Will you miss Violet and Jamie when they leave?

Violet Wilson's clothes for sale on eBay

You know those awful tops that Violet wears on Corrie? There's one up for sale on eBay right now. Bid for at your peril after throwing good taste out the window. You have been warned.

More on Corrie cast cast-offs right here.

Steve McDonald's Guide to Chatting up Birds

Step 1: Get your coat luv, you've pulled.

Step 2: You! Oi!

Step 3: Whaddya mean, you'd rather poke your own eyes out?

Step 4: Eileen! Help! Whaddama doing wrong?

Enjoy a Corrie cuppa

There's a place on th'internet where you can buy your very own customised Coronation Street cup, oh yes. Slogans on the mugs include Born to Watch Coronation Street, I Heart Coronation Street and Warning: Coronation Street Fan.

If this tickles your tea-drinking funny bone, find out more here.

Doreen Fenwick Appreciation Society

She turned up on the Street, a retired exotic dancer with a dicky eye after a run in with a chopstick and a stray lycee. She took Rita out on the drink, cheered Norris up and got proposed to not once, but three times - and we haven't seen her since. Where the divil's Doreen gone?

The best Corrie characters we've never seen

With Harry the bookie making reference to his third ex-wife Francesca, she sounds a force to be reckoned with. And it's got me wondering if we'll ever see her on screen, and indeed if we ever should.

She could go down in history as one of the best Coronation Street characters that we've never seen, along with the wonderful Yana Lumb's very own fella, Big H, and the often referred to but never seen taxi controller, Fat Brenda from Levenshulme.

Sean's Who's The Daddy T-Shirt

And as if by magic, they're for sale right here.

More on where to buy clothes seen on Coronation Street.

Coronation Street Weekly Update, February 25, 2008

Greetings and welcome to another weekly update. The update’s a bit late this week as I was out on the razzle last night and have only just caught up with Corrie now. The update will also be a day late next week as I’m off on my spring jollies. And so, as we’re late with the update already, let’s crack on and without any further ado, here we go with this week’s Coronation Street update.

This was the week when Corrie had one baby with two dads and one mum with two sons and everyone got into a pickle of sorts. First off, let’s talk about the babe with two dads. Pregnant Violet decides to do a runner darn sarth with Jamie and they plan their escape. Unfortunately their plans to get away from Sean before the baby’s birth are scuppered when Violet goes into labour in the bar of the Rovers. Jamie’s on his way to a mate in London in the discrete getaway vehicle they’d hoped would take them away from the cobbles without anyone noticing. But a bright orange, clapped out banger of a car might not have been such a good idea after all. So as Jamie’s driving off, Violet’s giving birth in the Rovers with Sean supporting her head and Marcus at the business end. After the regulars had been thrown out and the birthing process started proper, there was panting and screaming, hyperventilating and clenching of teeth and Violet wasn’t much better. At the bar, Eileen and Liz looked on, awed by the wonder of the womb while Vernon came over all peculiar and had to disappear for some mixers. As Marcus is a trained midwife the baby was brought into the world safely and then bundled off to t’hospital. Sean’s loving being a dad, has taken paternal leave, wants his name on the birth certificate and dreams of teaching his new son, Dylan-James-Wilson-Tully-Barlow, show tunes to his heart’s content. But Violet and Jamie have other plans and while Jamie still wants to leave the Street and Sean behind, Violet’s starting to feel that she wants to stick around. Oh go, just go.

And now for the mum with two sons. Yes, this is Michelle Connor and she hasn’t got a clue. Not content with the son she’s got, she takes it upon herself to offer a home to Alex, the son she’s just found. It’s a plan that’s not going down well in the back room of the Rovers. Steve rolls his eyes, tuts and expresses his exasperation. Ryan stays out of the way and feels disenfranchised (I have no idea what that means but I wanted to use it). Steve does his best to like Alex and asks him to look after Amy but when Amy skips off down the ginnel, Steve loses his temper with Michelle’s golden boy who locks himself in the Rovers. There’s a crowd of thirsty regulars wanting a pint but they can’t get in as they’ve been locked out. In the back room, Michelle tries to get through to Alex while Steve searches for Amy. Norris turns out to be the hero of the hour when he finds Amy wandering the Street with her dolly while Alex turns out to be the villain of the piece. Boo hiss, etc. However, mum Michelle asks him to stay in the Rovers for another week. “And then he’s out, I promise,” she tells Steve, who rolls his eyes, tuts and expresses his exasperation once more.

