Corrie remembered from 1979: episode 1947

By crikey, we're off to the dim and distant past as we remember an episode first broadcast on 28 November 1979.

It's the day of Gail Potter's wedding to Brian Tilsley. Gail is looking pensive, probably trying to fathom out why she is wearing a grim blue towelling robe. Our Brian, meanwhile, is shovelling fried pork products down his throat at number 5, bouffant hairdo casting a shadow over the breakfast table. Ivy clatters around, possibly trying to distract any attention from her chunky brown crockery.

At the Rovers, Annie is preparing the Select for the wedding reception. Bet stands around sporting a long scarf tied to her beehive. As Annie remembers her own reception, Hilda screeches into view and ruins the moment. Annie orders her not to touch a thing.

Back at number 11, Audrey shuffles into view and lights a fag, or breakfast as she probably calls it. She utters a few motherly words of wisdom. No one remarks that she appears to be only a couple of years older than Gail but some things are better left unsaid.

Style-wise, the clothes are definitely of their time and are therefore hideous. The men are a sea of washed-out beige and grey. Maid of honour Suzie wafts by in a chiffon tent and even Gail looks like some medieval nun in her high-necked wedding frock. The guests are non-too glamorous either. Ena's sporting a black tea-cosy and armour-plated great coat, Albert's got his flasher-mac on and Deirdre looks as though she's popped out to the shops.

Sadly, wedding guests are in short supply. There's no Elsie, Len, Rita, Betty, Emily, Alf or Renee. Instead we get our first glimpse of Jack Duckworth, looking shifty on a church pew. Ivy's parents, Jim and Alice Nelson are also present. Again, the producers seem to have cast actors not much older than Lynn Perrie.

Gail sets off for the church, accompanied by Mike Baldwin and waved off by two extras and Fred Gee. The glamour of it all. Needless to say, the church is virtually empty save for the rent-a-crowd actors at the back. A man wearing a bow tie is playing the organ or possibly auditioning for something else as the miserable bride makes her way down the aisle. The guests are obviously bored. Ken and Deirdre have a chat, Stan tries to remember the name of his best man and Ena bellows the kind of 'shush' that could have doused the altar candles.

Gail delivers her responses like a minor member of the Royal Family, accompanied by some bizarre shots, one of which appears to place Brian about twenty feet from her. Anyway, the deed is done and Brian gives his lovely new wife a tiny peck on the cheek. Romance is obviously as dead as a cobblestone in Weatherfield.

Lines of the episode:
"I've got a tongue like a corduroy cap" (Suzie)
"It's hardly going to be a society wedding is it?" (Annie)
"By 'eck Hilda, you've lived life to the dregs" (Bet)
"He'll not make me cry, not Brian . . ." (Gail) . . .  oh dear

Let's end with Gail and Brian as we never got to see them - together in middle age!