It's been a busy week, and as I settle down to write this latest cast chat, I ponder a big Corrie-style question: can we have too much of a good thing? Joining another ITV press day (humble brag) to interview the newest cast member, Claire Sweeney, it hits me that this West-End singing stage star (see Jodie Prenger) is playing a troubled drug addict. Seeing the mandatory preview press shots, I'm immediately thinking of Abi Webster, and the plethora of addiction stories, starting with Peter, that Corrie has given us over these past few years. Am I becoming jaded? As a big fan of Brookside, (what happened with Simon O'Brien?) and musicals, it was a pleasure to witness Claire on my laptop screen and looking as glam and gorgeous as you'd expect. However, when she debuts on our screens this coming week, she's in full drug-addict mode - hair scrapped back, scruffy, and looking anything but glam.
This Wednesday (June 28th), Evelyn has a blast from the past when she's called into Weatherfield A & E to find that her daughter, Cassandra Plummer (Claire Sweeney) has had a heroin overdose. Finding Evelyn at her hospital bedside, she reveals the last time they met, she stole cash from her bag and found her address. Evelyn is then shocked when Cassie says that she called the garage and found out Tyrone is her son, and wants to meet him. By the end of the week Evelyn lies to Tyrone and explains she's leaving the street to see an old friend, but in fact, has rented a flat to get Cassie through recovery. Off-screen Dame Maureen Lipman is starring in a one-woman stage play, and Claire Sweeney told us that she's back on screen as a full-time character in August. She also told us to expect a 14-page two-hander between these two actresses, with some guaranteed superb writing from Corrie's legendary scribe, Iain Kershaw. With the character going full-time in August, Tyrone will have another scouse Mum but this time it's his 'real' one! Let's not forget the superb Margi Clarke who made that role her own.
Usually, I would write this as a full interview but my laptop is dying a death and I couldn't record the audio. I can only tell you that it's evident that Claire is a big fan of the show, and as a star on stage and screen, she said this was her 'Hollywood role calling.
So, what do we think, am I getting jaded with Corrie? We've seen this drug-addict role/mould before with Abi, who is now a sober Mrs Webster and a Mum to Imran's baby. I hope they take this down a different route, and let the character bed in a bit longer, before she's supping zero in the Rovers and has pulled through the turmoil. I have to admit, the grimness of Paul's disease has taken the shine off this show for me recently. So, instead of a drawn-out drug addiction recovery (which we've seen a million times now) I hope she comes back as a Ruthie Henshall type, gets best buddies with Glenda, and hosts a weekly Rovers Karaoke?
I am @rybazoxo Coronation Street Blogger and Cobbles superfan!
Cassie Plummer arrives on the cobbles on Wednesday, June 28th. She is in for two episodes then Evelyn takes her away from the street before Tyrone finds out the truth. They will both return on August 16th.
Keep your eyes peeled for a few more Corrie press day chats for July storylines that are still to come. I have recorded Paula Wilcox (Elaine) who's an absolute joy!
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4 comments:
Jeanie (anon):Not to mention that if she comes into the show as a drug addict that will mean she has been addicted the length of Tyrone's life--which is what---going on 40 years? Kind of a long time for Evelyn to have had nothing to do with her! And very difficult for such a long time addict to turn over a new leaf. At least with Abi, the time frame of her addiction seemed much shorter,so more realistic that she could turn her life around.
Agree re the persistent depressing story lines. Paul's is too grim, especially after the Oliver story line. And reforming drug addicts has been done so many times before--can't we have something different? Why not have Cassie a tremondous success or something and explore this impact on Eveyln and Tyrone's life in comic terms?! Why does she have to be a desperate street person/addict? I love the successful Debbie character and she's so funny... one of the bright spots of the show. Can't we have a few more of these?!
I agree we have had too many drug addicts. Even Billy! And Ryan in his early days, I think, and Tracy's dalliance with Ecstasy. Would have been better to utilise Claire Sweeney's musical theatre background and pair her with Glenda. Plus she's too young to be Tyrone's mother.
Do the writers remember Gloria, played by Sue Johnston, who played Gloria, Stella's mother. The writers made her so over-the-top that she was unbearable and lasted less than a year. Evelyn arrived as a harridan but Maureen Lipman has toned her down and made her loveable. That's not to say that Claire Sweeney's character will be OTT but she will be extreme. All newcomers are extreme because they have to make an impression. It's a case of grim-new-character overload. I guess the character arrives in order to plug the gap left by Fiz. Tyrone and Evelyn aren't strong enough on their own and it's not Maureen Lipman's fault.
I thought Claire and Maureen were fab.
Yet I'm puzzled about Kirk. He's moved out of Ty's but he hasn't re-united with Beth.
Or if he has, if he has, we haven't seen it. Like Steve's dog Rover he's disappeared without trace.
Where has he gone? Is the actor in a reality tv series or something?
I agree that there seems to be a big gap for Debbie now but I assume she'll re-invest in the bistro now Damon's gone.
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