Elsewhere this week, LiaMaria returned from honeymoon in Venice. One minute the new Mrs Connor is sipping a champagne breakfast in a posh hotel alongside a canal, possibly watching pigeons from her window, and the next she’s got her hands in rubber gloves in Audrey’s salon, cleaning hair balls from the sinks, and possibly watching pigeons from her window.

Emily’s charity at th’ospital got a bonus load of clothes this week. The Friends of Weatherfield General have never had it so good. First off she was given a load of Violet’s old clothes when Vi and Jamie have a clear out in the flat and then a tearful Jack handed over Vera’s clothes. With Molly’s help, Jack decided it was time to go through Vera’s things and he mused over her shoes. She had four pairs. Her shoes, her other shoes, her good shoes and her best shoes, and Jack always knew which ones she meant.

Meanwhile, David and Tina make Gail’s life even more miserable than it already is. They move in, take over, mess up and leave Gail to clear up after them both, which she stupidly does, so really, ladies and gentlemen, she’s only got herself to blame, I’m sure you agree. When Tina told David that she was still mates with one of her ex-fellas, David went into a strop. “I’m not in a strop,” he said and then regaled Tina with tales of his ex-girlfriends, like, um, ooh, who was it again… oh yes, Tracy and Maria. He’s mental that David.

Over in the Rovers, the pub underwent its big revamp this week which left it looking like the old vamp it always was. Builders Mick and Sam did the job after drinking tea with five sugars and a bit of encouragement from Vernon with his “bish, bash, bosh”. I don’t know what that was but it seemed to do the trick as the two builders were in and out of there quick-sharp.

Also this week, Carla asked Eyeball Tony the Catalogue Man to move into her flat with her, so he did. He’s too scary for my liking but at least it takes her mind off brother-in-law Liam and his new wife, the other Mrs Connor. But would Tony be so keen on Carla if he knew the truth?

And the bookies had a bit of a storyline this week when Dan the Bookie Man paid out Jack’s win of over £3,000 to Paul. He knew Paul hadn’t told Jack that he’d found the missing betting slip and blackmailed Paul to give him a share of the cash. Later, the older and wiser Harry offered Jack payment on his yankee as a gesture of goodwill but when Dan found out, he told Paul he wanted all three grand of the cash back that he’d given him earlier. Both of them squared up to each other on the Street, both of them less threatening than squaring up to Amy Barlow. “I want me money back. So there.” said Dan, trying to be tough. “Shan’t! Nah-nah-ne-nah-nah” replied Paul before sticking out his tongue and skipping away, a bit fey.

Coronation Street writers this week were Martin Allen, Damon Rochefort, Chris Fewtrell, Jan McVerry and Carmel Morgan.

And that’s just about that for this week.

Glenda

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Blogging away merrily at http://flamingnora.blogspot.com/

Vote for Corrie in The British Soap Awards 2008

Voting is now open for The British Soap Awards 2008 and if you'd like to cast your vote for Coronation Street, click here.

Voting is open in all cateories until Friday 28 March and voting will reopen for Best Soap only on Monday 28 April until Friday 2 May. The awards ceremony takes place on 7 May.

And don't forget you've got until Monday 3 March to vote for Corrie in the All About Soap Bubble Awards 2008 too.

Coronation Street connection to St David’s Day

It's St David's day on Saturday March 1st and the Welsh can celebrate the fact that one of their national actresses, Maudie Edwards, had the first ever on-screen line in Coronation Street.

“Now the next thing you'll want to do is get a sign writer in. That thing above the door'll have to be changed," was spoken by Welsh actress Maudie Edwards on 9 December 1960. She played corner shop owner Elsie Lappin who was talking to the new shop owner Florence Lindley.

You can, apparently, watch the full clip on itv.com - but I've had a look and I can't find it to link to.

Coronation Street theme tune, reggae style

If you like a spot of ska or the rythym of reggae, you'll love Izzy Royal's version of the Coronation Street theme tune. I found this online some years ago and it's been one of my favourite bits of Corrie triviana(*) ever since.

