Living in Weatherfield

My new home - MediaCityUK in Salford

In September I headed off to university in Manchester; a brand new life on the other side of the country. The thought of living away from home was daunting for me - hailing from quiet little County Durham in the North East where really nothing much happens, everyone talks to one another and life is just generally canny, I just didn't know if I'd fit in. I was wrong.

Luckily for me, half of my friends from sixth form college also moved down with me to the exact same uni. What are the chances? Secondly, a good proportion of people I've met at uni are also from the North East, meaning that Manchester really is home from home. Although there is a general lack of Greggs stores and a whole lot of Southerners who think they're "in the North" (anywhere below Middlesbrough is the South), it's pretty much fantastic.

I can't believe I've reached the third paragraph without mentioning the most important thing about moving to the North West. I am now on Coronation Street's doorstep! I live in Salford, the city where "Weatherfield" is, and my uni campus is at MediaCity, meaning I see those famous chimney tops and the façade of Victoria Court across the quays on a daily basis.

I've met Pat Phel...Connor McIntyre, not once, but twice. And he's a legend.

Out and about in town, I can see why articles like this one are very true, because despite the tram crashes, yearly arson attacks, murders, rapes, car crashes and robberies, Weatherfield has nothing on Salford's crime rate. The shopping centre is rife on a nighttime, and sometimes quite frightening, and you see some eye-opening sights.

There's the dodgy types like Callum and his gang hanging around in the dark alleyways behind the derelict working mens clubs, the brassy Carla Connor types stocking up on wine then driving off in their posh cars back to the swanky quayside, and even a woman who is a double of Beth Tinker working in Savers. She is an icon.

Across my morning commute I pass the ACTUAL Coronation Street, home of Salford Lads Club and
the location of this legendary LP cover (though sadly the terraced street in the background behind wor Rita is no longer). Everything is just far too exciting for this Corrie fan, and I'm loving it.

You can follow me on Twitter if you want, I'm @MichaelAdamsUk

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Speculation Street: How Will Kylie Die?

Now that the spoilers have hit the media about Paula Lane's exit and the death of Kylie Platt, the speculation begins. I'm kind of ticked-off that ITV decided to spoil this one. I really did think she'd end up having to go to jail but I suppose if the actress was not planning to return, they couldn't have her away for life. Her crime wasn't killing Callum, that was self defence, but the treatment of the body afterwards, that's the biggie.

Logically, you couldn't see Kylie leaving David and her kids again, not permanently and since we haven't been told that Jack P. Shepherd was leaving, it was also a given that it would be only her leaving the show. Death is probably the only possibility, then. But I still wish ITV had kept that as a surprise.

My imaginative guess: There have been rumours for months that Callum really isn't dead in spite of all the statements from ITV and the actor himself to the contrary. But maybe Callum really is alive. Maybe Callum lurches around a corner just as Kylie and David and family are loading up into the cab that's going to take them to their new start in Barbados, points a gun at her and kills her. I don't think we've seen that before, a supposed dead character return to kill someone. Returning from the dead has been done but not quite like this.

My absolutely stupid guess: Ok, just for fun, here's another one that's really stretching credibility. Nick has another psychotic episode and strangles Kylie. Since he has brain damage, no real motive is needed and he isn't responsible for his actions. He will only spend some time sectioned in a hospital in the room next to Sarah with Gail drifting woefully between the rooms of her two children.

What's your theory?


Tvor (Twitter @tvordlj)


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Carla's exit and Callum's re-entrance, Day 5

While it was Carla Connor's last appearance before retreating to Devon, tail between her legs (and what a sad way for the great Carla Connor to go, isn't it?), most of last night's episode was about the discovery of Callum's body under Gail's annex floor. Poor Tyrone thought he'd run over someone and Eileen was cracking jokes about Gail's dead husbands which did make me laugh but was totally inappropriate! I do think Gail's going to have nightmares about that body under her bed for a long time.

Kylie and Sarah are bricking it and David is scrambling, for once his "cool" cracking a bit while he tries to organize a quick getaway, leaving Sarah to carry the load. Kylie wasn't about to let that happen. Sarah might say she can hold it together now, but it was only a few days ago she was gibbering to Callum's spirit in the annex.

