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

Monday 30 September 2019

Coronation Street Episode Review Monday 30th September


We start with a hunky-chested Billy waking up Paul from his hangover. The latter goes around to Chesney's and asks Kel some questions who comes out with some BS: "You were 14 going on 20" "I didn't push you into anything. You loved me I loved you". Eurgh, the creepy git. It works until he calls his step-son "Paulie", and Paul goes to the pub to chain-drink pints. He encounters Kel in the street and bad mouths him until Kel drags him into the ginnel where Paul tries to kiss him. Kel pulls away and Paul knocks him out and leaves him for dead, not before he realises Kel is no longer interested in him because he's a grown man. Paul fesses up to Gemma and Bernie works it out too. Gemma asks her mum not to tell the cops although Billy tells Paul he needs to turn himself in, but also that he needs to tell them his mitigating circumstances.



Posh Paula has bought Sophie a new bag for college and a flat (Claudia's) and a highly pregnant Sophie is non-committal about her first day at college, although she's more interested in flicking through Kate's holiday pics travel photos. Can you imagine Kate's Facebook page? "Breakfast yoga on the beach💓💓💓 Feeling so #blessed📿 Live 😻Laugh 😊 Love 😍". So I'm guessing Sophie's going to go off to join Princess Kate? Flying in her condition might be a bit risky.




Evelyn is the voice of the audience as she asks how Tyrone and Fiz can afford a live-in nanny. Fiz says she will accept Gary's offer of a job in his money laundering furniture garage shop. Evelyn is suspicious of Jade and even leaves the pub early to check up on her - she finds her rifling through drawers (not Evelyn's). Jade claims she was looking for photos and then tells a sob story about her bad fiancé, and how Fiz helped her through it. Later, she goes against Fiz's instruction and gives the girls more ice-cream than Fiz allows. What's her plan? To single white female Fiz, take over her life? But I'm liking this new character; anyone who a) sticks spokes in the wheel and b) goes head to head with Evelyn is OK by me.



Imran, who is looking even more handsome since his haircut, queries a payment to a new private detective that's gone through the solicitor's books. Where's Leanne? Is she too busy being a substitute mum to Max to do her actual job? Anyway, Adam offers Ryan some money to dob in Gary, but Ryan seems to have Stockholm syndrome and instead tells Sarah what her boyf has been up to. Adam ends up apologising to, and then snogging, Sarah, and agrees to drop his feud with Gary. I highly doubt it.



Asha wants some new clothes but her dad is reluctant to cough up, urging her instead to take her "first foray into the exciting world of commerce", i.e. work in the kebab shop. Doesn't Dev still own the chippie? Can't the set designers repurpose Prima Doner to be For Your Fries Only once in a while just for a bit of a change? Am liking Asha moving front and centre - with Sinead, Bethany, Kate and Michelle leaving, and Shona and Sophie handing in their MAT B1s, there will need to be young actresses (or just actresses in Michelle's case) other than Gemma, who has been a bit over-used this year, stepping into the breach. Cathy tells Asha that the uniform (particularly the hat) is a big hit with Brian, and it seems it's the same for a dopey looking lad from Weathy high who comes in for a Doner with everything on it, and you know what he means by everything. She agrees to meet him after rehearsal and then steals Dev's card to buy more skin lightening cream. Oh, mate.

Rachel Stevenson - on twitter






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PEAK #CORRIE

I spotted a great photo on Instragram of Chris Gascoyne and Rob Mallard (Corrie’s Peter and Daniel Barlow) who have been filming in the Peak District.

Instagram: @chrisgascoyneofficial
It’s not clear exactly what they were filming, but reports have suggested Daniel is set to be consumed by grief after Sinead loses her cancer battle, and he turns to drink. Blog editor Glenda spotted a post made onTwitter by a golf course used as a filming location for the show two weeks ago. Are the Barlow brothers on some kind of detox retreat? Or is it something more sinister involving a cliff edge and a steep drop from one of the Peak District’s dangerous beauty spots? Time will tell.

