad and obviously havent owned a dog. A dog is a dog? Sorry, but dogs have feelings as well, just as much as humans, which some people seem to forget. And yes, it is just a show, but some people have lost dogs in their life and might find it sad, some people cant help that. I lost my dog last year and was very upset over it, although I have now obviously moved on, I will never forget her. And I prefer dogs to most human beings if I am honest.
I wondered if Schmeichel would fade into the wallpaper once the baby was born and Katie and Chesney were in focus again.
We've seen how much Chesney is devoted to Schmeichel, another admirable facet the character, so I feel the Producer is giving recognition to the the love they share by bowing Schmeichel out of the show peacefully and realistically.
It'll be sad watching for we animal lovers, and personally am not looking forwards to it.
This will be hard to watch as I had to put my own beloved dog down a couple of days ago. Just a dog? Hardly! She was my best friend and a huge part of the family. That being said, I am glad they are treating the character of Schmeichel like a beloved family pet and not like a disposable prop like Tyrone's Monica or Maxine's Bella.
Schmeichel has been the only constant in Chesney's life. Caring for him has probably been what made him such a responsible teen. Losing him will pull Chesney apart.
We've suspended belief/accepted fantasy so many times for story purposes, I wish TPTB would find a way to keep Schmeichel around just a little while longer, at least until Chesney falls into the rhythm of fatherhood.
No they can't do this! Schmeichel still has years left in this, i feel its too premature for this storyline! No to killing off Schmneichel!!
Omg the last bit of Chesney's youth, I will cry :(
I too thought the Chesney baby/dog combination would not work. It also serves as a transition from Ches the boy to Ches the responsible father/man. Schmeichel is the most amusing part of Corrie scenes sometimes and it is sad. Schmeichal will be greatly missed, as any other likeable human character would be.
Fathering a baby at 16, when your girlfriend is in school and you don't have the money to support your "family" is responsible?
Anyone who has had to make the heart-breaking decision to have their beloved pet euthanized will appreciate this story. I just hope they do it with sensitivity and are not to OTT with it.
It's gonna be a tear-jerker...poor Chez
Great googly moogly, how neurotic do you have to be if seeing a dog on screen puts you off your meal? shakes head
@Anon - it doesn't matter their age, he is becoming a responsible man/father now. He is in a committed relationship on screen. He has always been mature beyond his years due to his upbringing and the pregnancy/birth is a great way to see how his own parents have influenced his parental style.
They have sped up his development I'm sure to show his level of maturity which flies in the face of what he has experienced. People want to see Ches happy, he is a likeable character who has been through a lot.
@Ange. Their age does matter. They should be enjoying their youth not saddled with a screaming baby.
Who cares about Chesney's parental style? He should be in education or training, as should Katy. If he did have any maturity, he would realise that.
@Anon - it is Corrie, not real life. In real life yes, 16 is young but in soap land it is important to have characters achieve different phases of their lives at accelerated rates. You can't let them meander through and a kid going to school is realistic, but not interesting as a storyline goes.
Notice how quickly characters "fall in love" as opposed to getting to like someone. Things have to progress quickly. How many people would get away with the things they do in Corrie?
The writers have chosen to make him a young father and I am merely saying the reason why this chain of events, poor upbringing, dog dying, birth of child and responsibility of his own all fit into Ches's story in an obvious way.
Your all Barking mad, the dog won't really die, it's all pretend. Get a life and watch some Documentaries.
ah we love this dog! We have one just like it
Schmneichel! Well they have killed off half of the rest of the cast since last year, so the dog is no surprise. What is a surprise is that he has lived for so long, and he is probably well past retirement. In any event, they have to kill of the old baby, to make room for the new one. Stop getting so sentimental, it is a shame, but it is not for real.
i will miss this dog and i cried when Chesney was saying good bye to
Schmneichell
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