Coronation Street Blog: New Arrivals Come All Guns Blazing: Interview With Corrie Producer Kate Brooks

Friday, 27 December 2024

New Arrivals Come All Guns Blazing: Interview With Corrie Producer Kate Brooks

With new producer Kate Brooks' name now appearing in Corrie's credits, we've entered a new era for the soap.

I travelled to Coronation Street Studios in Manchester to hear all about her vision for the show, and to find out about her plans for characters and storylines going into 2025.

Kate had so much to share, that I've divided it up into six blogs.

Those not wishing to read any spoilers should look away now.

If fan trepidation and curiosity are a given when a new producer takes over, the same could definitely be said when news hits of a brand new family joining the Street.

"We've got some great characters coming in," says Kate. "They are Mick and Lou, they are coming to live at the back of Chesney's, on Maudsley Street, across the ginnel. They are live wires, they are ruffians, they are going to cause a lot of damage and a lot of chaos. There is a link to Chesney initially, which I won't go into too much, but they are coming to stir up a lot of trouble, and they are coming also to open up the floodgates and unpack the past of one of our big characters, which is Kit."

"So, really interesting stuff, really wonderful stuff, really dynamic stuff - it's going to be fantastic. We're really excited. They just come with oodles of drama; they are shaking things up. They are neighbours from hell, ultimately. They're over-familiar, they're likeable and they've got kids. As I say, they initially develop a friendship with Chesney and Gemma, but there are other things to unpack. I wouldn't get on the wrong side of them, especially Mick. But yeah, they are brilliant actors, and they are coming to cause some chaos on the street and there will be a trail of devastation, let's just say."

"Their kids are quite young. They're kind of the quads' age; a couple are a bit older. It's more the parents - think of your neighbours from hell and kind of quadruple that. They're coming on the street all guns blazing."

Kate told us they will be landing around February 2025, and while they're "really chaotic," they're also "really enjoyable. They have got a charm to them as well; they're not just inherently unlikeable characters, they have got a charisma, they have got charm. But they just do and say things that you shouldn't say or do. They're fun!"

Kate also teased the return of some familiar faces in 2025, including Carla's brother Rob Donovan. She also revealed that Kevin and Debbie's brother Carl Webster will be seen on screen for the first time, and there might also be a new man coming along for Todd, "which will come with its own tests, and trials and tribulations. He's been single for donkey's years," she added, "and he's fantastic. Grimshaws is another big clan that I am very keen to explore."