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Sunday 16 June 2013

Why Coronation Street fans must watch Goodbye Granadaland

If you haven't seen the Goodbye Granadaland programme, shown on ITV1 this weekend, it's well worth a look.

For Coronation Street fans in particular, it's worth viewing from around the 48 minute mark onwards because there are some lovely little behind-the-scenes snippets worth watching. 

The programme is narrated by Suranne Jones, who played Karen McDonald and includes contributions from Corrie creator Tony Warren and Corrie actors Barbara Knox and Philip Lowrie (Rita and Dennis Tanner) as well as ex-cast members Julie Goodyear (Bet Gilroy) and Sally Lindsay (Shelley Unwin).

Brooke Vincent, who plays Sophie Webster is interviewed and says this about Corrie:  "Looking back to how it first started, it's like a different programme. A completely different programme".

I'm not sure I agree with that statement. What do you think?

The original Head of Wardrobe called Edna Walker talked about dressing Pat Phoenix as Elsie Tanner with her tight blouses, and said that Doris Speed wanted comfy shoes as Annie Walker.  Priceless.


Then host Peter Kay, who himself appeared on Corrie once as a brewery drayman, had a peek into the props store, a veritable warehouse of a place housing Corrie props including such unlikely things as Sunita's coffin and Fred Elliot's coffin and a pair of Deirdre's very early - and huge - glasses.

Here's Peter Kay pictured holding the urns with ashes of Jack and Vera Duckworth.



There were also a large amount of models for previous Coronation Street set.

What will happen to all of these old props, no longer needed, by Coronation Street as they move from the Quay Street set to the new one at Media City?

We've read in the tabloids in the past of Corrie props being found in rubbish skips, thrown out and unwanted. I've even seen Corrie props up for sale on eBay by someone who worked for the show.

Would it be too much to hope that these props, these amazing bits of history from Coronation Street  the longest running soap in the world - might find their way into a museum of some sort, a tribute? Let's hope so.

(edited. You can watch the show on Youtube here. Thanks to Stevie for the link!)
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8 comments:

Carry On Blogging! said...


That prop room must be saved! Oh how I'd love to get my hands on Deirdre's old bins ;)

Seriously though, wouldn't it be wonderful to create a Coronation Street museum out of all those old props and mementoes? They are wasted hidden away like that!

Wish we'd heard more from Edna Walker - I bet she's got plenty of stories to share!

Unknown said...

Does anyone know what the music was when they went into the ad breaks?

Llifon said...

I think they used the clips of Barbara Knox and Phillip Lowrie to fill in for an interview with William Roache.

And wouldn't it be great if this blog could get an interview with Edna Walker? Can it be arranged Flaming Nora? :)

Anonymous said...

Oh Suranne Jones! <3

Stevie said...

I would have liked a bit more mentioned about Coronation Street - the cobbles, the current set, what the future holds. Seemed to skirt around the important stuff!

Great programme though, I felt a bit sad watching it.

bbhilda said...

I agree with Stevie, I wanted a lot more Corrie history, and do know that lots of it, including an interview with a couple of long term Extras was cut.

Also, Kathy Jones, who was not only in Corrie asTricia Hopkins, but also had her own Granada show wasn't even mentioned.

Incidentally, Peter Kay was in Corrie twice, the first time he was a delivery man who dropped off the new counter that Maud Grimes hid a fish inside.

I guess it just wasn't long enough to fit in a fraction of Granada's history.

Anonymous said...

Please tell me that we will be able to watch in Canada? I tried Youtube today but came up empty. One can only live in hope.

Stevie said...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WL95na0QVWo

There's a Youtube link for the show.

GRITTY SAGAS BY CORRIE BLOG EDITOR GLENDA YOUNG, PUBLISHED BY HEADLINE. CLICK PIC BELOW!

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