He's got the tool kit, the builder's yard and the quick temper. Owen Armstrong is Coronation Street's new Len Fairclough. But don't just take my word for it, listen to Ian Wylie's podcast. In it he interviews Ian Puleston-Davies, who plays Owen, and he reveals that when he was given the character details for Owen on joining the Street, it said that they specifically wanted him in the mould of Len. We all know that soaps are built on repetition and stereotypes, but this is one of the more interesting ones, don't you think?
If this is the new Len Fairclough then someone's calculated badly. As far as I can recall Len was generally liked, rough edges or not, just as rough diamond Jim MacDonald was/is.
ReplyDeleteWhilst with Owen there's something of the sick paranoid psychotic about his character that instinctively gives everyone the creeps. Needs more work IMO.
I can imagine him throttling one of his daughters to death whilst in one of those incandesant rages for simply answering back and disobeying him, then 'coming round' later with no idea of what he's done.
A sicko type - defo' not a Len Fairclough type.
I agree. Jim was more like Len and both were well liked. I know Rita did say that she saw Len in Owen, but he wasn't as rough and in my book, Liz and Eileen don't match up to Rita or Elsie. But I'd like him to be more the alpha male that Corrie lacks at the moment, and not the threatning type.
ReplyDeleteDefinately not Len, more like Charlie Stubbs
ReplyDeleteI really liked Owen at first - gruff, manly, glad eye for the ladies - but he's turned really nasty of late and I pretty much agree with the previous three comments.
ReplyDeleteI've been watching some of the old 60's and 70's Corries and I always loved Len. While I don't hate Owen and I *can* see some similarities, he is NOT the "new Len" for me. Jim was definitely closer.
ReplyDeleteLen was always up for a brawl but the other fellow usually deserved it (or was Ken so - same thing!). But you knew he was a good guy at heart and would do anything to help a friend (read: Rita or Elsie). Owen is just brooding, weird and down right nasty
Len was terrific - and capable of unexpected sensitivity. I always remember his stint as a foster parent in the early 1980s. And his on-off affair with Elsie in the 1960s was required viewing. He was very flawed. But definitely one of the good guys.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the comment above that he reminds me of Charlie Stubbs. Not only in personality but facially as well.
ReplyDeleteOwen is not at all like Len. Len was a "tough guy" but certainly not an nasty type like Owen. Even Charlie Stubbs was good looking and you could see why the ladies liked him. Owen is not just unpleasant to look at but unpleasant in character too. Being as the actor is now in Waterloo Road full time, I wonder if he will continue.
ReplyDeleteI believe those Waterloo Road episodes were all shot before Ian started filming on Corrie, and he's not going to be in many more of them. Interesting, though, that his character in that, while an adulterous husband, is a much pleasanter guy than Owen.
ReplyDeleteYes, I agree that he's a much better character in Waterloo road. I actually liked Owen when he first came into Corrie and actually saw a bit of Len Fairclough in him but in recent weeks the writers have just made him downright weird.
ReplyDeleteApparently, all the Waterloo Road stuff was taped long before he started filming on the Weatherfield cobbles and Ian has said that he has no intention of quitting the Street.
Yes, I agree that he's a much better character in Waterloo Road. I actually quite liked him when he first came into Corrie and actually saw quite a bit of Len Fairclough in him but in recent weeks the writers have ruined it by making his character downright weird.
ReplyDeleteApparently, all the Waterloo Road stuff was taped long before he started filming on the Weatherfield cobbles and Ian has said that he has no intention of qutting his role in the Street.