The Rovers Return is up for sale! But who's going to buy it?

Is this really the 'end of an era'? Are 'times a-changin' at Weatherfield's finest watering hole? Just two idioms mentioned by rovers regulars on Wednesday night's Corrie, and it right got me thinking!

A few weeks back Coronation Street announced a marketing tie-up with real-world estate agents Purple Bricks, announcing the sale of our favourite fictional pub. The fictional boozer now has a real-life 'For Sale' sign adorning the set. A piece of canny marketing aside, I wonder; is Jenny going to give up her landlady life? Is The Rovers Return about to change hands, again? If that's the case then I have a few questions... 

1. How long will the pub be on sale? Normally within Weatherfield business circles, transactions are completed within a week's worth of episodes (Gail's buyback of sinkhole number 8) when the reality of such acquisitions is likely to be months and months. So, with this product tie in, can we expect The Rovers to be on the market for a real-world time, say 3 months? Could it even be going up for an online auction?

2. Will it stay as a pub? In the real world, and as much as I love The Rovers it would surely be a Tesco express now, or have been converted into one-bed flats, a Co-Op, or even a Weatherfield Wetherspoons? Nah, me neither! I think the beauty of Weatherfield is the escapism and otherworldly drama that creates! We need that pub as a reminder of a bygone era, let's keep it that way!

3. Who's going to buy it? I can't imagine a new cast coming in to run it, can you? I'd guess that Rita could dip into her millions and finally buy it ( pals? pals!) for Jenny. Ronnie Bailey has cash and likes Jenny, Debbie Webster is minted, and Kev has got a few quid too. Could the street's legendary boozer, Audrey Roberts, buy it up and turn it into a gin joint? Sally and Tim would make a right team behind that bar too!

That said, in recent years, Jenny Bradley has elevated the Rovers landlady position back to the forefront of the show, in homage to Bet, Liz, and Annie, of course! Jenny is hilarious, gorgeous, bolshy, witty, and a cracking businesswoman who can handle any trouble in that bar. Ideally, I propose Jenny Bradley keeps the pub and Rita buys it for her. However, for drama purposes, she will struggle at first and somebody else will come close to purchasing, until the last minute saviour type moment! Steve Mcdonald, maybe?

The times may be a-changin' at The Rovers Return but let's not change things too much, eh!

What do you think? 

@rybazoxo

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Fifty years since Elsie married Steve in Coronation Street

Today is the fiftieth anniversary of the first of two Corrie episodes covering the wedding of Elsie Tanner to Sergeant Steve Tanner. Conveniently, no change of surname was required! 

At the time, it was the most talked-about event in the history of Coronation Street. In fact, the episode broadcast on 6 September 1967 was the first in Corrie to show the wedding ceremony itself.

It was such a big event that the nuptials spawned a special ‘Coronation Street Wedding Souvenir’ magazine published by the TV Times on 7 September 1967. This was the first ever Corrie magazine and, apart from some records and jigsaws, one of the first pieces of Coronation Street merchandise.

For one shilling, Corrie fans that had enjoyed the wedding on TV could relive it all with a 32-page souvenir mag packed with photos of the ceremony and reception – a lavish do in Warrington.

I have never seen the Tanner wedding. However, having recently acquired a copy of the TV Times supplement, I feel like I know a lot about the big day! 

It’s a great historical document and one interesting feature is a copy of Dennis Tanner’s speech, which was not heard on screen. It was printed along with his supposed hand-written amendments.

Other highlights include an artist’s impression of the lounge in Elsie and Steve’s new luxury flat in Altrincham. The flat was decked out with wall-to wall carpeting and a craftsman-designed fireplace in natural stone, with a built-in gas fire and a slate hearth. It was a far cry from the sparsely furnished living room of 11 Coronation Street.