It took nearly half the episode for the body to be discovered even though we, David and Kylie and Sarah knew what was coming. It probably would have been smarter for David to tell straightaway, might have made him look more innocent but it's too late now.

As for Carla leaving, It's sad that she went out defeated. I felt bad for Johnny, the first time she called him Dad was the day she left. And I knew that Roy would get back in time, telling her in so many words that he did love her (even if he was angry and a bit fed up). You can be angry with someone you love when you see them self destructing over and over, often pulling innocent others into the morass with you.

Odd that she's going to Devon. Isn't that kind of like rubbing sea salt in the wound? Anyway, the whole week had me transfixed to the screen. Here's a running commentary with screen captures to end up. 

Tvor - twitter @tvordlj


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Coronation Street Blog interview with Tina O'Brien

Ever since Callum's murder, it has been Sarah who has been the most affected. Kylie and particularly
David, have seemed to hold up better than Sarah, not that that is much to be proud of. On a few occasions, it has seemed as if Sarah might just give the game away in her conversations with Billy and also Todd. Sarah has cried the most, worried the most and appeared the most physically and mentally disturbed by the murder of Callum. She is jumpy, nervous, anxious and on edge. Ordinarily perhaps baby Harry's crying would not have troubled her so much, but the knowledge that Callum's body is decomposing under the annexe where her mother sleeps, is just too disturbing. That he is also Harry's father adds a further dimension and it is Sarah's belief that Harry won't settle because he senses the 'presence' of his father.

Throughout the intervening weeks since the murder, David and Kylie have had to warn Sarah to get a grip and to control herself. They have reiterated that she must tell no one, nor act as if anything is untoward. Sarah has struggled, but so far has managed to keep the sinister secret between the three of them.

Would it be fair then to claim that Sarah is mentally weaker than David and Kylie? On the surface, perhaps yes. However, we must take into account the fact that Sarah has had a relationship with Callum and what's more, has carried and given birth to his child.

Tina O'Brien told us that she was determined in her preparation and in her presentation of her role as a woman suffering from post partum psychosis, to 'get it right' - to be as convincing as she possibly could to portray the psychological difficulties of women suffering all manner of problems after the birth of a baby. Tina  added that she went to a Wythenshawe mother and baby group to gain first hand experience from those very women who have struggled after the birth of their babies. I find this so impressive, as it conveys to us Tina's dedication and sense of responsibility to portray as accurately as she can, how it feels to struggle psychologically after having giving birth. And what's more - she has done a terrific job. What could have been melodrama, is, in the capable hands of Tina O'Brien, a convincing depiction of a woman on the edge.

The discovery of Callum's body now ends all speculation that somehow he had escaped and is just biding his time before reappearing and exacting a terrible revenge.


Fragile before the discovery of Callum's body, forthcoming episodes will now see a woman at breaking point. Intriguingly, despite the discovery of Callum's body, Sarah goes into denial as to it being Callum, so her already severely confused mental state will give way to further struggles. Callum's funeral will emphasise the strain Sarah is undergoing.

The Platts will be arrested, excluding Audrey and Nick, Tina said. 'Will they get away with it?' Tina was asked and her reply was that, 'If it is up to David, then probably.' David will cast the net far and wide in an attempt to incriminate others. Todd and Tony burnt out Callum's car in revenge for Callum having beaten up Jason, so it is likely that Todd will be arrested, though it is obviously too late for Tony. There will be several people associated with the drug dealing that will also come into the frame, maybe including Gemma.

I asked Tina about Sarah's friendship with Todd and whether she might confide in him as matters become very serious indeed. Tina replied that she and Todd become closer and he is a great support to her. The death of their child several years ago will always be something which draws and glues them together. Tina said that with Sarah, in her increasingly disturbed psychological state, is unclear in what she is actually saying to Todd, leading him to jump to conclusions and make incorrect assumptions. Sarah also wants to confide in her mother, Gail, but recognises that she cannot.

