Personally, I always feel a bit sad when a character seems not to have worked out - well, other than Tracy McBarlow. An actor has to work with whatever is given to them and in the case of Stella, Michelle Collins found herself shoe-horned into far too many irrelevant scenes. Her involvement in the storyline centred on Betty's death left most people gasping in incredulity.
The departure of Stella, if that is the case, should have paved the way for something new, something exciting or perhaps a bold piece of casting for a very different landlord or landlady. Instead, we get Liz MacDonald. Again.
Judging by some comments, anyone would think we are about to experience the Second Coming. In Liz's case, it's the umpteenth coming. The woman is a like a boomerang in a basque. No matter how far we throw her . . . Anyway, we will get another chance to see her clattering across the cobbles, dressed in some garish effort. She's more Ronald McDonald than Liz McDonald.
Will she add anything to life in the Street? It's doubtful. There will be the usual tired romance with someone inappropriate (Norris? Sean?) There will interminable scenes in the pub as she hollers and splutters like some angry Tweety Pie. A few red wine and fag ash scenes with Deirdre, all reminiscent of Marg Simpson's scary twin sisters. Several long-winded visits to Andy in Spain who will require 'looking after' following yet another accident. Close-ups of that rotten zig-zag necklace. Then she will disappear into the night yet again.Arguably, Liz McDonald is no Corrie 'great'. At best she was a questionable mother and an average barmaid. My heart doesn't leap at the thought of her returning. She will never have the gravitas of Annie Walker or the popular touch of Bet Lynch - and that's a problem. If she comes back wiser, calmer and more balanced then hurrah. What the Street needs now is a woman of a certain age with a bit of common sense who is both grounded and happy with herself. It doesn't need some shrieking fishwife who looks like a half-baked drag queen.
Should the past be left where it is? Cameos from past characters are always welcome - we would probably all like to see one or two more. Corrie, like life, should move on rather than revisiting past glories. Or even past Glorias. Are we happy for old faces to return or should we leave them safely anchored in yesteryear?
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
28 comments:
Bev is undoubtably one of the Corrie greats! It was inevitable she'd return. I hope they write a good mix of serious and comedic storylines for Liz as she can act both brilliantly, as proven over the past 20 years.
I was looking at an old interview with MC where she is explaining how she soldiered on amid the complaints about her accent - and everything else. She said about joining the soap: 'I thought it would be plain sailing.' Well, there you have it. Any actor who comes to a major role in Corrie should feel honoured and suitably terrified. She clearly didn't understand the enormity of the task. If she had, things may have worked out differently. As for Liz, BC is on a six month contract to see how it works out. In other words, she could just be a familiar face bridging the gap till the new incumbent arrives. I've said it a million times and don't apologise for saying it again. Liza Tarbuck for the Rovers landlady!
Really not looking forward to Liz returning. She ain't "all that". She's actually kinda slutty.
I LOVE Liz! I am glad she is coming back. :)
LOL, David, now tell us what you really feel! I love your articles!
I love Liz and I'm pleased she'll be gracing the Rovers again! I do feel sorry for Michelle Collins who may be turfed out of a job because of the decision? Surely if Stella can't bare to be in the Rovers, then she won't want to stay on the street? Who knows, all she has left o stay for is Leanne. I do like Stella unlike most bloggers on here! I think Liz is one of the greats and look forward to seeing more of Steve!
Aw I love Liz. Glad she's returning. Hope she does have a ridiculous affair with someone unsuitable and wears terrible clothes whilst doing it. And gives Steve some gyp too, obviously.
Brilliant posts. Made me chuckle a few times.
I've not missed the harlot. She'll be back, like Barbara Windsor, thinking she's top dog of the street.
It's a shame they didn't do something better with Sue Johnson. What a waste of a great talent the made of her.
Thats a bit harsh, Very glad to see here return, I always liked liz.
we wont see her over in NZ for a couple of years.
Most of the reasons you don't want to see Liz back are just exactly why I'm looking forward to her return!
I think Liz is a Corrie staple but for the sake of the actress who plays her, I hope they have her return with an image makeover. Let her appear as a mature, secure, professional business woman and none of this ridiculous romance malarkey.
I'm fond of Liz. I don't think Stella is leaving - it's pretty obvious she'll end up running the Bistro, or at least go into business with Nick, and end up at loggerheads with Liz.
OMG this was absolutely hilarious!!! Best post I have read.
