For many Corrie fans the writing was on the wall from day one. Who was this spiteful interloper, this bo-ho battle-axe? There was never a chance to warm to Gloria simply because there was nothing for us to cheer for.
A mean-mouthed mother of a character no one really liked. None of this is the fault of the superb Sue Johnston. She simply worked with what she was given. For UK viewers, familiar with Sue's sterling work in Channel 4 soap Brookside, and long-running BBC comedy The Royle Family, it was a real disappointment.
Of course, it isn't the first time that a cobbles character has failed to gel. Between us we could probably name enough to stretch from the Red Rec to the Weathy Arms but here's a few of my own top flops:
Played by Fanny Carby, Amy was ushered in as Vera's mother towards the end of 1987. Generally loud, uncouth and a poor replacement for Hilda Ogden, Amy was eventually uncovered as a petty thief and booted out of the Street forever. We didn't miss her.
The Clayton Family
If ever a bunch of characters made you want to scream out "wrong!" then these were the bunch to do it. Tedious trumpet playing milkman, gruff unsympathetic wife, dull-as-ditch water daughter who had an improbable liaison with Terry Duckworth. Oh and there was another daughter but who cared? Not the viewers. After some old nonsense about a frock and the bay-beh storyline, it was goodbye.
Debs BrownlowNatalie Barnes' hair-dressing sister bored us rigid with her unconvincing 'eeh-bah-gum' accent. Memorable for 'nowt', she was cut and blown from Weatherfield with Natalie's Geordie barman.
Lauren Wilson
She lasted barely six months and that was possibly five months too many. Nothing about this grim barmaid worked and it was with no regret whatsoever that we waved her off on holiday to Spain where Sean Tully left her.
.png)
Ravi DesaiThe long-forgotten former Corner Shop owner who was forever referring to Rita as 'dear lady' and generally being creepy. He disappeared overnight and returned to India . . . and was immediately replaced by the unique Dev Alahan.
Just a handful of those who maybe did not shine as brightly as anticipated. Which other characters brightened up Weatherfield by simply packing their bags and leaving?
You can follow us on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog
All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
23 comments:
Great post - and Uncle Uhmed too and er Stella Price.
But who remembers the names? I can only think of characters in recent years as the rest, thankfully, have faded from my memory. Lloyd's girlfriend (Cheryl, maybe) and her ex (Chris, maybe). Scott wrote a very funny blog about her forgettableness a couple of years ago.
Some fans will jump to Gloria's defence and say 'that's the whole point', we're not supposed to like the character. But I don't think that was the original intention. I loved her eccentricity and witty remarks at first. If she had interacted with other residents and found a couple of friends to gossip with, she would have become a much more rounded character. As it was, she was stuck with Stella (enough said) and that put paid to any character development.
I remember the Morton family...Sinbad from Brookside played the dad, and Emma Edmonson the daughter was in the year above me at school. It was a very short-lived venture, I'm not sure why they didn't work, I just don't think they gelled well in the show.
The family of Sinbad. Introduced with a house, a shop, and a flurry of storylines, and the only memorable character was Sinbad from Brookside. The creepy Grandad just vanished, his weirdly old daughter was sent off to London, and finally the rest of them skipped off to Spain. No one cared.
I didn't like Ronnie - Steve's girlfriend. There was also one with short hair and a Scottish accent. Who was she anyway?
At least Ronnie had a short storyline that can be remembered - but as for the other one? Who knows?
Stella Price, Flick Khan, Luke Strong (factory person I think), Rob Donovan, Sandra Butler (Elsie's niece) Wilf Starkey (who was a barman in 1985) to name a few !!
The father and son who ran the bookies were a big flop.