Elsie was going up in the world, you see – from the cobbled back streets of Salford to the tree-lined avenues of Manchester’s stockbroker belt. The wife of an American GI, she could kiss goodbye to cooking on a stove in the living room and her tiny scullery with a sink and larder. Now Elsie could enjoy a real kitchen with all mod cons: new cooker with eye-level grill; stainless steel sink unit; plenty of cupboard space; Venetian blinds and a transistorised clock – plus, a refrigerator! 

According to Corriepedia (read more here), the photos in the magazine were not taken on set because recording was too close to the TV Times’ publication date. Instead, the cast assembled at St Margaret’s Church in Whalley Range, which looked like the church designed in the studio. The back cover featured a photo of the Tanners at Manchester Airport, staged as if they were about to board their honeymoon flight to Lisbon.

The Coronation Street Wedding Souvenir magazine was given a second print run and is thought to have sold over one million copies in total. Not surprisingly, the TV Times went on to publish more special Corrie magazines, for example to mark the tenth anniversary in 1970, the wedding of Len and Rita in 1977, and the 2000th episode in 1980.

I came by this wonderful relic thanks to a friend of a friend, Scarlett, who found it when clearing her Aunt’s bungalow after she had passed away at the age of 92. It was sitting inside a folder of Royal souvenirs and cuttings; alongside some old Cadbury Creme Eggs and Woods of Windsor talc sets.

Scarlett’s Auntie Alice was an avid Corrie fan from the very start and actually passed away peacefully as the opening bars of the theme tune could be heard from the residents’ lounge in the care home where she spent her last eighteen months. Alice hated Len Fairclough and Annie Walker and she thought Ken Barlow was a womaniser. She would have liked to have tried Betty’s hotpot. Me too!

It’s amazing to think that someone I never met spent many happy hours watching Coronation Street, just as I, and many other millions of people have, all of us formulating opinions about the same set of characters. It made me think of the wonderful ‘Coronation Street: Then, Now & Forever’ promo produced by ITV to celebrate 57 years of our favourite continuing drama. For us Corrie fans, we’ll always have iconic scenes and storylines by which to remember major milestones in our own lives.

My first child is due soon and I look forward to sharing many Corrie moments with her. I’m sure she will grow up to love Coronation Street, just as her Daddy always has – Then, Now & Forever!

By Martin Leay, on Twitter @mpleay

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In awe of Annie Walker

As Doris speeds (get it?!) over Britain, battering everything in her path, I thought I'd re-post this tribute I wrote around 2 years ago to another natural force on the cobbles, Mrs Annie Walker played of course by the wonderful Doris Speed. This blog post also appears in the blog's book which you can follow the link to buy one below.

Yesterday [New Year's Day 2015], as there was nothing that good on TV I decided to watch The Stars of Coronation Street - 50 Years, 50 Classic Characters DVD once again, this time with my mum and grandmother. We fast-forwarded some clips as the characters didn't interest us but thoroughly enjoyed watching the clips of Eddie Yeats, Hilda, Ena, Percy Sugden, Betty and Blanche.

But the one character that made my mum smile fondly every time she featured in a clip was the wonderful Annie Walker.

A precursor to the classic comedy character Hyacinth Bucket, Annie is one of the most brilliantly played characters in the history of Corrie. While it is the likes of Elsie, Hilda, Bet and Vera that we remember for catfights, Annie could also dish them out, but in a much subtler way which I love. Just look at the clip below of Annie's classic put-down of Hilda in 1977:

She was the classic snob and the clip shown of her and husband Jack on the DVD is a Corrie classic, and hasn't been shown that often which is a real shame. She reminds me of certain aunts in my family or maybe people who live in my village - those who think they're a cut above but really they're not. When Annie went a bit too far with her snobbishness, the likes of Jack, Lucille, Len and Bet were sure to take her down a peg or two. And I loved how she used to separate the customers into two categories - her friends like Len, Ken, Emily and Alf and then the peasants like the Ogdens, Eddie Yeats and the Duckworths. I also loved how she used posh language to insult Stan or Hilda where they thought she complimented them! 

