Just like the Queen's Christmas speech, days and days of rain in the summer, and losing at the World Cup, Coronation Street is a much valued constant in our lives. And while the world is a strange place right now, simple comforts like Corrie and a cup of tea are all the more important to us.
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| Keep Calm with Corrie On |
Understandably, trying to get a clearer
picture of what the future holds for the soap from Corrie bosses is like trying to get blood
out of a stone. As confirmed to the Coronation Street Blog on Tuesday, plans
are changing, scripts are changing and government advice is changing all time
in response to the global pandemic affecting all our lives. But one thing is
for sure, according to Producer Iain MacLeod…it’s business as usual as much as
possible.
Filming is only one, albeit very
important part of bringing Corrie to our screens. So a lot of work is still
taking place behind the scenes as we all remain in lockdown. It was encouraging
speaking to the top team yesterday who were so full of plans, spoilers, enthusiasm
for upcoming storylines as well as reassurance that although Coronavirus will definitely
be part of future stories, some things will stay true to Corrie’s history. Iain
MacLeod said:
“Scripts are changing at the time – we
have talked a lot about whether Coronation Street would exist in a parallel world
or had coronavirus in it.”
Iain explained why it was important the
soap covered the pandemic;
“The Coronation Street we love reflects
modern Britain. To not reference Coronavirus wouldn’t feel right. It has to
exist but people also tune in for escapism and to see dramatic stories and
stuff they don’t normally see in their own lives.”
He also hinted
that in the midst of some quite hard-hitting stories coming up, he’ll never turn
his back on Corrie’s USP;
“Our storytelling is business as
usual. Coronation Street won’t stop being funny, certainly not on my
watch!”
So what’s happening, exactly?
As we know, episodes are being rationed
right now in order to keep Corrie on air as long as possible. The same goes for
BBC soap Eastenders and ITV’s Emmerdale. Talk is that filming will restart in
the near future, although with adapted sets, smaller casts and probably with
older actors left out of scenes until it’s safe to bring them back.
As we know, the government is in talks
with the Football Association to bring back soccer matches to lift the public
mood. Although not strictly “key” or “essential” work, continuing dramas could
be given special permission to go back to work and get entertaining the nation
again very soon too. Given that the audience is in the safety of their own
home, this would make more sense than filling stadiums.
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| The Street of Dreams (courtesy: aeroengland) |
What’s absolutely certain, is that the
Corrie team are working hard on scripts, generating a buzz around the big
stories we have to look forward to (spoilers to follow) and are poised to get
back to the cobbles in Salford as soon as they are given the go-ahead. Speaking
to Iain yesterday it was as if nothing was stopping them getting on with
things.
“Business as usual” he said. I find
that rather comforting, and it's why I continue to bloody love Coronation Street.
@StevieDawson
Stay Home. Save Lives.
All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
Personally, I would have preferred a virus- free Corrie.
ReplyDeleteThere's enough doom and gloom in the real world, and on the news.
People watch soaps to escape this.
By the time the Corrie characters begin to mention it, and start their lockdown, things could have moved on, so it won't accurately reflect what's happening within our moment in time off screen.
By the nature of production, Corrie is always behind in real time, so the various stages of lockdown/ self isolation won't make sense.
They're better off not bothering, and having a virus free Corrie, rather than trying to get to grips with an ever changing reflecting society!
I like it when soap reflect real world in a subtle way. Not making it a storyline but in a subtle way possible.
ReplyDeleteIDK, David and Gail in lockdown has a lot of potential. As does Rovers being closed and then finally reopening (with limited seating); someone is going to have to wait outside until Peter finishes his orange juice.
ReplyDeleteUnderworld stopping regular production for a day to make face masks for the city to distribute for free, and then getting an award. Plus, imagine Mary’s fanciful masks.
DeleteI agree with Covid 19 being included in story lines particurely since PM Boris Johnson was hospitalised with the illness,otherwise it would be the elephant in the episode so do speak.
ReplyDeleteI also like the idea of the factory workers making masks for everyone especially for NHS front line workers.