Our blogger Tvor wrote them up yesterday and now we have Phil’s interview in full, especially for those Corrie fans overseas who can’t see these video interviews online.
Goodbye to Betty
Betty’s wake is coming up and there was a wonderful clip shown in the interview showing the moment when Betty’s son Gordon, played by Bill Kenwright, breaks the sad news to Rita, Emily and Dennis that Betty has passed away. Phil said that actor Bill Kenwright returned as Gordon for a week’s worth of episodes. The shock storyline is that documents discovered in Betty’s house clearance shows that Annie Walker left the Rovers Return to Betty in her will. But Betty never took up the bequest and kept it secret. So, who owns the pub now? Phil said it will come as a shock for Stella but will make Betty by rights the longest serving landlady of the Rovers Return.
Sue Johnston joins Corrie
Phil confirmed that ex-Brookside and Royle Family actress, the fab Sue Johnston is joining Coronation Street as Gloria Price, Stella’s mum, Leanne and Eva’s grandma. She’ll be seen on screen in June and starts filming in two weeks time. Gloria will be feisty and comes into Corrie fresh from running a bar in Spain, She’ll be a very glamorous, perma-tanned, terrifying, domineering, overbearing mother. Sounds great!
Rita’s wedding
Rita and Dennis are set to get married on Jubilee Day – Monday 4th June – but there is some question as to whether they will end up wed, or not. Will Rita get to the church on time after she gets kidnapped? Kidnapped? There’ll be a great big extravagant street party to celebrate Jubilee Day with characters dressed up as pop stars from the 60 years of the Queen’s reign. This sounds a lot of fun.
Terry Duckworth’s return
Phil talked a little about the return of Nigel Pivaro as Terry Duckworth. Terry returns when Tommy comes into money from Jeff Horton’s death. Phil said it’s “Thrilling to have him back, he’ll be as bad as ever. “ However, when asked a question from a viewer if Terry’s other son Brad Armstrong would be returning to Corrie. Phil replied: “I didn’t know he had another son!” Really? Oh dear.
Peter and Carla
Phil said there’ll be no happy ever after for this warring couple. He said they were the Burton and Taylor of soap, car-crash television. Carla and Peter (or as we call them on this website, CarPet) will be together for a while, but Phil said there will be no happy ever after for them.
Bill Roache retiring?
Another viewer questioned a rumour that Bill Roache wanted to retire. Phil said he couldn’t ever see this happening.
Watch the interview online here.
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17 comments:
Stupid storyline about "Betty's secret". Don't the writers know that we avid viewers know more about the programme's past than they do and we have it being re-written?
Can anyone somehow upload the video of the interview? I'd really like to the see the scene where they show the news being broken...
As someone commented yesterday, the Walkers never owned the Rovers outright, the brewery did. There wouldn't have been anything to bequeath. Even if Collinson has no idea of the show's history, the archivist should. The pub has only been privately owned when the brewery tried to offload it and Bet couldn't raise the money so the Duckies bought it. It's been in private hands ever since.
Who would kidnap Rita? Probably Mad Mary. Mark my words.
Although this is a nice idea about Betty it has somehow made me cross. Annie Walker didnt die whilst at the rovers and even if she had she dodnt own the place anyway. I really hope this is pointed out by the likes of ken, emily and rita or else it will be plain stupid. Things like this would never have happened when Daran Little worked on the programme. The kidnap thing will be something and nothing and is meant to hook us in. - Micky
Tvor, you are spot on as usual.
Even if the Rovers was Annie Walker's to bequeath, why would Betty keep it a secret? This just sums up Collinson's reign. Lack of knowledge and respect for the street's history, silly stories that make no sense and overpromising and underdelivering. I haven't forgotten that supposedly the Street would never be the same again after the tram crash.
Adam Rekitt, you're right there about Collinson's attitude toward the Street.
It's just another reason for him to leave as soon as possible, crap storylines, a complete lack of respect for the history of the show and blatant promotion of his favourites.
The sooner he is replaced the better and it would be nice if he took Dev and Kevin with him.
Error in the link to the interview:
http://www.blogger.com/%20http://www.itv.com/thismorning/showbiz/soap-execs-phil-collinson
Doesn't go anywhere...
Thanks, Anonymouse, I've updated the link. Sorry about that!
Yet another 'feisty' woman (aka bitch) joining the cast. Oh yay.
Bill Roache retiring? Not likely with all those young ladies just waiting in the wings hoping for a go with the old goat.
Tvor, I have to agree with you on Mary kidnapping Rita. She'll be overcome with the fact that it's Rita getting married, not her. She won't be able to muscle her way into the wedding the way that she intruded Roy & Hayley's marriage because Rita will be strong enough to refuse to be railroaded into Mary's vision, therefore she'll have to go about interrupting it in a different manner.
Ha,ha. I like the way you used the word 'railroaded' in reference to Mary and weddings.
Yet another same old, same old feisty person to join.
And as for Annie, well that is a huge continuity error as she never owned the pub as stated by others and even if she did wouldn't she leave it to Billy or Joan, her children, over her hotpot server?
Spot on! Phil Collinson’s arrogance towards the show’s long history certainly shines through that’s so apparent. You can’t but think that his own agenda comes before anything else and us mere mortals with longer memories than he matter not! As for the kidnapping – oh please, why can’t we have a ‘normal’ wedding for once?!! What’s the matter with the man, things are so OTT it’s not even laughable anymore never mind tense or full of suspense! I want this man to leave so much as he’s ruining (ruined) a once brilliant programme . Send him down south to that other soap where he will fit like a glove. Oh and he’s so smug tooooooo
I know. I have studied Corrie history for many years and any inconsistency with the history I will know. Collinson seems so self absorbed he will do anything for money and publicity.
BTW I have the autograph of Philip Lowrie. I sent a letter to him at Granada and got a signed photo from him today.
Surely the "reveal" about Annie must be a red herring? We all know the Walkers didn't own the Rovers. Doris Speed was last seen on-screen in late 1983, and the character of Annie officially declared she was retiring in 1984 in the story. It was always made plain that the Walkers were tenants. Son Billy took over the tenancy briefly, but quickly left, leaving Sarah Ridley of the brewery to appoint Gordon Lewis as temporary manager.
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