Speaking of peaks, we’re heading in to a new season so I wanted to share some of my ‘peak' Corrie storylines from over the summer. 

Amy & Asha’s friendship
You can clearly see Tracy’s influence on Amy as the young Barlow grows into a young woman. She’s domineering and doesn’t take no for an answer, even some of her mannerisms are the same as her Mum’s. Surely it's only a matter of time before she batters someone over the head with some decorative art. Anyway all this has come in handy as we discover Asha has been struggling with her ethnicity and skin colour. If you need someone on your side, Amy Barlow is probably a good wingman and it’s great to see glimmers of Tracy and Blanche coming out in her as she helps out her mate.

Paul’s torment  
I’ll be honest I’ve found Paul’s struggle a bit difficult to watch as he reveals more about his sexual relationship and abuse at the hands of Kel. Last week we heard how Paul was in love with his stepdad when he was a teen and we even saw how young Paul looked when the abuse what happening in an old photograph, which made the story all the more shocking. What with Ali’s addiction, Sinead’s cancer and pyromaniac Hope on the loose, the serious storylines are dominating for me a bit and I hope the lighter side of Corrie returns as the dark nights start to draw in.


That said, character Paul has become a favourite of mine and actor Peter Ash seems right at home among the other cast. I hope he’s here to stay.

Playing it straight
James finally revealed his sexuality to some of his family, but out of fear of being bullied on the football pitch, vowed to keep everyone else in the dark. I think this is a really great storyline for Corrie to be going with, as in the real world we’re still yet to see an out and proud, top-flight gay footballer. Recently rugby player Gareth Thomas revealed to the world he has HIV just a few years after revealing he’s gay, which I’m sure broke down barriers and helped a great many people. The gay footballer story in Corrie will hopefully do the same and you never know, might even encourage a footy pro to come out.

I’m still trying to work the Bailey family out. Will they stand the test of time and become Corrie favourites? They have potential….

Adam Barlow
He might be slowly morphing into Pop Idol’s Darius ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ Campbell, a fellow Scot, but Adam seems a lot more mature and stable since returning to the cobbles. He thinks he’s sussed Gary Windass out but Gary keeps turning the tables and foiling Adams attempts to expose him. The rivalry is great telly, and it’s allowing the wayward Barlow to play the good guy. It suits him.

HIT ME BABY

KISS ME BABY
Quad Squad
The ever expanding Brown-Winter family is offering some much needed light relief at the minute. Poor Gemma is almost as wide as she is tall now as we get ever closer to the quads’ birth date and as always, chaos follows the every member of the family. Bernice has brought an extra layer of crazy as actor Jane Hazelgrove plays Gemma and Paul’s mum brilliantly. They’d better get that extension built and quick.


Emma cools off
It’s been so nice seeing Emma and Steve get closer, even if there’s still the odd awkward moment between them. Emma has obviously realised she needs to make the most of having people that love her around following the death of her dad. But are we missing something? Emma’s mum Fiona has appeared a few times by video call, but what if she comes back to the UK? Will she bring even more secrets with her? I hope so. Again, Alexandra Mardell who plays Emma has fitted in to the cast perfectly and I hope she’s around for years to come.

It looks like we are headed for a dramatic few months on the cobbles. Fingers crossed for an intense and gripping resolution to some long-running storylines with a good mix of laughs in between.

I’m on Twitter: @StevieDawson 






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The Week In Classic Corrie

MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 13th and 16th August 1993

Liz and Colin's flirtation bubbled over and they spent the night together, much to Steve's embarrassment when he stumbled on him shirtless in the kitchen.  Jim went to the Queens and had a word with Colin, only just managing to stay calm, but he told Liz that he would wait for her to get it out of her system.  Mike offered to send Mark to a day school, rather than board, and Maggie caved.  Sally and Kevin began their holiday in the Lake District with Rosie and little Jonathan, but were annoyed when Joe turned up to share the cottage with them.  Nicky started doing Brendan's deliveries, but he was put out to discover the "free bike" was a hulking great lump of iron from the 1930s.  He practically herniated himself wheeling it round Weatherfield.

TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 18th and 20th August 1993

Audrey and Alf went to Lytham to get in with the golfing set.  They turned out to be a bunch of awful retired grocers who were totally Brexit and Audrey started panicking about spending her declining years stuck with them.  Kevin told Joe about his upcoming court case and ended up getting hammered in the pub to drown his sorrows.  Sally was furious, but things got worse when Joe confessed his undying love to her.  She told him to get a new child minder, but Joe persuaded her not to punish Jonathan.  He left the Websters to it.  Raquel made Ken a meal and they chatted in French throughout.  Gordon became inflamed with jealousy and told her she needed to stop her classes.  She told him to stick his holiday.  Brendan accused Nicky of slacking, and only paid him for four hours' work instead of six.  Nicky argued about how unfair it was so he fired him.  Of course that meant he didn't have a delivery boy, so Brendan was forced to go out on the bike himself.  The combination of bad suspension and cobbles left him short of breath... and then he crashed to the floor of the shop.  Emily and Martin did their best but he was long gone.  So sadly that was the end of the magnificent Milton Johns in the show.  Still, if you're going to go, go out with a bang on a pile of continental cheeses.


WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 23rd and 25th August 1993

The Websters were still on their holiday, and Sally was taken with the romance of the Lakes.  She suggested to Kevin that they should try for another baby.  He wasn't keen, not only because they didn't have much money, but also because he was worried he'd end up in prison for perverting the course of justice.  He confessed how serious the charges were to Sal.  Joe picked up Jonathan and Sally gave him the cold shoulder.  Deirdre closed up the shop out of respect for Brendan, although Alf suggested it was better to stay open so his widow would have a better legacy.  Alf was also having to deal with Audrey, who'd decided she didn't want to rot in Lytham.  She got a job in Weatherfield as a way of showing she wasn't going anywhere.  Ken and Raquel went to a French restaurant to practice conversation with a proper French waiter.  She confessed that she wanted more from life and he encouraged her to go for it.

THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 27th and 30th August 1993

An expensive yellow sports car turned up outside the Corner Shop, driven by a glamorous blonde.  She turned out to be Brendan's saucy wife Debi, the former Miss Bettabuy 1977, who boasted that he used to keep her in a lap of luxury.  It certainly made you see Brendan in a different light.  She tried to offload the shop and flat to Deirdre and Ken at a knock down price then vanished in a cloud of Chanel No 5.  Both Raquel and Angie were looking at changing their lives.  Raquel signed up for a residential modelling course under her professional name of Nadia Wolstenhulme, while Angie wanted to get out of her boring life.  Maureen gave her a charm bracelet as a thank you for making her wedding dress, but she took more inspiration from a letter from her mate who was travelling in Mexico.  Over a bottle of wine Des suggested that she should go for it and travel the world.  Elsewhere, the Websters finally came back from their holiday, though Sally was still nervy, and Andy took Amy and her son to Knowsley Safari Park.


FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 1st and 3rd September 1993

It was Brendan's funeral, and Reg wasted no time smarming around Debi and offering to help her sell the shop.  Curly was mostly taken by her legs.  Raquel was accepted on the modelling course in Croydon, but it started on Monday, so she had to make a quick exit.  Bet was sad to see her go but the Rovers gave her a good send off.  Gail told Sally she shouldn't keep Jonathan on, but she claimed she could handle Joe.  "Handling Joe" actually translated as her refusing to be alone with him, dragging passers by into conversation so she didn't have to talk to him.  Angie confessed to Des that she was going to Mexico.  The only other person she told was Sally; she worried that they'd try to persuade her not to go.  Both Sally and Des thought she should tell Curly, but she knew it would be too hard.  Angie packed up all her things and snuck off to the airport wearing one last Awesome Hat for the road.  But don't worry; she'll be back someday...