Also there's been a run of identikit male factory bosses- Greg Kelly, Luke Strong, Joe Carter, Carla's brother
Lily Dempsey was a battleaxe character who was brought in as a Phyllis Pearce replacement. She had a storyline regarding some sort of feud with Alf Roberts, but soon disappeared, never to be mentioned again. Very similar to the Amy Burton scenario. Then there was Andy McDonald's girlfriend Paula Maxwell, a girl so dull she would make Maria Connor seem scintillating by comparison. And let's not forget the expressionless barman Vinny Sorrell, who mercifully took Debs Brownlow along with him when he abruptly departed Weatherfield..
The guy who plays Carla's brother.
There's absolutely nothing to like about him - he's an ex/current-con whom the writers have seen fit to make into a messiah for all things business. He acts as if he's Steve Jobs and Warren Buffet rolled into one, when the reality is 'if it can go wrong, it will go wrong.'
Selling the stolen silk ten feet from the factory was an absolute stroke of genius.
Any chance we could have a poll on which character we would most like to see axed? Normally a new producer gets rid of the dead wood soon after he arrives, but this one doesn't look like he is going to do so.
Frosty quite liked Uncle Umed but remembers the dreadful sterotype hammily acted "aunties" of Sunita, one who had played another relation of the Alahans previously. Not forgetting also the ghastly sheepskin coat wearing neer do well Uncle Len Windass who thankfully disappeared never to be mentioned again.
The most memorable Morton for me was the wonderfully monstrous ex-wife Teresa Bryant. Loved her outrageous antics and her feud with Liz McDonald. However, she became involved in an unlikely relationship with Lloyd, after which the only way was OUT. By the way, why does Lloyd never gel with any of his onscreen love interests? Jodie Morton, Teresa, Liz, and now the invisible Mandy - none of these pairings have clicked at all!
Joyce Smedley, Judy Mallet's mum.
Maxine Peacocks mum played by an ex Bond Girl.
The father and son who ran the bookies were awful, Dan the son went out with Leanne and got locked in the Rovers cellar by Steve and the dad Harry went out with Liz but was exposed as a love rat. They need to get rid of Rob the guy who plays him is just awful. Loved Uncle Umed! Anyone remember Sunny the guy who went out with Michelle but cheated on her with Sean Tully?
It's a real shame about Gloria. I think most of us had such high hopes for the character but she just doesn't work. I hope Stella leaves soon too.
Rob Donovan is another flop. Maybe he will work in time but at the moment he's just annoying. Especially with Tracey Barlow! They are awful together.
I actually liked Ravi, but then, it could be because I think the actor himself is phenomenal. I enjoyed that short lived story line.
Newfy Pearl, I think "the other one" was Irish (the actress was also in that excellent film about nuns mistreating girls - too lazy to look up the name) and on her last appearance she came into the pub to tell Steve something to find that he was back with Karen - or was it Tracey? Anyway, I, have always thought that she must have been pregnant, given Steve's amazing ability to impregnate any woman who looks at him lovingly, and I have a feeling she may turn up again one day soon...-NN
I think when the street try to bring in characters to replace old favourites, it just doesn't work.
I think the main character that has never worked, and never will work is that awful Rob Donovan, such a one dimensional character and he just irritates me with his smug looks. I'm sure he'll be gone soon, if anyone at Corrie HQ has any sense.
Wow, I totally forgot about the Morton family (most likely on purpose.) I remembered the dad, Darryl, and Mel but not the others.
Same with the father and son who owned the Bookies. I guess I've been pretty good at forgetting the characters that didn't work because I can't think of anyone to add to this list.
Dan Mason was one of the bookies I think. The son went out with Leanne, and didn't one of them get locked in the cellar? Also speaking of Leanne, remember Jack and Vera's creepy grandson who ran a restaurant with Leanne and Carla's cousin who dissapeared out of nowhere?
I usually can remember everything Corrie but there are quite a few characters I've completley forgotten about.
Its a shame about Glo, true, but why did she need to come back a second time? She'd already left once! This second run is a complete flop. Other characters that don't work? Stella and her daughter, and Karl. Make them all go away...
Steve's brother - the boring one....lets hope he doesn't pop up again
Post a Comment