It was pointed out that EastEnders is running a similar story. Though Tina admitted that it was unfortunate, she was able to point out decisive differences in the treatment of post partum psychosis, in that Sarah's difficulties centre around Callum and the fact that she holds in her arms, Callum's child, half brother to Max and Callum's second son.

Tina was full of praise for new producer Kate Oates, who used to be at the helm of Emmerdale. Tina told us that Kate is 'very much on the ball' and is brimful of ideas. Though Kate is now fully a part of the  Coronation Street team, Kate's episodes will not hit our screens until the autumn

Ruth Owen, twitter @Ruth1722

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Jack P Shepherd interview on Callum's body being found

So all the chickens are coming home to roost for the Platts are they? 
Yeah they are! It’s going to be a big summer with the discovery of Callum’s body. It then becomes all about who’s going to get the blame, who’s going to start flinging the blame and what it means for the Platts and other characters in the future. The body could have stayed hidden for years but there’s more drama with this I think when it comes out. It’s the beginning of the next chapter.

Was David sure they could keep the body a secret or was there a sense of inevitability?
No, he thought that’s it, they’ve got away with it scot-free. In a lot of the scenes on screen now David’s very upbeat, quite comical, to the point you think he seems to have completely forgotten about it. There are a few dips now and again when Sarah’s freaking out and he goes ‘shut up, we’ll be fine, no one knows, don’t let the cat out of the bag’, everything’s all right, we got away with it. So no he thought that’s it, we can draw a line underneath it. But obviously it’s not!

When Callum’s body is discovered does he still think it’ll be fine?
There are elements of that. There are also some scenes where he’s the one who’s petrified but he has to keep that to himself, because he has to be the strong one when Kylie and Sarah are falling apart. They’re the ones who are losing their minds so he has to be the strong one, but on his own you can see the pressure is getting to David and that there’s a chance he’s going to prison for murder.    

Do you like the mature side to David?
Worryingly, crime seems to suit him. Yeah he does always seem to respond well to pressure does David, and in circumstances where it looks like his life is on the line, he always seems to get away with it unscathed. But murder? That’s a bit of a different kettle of fish so he is worried about it, very much so, but again he can’t let the others see that because if he thinks they’re going down for it, then they might as well all start blabbing because that’s exactly what they will do.   

Who is he keenest to protect? Kylie, the kids, Sarah?
I think it’s Kylie and the kids. He would let anyone else go down for it. It’d be painful if Sarah went down for it but he wouldn’t be bothered as long as Kylie and the kids were all right I think.

Does that fuel his actions after the body is discovered?
I think Kylie’s a lot more compassionate towards Sarah than David is. Kylie’s more of the moral one, saying no we all have to get away with it or none of us gets away with it. 

Would he take the rap for Kylie?
Yeah, I think he probably would.

What if he and Kylie both go down for it?
No, that’s not an option for David, I don’t think he’d go for that. It’d have to be either one or the other. I think if he’s put in the position where Kylie says she’s going to confess then he’ll say ‘no, I did it’.

David attempts to blame Jason for Callum’s murder, how does that come about?
There’s a scene where David’s being questioned by the police and he’s getting all the blame – the body’s been discovered in his house, how does he get away with saying it isn’t him? So he goes ‘you know there are other people who had a grudge against Callum that it could have been. The police are like ‘well, who that had access to your house?’ and he goes ‘ah, the builders – Jason, obviously it’s Jason, yeah Jason’s done it!’ So that’s how that comes about.

Does he feel bad about blaming Jason?
No, not at all. He’s like yes finally! Something good has happened from this, I can now pass it off on him.

Is David confident this will work?
Well there’s a chance that it might so he thinks yeah say it. Also Jason’s thick so David thinks hopefully he’ll stick his foot in it and incriminate himself somehow.

How do Kylie and Sarah react to David’s plan?
hey feel slightly more guilty but David tries to convince them to roll with this because it’s a way to get out of it.

Could David persuade them that blaming Jason is the best case scenario?
I imagine David will say what are you on about, this is an absolute gift. We need to take this and let him get sent down the river. 

