Was it just me or did Deirdre recently refer to Blanche's sister, the rarely mentioned but obviously still with us, Beryl Linfield?I am sure I heard Deirdre telling Tracy in the shop the other week that she was off to visit Aunty Beryl. Does this mean Beryl lives in the vicinity? If so, why have we never met her? This vexes me. Poor Beryl rarely gets a look in and didn't even make an appearance at Blanche's funeral a few years back.
I seem to remember Stuart Blackburn mentioning in an interview, possibly after Stephanie Cole's departure was announced, that the production team would be looking to cast a new older character. So far nothing else has been said about that, but I do think the older cast could use a new addition to liven things up and create more stories. Who would be better than Beryl Linfield?
I'm not saying we should sully Blanche Hunt's memory by bringing in a carbon copy of the much missed battleaxe. It wouldn't be fair to the character or that wonderful actress, the late, great Maggie Jones. Instead, I think it would be interesting to present Beryl as the complete opposite of Blanche. It would still allow some on-screen memories of Blanche to be shared and it would give Deirdre a new focus, rather than just tutting at Tracy and Rob. I worry that Deirdre will go the way of Emily - only being mentioned when she is babysitting for Fiz or Tracy, and always off-screen.
As so little is known about Beryl (to my knowledge at least) it would give the casting department free reign. There are so many fantastic older actresses out there to choose from. My only ask would be that they don't go for someone too famous. Although it has the initial media buzz when the casting is announced, they seldom stay long and that irritates long term viewers who enjoy continuity.So do you agree we should be introduced to Beryl? If so, who would you like to see in the part?
Follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82
Download our App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook
All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
19 comments:
Cast June Whitfield as Beryl.
June Whitfield would be wonderful but she was Blanche's friend, May. No reason why the older character couldn't be May if tptb wanted June Whitfield. I don't think it matters if the actor is well-known because 'Auntie Beryl/May/whoever' could pop in and out of storylines. However, they might need a younger 'older character' in the role in order to carry on the tradition in the future.
I thought Daddy Connor was going to stick around but looks like he didn't cut the mustard. You know, it's hard to think of any well-known actresses of a certain age as we don't see many on TV. I could only think of Lynda Baron and she's associated with EE.
Lynda Baron is great (as is June Whitfield of course)
Lynda B did appear I'm Corrie briefly back in the 1990s and of course she was wonderful as Violet Carson in The Road to Coronation Street
June's 90 next year and told me she regards herself as semi-retired - and that was nearly ten years ago. If a job comes up that interests her (anything Jennifer Saunders asks her to do, for example) she'll do it but I can't imagine she'd commit to an on-going corrie contract. She'd make a fantastic Beryl, but don't see that as a possibility.
One of the best older actresses on tv currently is unfortunately off limits for Corrie - I'd loved to see the amazing Ann Reid as Beryl, but can you imagine how confusing that would be for the Barlows? Enough to drive Peter back to the bottle ... oh wait ...
I would ike Arnold (blanche's fiance at her death) Great to see who was matched with blanche and personality development can go anywhere as well as age.
Sadly I think they need to get rid of some deadwood before adding new characters.
I am against "names" coming into the street. Les Dennis's recent cameo was just odd. Ian McKellan was dreadful, Kym Marsh seems to use the Street as a platform for her tabloid career as Helen Flanagan did. Give jobbing actors a break!
Ye, it would be nice to have auntie Beryl appear. Blanche is dreadfully missed. I would like her though to be a comedy character, a slightly skittish loveable forgetful old sweetie who would lighten the mood. There are a lot of older semi retired comedy actresses out there who could fit the part.
If Aunt Beryl was the opposite of Blanche, she'd be Emily Bishop.
Wouldn't they be better off giving the current cast of older actors more to do? It must be quite disheartening for the likes of Emily or Audrey to be called into work for a couple of lines in the Kabin/salon or to hang round like extras filling up pews in the Rovers
Corrie desperately needs that older matriarch figure. Sylvia was the closest they ever came to replicating the original matriarch, Ena. And Blanche was another legend in her own right and much missed. Auntie Beryl would be a welcome newcomer!! :)
Blackburn clearly has no plans to introduce older characters in Corrie. Anyone who watched his tenure at Emmerdale would know how badly he sidelined the older characters - as soon as he left, they started appearing in episodes more and more. Not a coincidence! :(
NZ Coro Junkie - I agree with you....and we do not need another Emily. Also how many Blanche stories could there be? The woman is dead...let her rest.
I say give something interesting for the oldtimers to do that are already there.
NZ Coro Junkie - perhaps that's all Eileen Derbyshire wants to do now, and who can blame her?
And just because Beryl isn't Blanche doesn't mean she has to be an Emily character at all.
Fair enough Just Saying, but there were more older characters not so long ago so I think there is room for a few more to freshen things up
I think the Actress Miriam Karlin, would of been good as Blanche's sister, unforetunately I don't think the actress is still with us!
How about Linda Baron? Yes please lets have Auntie Beryl to relieve us from the utter boredom that is MaddaR and Sophie, wooden Maria the stalker and Kal the Fool.
I think Deirdre herself is doing a good enough job of morphing into Blanche, without needing another version. Some of her put downs recently have been pure Blanche.
I don't think we need another version of Blanche, that wasn't my point. I said we need a new older character
I wish Sylvia would make a comeback! She was THE best (since Blanche. She could deliver a cutting/sharp line like nobody's business. Loved when she put people in their place. And that undercurrent of humour was perfection!
JB in Canada
I agree, Stephanie Cole was superb
Post a Comment