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

Monday 31 May 2021

Coronation Street Review Monday 31st May

 

Good evening and I hope you've enjoyed your sunny Bank Holiday Monday, more so than the residents of Weatherfield anyway, where it's more like a wet Wednesday in Warrington.

Anyway, let's hear it for the girls: firstly Dame D.I. Jenny of Bradley who's determined to take down Sharon "Cruella" Bentley, although it mainly seems that she wants to dob her into Rita. Not sure what an almost nonagenarian can do against a powerful drugs gang - utter a stern: "Now look, lady"? Shazza quizzes Toyah about Leanne's legal advisor (i.e. Imran) and is overheard by Ronnie. Also earwigging, Dame Jenny hears Gary say that the childcatcher white van was hired by Sharon. Imran breaks all the lawyerly codes by telling Jenny that Leanne is a witness in the trial of a drug dealer named Harvey, which is the final piece of the puzzle for our Jen. She confronts forty a day woman Sharon, who tasers her! Flamin' heck, Shazza! She later blackmails Jenny over her short lived affair with Ronnie, but our Reet is onto her, following a panicked voicemail from la Bradley. Rita finds Sharon with a suitcase and a guilty expression and persuades her into the flat, but it's too late for Jenny though as she confesses all to Johnny.

Secondly, Abi rescinds her ban on Nina attending the funeral and apologises to her. These two need to work together - along with Asha - to bring Seb's killer to justice, rather than playing the blame game. It's been heartbreaking for us Nina fans to witness the confident, quirky goth become sad and insecure, but it's been good to see more of Mollie Gallagher's range. She looks so young and vulnerable without the pan-stick and kohl also. The third overhearer is Nina, discovering that Asha and Crappy Corey are back together, although Asha tells her that things aren't as they seem.

Gary is also playing the blame game, holding himself responsible for Kelly's (perceived) murder of Seb because of his entanglement with Rotten Rick. Gangsta Gazza tells his Maria that he is thinking of moving to Bristol to be nearer to Zack and she says, whatevs, bro.

Adam prepares for his interview at the transplant centre, to Sarah's disgust. She tells him that he can't offer up his liver with some fava beans because he feels guilty about his one night stand with Carla, which led to Peter going back on the booze. However, Sarah talks him out of it. Pity she didn't talk Carla into chasing Lucas for payment for his knicker order (ah credit control, literally my favourite thing) as lying Lucas has gone bust.

Rachel Stevenson - on twitter







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'She has a really weird love-hate relationship with Carla!' - Corrie Blog speaks to actress Tina O’Brien


Life is on the up for Sarah Barlow! The ex Rovers Return Barmaid is now managing Underworld and has settled into a happy marriage with Adam. But when it transpires that Adam is a match for Peter, who’s desperately awaiting a kidney transplant, Sarah feels like all that could be taken away from her. She’s determined to talk Adam out of the transplant but is she prepared for Carla’s wrath? The women have a history with Adam, and the quasi-incestuous Barlow’s know no bounds! Can Sarah talk Adam out of it, or will she risk losing her Husband for good? 


I was very privileged to join Coronation Street online to learn more from the actress who plays Sarah, Tina O’Brien (TOB) about this latest tribulation! 


Q Sarah seems to be settled into factory life and marriage at the moment? 


TOB - I think she’s really happy that things are working out for her and Adam. I think she still has that seed of resentment though, towards Carla, that she won't let go of. She seems happy though, with a career choice, and wants to make it work. 


Q Has Sarah forgiven either Adam or Carla for their one-night stand? 


TOB  I think it's both! She has a really weird love-hate relationship with Carla. She’s in awe of her, a wonderful woman to work with, with her knowledge of the factory. I think Sarah always feels a bit insecure in comparison to Carla, in the sense that she’s not good enough. She respects Carla but is insecure, they are supposed to be on the same team, but she slept with her partner!


Q Does Sarah still have a spark for Gary, or is she now #TeamAdam? 


TOB I think she’d tell Adam she was #TeamAdam! I think she still has a little thing for Gary. They shared a lot of experiences, but I don't know whether she would want to get back with him. She does still have a soft spot for him though! At one point I did think she would get back together with him! 



Q How does she feel when she finds out that Adam agreed to be a donor for Peter? 


TOB She’s quite mean about it actually and strong in her feelings. She finds out through Carla and there again lays the problem. She feels left out of the conversation and Carla knows more than she does. I think she’s hurt by it but not very sensitive about it, she discourages Adam from doing it, thinking that Peter will just drink again anyway!


Q Do you think it's more to do with fear? She could lose Adam in the operation? 