Click here to listen.

(*) Is there such a word as triviana?

Carla Connor and Danny Baldwin

Tabloid rumour is rife that when Danny-boy Baldwin returns to Coronation Street he'll get together with Carla Connor and expand his empire in ladies pants. This could just work. Two egos, one factory, it could be a good fight.

Does Danny Baldwin's return have owt to do wi'this?

Coronation Street's overhaul with hauliers

Now then, who are Keiran Wynne, Haulage Company of Weatherfield? Their name and logo were on view on a gate at the back of the Street last night and I don't recall having seen them before.

So, could the hauliers be involved in the new Victoria Court flats as Coronation Street gets an overhaul?

Coronation Street on Harry Hill's TV Burp

For anyone who hasn't yet seen the wonderful Harry Hill's TV Burp (ITV1 Saturday evenings), he regularly takes the mickey out of the Street, in his own inimitable style. Here's one of the clips from YouTube.

Look-a-like: Is Tony Gordon really Mad Eye Moody?

Is Eyeball Tony the Catalogue Man from Coronation Street turning into Mad Eye Moody from Harry Potter? Enquiring minds need to know and Harry Hill's TV Burp seems to think so.

FAQ: The first baby born in the Rovers Return?

Was Violet's the first Coronation Street baby to be born in the Rovers Return?

By 'eck it was good. With Sean supporting Violet's head and Marcus the midwife at the business end, there was screaming, hyperventilating, panting and groaning. And Violet did much the same too.

There are more Frequently Asked Questions here.

Coronation Street stars share a cuppa for ActionAid's 24 Hour Tea and Coffee Break‏

The good people at ActionAid have asked me to give a mention on this blog to their 24 Hour Tea and Coffee Break on Friday 29 February (to draw awareness to the unfair conditions of farmers in the developing world). Coronation Street actors are involved in this and can be seen having their own fair-trade tea and coffee break. For more information, to register and get a free information pack with fundraising ideas, visit http://www.coffeebreak.org.uk/.

Vote for Corrie in All About Soap Bubble Awards

I've just had an email from the lovely people at All About Soap magazine to say that voting's open in their 2008 All About Soap Bubble Awards.

If you want Corrie to win any of the categories, then click right here to cast your vote.

Voting closes Monday, 3rd March.

Kabin conundrum

With all the fuss and furore in the news about post offices closing down all over the country, why does the one in The Kabin still exist? And when was the last time we ever saw it used?

Corrie's Yankee hanky-panky

While the new bookies settle into Rosamund Street, someone should tell them a thing or two about running a betting shop.

Now, I don't know anything about gambling, but I know someone who does and they tell me that the bookies have got it wrong - not once - but twice this week.

First off, they paid Jack out on a Yankee. This is a bet on four horses and Jack only named three.

And secondly, Blanche asked to put a 75p bet each way on a horse and handed over 75p. For a bet each way, she should be paying £1.50, and possibly plus tax too. Ok, I'll take me anorak off now, but think on.

Eddie Yeats - the 5th Beatle

Did you know that actor Geoff Hughes, who played loveable scally Eddie Yeats in Coronation Street, did the voice-over for Paul McCartney on the Beatles' Yellow Submarine cartoon film?



It's amazing what you learn when you read a poet's autobiography!

Coronation Street Weekly Update, February 18 2008

Greetings and welcome to another weekly update. Yes, I know I always start off the update that way but I’m a creature of habit and it’s stood me in good stead over the years. So, if you’ve got your cuppa and your biscuit, and you’re sitting comfortably with your cushions plumped up, then we’ll begin. And so, without any further ado, here we go with this week’s Coronation Street update.

Corrie lost one of its favourites this week, but don’t worry, it’s only temporary and just for a short while. Roy Cropper flew to t’other side of the world to be with his soul mate, his best friend, his Hayley. There was only one slight panic on Roy’s To Do list before he left as he fretted over Becky moving into the flat above the caff while he was away. Becky brought her stuff into the flat in black bin bags, bringing in her baggage and hanging up her hang-ups. With Roy now gone from Roy’s Rolls for a few weeks, who’ll tend to what he’s gone and left behind – ‘s Rolls? Step forward the educated Mr Barlow who might know a thing or two about sweet talking the customers but hasn’t got a clue when it comes to customer service. When Becky gives Tina short shrift after she gave Becky some backchat while drinking blue pop with David, she tells Ken to think on and use the same technique at home whenever Blanche gets out of hand. As if he’d ever dare.

