So we learn that Tina McIntyre is to be killed off next year. The Rovers barmaid cum child minder cum Rita's surrogate daughter will probably be murdered. Apparently this storyline will run for some considerable time and involve many cast members.
Yes, my Corrie friends, this can only mean one thing: a Whodunnit mystery. To be honest, I've seen this coming. In recent times, young Tina has made oh so many enemies for herself, and not just in our house. Let's recap Tina's eventful few months...
She's upset the Armstrong-Windass applecart by reneging on the yawnsome surrogacy deal and initially refusing to hand over baby Jake. She's taken David Platt in, making an enemy of Kylie, and chucked him out again making an enemy of David. She's put a brick through Tracy's shop window. And of course she's about to embark on a cringey affair with Peter Barlow. I reckon Carla could have Tina in a fight any day. Mind you, Mrs Connor would probably just set one of her minions on the barmaid...she could always ask Michelle, if she can be bothered to stop pouting and uncross her arms.
My ideal outcome to what is likely to be a lumbering storyline over many months, or "explosive" as the powers that be often choose to describe it, is for Tracy Barlow to be the culprit. I've been looking for a plausible way for Tracy to be removed from our screens ever since her pointless return what seems like 25 years ago. She still has no redeeming qualities, even when face to face with Faye and Grace. Making Tracy the murderer would be a convenient way to kill two birds with one stone, as it were.If Tracy is only being kept on to give Deirdre some family, let's see someone else from Deirdre's past come back and provide a bit of colour. What about Blanche's sister? Tracy would be an excellent choice - she already has form. I for one would love Tina's demise to be a full-blown homage to Charlie Stubbs' offing of 2007. Maybe the powers that be will turn Tina gay just so Tracy-luv can get herself dolled up and perform that charming dance once more? Wouldn't that be a fitting swan song? That ornament must surely still be knocking about amongst Anna Windasses' nicknacks.
Or maybe Crazy Kirsty will escape from jail, return to Weatherfield and get her own back on Tina for all those tedious parking escapades that provided the early indication that lovely Kirsty was a tad unhinged? I'd forgive the flurry of sequins and the faint echo of a poorly timed Bruce Forsyth gag just to see Natalie Gumede make a return.The prospect of another big whodunnit storyline doesn't fill me full of enthusiasm. We've seen it all before. Someone will be wrongly suspected and imprisoned, everyone else will look conveniently guilty at regular intervals and there will be more red herrings than Frescho's fish counter can provide. The main suspects will all be lined up for an identity parade photo shoot and nobody will be allowed to give anything away until the big reveal.
Tina has been front and centre of far too many storylines for my liking, she does tend to dominate. However I have enjoyed aspects of the character and Michelle Keegan has definitely been an asset to Coronation Street. I hope she does really well when she moves on to pastures new. I just think Corrie could serve her better than simply bumping her off in a painting by numbers story. I may be wrong of course, it may have us completely gripped. I'd just hoped for some fresh ideas.
What would your ideal send off be for Tina McIntyre? And if she does have to meet a grisly end, who would you like to see do time for the crime?
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