Coronation Street Blog: Next week: Coronation Street Icons, Liz McDonald

Tuesday 1 September 2020

Next week: Coronation Street Icons, Liz McDonald

This four part series narrated by Sally Lindsay looks back at some of the iconic characters who have walked the cobbles over the years.

We’ll celebrate some of the longest serving much loved cast members and chart their character’s journey and find out what the actors themselves think of their time on the street.

The four iconic characters are Ken Barlow (played by William Roache), Sally Metcalfe (played by Sally Dynevor), Liz McDonald (played by Beverley Callard) and Roy Cropper (played by David Neilson).

The episodes will contain archive footage and new talking heads by cast members past and present.

Episode 4: Coronation Street Icons: Liz McDonald celebrates all of the greatest moments over three decades from one of the Streets most iconic landladies.

Over 30 years in and out of Coronation Street, actor Beverley Callard has given us great moments of drama and comedy. Her character Liz McDonald has gone from being a military wife, struggling to cope with her tearaway teenage sons, to becoming one of The Rovers most iconic landladies. This special programme charts Liz’s incredible story, and discovers just what Beverley thinks of her character's style icon status, how she helped cast her on screen kids, and the real story behind her fiery on screen relationship with Jim.

The programme shows archive from Beverley’s big break on television came in 1983 when she appeared on Emmerdale Farm. The following year she appeared on Coronation Street alongside Gail Tilsley as a character called June Dewhurst.

It would be another 5 years before she made her first appearance on Coronation Street as army wife Liz McDonald. Beverley reveals all about her early days on the soap and how she, and on screen husband Jim (played by Charlie Lawson), were involved in the casting of their twins Steve and Andy.

Beverley says she used to call the young Simon Gregson and Nicholas Cochrane “Bros” due to their youthful style and looks. She also reveals how over the years she had to ‘mother’ Simon to keep him from getting into trouble. However Simon disagrees and says ever since he knew Beverley it has been one long party!

Over the years Liz has faced her fair share of tragedy and heartbreak and the show discovers how Beverley and Charles felt about Liz and Jim’s tumultuous marriage.

Fellow cast members reveal why they think Liz is one of Coronation Street's most iconic landladies and how she ruled the Rovers with an iron fist.

Simon Gregson and Craig Charles recall the fun they had behind the scenes playing the storyline where Liz started dating Steve’s best mate Lloyd (played by Charles).

The programme pays homage to Liz McDonald’s outrageous fashion choices and the cast don’t hold back with their own reviews! The show also reveals how many romantic relationships Liz has had during her time on the street. The grand total currently stands at 21 men including her hubby Jim.

The programme features contributions from cast members past and present including; Charlie Lawson (Jim McDonald), Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald), Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw), Craig Charles (Lloyd Mullaney), William Roache (Ken Barlow).