Cosy crimes and gritty sagas by Corrie Blog editor Glenda, published by Headline. Click pic below!

Sunday 10 August 2014

Taking the Michael

Well, he's certainly inveigled (thanks for that one Ken) his way into the life of simpering Gail but how is Michael Rodwell shaping up with the viewers?

For UK fans, there was the age-old problem of casting a familiar face in a leading role. Many will remember Les Dennis from his 1980s comedy partnership with the late Dustin Gee, where Les often impersonated Mavis Riley to Dustin's Vera Duckworth. For fifteen years he was the host of the ITV quiz show Family Fortunes. Taking a role in the UK's leading soap could have been problematic and yet he already feels like a fixture.

Gail's life, as usual, is a whirling mess of nonsense. Both of her sons are emotionally stunted and one of them appears to be even older than she is. Add to this her increasingly ineffectual mother, firebrand daughter-in-law and 'naughty' step grandson and it suddenly becomes apparent why a failed burglar has become her rock.

Will Michael last and will he come husband number five? As we know, confetti is like catnip to our Gail so we can probably expect her to be hauling herself in front of another unsuspecting registrar within the year. Cue disapproving chorus of tight-lipped Audrey, sneering David and elderly camp villain Nick. Given that Gail managed not to have happy endings with a mummy's boy, the dull nurse, a serial killer or the serial klutz, she may just be on to something with Mr Whippy, the thieving ice-cream van man.

As we know, Michael has a family of his own so let's hope they enter stage left before too long. Can we expect a son or daughter unhappy at the prospect of their father hitching up with Gail and her less-than-stable entourage? Will Michael get worried when Gail's Oedipus Syndrome kicks in yet again? Or will it be a case of  roses around the door and happy ever after? With this being Weatherfield, we shouldn't bank on it.

Michael Rodwell. Yay or nay?


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13 comments:

Scott Willison said...

I'm enjoying Les Dennis so far, and anything which annoys Nick is to be treasured, but I'm hoping he gets more comedy. I can understand that when introducing a comic actor in a straight role you first want to establish him as "real", but there have been some great hints of his potential; having Michael join the Steve/Lloyd/Eileen team in the cab office is a master stroke. Les Dennis is a great comic actor - use him!

Glenda Young said...

Definite Yay from me. I saw Les Dennis in theatre in London in an Alan Acyckbourne play some years ago so know how good an actor he was away from the comedy of Mavis and the game show presenting. I'm loving him as Michael and hope his relationship with Gail will keep that smile on her face.

Defrost Indoors said...

Really enjoying the character thus far, and they've set it up well with lots of connections -- not just the Platt family but also the cab office, so there is plenty of potential there, and I agree, he already feels like a fixture (in a good way).

Anonymous said...

Loving it so far!
Bev

Anonymous said...

Yea from me, he's fitted in really well, I think. I also liked him as Mavis, but he's definitely more rounded than that. I agree with Scott, putting him in with the cabbies is good, and if they let him expand his role, and after Steve and Lloyd get over the botched Andrea tiff, they'll make a good three-some with Eileen as ref!

Humpty Dumpty said...

I'd like Gail and Michael to stay together. Perhaps Michael's daughter went to school with Kylie (the writers could get round any feasibility problems as they always do!) and stories could come from this tension. I don't want to see all the off-spring hating their parent's partner. Realistic but it's been done to death in Corrie.

Please don't waste Les Dennis. Gail and Michael could be a great couple and good friends with Sally and Tim.

Tvor said...

So far, so good. I think he's very good. I hope they don't misuse him. There aren't too many very nice men on the Street that aren't feckless, henpecked, pompous or spawns of the devil these days. Putting him in the cab office will give him some friends which he will need. We need to see him make a few more. Maybe he and Kevin can be mates so we don't have scene after scene of Kevin mooning over Sally.

Anonymous said...

Yay or nay?

Well, I don't really know...

Frosty the Snowman said...

Yay from Frosty. Enjoying Michel Rodwell in a stream of other tiresome, annoying and exhausted characters. Les Dennis is making a good job, but that is the sign of a good actor, versatile so you believe in the character rather than seeing him as the person. I hope he and Gail dont rush up the aisle, let them have a bit of old fashioned courtship first. He has been a good influence on Gail as she hasnt been half so irritating lately.

Wim said...

I had the 'advantage' of never having heard of Les Dennis before seeing him appear as Michael, so I had no idea what to expect. However, I've liked Michael from the moment I saw him, and I think he's just the sort of character Coronation Street needs: basically a good, decent guy, paying the price for a stupid decision made in a moment of despair.

What I've seen so far is good, solid acting, a real spark between Michael and Gail, and the possibility of - finally, after 4 decades - some stability and happiness for Mrs McIntyre Hillman Platt Tilsley née Potter.

Anonymous said...

Gail deserves some happiness considering her sons are both annoying jerks and her daughter-in-law treats her like dirt. Michael seems like a nice guy and treats Gail well. I hope they make a go of it.

abbyk said...

Another Yay for Michael. And for Michael and Gail. Would so like to see them *eventually* move away from her kids and get her sparkly life back. I only hope that putting him in the same workplace with Eileen doesn't cause any sparks between them.

Zagg said...

I like him a lot. I wish they had brought him on the show under better circumstances though. Or I wish Gail would have one major blowout with her hypocritical idiot sons and spouses and remind them of all of their trespasses...like David pushing her down the stairs and his detention time, Kiley selling her kid and stripping and sleeping with her brother-in-law, Nick having no problem loving Leanne with her nefarious background and Nick sleeping with his sister-in-law etc.. I think one major screaming bout in the middle of the pub aimed directly at them would shut them all up. They deserve it. And she deserves some happiness.
At this point I am actually surprised at myself at how much I loathe Nick. I can't bear to watch him anymore. His self righteous act needs to be knocked down a peg or ten. Either fix him or kill him off or send him to Italy, he's insufferable.

GRITTY SAGAS BY CORRIE BLOG EDITOR GLENDA YOUNG, PUBLISHED BY HEADLINE. CLICK PIC BELOW!

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