Coronation Street Blog: Character Study: Gail Potter Tilsley Platt Hillman McIntyre

Friday 26 August 2011

Character Study: Gail Potter Tilsley Platt Hillman McIntyre

With Gail and Kylie at war with each other, I thought it might be time to explore Gail's past. How did she come to be an interfering mother-in-law? Was it a personality change or a logical progression over the years? I think that, yes, she grew from an independent and stubborn soul to an Ivy Tilsley clone and it was pretty much inevitable. Read my character study here and find out about the life of Gail (pick a last name).

11 comments:

Defrost Indoors said...: I wish they'd bring back Ted! Also, what is it with that family and abortions?; 26 August 2011 at 15:51
carol said...: Does anyone else find her incessant blinking annoying as hell?!; 26 August 2011 at 15:54
Anonymous said...: The blinking doesn't bother me, but did I miss an explanation as to why the kindly Ted disappeared from our screens?
I mean, there's the odd reference to Sarah, why not to Ted?; 26 August 2011 at 17:31
Tvor said...: There wasn't really an explanation and he is mentioned from time to time. The actor just hasn't been available.; 26 August 2011 at 17:35
Anonymous said...: I love Gail. She is so misunderstood. With everything that has happened to her in her life no wonder she gets ratty sometimes!- Micky; 26 August 2011 at 18:01
Anonymous said...: I think Gails character is brilliant. Her misery is her greatest pleasure.; 26 August 2011 at 21:07
ChiaGwen said...: I'm with you Carol on the obsessive blinking...highly annoying! I'm surprised Norris hasn't made a sarcastic remark about it. Can you imagine if she was with Marc....eeeek, clenched teeth and frantic blinking.. :0; 26 August 2011 at 22:01
Poida said...: Anyone else think that Gail is channeling a certain mother-in-law that used to do the same thing to her.....Ivy.....; 27 August 2011 at 07:08
Anonymous said...: you wrote that she had 'blinders' on a few times in the character study - didn't you mean 'blinkers'?
Otherwise - very good, well done! John H; 27 August 2011 at 08:45
Frosty the Snowman said...: Why bring in a character that is going to be "unavailable" in time to come? Surely with all the actors out there...... I just find Gail uber irritating and no disrespect to Helen Worth who always seems quite pleasant - I think Gail is stale (that rhymes) and should be written out or given a 6 month sabbatical. Its just groundhog day with her and her sour old face.; 27 August 2011 at 11:55
Humpty Dumpty said...: Gail's character swings between old harridan and little girl's whispery voice. She's a good actress except when she speaks very, very softly to show she's emotional. (Speak up, girl, get a grip!)

She's around 50 so, as she matures, she becomes one of the matriarchs of the street. This is what the writers should concentrate on, looking beyond the family as she realises they're adults. She could volunteer in teenage mums unit or anything that shows she has a strong moral backbone, misguided though it may be sometimes.

Gail can also offer good comedy along with pal Sally. Together, they could be a mixture of Greek chorus and the ladies from 'Last of the Summer Wine.'; 27 August 2011 at 14:15