I agree that Liz should return with class.
I like Liz but I suspect the main reason most are excited to see her back is more that we want rid of Stella and her return seems to herald the beige bore's demise. I hope they are going to do some decent storylines for her instead of the only in a soap fairytale of a 60 year old who dresses like a 20 year old being some kind of man magnet as it would be ludicrous now. I also would like them to get rid of Michelle who brings nothing to the programe bar postering and the big IAM so Liz and her son Stevie baby can have some stories and good scenes together.
I don't know why they're bringing her back at all unless it's to give Steve M. something other to do than sit around the cabbie office gurning and eating cakes. They need to do a DNA test on Amy. Tracy is so vile that I don't understand why they didn't do the test when she was a babe. That would be an interesting storyline.
Totally agree with the post. I've never liked Liz behind the bar -- she doesn't come remotely near Annie Walker or Bet Lynch... I mostly found her a joke and a tired on at that. Please stay in Spain, Liz... I've nothing against the actress who may need the work, but the re-entry of Liz is like chewing a piece of old gum stuck to the bottom of the desk- all the flavour's long gone and it should be spat out rather than re-chewed...
somebody commented on Liz being a bit 'slutty'. Yes, that's the whole point.
I completely disagree with you...Liz McDonald is a corrie legend, a strong northern woman - everything Stella isn't. I really liked her as Rovers landlady last time we saw her with Becky & Steve. I was thrilled to hear she is coming back. Everyone loves Jim, so they do, and theres every chance he will get early parole. It's unfortunate that Bev Callard battles depression, which is why Liz sometimes has to go to spain at short notice. I look forward to seeing Steve, Michelle & Liz back behind the bar at the Rovers. Maybe Eva could get a job as Carla's assistant if Michelle moves on. Stella could get her old job back as Mrs Overall, cleaning the Bistro.
Bev is undoubtably one of the Corrie greats!
I think you misspelled greats, I think it should be grates.
I really don't like the character and I can't see her return being an addition to the current state of the street.
I just hope they don't pair with Liz McDonald and Barry Connor, Michelle's father who is returning, - that would be too predictable and boring, to say the least.
Anonymous 12:33. I agree they should do a DNA test on Amy and Steve (could never understand why Steve would believe Tracy with her history of perpetual lying?). Perhaps Roy could actually turn out to be Amy's biological father - maybe some comfort to him after Hayley passes away.....sniff.
I do hope it is true and Stella goes away for good. I started changing the channel every time she was on and that turned into not watching at all because she was in every single scene. That pasty beige wrinkly face, horrible voice and scraggy hair would never attract young gorgeous hunk like Jason. She just does not fit in, anywhere. If they do, indeed, get rid of Stella I may start watching again. I did like Liz and hope she returns. To make my viewing pleasure complete, just get rid of Tracy - another channel changer.
ChiaGwen - although I would love to see a storyline involving Roy playing a father role, he and Tracy never actually did the deed. Tracy drugged him and then took both their clothes off to make Roy think they had slept together when he woke up in the morning.
I don't think of Liz as a Corrie icon, but nonetheless she's a good character and will be a definite improvement on Stella as the landlady. She's fun, she inspires good snarky dialogue for the other characters and she works well with Steve and his various girlfriends.
Michelle Collins didn't really stand a chance in this role, because the writers first resorted to shoving us under our noses without really telling us anything about her. A nosey, interfering landlady could have really worked except that the writers and other characters seemed not to even realise that she was being nosey was her defining characteristic. And when she did finally get her own storylines, they made her out to be overly credulous and soft. I hope she is leaving because I don't see how they can save this character now.
Laura: Would you believe Tracy? She set her sights on Steve so of course would twist the story to suit her purposes. We know on Corrie the writers can change history, so even if it was true....things change :)
ChiaGwen: lol, well that's certainly true about the writers! But I remember them showing Roy completely passed out on the bed and Tracy taking his pants off, shuddering and grimacing the whole time. It would be pretty hard to believe she then...actually, no it wouldn't. This IS Tracy we're talking about!
It sounds to me like you want to see a more "beige" Liz McDonald when she returns. I for one want to see tarted-up Liz with the hideous zig-zag necklace :) Perhaps its because I've only been watching since 2009 (in Canada, so that's like the 2010 episodes and later) and I also like RuPaul's Drag Race, so maybe I'm just fond of half-baked drag queens :)
Post a Comment