TOB I think so, yes. If I step outside of the situation, I can see Sarah’s point of view. Is Adam doing this for guilt? If he is, then it's the wrong reason and it could make him ill. 


Q She does try to change his mind. Does she worry about how the other Barlow’s will react? 


TOB She knows that Carla will blow up but Sarah doesn't expect Carla to say that she thinks Sarah disagrees only because Carla slept with Adam. It’s hard to know, maybe a little bit of that, but more about her and Adam’s future. 




Q Sarah and Carla have quite a dynamic in their working relationship. Do you enjoy working with Ali (King - Carla Connor) and playing out their factory life together? 


TOB I love working with Ali King! She’s just mega as a human being and we have a lot of fun! It's nice when you work with people for a long period. And being very lucky, working with some great people. Sarah is slightly in awe of Carla and I'm in awe of Ali King! She’s such a strong actress and it’s brilliant to work with her - I feel very lucky! 


Q Carla and Sarah embark on a mission together, breaking into another factory to receive bust stock. Are you liking playing this edgier version of Sarah? 


TOB Yes I love the fact that she’s now so driven, costumes have got me some power suits, and she enjoys what she’s doing. In a way, without Carla seeing it, she's picking a lot up from Carla and Nick and soaking it all up. She could be going under the radar a bit with what she could potentially be capable of! 



Q - We know The Rovers is going up for sale, could you see Adam and Sarah running it? 


TOB Do you know what, I think those two running it together would be great! Adam is good with the money and finances side of things, Sarah has worked behind the bar before - they’d be a good match in the rovers! 


Q - Do you think Sarah would ever have a child with Adam in the future? 


TOB I think it would be funny! From the actors perspective - wearing a fake bump for 9 months and acting with a baby. If they stay together then absolutely but who knows in soapland?! 


Q - How has it been working through Covid -19 restrictions? 


TOB It's been strange, part of the job is being tactile and displaying emotion, so acting like a couple, can be tricky. You have to try other ways in conveying those feelings but being 2 metres apart. It is what it is! I think most actors will be happier in general when things return but of course, they are there for a reason. 


                                                                *****


Plenty of things are happening for Sarah at the minute! Are you looking forward to it?


I am @rybazoxo, your Wednesday night episode reviewer, and all-around Weatherfield aficionado! 







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The Weeks In Classic Corrie

I was leading an exciting thrill-packed life last week so I didn't have time to write the weekly recap of Classic Corrie.  Lol, not really; if I had an exciting thrill-packed life do you think I'd be watching decades old episodes of a soap opera?  Here's twice the recap, but it's only half as interesting.

MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 24th and 25th May 1998

Darren the murderer - played by a young David Essex apparently - forced his way into number 4 and tried it on with a terrified Leanne.  She tried to fend him off but it was only Ashley's intervention that stopped him.  Nicky was horrified to learn what had happened but Leanne told him he didn't really care; he was happy to use his own wife as bait for a psychopath.  She moved back in at the Battersbys and asked him for a divorce.  Les, however, was distracted by his court appearance.  He got a fine and a driving ban but his biggest worry was that Janice would find out.  Jim suffered a blood clot, making Steve and Liz panic.  He was frightened he'd never be able to walk.  Des told Samantha that he didn't believe the baby was his, even when she swore on a bible.  She told him that she didn't want a baby without him and would get an abortion.  

TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 27th and 29th May 1998

Samantha told Vera about her pregnancy and she laid into Des, accusing him of abandoning a woman in her time of need.  He decided to give her his support but she said she wasn't interested in a dad who wasn't fully committed.  He asked Natalie for advice but she confessed that she was in love with Des herself.  Sally's mum passed away and she went to Scarborough for the funeral.  Kevin meanwhile was rubbing his hands together with glee at selling her house.  Toyah told Gail that Leanne was back with them and her marriage was over.  They didn't realise that Darren the murderer was listening the whole time.  Gail went to see Nicky and tried not to gloat, while Les accused him of cheating on Leanne.  Les burned all the copies of the Gazette from the Kabin to stop Janice from seeing about his conviction and then faked a back injury to explain why he couldn't drive any more.  Jim came home from the hospital to a special medical bed in the lounge of his house.  He was miserable and angry and turfed the neighbours out when they tried to cheer him up.


WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 31st May and 1st June 1998

Kevin had a great idea for how to spend her mum's inheritance: buy Natalie out of the garage.  She admitted that she wasn't really bothered by Natalie any more, but he still negotiated a sale price behind her back.  Sally was far more interested in Greg, who'd started work at the factory and caught her eye.  Darren saw Leanne going into number 5 and forced his way in.  He accused her of messing him about but Nicky overheard their row and came in through the back.  He picked up a bread knife and threatened Darren but he was predictably useless.  Still, it was enough to get Leanne back.  Samantha was incredibly changeable, because nobody can decide how to write her character; one minute she got back with Des and shared a romantic meal, the next she told him she was going ahead with the abortion anyway.  Les told Maxine that Greg could do much better than her; as revenge, she told Janice about his conviction.  She kicked him out of the house.


THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 3rd and 5th June 1998

Samantha told Des she was off to abort his baby and he begged her not to.  He searched the local clinics but couldn't find her, only for Judy to tell him she saw Sam in town.  When he confronted her she said there never was a baby - she lied to wind him up.  He told Natalie what had happened and she called Samantha sick.  However, Samantha told her that she'd actually gone ahead with the abortion and had lied to Des about it.  Natalie was sympathetic and believed Samantha when she said her son was in Leeds hospital.  She dashed over the Pennines, only for Samantha to kidnap her cat, for some reason.  Zoe attended group therapy wearing a hilariously bad wig alongside a man, Paul.  He confessed that he'd forced his employee to have sex with him for cash and Zoe realised that he was talking about Judy.  Les parked a manky old camper van on the Street and started living out of it while Janice refused to give him the time of day.  

FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 7th and 8th June 1998

Natalie returned from the hospital, angry at the hoax.  She told the pub that Samantha had lied and walked out.  Samantha, however, convinced Betty that Sally was the one who'd made the call to annoy Natalie.  Kevin kept banging on about buying the garage, much to Sally's irritation, not least because it was interfering with her flirtation with Greg.  He lost his temper with her for blowing hot and cold.  Leanne was frightened by Fred looming up in the conservatory window and it convinced them that they should go to the police to report Darren's break in.  As he was on parole that would mean he'd go back inside.


MONDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 10th and 12th June 1998

Spider decided to get into politics, taking Alf's position on the Council as an independent.  However, he was incredibly rude about Alf's legacy which convinced Audrey that she should stand as opposition.  Natalie accused Sally of making the hoax phone call, leading to a blistering row, and she returned to Samantha and apologised for thinking it was her.  Samantha continued to be absolutely demented by going to Sally and telling her that Natalie and Kevin were planning on running off with her inheritance.  It was enough to convince Sal to walk out on him with the girls and move in with Rita.  Kevin was, naturally, baffled.  Zoe returned to the Street and went to Judy and told her what she'd learned in therapy.  Zoe promised not to tell anyone, but Judy worried that she was lying, and confessed everything to Gary.  He walked out on her in disgust.  

TUESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 14th and 15th June 1998

Janice was sick of Les outside in his van and tried to get it moved on by the police.  The constable was interested to hear Les was in charge of a vehicle, since he had a ban on driving.  Les removed the wheels on the caravan to try and avoid the charge but he was livid that Janice put the police onto him.  Leanne told him that Janice would take him back if he was nice to her, so he gave her flowers while I'm Not In Love played and carried her off for a good time.  Kevin told Des why Sally had left him and they realised Samantha was playing them all for a mug.  They went round to have a go but Alec interrupted and she put on the tears and he defended her.  She then said that Natalie had accused him of groping her at the Rovers but she told him about Samantha's many, many, many lies.  On top of that, Des found her cat - at Samantha's.  Alec fired her, but she quit, and rode off on her motorbike - but not before telling Des she really was pregnant and she was off with his baby.  He said he'd never know if that was true.  To be honest I'm glad to see her go; Samantha went from being a strong, independent woman to an absolutely demented lunatic with absolutely nothing in the way of realistic characterisation.  Fortunately Tina Hobley went on to much better things outside of the show.


WEDNESDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 17th and 19th June 1998

Alec told Sally all about Samantha's lies and convinced her that Kevin wasn't planning on leaving.  There was a part of her that was disappointed and she realised she was miserable.  She returned to number 13 and Kevin suggested they go on holiday.  To Florida.  The following week.  He arranged it all and even got time off for her from Mike Baldwin.  Des went to see Natalie and they kissed; he'd decided he wanted to be with her.  Leanne felt guilty about Darren being imprisoned but Nicky was unrepentant.  She went to see him in Strangeways but he called her evil.  He said if she really felt guilty she'd tell the police about their letters leading him on, but Nicky understandably refused to have anything to do with it.  I wonder if he ever got out?  Maybe he could come back to the show - no, hang on, the Tilsley-Battersbys are involved in way too much criminal nonsense already, let's not add to it.  Fred was managing Audrey's campaign, calling her the Eva Peron of Weatherfield, which doesn't sound like a compliment to be honest.  They walked down the Street and Fred kicked Les's camper van in disgust - only for it to fall off its blocks and topple over.  They legged it quick.


THURSDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 21st and 22nd June 1998

Spider needed people to nominate him for his council bid and Toyah stepped up.  However, she wasn't old enough, and so she conned Gail into signing it instead.  Gail also signed Audrey's nomination form.  However, Spider realised he wasn't on the electoral roll, so he couldn't stand.  Fortunately Emily had signed him up behind his back because Emily is the best.  Gary finally returned to Judy and said he didn't think he loved her any more.  She showed him her scan and revealed she was having twins and he forgave her.  Roy received a letter from Hayley; she was now living in Amsterdam.  He was touched by her lovely letter and ashamed of his behaviour towards her.  Leanne was still angry with Nicky for putting an innocent man in prison.  She tried to appeal to Gail, but Gail said she could never forgive him for killing Brian - meh, nobody really misses him - and Nicky was adamant.  He said if she did anything to help Darren it'd be the end of them as a couple.  



FRIDAY - Episodes originally broadcast 24th and 26th June 1998

Roy told Alma that Hayley had finished her transition and was in Amsterdam.  She urged him to visit her and he rushed around getting his first passport.  Vera decided to hire a replacement for Sam, but she didn't want a young sexy barmaid.  Alec wanted a saucepot though so he asked an actress friend to apply for the job and try it on with Jack.  He convinced Vera that older women would find Jack attractive but young girls wouldn't.  Vera agreed, and hired a young person - except it was a man.  The Tilsleys confessed to winding Darren up, and the policeman basically said, ah well, never mind.  And that was the end of that, which felt like a massive waste of time.  Audrey took her nomination form to the council, where a young Diggory Compton told her that he couldn't accept it because he'd already got Gail as Spider's nominee.  Alec was forced to rush out into the street to grab a passer by but it made Audrey determined to fight even harder for the position.


The author hasn't been abroad for two years now so he's thrilled that next week's episodes will feature the beautiful canals of Amsterdam - and the return of Hayley!  Send a special brownie to him on Twitter @merseytart.

Classic Corrie is on ITV3 weekday afternoons and is also on the ITV Hub.







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Preview of tonight's Coronation Street - Mon 31 May


Monday 31st May - 1 hour episode

JENNY UNCOVERS SHARON’S SECRET AS SHE PLANS HER ESCAPE Aware Jenny is onto them, Sharon needs to up her game and quizzes Toyah about Leanne’s recent visit. Meanwhile when Natasha confronts Gary, accusing him of hiring the man with a van who kidnapped Sam, Jenny is intrigued to learn it was Sharon who hired the van. As she voices her suspicions to Ronnie, he reveals he heard Sharon quizzing Toyah about Leanne. Jenny’s mind racing, she tells Toyah and Imran how she suspects Sharon was involved in Sam’s kidnap. When Imran reveals that Sam was kidnapped to draw Leanne out of hiding as she’s the key witness in the trial of a drugs barron called Harvey, Jenny’s stunned. Determined that Rita should know the truth, Jenny bangs on her door, however when Sharon appears it looks like Jenny could be in grave danger! Imran confides in Ronnie and Gary that he’s reported Sharon to the police as it appears she’s involved with a drugs gang. Rita returns home to find Sharon clearly about to do a runner. As Rita demands answers is she in the same danger as Jenny? 

SARAH TRIES TO FORCE THE TRUTH OUT OF ADAM Sarah begs Adam to reconsider donating his liver, suggesting that he’s only doing it out of guilt and it’s a hell of a price to pay. Adam’s torn. Adam tells Sarah he’s taken his name off the donor list and wonders how he’s going to break the news to Peter and Carla. 

LUCAS GETS CARLA’S KNICKERS IN A TWIST Carla tries to chase Lucas for payment only to find his phone number no longer in use. Carla admits to Sarah that she was right not to trust Lucas as it seems he’s gone bust.

ASHA’S CAUGHT OUT When Nina overhears Asha telling Corey that she’d like them to get back together, she’s horrified and points out that it was Corey who killed Seb. Determined to stick to her plan, Asha defends Corey, leaving Nina devastated by Asha’s apparent betrayal. Asha assures Nina she’s still her friend and things aren’t how they look. Meanwhile after a chat with Roy, Abi dumps the bag of goth dresses in front of Nina, ordering her to go and put one on as Seb would want her at his funeral dressed as the Nina he loved.

ELSEWHERE Sat beside Seb’s coffin, Abi’s heart breaks as she tells him how she wishes she’d been a better Mum. When Gary tells Maria he’s thinking of taking a job in Bristol to be near Zack, will she ask him to stay? 

Glenda Young
Twitter: @Flaming_Nora
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