Corrie's Iconic Theme Tune Celebrated on BBC

Brass bands and Coronation Street. Two of my favourite things. So I was particularly chuffed when I discovered the two combined on BBC4 on Friday in dramatist and composer Neil Brand’s new three-part documentary ‘The Sound of TV’.

The programme explores how music has impacted our television viewing over the years and what effect that music has had on society and British culture. Some theme songs from big TV shows stay with us for life, either in memory or through repeats, and in a some cases, if the programme has been on air throughout our lives. 

So of course Neil began his musical journey with a trip to the cobbles where a local brass band treats the viewer to a beautiful version of Coronation Street’s famous theme tune, written by composer Eric Spear. There’s even a clip with Eric himself, which I hadn’t seen before, where he tells us how the tune came about.

The programme then moves on to other soaps like Eastenders and even more iconic themes from shows like Dr Who and international hits Game of Thrones and the Simpsons. 

It’s a lovely programme and a must-watch for Corrie fans celebrating 60 years of the show next week.

For UK viewers it’s on BBC iPlayer HERE.

@StevieDawson

WASH THOSE HANDS

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Coronation Street on Mastermind (again)

Not for the first time, Coronation Street was a specialist subject on Mastermind this week - specifically, Corrie since 2000.

Ailsa Watson, an Administrator from Renfrewshire, got ten points in the Corrie round with one pass. She went on to win overall, going to show that Corrie fans are highly intelligent people. I wonder if Ailsa visits this Blog?

I got nine out of fourteen Corrie questions right, which was quite disappointing to be honest. I was stumped by the questions on Terry Duckworth; Raquel (though I would have guessed it with a few seconds longer); Jack Duckworth; Dev and Rita’s dog.

Anyway, it was fun taking part. In case you missed it, here is a clip of the Corrie round:

Why not see how many you get right and post your scores on the doors in the comments below? Let’s see how many people can beat Ailsa and find out who the true Mastermind of the Coronation Street Blog is…

By Martin Leay, on Twitter @mpleay

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Betty's Desert Island Discs

 

Like many Coronation Street fans I still miss seeing the legendary Betty Driver behind the bar of the Rovers Return. With her twinkly eyes and sparkling sense of humour, Betty was a natural fit for Corrie and graced our screens for over forty years as the no-nonsense hot pot queen.

There was much, much more to Betty than the cobbles of Weatherfield though. Before she died, at the grand old age of 91, Driver joined Kirsty Young for one of my all-time favourite editions of BBC Radio Four's Desert Island Discs. The show sees well-known public figures select the eight records they'd want with them should they find themselves cast away on their desert island. The premise is pretty simple but we learn so much about the individuals from their choices and thanks to a little gentle probing from Kirsty. I remember listening to the programme when it was originally broadcast and thanks to the brilliant archive online, you can listen again whenever the mood takes you.

 

Betty was her usual warm, lovable self during the interview but for me it was the amazing optimism of the woman that struck me most. She told her life story, which was often far from easy and straight forward, without so much as a hint of self-pity and given some of the experiences she'd had, few could blame her if she had. Betty's career dated back to the 1930s and she really was a phenomenal all-rounder. She was a recording artist, made films, toured the country in musicals, revues and plays and entertained the troops during the Second World War. It was so refreshing to hear such honesty from a famous face, while not courting controversy or recognition. It was also lovely to hear how much she still (in 2011) loved being part of the Coronation Street family. 

I'll be honest, Betty's Desert Island Discs moved me to tears, particularly as she talked about her early life and her wartime experiences. As fans, we were so lucky to have her in Coronation Street for 42 years. She was a true force of nature and they quite simply do not make them like that any more. 

 

If you want to listen again to Betty's appearance on Desert Island Discs, you can find it on the BBC's fabulous DID Archive. A link to their site is here

You can follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82


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Don't touch that dial

I would say "The Road to Coronation Street" ends here but it hasn't been on yet! I suppose what I should say is that the wait for it ends tonight. We wait no longer! There are media reports all over the place just to get you in the mood (as if you really needed any more reason to be excited, waiting anxiously. So... We have a long piece on Jessie Wallace in the Mirror with lots about her role as Pat Phoenix as well as her return to that other soap. The Sun says Bill Roache wept a little after watching the drama, his past flashing before his eyes. Another little summary here in the Mirror, and Ian Wylie's fond memories of Coronation Street in the Guardian. A bottle of plonk, and a comfy seat for me tonight!

Ooh and, edited to add... James Roache himself blogs about the experience over at BBC!
(Does anyone know if it's going to be released on DVD?)

More Road to Coronation Street pics

There's a good piece in the Daily Mail today with great photos of the current cast of The Road to Coronation Street (formerly Coronation Street: A Star Is Born and formerly Florizel Street before that) along side the original characters and I must say, they certainly do have the look!

In the Mail, some of the well known history behind Coronation Street's journey to the screen is repeated along with the legend of why the original name changed from Florizel Street to Coronation Street but with a twist. Everyone has heard that the Granada tea lady thought "Florizel" sounded like the name of a disinfectant but according to the Mail, "according to Daran Little, one of the soap’s writers and the man who scripted The Road To Coro­nation Street, ‘Bill (Roache) couldn’t pronounce it in a pilot, so it was decided to change the name’" Did you know that Tony Warren named Florizel after the prince in the Sleeping Beauty fairy tale? I didn't!

The show will be airing on BBC next month from the sound of it, just about the same timeframe as both of Bill Roache's sons will be playing his long lost son and grandson. Younger son, James, played his father in the BBC film and was filming that at the same time he was filming his father's grandson at Granada. (Still with me?)

There's a video clip via this post to the BBC site. Judging from that, it sounds as if Jessie Wallace has done a pretty good job with Pat Phoenix's Northern accent. We're going to have a popcorn night here at the Blog Towers when it's on!

Thanks to commenter Nick, it's on Thursday 16 September, 9 - 10:15 p.m. BBC 4)