It is a real shame that she departed the way she did. It is remarkable that Doris Speed was in her 80s and still made regular appearances in her final years. In the final clip on the DVD feature about Annie it shows her laying down the law to the Rovers staff and Doris was in her 80s then and what a strong performance it was. And I thought, they don't make them like that anymore!

She was a megalomaniac but she wouldn't have fit in anywhere else apart from Coronation Street in my opinion. She soldiered on as a widow to run the Rovers and I believe there has been no landlady as good as her since. Annie's character would never age because snobs still exist in today's society as shown in present Corrie with Sally Metcalfe. You could possibly not say the same about Ena, Hilda or Mavis even.

She was one of the big three originals and for me she was the best!

So let's raise a glass to Annie Walker of the Beaumonts of Clitheroe! 

by Llifon

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Picking Your Favourites

 

The other day on Twitter I was asked to pick my seven favourite Coronation Street characters. An enjoyable bit of fun but it probably reveals more about ourselves, what we like and what we don't than we might immediately think. 

For anyone interested, my pick of characters were: Alma Baldwin, Audrey Roberts, Hilda Ogden, Betty Turpin, Annie Walker, Ena Sharples and Elsie Tanner. For those who know me there aren't many surprises there. Of course they are all women but that's not necessarily surprising as the foundations of Corrie have always been strong, vibrant female characters. Also, only one of my top seven are currently appearing in the show - Audrey. The rest are either dead on screen or in real life. 

I've always said I prefer much of what has gone before in Corrie than what we have now and that's not to say there aren't plenty of positives today before anyone cuts in! My friend and fellow blogger Emma also took part and she went the other way, choosing seven male characters. I was surprised by this, particularly in her penchant for Pat Phelan and Peter Barlow, but perhaps she was having an off day...

 

Anyway, with daft games like this it's sometimes more about who you leave out than who you include. For me, there were a few who nearly made the cut - Mavis, beautifully brought to life by that wonderful actress Thelma Barlow and yes, two men - Mike Baldwin, the best, more enduring Corrie character I've loved to hate and that lovable rogue Jack Duckworth portrayed by the sublime Bill Tarmey for so many years.

One of the hardest choices was not to include either Emily or Rita. If I had to pick I'd probably go for Emily as Eileen Derbyshire has kept her closest to her original character. Emily has matured in an extremely believable way and Derbyshire's quiet, non-showy performances are perhaps only know seen for what they are now she's no longer in the show. By the way, ITV , is Emily ever coming back? If Eileen has decided to quietly withdraw, please just tell us so we can respect her decision, wish her well and move on. 

Anyway, have a go yourself, which seven Corrie characters would you pick as your favourites?

 

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Top 25 Favourite Corrie Females - No. 24

24. ANNIE WALKER (144 VOTES)

Duration: 1960-1983

Played by: Doris Speed

2012 character poll position (women): 19

The Rovers landlady between 1937 and 1984. Married to Jack for over 30 years until his death in 1970. Mother to Billy and Joan. 

Known for her snobbishness and delusions of grandeur, Annie ruled the pub with an iron rod. She was the queen of her palace with staff Betty Turpin, Bet Lynch, Fred Gee and Hilda Ogden as her faithful subjects. 

She regarded herself as a pillar of the community and even contested in the 1966 local council elections against Len Fairclough. She failed to become a councillor but was in her element in 1973 when Alf Roberts asked her to be his mayoress. 

She liked to separate her customers into two groups. She regarded the likes of Len, Alf, Ken and Emily as friends while she looked down at the likes of the Ogdens, Eddie Yeats and the Duckworths.

If Annie went too far with her big ideas for the pub, Jack would have to put his foot down and utter those famous words: “Eeh, Annie love”. Many times she tried to upgrade the pub but the regulars always protested. She had dreams of running a country hotel but Jack was never keen. 

