One of the highlights in Corrie over the past week has been the return of that brilliant actress Susie Blake in the role of Bev Unwin. It has been nearly ten years since we last saw Bev on the cobbles but she has fitted back in immediately and was a great addition to all the episodes surrounding Deirdre's death.
I have long been a fan of Susie Blake. She was terrific in all her work with Victoria Wood and proves herself to be equally adept at comedy and drama, making her perfect for Weatherfield. It's such a shame Bev has gone again after making a return for only seven episodes. Anne Kirkbride has left such a big hole and while Deirdre is irreplaceable, I think there is always room for more mature female characters in Coronation Street. At the moment they are in short supply.
Yes we have Gail and Liz and Sally all still appearing regularly. Audrey is still there too but she is increasingly on the periphery of all the Platt antics and lacks a friend and confidante. Yasmeen is another mature lady with promise but the writers seem at a loss as to what to do with her. Roy's new friend Cathy is too new to know if she will become a classic character. We have Rita and Emily but they seem to be becoming even more background characters as 2015 progresses. I know Erica is sticking around for a while longer but I still haven't taken to the character.
I really like the idea of Eileen becoming closer to Liz however I think there needs to be a third cog in the wheel. Bev Unwin would be perfect. I loved how Bev's past grievance with Audrey was addressed last night, it showed there is still mileage in the character and it felt satisfying to see a long standing storyline resolved. i think Bev would be a much better friend for the likes of Liz and Eileen than Erica. It would also be great to see her behind the bar with Liz - much better than the dreadful Sarah Louise.
So would you like to see Susie Blake back in Coronation Street on a more permanent basis?
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19 comments:
Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
That's a yes then?
YES! I loved her before and it's been great to have her back...there's so much more to her character than some of the non-entities we're meant to care about these days.
Yes! She has integrated seamlessly back into the street and I agree that there's a space for a more mature older character who knows how to hold a story rather than all these flibbertigibbet 'youngsters' who bore me rigid (apart from Mikey North of course :) )
Can we drag her away from Mrs Browns boys though? I love 'Hilary'.
Yes I too think she would fit in well with Liz and certainly better than the awful 'Erica' . There's at least ten years difference in age between Liz and Eileen isn't there (?) I like them together tho . But of course Deidres shoes can never be filled. So it's a time of adjustment for all of us . Bev , Liz and Eileen - yes . Liz , Eileen and Erica - No thanks
Can't imagine she would want to. Gets far better work elsewhere.
It's a no-brainer, of course her return would be welcome.
Women chatting over a drink in the Rovers come in threes: Ena, Minnie & Martha; Rita, Emily & Audrey; Liz, Eileen & Deirdre.
What concerns me more is the lack of senior male characters. When Ken first heard of Deirdre's death his initial support was from Dev & Steve. Fine in their way but in the past there's have been Fred & Mike & Archie...
That's a really good point Sunny Jim.Apart from Ken, Norris and Roy, who else is there?
Yes much very so. I believe she's around 65, so we could get a lot of mileage from her for at least 15 years, health permitting. Helen Worth is only a year younger and she's a very active actress so why not Sue Blake.
Permitting that she wants to return, she'd be great.
The street does lack older men at the moment. You've get Ken and Norris and then Roy and Sharif who are in the 60-75 age group. You did have Dennis Tanner but he was wasted. But who could make a plausible return - Ted, Archie Shuttleworth, Bill Webster?
Ted was a good friend to Ken while he was there, they had quite a bit in common. I did appreciate that Dev was there to support Ken, in that he lost his wife suddenly as well. Sharif was too raw from the loss of his own son to really be there for Ken.
It was nice to see Yasmeen visit Ken last week though still grieving for her own son. I really would like to see Sharif and Yasmeen engage more with the other neighbours
That's why they should bring back Peter Gunn who played Brian . Then u could have Ken, Roy and Brian . Hilarious when they had the coq au van made by Brian . Maybe he can recreate the stuffed marrow ?
I'd like Bev to return but Susie Blake probably wouldn't stay long, if at all, and we need stayers. Rita May who played Connie, Jack's friend, could fit in again but more with Rita and Emily. Agree that Erica is not a good fit with Liz and Eileen.
Jack was another mature male who hasn't been replaced. It's a shame because it's much more likely that older people would live on the Street than gorgeous youngsters. The community centre hasn't contributed much so far but more focus there could provide new older male and female characters. Is there a caretaker, for example?
Who cleans the Community Centre? What about a cleaner who could 'do' in there and the factory. She or he could overhear a tale or two. Someone like Phyllis Pearce who could play drama and comedy.
I would love that! Even better still would be that Shelly could come visit her mom! I agree with annon who said she still would need to be able to do Mrs Brown though. She's hysterical in that!
I loved the Ken, Roy, Brian trio. Sadly a fleeting pleasure.
I'm afraid I have forgotten what Bev allegedly did to upset Audrey or what Audrey did to upset Bev. Would someone with a better memory than me please remind me?
@ Ruth Owen Bev was scheduled to marry Fred Elliot, but Fred was still in love with Audrey, so on the way to the wedding Fred made a stop at Audrey's to make his feelings known, then died of a heart attack (I think) and never made it to the altar. Bev blamed Audrey. Is that right?
Mature women are in short supply? Audrey, Gail, Liz, Erica, Emily, Rita, Eileen... or do you consider some of these merely middle aged?
There are fewer older men: Ken, Norris. Michael. Kevin and Dev a bit younger. And few good looking younger men.
Yes yes yes!! Also id like to see the girls from the 1oclock club appear more frequently as regular guest characters. And I'd love to see Nancy tinker back!!
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