So David plants the seed in the police’s heads?
Yeah, he points out that Jason didn’t like Callum and he had access to the Platts house, so then they have to go and question Jason and he’s arrested.

How does Gail cope with the discovery of the body? Who does she think killed Callum?
She thinks David’s done it because obviously it looks like he has. So she sort of falls out with him and says he’s ruining the family. But David insists he hasn’t done it, then he says look I’m trying to hold it together for Max and Lily, I’ve got to figure out what the hell to tell Max, who’s just witnessed his dad being pulled out of a drain, I’m having a tough time here.

Is Gail a suspect?
I think the Platts are all suspects. Initially we all get arrested because we’re all in the house.

You’ve just made a short film with Ben Price, tell us a bit about it.
We did Taubman which Ben wrote and directed. He gave me the script about two years ago and said what do you think of this, and I went yeah, that’s good and he said do you want to be in it. So we did it where work would allow, with Ian Puleston-Davies, and filmed it in an empty building in Media City one weekend. The trailer’s on IMDB and we’re having a screening at The Lowry cinema. We’re showing both films that Ben’s done with Ian, a five minute one and Taubman which is a 16 minute short with me and Ian in. The first one went to the film festivals and this one’s going to the film festivals now. And it’s going to BAFTA film festival. Imagine if we win a BAFTA!

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Watch trailer for Carla's wedding and Callum's body being found

Secrets and lies are set to be exposed in Coronation Street's big week.  It'll run from Sunday 22 May until Thursday 26 May, every night.

You can read all about what to expect in the big week here - and you can also watch a clip of the action, below. 

I'm looking forward very much to seeing how Callum's body will be found and what the impact will be.

SECRETS DON'T STAY BURIED FOREVER...

as Carla & the Platts soon find out!https://t.co/vYJxUtAMNx#CorrieSecretshttps://t.co/u3u45cPmgN

— Coronation Street (@itvcorrie) May 6, 2016

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Callum's body and Carla's wedding - another Corrie big week revealed

Details have been released by ITV of Coronation Street's annual "big week".  This year it'll be Carla's wedding and leaving storyline along with Callum's body that will take centre stage on the show.

From the official ITV Corrie website:

Carla is heading towards her wedding to Nick, while desperately trying to stop Tracy from spilling the beans about her ill-judged one night stand with Robert.

And over at number 8 the Platt family are still hiding the grisly secret of Callum's body being buried under the floor of Gail’s granny flat. Now their past actions look set to catch up with them all as Callum’s corpse is finally unearthed and Tracy does her best to ruin Carla’s dream wedding.

The unmissable episodes will run over five days but will cover a dramatic 24-hour period in the lives of Weatherfield’s residents.

The week starts with the whole street preparing for the wedding of Nick and Carla which in true soap style is packed with shocks and surprises. The stakes could not be higher for Carla. As the day of the wedding draws closer Johnny is determined to ensure that Tracy will not destroy his daughter’s big day but when he discovers that her sabotage has already started he is forced to resort to desperate measures to keep her away from the ceremony.

As he argues with Tracy in the factory he seizes the opportunity and locks her in the store cupboard. Has Johnny done enough to stop Tracy revealing all about Carla and Robert? Will Carla make it down the aisle to become Mrs Tilsley? Will Nick’s brain injury halt the proceedings?

With Alison King about to leave the cobbles, is Carla driving off happily into the sunset with Tracy glad to see the back of her, or does her arch nemesis have other plans?

As if the drama of the wedding is not enough for one week, things take a sinister turn over at the Platts when a dramatic sequence of events leads to the discovery of a body at number 8. As the police knock on the door is this finally the end of the road for Sarah, Kylie and David?

Yesterday, paparazzi pictures were posted showing the filming of Callum's funeral. Read more on that here.

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Coronation Street film another funeral - but whose is it?

For those who don't like spoilers in the titles of our blog posts, this one's for you.  However, if you're continuing to read, you'll be finding out very soon that...

... Callum Logan's funeral has been filmed today.

Yes, the Manchester Evening News have some paparazzi pictures of the filming of Callum's funeral. Billy the vicar is doing the honours, Sarah's in tears, Todd's comforting Sarah, there's a wreath of flowers bearing Callum's name... it's all shaping up for a funeral to remember. 