She ran the pub until she was in her mid-70s. By the early 1980s, she relied heavily on her staff to do the work while she played hostess and reminisced with the likes of Albert Tatlock, Elsie Tanner and Len. She retired to Derby in 1984, leaving the pub in the hands of son Billy. But by the end of the year, Billy had also upped sticks and an era had ended on the cobbles. 

Were you a fan of Mrs Walker?

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It's the little things

Coronation Street turns 54 tomorrow. Another remarkable milestone for such a remarkable telly programme. Who would have thought all those years ago that Corrie would still be popular today and would have evolved into such a massive part of our culture. 

Although tomorrow's birthday does not match the achievement of turning 40 or reaching 50, every 9 December does still send a shiver down my spine as I think of that first, brilliant episode introducing us to the likes of Elsie Tanner, Ena Sharples and Annie Walker. 

Coronation Street means many different things to each and every one of us, so here are just some of the thoughts it conjures up in me, hopefully showing how important it has been and continues to be in my life. For me it's the little things that make Corrie what it is.

The sound of Elsie Tanner's smoky, seductive voice. Annie Walker's withering looks from behind the Rovers bar. Carla Connor's effortless glamour. Sally Webster's snooty, snobbish ways, painfully aware that she'll never make it to Hale Barns.

The sound of the Corner Shop bell tinkling. Mike Baldwin's Jag snarling down the cobbles. Every cherished mention of Fat Brenda, always maddeningly absent from the switch. Deirdre's stuffed marrow and those much-missed belts - come back Deirdre, it's not the same without you!

Alma's turned up collars; Phyllis Pearce - that hair and that voice; Gail Potter and decades of misery. Hilda Ogden singing out of tune; Woman, Stanley, Woman!

The genius of David Neilson, crafting big performances out of nearly nothing at all. Betty Turpin walking out of the Rovers 47 times but always coming back. Ena Sharples sitting in judgement in the snug. 

Steve McDonald, from teenager to 40 and beyond. Rita Littlewood belting them out at t'Gatsby. Angie Freeman, a character ahead of her time. That Audrey Roberts noise and her decades of crying out "Oh Gail!"

Suzie Birchall's hot pants, Eddie Yeats' wooly hat, Deirdre's re-entry shields and Bet's beehive. It's not a smile, it's the lid on a scream...

But most of all, that theme tune. Those closing credits ushering out scenes of marriage, parties and jubilation, that sense of community. Or death and despair. Community again. The bad guy always meets his match. The good guy sometimes makes it, sometimes not. Sharing the joys of much loved characters and seeing off the villains. All forms of human life are there. 

Corrie has it's ups and downs like everything else in life. Despite it all, I'm just glad it's still there. I adore its rich history and I still revel in its success when it gets it right. Long may Weatherfield amuse us, make us cry, educate and entertain us. 

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Why I think 1970s Corrie is far from dull

I've always believed the golden era for Coronation Street was the late 1970s and early 1980s. For me there were so many iconic characters, classy performers, brilliant writers and a wonderful mix of comic storylines and high drama. All qualities Corrie is famous for. 

However, some comments recently have made me question these long-held beliefs. Was Coronation Street in the late 1970s actually pretty dull and boring? 

What's striking about Corrie at that time is how slowly each episode moves. The storytelling is allegedly less sophisticated than today. Budgets were obviously tighter and technology less impressive. The sets would occasionally do a Crossroads and wobble like a blancmange. Everything was, as Scott said in his brilliant blog yesterday, brown. Brown and beige. Outside filming was still pretty rare and the quality of film used made it deeply unappealing. The cast was also noticeably smaller and diversity had yet to become an issue. 

However what a cast that was! Bernard Youens and Jean Alexander as the forever downtrodden, always bickering Stan and Hilda Ogden. Doris Speed as the irreplaceable, regal, snooty Annie Walker. Violet Carson still making her mark as Ena Sharples. We had the swagger of Mike Baldwin, the dourness of Albert Tatlock, the wittering of our Mavis and the sassy motormouth that was Rita Fairclough. Bet Lynch, Betty Turpin and Fred Gee proved themselves to be the finest bar staff the Rovers ever had. 