Over at the Rovers, Liz has decided it’s time for a revamp and spring clean. Is it too late to start a campaign to Bring Back the Snug? Oh, apparently so. Vernon gets right into it, doing drawings and sketches and shares his vision and ideas for a new look for the pub. He’s thinking all Country and Western but all it’s going to get, and those who’ve seen the pictures will know, is a fresh lick of paint and a touch up all round. And most days, I think that’s what a lot of us would be happy with, if we’re honest with ourselves. Let’s just hope they don’t spoil the character of our favourite fictional pub too much when the makeover happens. As my lovely bloke once said when I insisted on putting his denim jacket in the washing machine after years of him wearing it to go out gigging in: “That’s not muck, that’s memories.”

Meanwhile, over at the Duckie’s house (note correct use of apostrophe now that there’s only one Duckie left. Sigh), Jack realised that he’d put a bet on the horses on the very day Vera died. He decided to check on the bet and it came up trumps with winnings to the tune of over £3,000 but why isn’t he delighted? Well, it turns out that he’s only gone and lost the betting slip which he legally needs to get his winnings from the bookies. He pleads with Dan and Harry but they insist on having the slip. The slip gives them all the slip and the house is turned upside down as the great hunt for the betting slip takes place, cushions are overturned, boxes are emptied, letters are opened but nothing is found. Not until Paul finds the betting slip in one of Vera’s novels. He’s ready to come clean and tell Jack the good news but Tyrone and Molly tell Paul some news of their own first. And when Paul finds out that he’s not wanted in the house once Jack sells it on to the young ‘uns, he decides to keep the betting slip and he slips it into his back pocket and gives Jack the slip when he slips out to the pub for a sip and some supper. And as if poor Jack hasn’t got enough on his plate. This week he’s had to make a quick escape every time he spied Emily and Rita who have made it their mission to cheer up the newly widowed and take him out for spot of beige drinking.

Alex and Ryan, brothers in nowt but hair colour, aren’t getting on and who can blame poor Ryan for sulking up in his room now that doppelganger (I love that word and aim to use it again before this paragraph has finished) Alex has moved into the Rovers? Michelle loves her new son better than her old son although she’ll tell anyone who’ll listen that she loves them both the same. Despite the jet black shiny hair, Alex is Michelle’s golden boy. Steve knows enough to tut and make faces every time Michelle takes sides with Alex over Ryan, but he needs to put his foot down. Next on the list will be a doppelganger (told you) boyfriend who looks just like Steve, but somehow quite isn’t. The old Steve and old Ryan will sit upstairs in the Rovers eating jam on dry toast as they watch the portable telly in the back room, the one without any heating in it while the new Steve and new Ryan (aka Alex) will dine on fine hot pot and ale downstairs in the back room in front of a roaring central heating appliance. Of course, Norris finds out the gossip about Michelle’s real son turning up on the Street and the news spreads like jam on dry toast all the way to Eileen and back to Steve at Streetcars who confirms it’s all true and does another tut.

Elsewhere, Eyeball Tony the Catalogue Man does a spot of breaking and entering after nicking the keys to Carla’s flat from her handbag. She thinks there’s an intruder and when she finds out it’s ET-the-CM she yells at him to leave. “I am CARLA CONNOR!” she screams. Well, I was scared. But Eyeball Tony manages to win her round with his beef dish he’d kept on a low simmer all night. After slinking into her flat, Carla likened Eyeball Tony to the Milk Tray Man, remember him? And all because the lady loves…

... a quick shag with a nutter.

Over at Underworld, it’s been all go in the factory this week. Not at the machines, you understand, as all the best dialogue and action happen at tea-break time. Kelly decides she wants to control her destiny with cosmic ordering. Is that what Curly did for Racquel that time when he bought her the star?