I just hope there's a bit of camp in there. As he was in life so he is in death.

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Callum's death shortlisted for Scene of the Year award

Callum's death in Coronation Street, has been shortlisted in the category of Scene of the Year in the British Soap Awards.

This is a category that isn't available on the British Soap Awards website for fans to vote on.  It's a panel decision and the results will be announced on the night. 

We can vote for Best Soap Actor, Best Soap Actress and Best Soap - vote here.  

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Callum Logan’s reign of terror shortlisted as Best Storyline

Callum Logan's reign of terror has been shortlisted in the category of Best Storyline in the British Soap Awards this year.

This is a category that isn't available on the British Soap Awards website for fans to vote on.  It's a panel decision and the results will be announced on the night. 

We can vote for Best Soap Actor, Best Soap Actress and Best Soap - vote here.

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Callum's body will be found, says Coronation Street producer

In this week's fab Inside Soap magazine, they have a snippet from the Street about Callum's body.  In an article about actress Paula Lane announcing her pregnancy in real-life, the magazine ponders what will become of Kylie when Paula takes maternity leave.

So far, Inside Soap magazine says, David and Kylie have managed to ensure their secret stays buried.  However, that's all set to change, says Stuart Blackburn, Coronation Street producer.

"That particular secret will come to light at the end of spring or in early summer," the Corrie proucer reveals. "But the discovery may not directly impact the characters you think it will."

Ooh, I wonder who'll find the body if not Kylie, David and Sarah?

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Callum Logan - Dead or disappeared down the drain?

 

Guest blog post from Paul Lanagan who is on twitter @CorrieArt. Paul visited the Coronation Street tour yesterday for his very last time, December 31st 2015 on its last day of operation. 

And now it's over to Paul...

"With viewers having been offered an excess of continuing dramas (aka soaps) over the past 55 years, it's a challenge for our favourite programmes to come up with new and refreshing storylines. The likes of Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and the lamented Brookside have all "been there, done that, worn the T-Shirt, committed the shocking murder and hidden the body"!

Nobody can forget the memorable and groundbreaking domestic abuse storyline in Brookside which resulted in the violent Trevor Jordache being interred under the patio in 1993 only for his bin-bagged remains to be exposed two years later in all its comedic glory by Jimmy Corkhill when a burst pipe forced the garden to be excavated.

Are we about to see the same story repeated on Coronation Street where a blocked drain under Gail's new granny-flat (aka annexe) could expose the deposition site of Callum Logan's body?

I hope not.

The Corrie writers are surely too clever to repeat something we expect to happen - a storyline of "body found, suspects arrested, wrong person charged, case goes to court, Free the Weatherfield One, real culprit comes forward, predictable story over".

A happy ending but an opportunity for a big twist missed!

I've suspected since the day we all thought Callum met his grisly end (from the blow of a wrench yielded by Kylie Platt and his subsequent burial in the drain under 8 Coronation Street back in September 2015) that he wasn't actually dead!

And how shocking would it be when by whatever means the granny-flat drain is finally re-exposed and we all stare at our screens expecting a swarm of flies to escape into the Platts' house only for the void to be void of a body?

Callum is alive and well! He'll have awoken in his damp tomb with a major headache and a bad case of curtain rash only to be faced with a long crawl to freedom!

Having visited the Coronation Street many times, I've identified Callum's potential escape routes - but which of the following Weatherfield drains has he made his bid for freedom from?

Place your bets now!

Drain 1 - very close to No 8 Coronation Street, but a snug fit for Callum to squeeze out.

Drain 2 - located in the middle of the cobbles near No 1 Coronation Street, Callum would have to chance his luck against those pesky Corrie cars (two can fit down the street now, you know!).

Drain 3 - right next to Audrey's Salon (how ironic) and the phone box, this large drain is big enough for a strapping lad like Callum to pop out from!

Drains 4 & 5 - slap bang in the middle of Rosamund Street and not worth the risk of losing your head from the passing Weatherfield Wayfarer!