There was also the dynamite of number 11 Coronation Street. The trio of Gail, Suzie Birchall and Elsie Tanner may only have lasted a few years but so many of their scenes were memorable and beautifully played. Putting these two gobby young girls under Elsie's roof was a masterstroke. 

True, there wasn't much male totty to be found. Ken Barlow was between wives and heading for the cardigans and slippers. Eddie Yeats was too fond of the ale and the offerings at Dawson's Caff. We did still have the lovely Ray Langton for a time - those jeans should have come with a public health warning!

While practically every member of the onscreen talent was legendary, credit must also go to the sublime writers who grafted away during the late 1970s and early 80s to produce some stunning work. Many of the episodes produced at this point in Corrie's long life can still work now as stand alone plays. 

The likes of Adele Rose, Harry Kershaw, Leslie Duxbury and John Stevenson crafted some truly excellent scripts year in, year out. The dialogue crackled and sizzled and yet often it wast the moments of quiet, simple reflection that had the biggest impact.

In those days we learned more about the wider Weatherfield world. Characters like Ena Sharples would refer to unseen, unknown people and it made the whole thing seem more real and grounded. The show also remembered what had gone before. 

The archivist reigned supreme. Eric Rosser was the show's archivist for many years, sitting in on rehearsals and keeping intricate records on each character. Such care and attention comes across on screen without a doubt.


Yes I know it was hardly glamorous and it was rarely explosive, but it felt authentic. Times change and the Street needed to adapt, broaden its horizons and move on. I know lots of people will disagree but this period in Corrie's history still strikes me as Weatherfield's finest hour. The Powers That Be very obviously trusted the writers and had faith in the actors who in turn, cared for and nurtured their own characters. There was time to get it right. And I for one think that more often than not, they did. 

The storylines were certainly more basic, but they reflected the people who lived in those back streets. The characters battled hard, sometimes succeeding, often not. Most of the regular characters still had very little but they worked hard and had dreams. Little things happened to them in a very big way - weddings, funerals, births, new jobs...all quite ordinary but the sense of community carried them on and turned them in to big events. 

Have we, the viewer, become too sophisticated these days? Do we become bored too easily? 

The pace is faster, the characters more plentiful, everyone has more and there is more of Coronation Street than ever before. Is there too much though and have we lost the ability to enjoy the simple, every day tales of normal folk? 

Coronation Street in the 1970s is far from perfect but it has charm and honesty, it has passionate, gutsy, truthful performances and writing that elevates it to a different level altogether. And I for one adore it. 


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The best Rovers team Corrie ever had

It was decided unanimously on Twitter yesterday that this blog post was long overdue. Today we're going back in time to look at what many believe to be the best team of characters the Rovers Return ever had. 

While I loved the Bet and Alec era of the late 1980s and early 90s and for me Raquel will always be up there as one of the best barmaids, the team of Annie Walker, Betty Turpin, Bet Lynch, Fred Gee and Hilda Ogden reigns supreme. Annie had of course been landlady on screen since Corrie began in 1960. She was joined by Betty in 1969 and Bet the following year. However the period from 1976 to 1983 is, for me, the golden era of the Rovers. The chemistry between these characters was pitched perfectly and the storylines, both whimsical and dramatic, showed off the talents of the Rovers ensemble to perfection. 

This was the heyday of the classic Rovers scenes. Staff chatted with each other and the regular punters over nothing at all. The dialogue and interaction between characters was key and the result was often funny, sometimes sad and poignant but always real and believable. The writers trusted the actors and the characters they played to sparkle onscreen and bring their scripts to life. And that they did.

I know it wasn't perfect. Fred Gee was always a tad coarse for my liking and sometimes the idea of Annie Walker being in charge of the pub did stretch credibility. However despite the fact our Betty walked out of the Rovers in a huff 68 times between 1976 and 1983, it was always good fun and the viewers were glued.