And finally this week, Sean has been upsetting Violet no end. The poor woman gets bigger every time she appears on screen and although she says she’s got another four weeks before the baby is born, she’ll be lucky to get through four episodes the state that she’s in. Hormonal and heavy, she’s craving ice-cream and shouting at Jamie to get Sean out of her life and away from the baby. So when Sean brings a non-speaking extra called Bob to Violet’s flat to do a spot of cleaning in time for the home birth, she’s not best pleased. as you’d expect. Outside the Rovers, the cast budget stretched a little further when another extra was given a couple of lines to say, the likes of which we may never hear again, advising Jamie to stop having babies once they’d reached number four. He had six of his own and wouldn’t recommend it. Anyway, on with the show, and Violet and Jamie decide to run away somewhere where Sean can’t find them or come looking for them. Mind you, the state Violet’s in, she’ll not be running anywhere and a slow waddle from Weatherfield may be in order.

Coronation Street writers this week were Stephen Bennett, Catherine Hayes, Peter Whalley, David Lane and Simon Crowther.

And that’s just about that for this week.

Glenda
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Blogging away merrily at http://flamingnora.blogspot.com/

FAQ: Where did Liam and Maria get married?

One of the most recent questions to be asked is about the location of Liam and Maria's wedding.

The location used was Arley Hall and Gardens in Cheshire. The location has also been used for at least another two of Coronation Street's weddings - those of Karen and Steve McDonald and Mike and Linda Baldwin.

More Corrie filming locations here.

Answers to more Frequently Asked Questions here.

In praise of the Wonderful Wiki

Polish knicker stitcher Wiki Dankowska has been a part of the cobbles for almost a year since she turned up in February 2007. And what a year it's been. She was racially abused by gob-almighty Janice Battersby and witnessed the death of fellow Polish worker Katya in Underworld.

But this year could be Wiki's year and if the sun is smiling in the right direction on the factory floor, we could find out much more about the wonderful Wiki in the coming months. She keeps hinting at a past and a family in Warsaw and I'm hoping that we might find out more about both pretty soon. There's a lot more to Wiki than stitching and sewing, just you wait and see.

Deirdre & Ken & Tracey & Blanche T-shirt

Never mind wondering about how the cast are dressed, I want one of these! They're for sale at Unitee Shirts right here.

Coronation Street cast cast-offs for sale

Over at the online car boot sale that is eBay.com there's some Coronation Street cast cast-offs for sale as follows:

Sarah Platt's cardigan
Vera Duckworth's scarf
Craig Harris' t-shirt
Leanne Battersby's top
Cilla Battersby-Brown's blouse
Bet Lynch's ear-rings

FAQ: Where can I buy clothes worn on Coronation Street?

Now then, if I had a penny for each time I've been asked this question, I'd have, well, I'd have a lot of pennies. This is by far the most common question I'm asked - where can fans buy clothes like the ones worn on Coronation Street?

Whether it's Maria's frocks, Carla's coats or that black necklace which Liz McDonald wears, it seems there's enough curiosity out there for fans to want to wear the same thing. Anyone want to buy Maria's weddng scarab? Mind you, no one ever emails to ask where the wardrobe department shop for Janice Battersby's clothes. Can't think why.

Anyway, the only thing I can suggest is for fans to contact ITV in Manchester direct. The contact details are here and sometimes cast cast-offs are sold on eBay too.

More answers to Frequently Asked Questions.

Sean Tully - subtle or screaming?

Overjoyed as I was to finally see a gay man represented on national TV in a prime-time slot, I've never really taken to Sean Tully in Corrie. Reading Corrie fan forums online I know I'm not alone in thinking Sean is too OTT, too screaming, too camp, too much Antony Cotton. You might think differently, and if you do, I've love to read your comments.

But lately, Sean is growing on me and I'm sympathising and taking his side in this whole father of Violet's baby story too. When Antony Cotton plays Sean with subtlety and feeling, sharing his concerns with Marcus, there's a wonderful tenderness to Sean Tully that this fan much prefers. I once rated Sean as the new Bet Lynch and I still think Antony Cotton has it within him to make Sean a Street icon. Just as long as he doesn't start wearing leopard print.

NOW Magazine is a fan of this blog

I'm chuffed to bits, me.

Now magazine in Toronto, Canada, is a fan of the Coronation Street weekly updates and of this blog too. I'm over the moon and it's fair made my day.

Thank you very much indeed to the lovely people at Now for their comments about the blog, which read: "Witty and perceptive, it’s a must-read for any Corrie fanatic".