Five things we've learned from Classic Coronation Street this week

 

I was overjoyed when the announcement came that ITV3 would start re-running classic episodes of Coronation Street. To begin with, I was disappointed the network wasn't going to show episodes from earlier on - I believe the mid 1970s to early 80s to be the golden age for the show - however I can now see the benefits in starting in 1986. The episodes broadcast this week are modern enough to feature a vast number of characters viewers today will still be aware of, either because they are still regularly on our screens or because their time has only recently been and gone.

Coronation Street in 1986 featured regular characters who stlll appear today - Ken, Rita, Jenny, Audrey, Gail, Sally and Kevin. The likes of Deirdre, Emily, Jack and Vera, Betty and Hilda are still very much in our consciousness too. Early '86 also began some long running stories, introducing Sally Seddon to enliven Kevin's life for many years to come and most of all, the start of the three year Alan Bradley saga. 

I have been tasked with cobbling together a blog on five things we've learned from this week in the life of Classic Coronation Street on ITV3. This last week in 1986 saw the fallout from the Rovers fire continue and for a brief moment it seemed the famous pub was doomed. Thankfully George Newton had a change of heart, taking pity on Bet when he discovered the only belongings she'd managed to salvage from the fire were her singed 'butch" wig and her burnt Orinoco Womble. Elsewhere, young Susan Baldwin still couldn't act but managed to reunite Rita and Alan over a frozen pizza. Rita certainly would come away from that little lot with a bit more than just indigestion...

Ivy Tilsley: Knicker Nicker 

Another glam night out for Edina and Patsy

Yes you read it correctly, that cheeky little minx, the Pope's own representative in Weatherfield, Ivy Tilsley was up to mischief this week. Vera Duckworth, newly certified behind the wheel, dragged Ivy and Shirley Armitage (remember her?) off out in the Nova for a night of boozing and whooping at The Pink Flamingo Club. There, a reluctant Ivy ended up dancing on the stage with a muscle-bound stripper who's pants came away with her in her sensible handbag. What would Bert have thought? Second thoughts, don't answer that.

It was refreshing to see the fun, down to earth side to Ivy. I for one only remember her pointing the finger at Gail, tutting upwards at Audrey and trying to protect young Nicky from evil little Martin Platt. Who knew the hot summer of 1986 would see her pocketing what Terry reliably informed us were "briefs". These ravishing undercrackers would cause a great deal of trouble for Jack. And no, don't worry, he doesn't model them for Phyllis Pearce.

Who knows what you'll find down the back seat in a Vauxhall Nova...

Jack and Dulcie get down to business

Just for a change, Jack and Vera were at each others' throats this week. The Vauxhall Nova saga continued on with no sign of a truce. Jack, the rogue he was, started whipping the keys out of Vee's handbag and trotting off to her garage in Viaduct Street to pop out for a spin, and he wasn't going alone, oh no! Yes, the deliciously named Dulcie Froggatt was his back seat companion. However before they could get down to it, as it were, Jack felt something strange behind him - yes none other than Ivy's briefs. Someone pass the smelling salts. 

No sooner had the briefs been found than Jack was accusing poor old Vera of exactly what he was getting up to (or down to) with the delectable Dulcie! Incidentally, I caught up with the lovely Margi Campi, who played Dulcie, earlier this year. You can read our interview here.

A Rover Returns...

Alec reacts to Terry's request for a corned beef barm

The aftermath of the Rovers fire had one positive for us viewers. That's right, we were re-introduced to the fabulously grotty Graffiti Club. This members only, less than salubrious establishment was now owned by a certain Mr Alec Gilroy, last seen over a decade earlier as Rita's money grabbing agent. Now he was back, as the club's money grabbing manager. With only crusty old pensioner Sam Tindall as a customer, and he kept his dog in a bag, Alec was in desperate need of more customers. In comes Jacko (he was busy this week) and is soon running about recruiting members as if his job depended on it. Well, actually it did, or so Jack thought. Alec promised Jack a job behind the bar if he could round up new members for his crappy club. Jack's first mistake was agreeing to do Alec's bidding. And his second was taking GIlroy at his word.

This began one of Coronation Street's golden chapters, with Roy Barraclough on barnstorming form as the wily, tight fisted, sharp tongued publican. Roy fitted in so well with the rest of the Coronation Street cast and after many years of trying, Granada finally lured him back and signed him up to a contract and I'm really glad they did. 

Jenny Bradley, teenager from hell

Morten Harket

She's always been a heavy parcel, our Jenny. True enough in 1986 she didn't resort to dangling little children off balconies, instead she just sulked and flounced about between her dingy bedsit and her paper round. Not even her 80's summer pastel fashions and A-Ha haircut are entertaining any more. Dad Alan, pre full on psychopath he'd later become, was still showing signs of being less than pleasant by two timing Gloria Todd-Corkhill with Lady Reet of the Kabin. How could Alan even think of bonking, sorry bunking down with Gloria when Rita had gone to the trouble of styling her hair as if she was about to audition for a bit part in Howard's Way?

Jenny obviously had her favourite and it was Glo. Probably because she was younger and her wardrobe of latest polyester fashions was merely a few steps across the grimy hall. When Alan plumped for Rita, Jenny, obviously having slipped Susan Kennedy like on some spilt milk, seemed to forget that fluffy Fairclough the foster mam had saved her piggin' bacon. Even Alan's suggestion of a family trip to Jersey fell on deaf ears as little Jenny stropped about like a bad smell. Not a fan of Bergerac then.

Gail Warnings

Not a warm front in sight

Ah yes, an old one but a good'un. Everyone was wondering this past week 31 years ago, just why Gail was being so sullen, so moody and so standoffish. Personally, I couldn't make out any difference from her normal radiant self. She was snapping at 12 year old Martin Platt, brushing off support from gravel-voiced Phyllis and being terse with Brian the Teeth. Obviously I'm totally fine with Gail treating Brian like dirt but there was no need for the rest of it. In one totally hilarious (not) scene Gail even had the nerve to mind having her bottom pinched in the cafe by a rather rancid looking trucker (I think that's what she called him).

Of course the real reason for Gail's mardy mare act is revealed in the cliff hanger at the end of the episode. Rather rudely cutting off Hilda in her prime and putting an end to Audrey's endless twittering (oh Sue Nicholls, please join Twitter, it would be fabulous darling), Gail comes out with it. She's got a bun in the oven and it's not back at Jim's Caff. The penny drops with Aud the back street barnet permer when she realises the baby might pop out with an Australian accent. Fortunately, it didn't. Unfortunately, this happened instead:

Definitely Brian's

   

Until next week!

Classic Coronation Street is broadcast on ITV3 every week day at 14.40 and 15.15, repeated from 6am the next day.

You can follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82

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