So here's a quick run down of the best Rovers team ever and some of my favourite recollections:

We must of course give top billing to the landlady par excellence, Mrs Ann Walker. Doris Speed gave stunning performances as the wonderfully stuck up Annie from her first appearance in December 1960 until her last towards the end of 1983. Annie was a loveable snob. Her heart was in Cheshire but her body remained firmly planted in the back streets of Weatherfield. She was regal (particularly in 1977 when she dressed up as Elizabeth I), snooty and above herself but Doris always managed to keep us onside as there was a touch of warmth and humility lurking there too. 

She talked fondly of her dear late husband Jack, coped with the disappointments of absent daughter Joan and errant son Billy and ruled her Rovers team with a rod of iron. I adored her oneupmanship with fellow landlady Nellie Harvey, her disdain for some of her more earthy punters and the constant scrapes with her staff. My favourite memory is when Eddie Yeats palmed off some old carpet from the Alhambra Bingo Hall onto Mrs Walker, claiming it had been specially monogrammed, just for her. Her reaction when the truth emerged was priceless.

Betty Turpin will always be one of my favourite Corrie ladies. Betty was just a natural behind the Rovers bar. It often felt like she really did work there. She filled the screen with warmth, but she could also be fierce if the situation demanded it. She stood up to Fred Gee and famously took on Annie when the imperious landlady accused her of stealing. Barely an episode went by without her reminiscing about her late husband Cyril and we loved her for it.  She was like an older sister to Bet Lynch and their relationship developed over the years. They looked out for one another and it was often very touching. Of course she is best remembered for her hotpot, but that was to come later. I will always remember her for her mother earth presence behind the Rovers bar, listening to the latest woes from Bet or Elsie and doling out advice to all that needed it.

Bet Lynch needs no introduction. Brassy, blonde and full of vim. "It's not a smile, it's the lid on a scream". That sums her up perfectly to me. She was always "on" front of house but very often concealing a heartbreaking disappointment or failed romance. Her outfits were as legendary as her affairs. Who can forget the day she walked into the Rovers wearing her frock back to front? She was wisecracking and could hold her own against the likes of Len, Rita and Ray Langton but underneath it all she was soft as butter. 

Both Annie and Betty knew it and the bond between all three was never broken. I loved that for years after Annie moved away Bet kept a framed photo of her in the Rovers back room. Such opposites in almost everything, but somehow it worked. 

Now we come to pot man Fred Gee. Fred Feast played himself I think - the result was a very authentic portrayal of a coarse, uncouth middle aged man, but underneath that, "Fredface" as Bet called him, was as vulnerable as the rest. He desperately craved female attention, rarely succeeding. He did marry Eunice Nutall in the early 1980s but it wasn't to last. 

While he was never a favourite of mine his presence behind the Rovers bar was a vital element. His constant clashing with Betty, the raft of bitchy comments from Bet and withering looks from Annie, were often the backbone of the Rovers storylines. I loved Annie making him dress up as a chauffeur when he took her out in the Rover. Fred's attempt at turning back time thanks to a dreadful wig was also obvious but hilarious. He had to handle a volley of rude remarks from the likes of Albert Tatlock, Rita and Vera Duckworth. Corrie gold. 

Of course we must not forget the most famous Rovers char of them all, Hilda Ogden. She spent a lifetime bottoming out the Select for Mrs Walker, singing out of tune and sticking her nose in where it wasn't wanted. I used to love it when she'd pop up from behind the bar or appear down the stairs, always when something juicy was being discussed. 

Fred Gee called her Super Nose and while she loved a gossip and could be cruel from time to time, she really had a heart of gold and worked hard to keep Stan in fried slice and pint pots of ale. I'll never forget Hilda inviting Bet and Annie to the unveiling of her new muriel. Like Annie, she was always trying to better herself and the result was often funny and touching. 


I doubt we'll ever see their like again. 

So what are your favourite memories of these wonderful characters? 

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