Monday 13 June 2011

Hit the North

Michelle Collins was on This Morning this afternoon to promote her arrival on Coronation Street as new Rovers' landlady, Stella Price, later this week. She didn't reveal anything of any consequence but they did show a couple of clips of some of her first scenes. I'm sorry to say that stories of her having trouble with the accent are well founded, she sounded barely northern, let alone Manchester born and bred as I believe the character is supposed to be.

As it happens I was watching The Road to Coronation Street at the weekend and in it, great emphasis is put on Tony Warren's insistence that the actors are nothern as a southern actor putting on a northern accent just wouldn't be convincing. By all means have southern actors in the programme, I had no problem with the Baldwin clan for instance, but having them try to fake a northern accent rarely cuts the barm cake.

We'll be bringing you a video preview of Stella's first scene later today, so have a watch of that and see what you think.
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10 comments:

  1. gab13 June 2011 at 13:04

    i saw that and agree not very convincing yet she says shes been up there doing a play all year

    well she needs more lessons coz i just think her southern accent is coming through too much-i'll give her a chance but im not convinced

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  2. Jo13 June 2011 at 13:17

    Shame about the accent.
    Can't be as annoying as Xin's voice.

    Why the funny Bill Oddie picture? It did make me giggle.

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  3. Sunny Jim13 June 2011 at 13:35

    Sharon Marshall, This Morning's soaps correspondent, just tweeted this: "@Corrie_Blogger In fairness I'd say that's the weakest scene accent wise, I like her, fully expecting to just see her as Cindy, but no".

    Here's hoping she's right.

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  4. Tvor13 June 2011 at 13:37

    I'd give her a bit of time to settle into it more. It's early days yet.

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  5. Dolly Tubb13 June 2011 at 13:47

    I agree Sunny Jim, southerners - no problem, but if they can't do a northern accent then don't. After all, that's what an actor is supposed to be able to do - play a character convincingly and realistically. Jessie Wallace played a blinder so it can be done. Bad accents detract from the character and the plot so I hope it improves!

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  6. Anonymous13 June 2011 at 13:54

    I thought she sound okay, but John Michie sounded like he was trying to be too Northern (or is that Southern to him LOL)

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  7. Anonymous13 June 2011 at 14:02

    I'm with TVOR on this give her some time.

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  8. Dishwasher Crab13 June 2011 at 15:37

    Jo - Many years ago, when he was a Goodie, Bill Oddie was a master of the ancient Lancastrian martial art of Ecky Thump, which involved wielding a black pudding.

    Perhaps if Michelle Collins eats enough black pudding she will start to sound local. What a shame Roy and Hayley are away on their hols, I'm sure they could've sorted her out with a good fry-up.

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  9. gab13 June 2011 at 18:42

    the fact is though she admitted she had been doing the accent for months already in a play! just based on that she should have it nailed already

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  10. Anonymous15 June 2011 at 15:54

    Just don't like the woman. Send her back to Eastenders.

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