Drain 6 - tucked inside the illogical Rosamund Street viaduct, Callum would be better off facing all that flushes down the nearby Rovers' toilets than try his escape here!

Drain 7 - a very small drain down the ginnel, Callum could only use this one if he didn't mind being cheese gratered!

Drains 8 & 9 - behind the Corner Shop, these drains aren't too far from No 8 Coronation Street and the lid was very loose when I visited. Has Callum already found his way out from here?

Drain 10 - another big drain cover and right beside Nick's Bistro. Imagine the diners' faces if Callum had popped up here in the middle of the entrees?

Drain 11 - another small drain, this one is located outside the door of the vacant No 12 Coronation Street. Surely nosey Norris would have heard Callum's cries for help as he swept the paths of the Kabin?

Drain 12 - right in front of the steps of Underworld, Callum would be lucky if he could fit his arm through this drain; it would be snugger than a pair of the Connors' best knickers!

Drain 13 - no chance here, this tiny drain is clogged up with fag ends from customers of Audrey's Salon when they nip out for a ciggie between treatments!

Drain 14 - on Rosamund Street next to the bus stop and below the upper floor flat of 15A Rosamund Street, if Callum had any wits left about him (after a painful blow to the head by a wrench), he'd emerge from Weatherfield's drains here as 15A had been empty for a while and the pipes all sweet and clean!

Thanks are extended to the Weatherfield Water Utilities for assistance with researching this article, their co-operation lightened the load on my otherwise sensitive nose on a very wet visit to our favourite street on New Year's Eve 2015.

PAUL LANAGAN
@CorrieArt

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My Corrie wish for 2016

My wish is quite straight forward really. Oh Corrie Powers That Be, can we please not have another Plattination Street in 2016? Honestly, it feels like we're never out of David and Kylie's front room these days.

2015 has been the year of the Platt family. Or should I say, yet another year of the Platt family. The Callum saga has dragged on and on and on and now has so many different off shoots it shows no signs of slowing down. The man has been dead and buried since September but it still feels like he is stalking the streets of Weatherfield. I really didn't like the character of Callum and yes I know we weren't supposed to, but I just found him completely over the top and overrated. 

Corrie has a history of dragging certain stories out for unbelievable lengths of time (Callum; anything Carla or Tracy related) while others (Emily's imminent departure) begin and end over the course of a few episodes. I understand that David and Kylie are popular, well acted characters and that Corrie bosses are desperate to attract and hold onto the younger viewer (despite the fact younger people are watching telly less and less, but that's a whole other blog). I just wish the whole Platt clan could be rested for a few months.

I think David and Kylie are cracking characters, don't get me wrong. Jack P Shepherd has worked wonders since he starting playing David 15 years ago and Paula Lane is an absolute star. Tina O'Brien put in a terrific performance in the live episode in September but I still don't care for the character of Sarah. And while it has taken me a considerable amount of time, I'm actually beginning to warm to Bethany. I continue to have a soft spot for Nick (yes, I know) and Gail and Audrey are Corrie legends but please, let's shift the focus.

There are plenty of other Corrie characters that deserve and indeed are crying out for more screen time. The Nazir family have come on leaps and bounds in 2015 and I enjoy each and every one of them now. Although the Alya storyline was a bit tedious, it showed them as a wonderful family unit. I'd like to see more of them. Steph and Andy make a great couple but their recent revenge porn storyline really didn't do them justice. Luke is also promising but the writers haven't given him a sufficient chance to show this yet. Another character who barely gets a look in is Erica who sparkles whenever she appears and forms a great double act with Liz. We also need more of the Tinkers - Craig in particular is brilliant.

I'm not saying we should phase the Platt family out entirely, let's just have them as background characters for a few months. I'm looking forward to seeing Audrey's relationship with Ken develop and while we're at it, Gail really does need a little storyline all of her own. For the time being though, there seems to be no getting away from the dreaded Callum. At least the horrid Gemma hasn't been sniffing around for a while, although I'm sure she'll be back!

So do you agree that it's time to stick the Platt family in the Corrie cupboard for a while?

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