At the rate ITV3 are whizzing through the episodes, Angie'll probably be back by next Easter.  @merseytart can't wait.

Classic Coronation Street is on ITV3 every weekday from 14:50, with a repeat the next morning from 6am.






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Preview of tonight's Coronation Street - Mon 30 Sep


MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER

PAUL LASHES OUT AT THE WORLD Summer’s thrilled that Paul stayed over but Billy explains he just needed somewhere to crash. Paul calls at No.5 and showing Kel the photo, explains how Billy reckons he’s a victim of sexual grooming. Having assured Paul that was never the case and they loved each other, Kel urges him to tell Billy that nothing happened between them. Billy’s concerned to find Paul drowning his sorrows in the Rovers. Paul makes it clear he doesn’t want to discuss it. A drunk Paul confronts Kel in the ginnel and tries to kiss him. Kel pushes him away and Paul realises with horror that Kel only fancied him as a young boys. Seeing red, Paul punches Kel, knocking him unconscious.
SARAH REALISES THE EXTENT OF ADAM’S OBSESSION Adam offers Ryan a wad of cash to come clean and admit Gary beat him up. Although sorely tempted, Ryan sticks to his story. Sarah arrives back from Milan and is horrified to hear that Ryan’s been beaten up and Adam suspects Gary is the culprit. Sarah confronts Ryan but he sticks to his story, claiming Adam offered him money to pin it on Gary.
EVELYN SUSPECTS JADE As Jade serves breakfast Evelyn eyes her suspiciously. A delighted Fiz tells Tyrone that she’s accepted Gary’s offer of a job at the furniture shop. Meanwhile Evelyn quietly lets herself into No.9 and catches Jade rifling through the drawers. What is Jade up to?
ELSEWHERE Asha begs Dev for some extra pocket money but he tells her it’s time she earned her money. Dragging a reluctant Asha into the kebab shop, Dev tells Cathy that Asha will be doing some shifts. Paula calls at No.13 and presents Sophie with a leather satchel and a new laptop for her first day at college. But when her phone pings with a photo from Kate on a sunny beach, she gazes at it wistfully, unaware Paula’s watching.

MONDAY 30TH SEPTEMBER

PAUL ADMITS THE ASSAULT BUT WITHHOLDS THE REASON Leaving Kel unconscious in the ginnel, Paul hurries away. Gemma spots his bleeding knuckles but Paul covers that he trapped his hand in the van door. As Kel’s found and taken to hospital, Paul admits to Gemma that he was lying and gave Kel a beating. Gemma begs Bernie not to grass up her own son, while Paul confesses to Billy that he’s left Kel in a coma. Billy implores Paul to go to the police, admit his crime but explain how Kel abused him.
SARAH TALKS ADAM DOWN Adam’s unwavering and insists Ryan is covering for Gary. Fed up of his obsession with Gary, Sarah heads out in a huff. Ryan calls at the furniture shop and tells Gary how Adam tried to bribe him into telling the truth but he stuck to his story and lied to Sarah, Ali and Maria. Adam apologises for obsessing over Gary and kisses Sarah passionately.  
EVELYN BEGINS TO SEE JADE’S SPARKLE Jade tells Evelyn all about her terrible marriage, how if it weren’t for Fiz she would never have survived and how she was searching for a photo she could get framed to say thanks. Fiz returns home and is taken aback to find Jade pouring her heart out to Evelyn about her abusive ex husband. 

ELSEWHERE Sophie pours over her textbooks but it’s clear her new course isn’t really for her. Asha starts work in the kebab shop. When Amy calls in with a lad from school called Riley, who asks to meet her after rehearsals, Asha’s smitten. Desperate to buy some more skin lightening cream, Asha steals Dev’s bank card and orders some on the internet.
__

Glenda Young
Twitter: @Flaming_Nora
Facebook: GlendaYoungAuthor

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