Corrie Blog reviews Colson Smith’s ‘Bored Of Being The Fat Kid’

As the first Coronavirus lockdown took its grip of the nation in early 2020, Coronation Street gave us an online treat and feel good fun when Corrie’s Craig Tinker Aka Colson Smith presented the 10-part YouTube series, ‘Corrie Good News' sharing fan pictures, tweets, artwork, interviews, and general praise for the show. Colson’s cheeky-chappie persona and natural chemistry with the online audience worked wonders in cheering us all up and alleviating some boredom. 

During this time it was noticed that Colson had shed some weight and was looking visibly different. The actor shared images online in June 2020 of his fitness regime with the subsequent online column inches and TV interviews praising his success. Whilst filming was halted for Corrie, I assumed Colson had hit a fitness regime upon lockdown in March (remember Joe Wicks!)  but it seems he started as early as January 2020. Like all of us, he had no idea that Covid-19 was about to ravage the planet, so this candid and soul-bearing video diary/documentary journey ‘ Bored Of Being The Fat Kid’  is all the more impressive. I mean, we all had ideas didn't we, at the start of lockdown, but I wonder how many people did something about it? 

Premiering on June 2nd via Youtube, ‘Bored Of Being The Fat Kid’  is directed by TV director Tim Royle  (Coronation Street and Emmerdale) and Colson is interviewed on film by his Corrie co-star Ben Price (Nick Tilsley). The film's synopsis written by Colson explains more; 

'Originally I planned on just watching this film alone in my bedroom one day and almost saying ‘Well Done Colson’ but now I feel I have the chance to maybe help someone else who was in the same position as me.

The documentary is all about my experiences with running, Food, Fitness & weight loss. 

The reason I decided to made the film is it’s my chance to tell my truth in my way. In the past 14 months, I've learnt so much about myself, most of this learnt while wearing my trainers and pounding the pavement. 

Back in January 2020, I thought it would be a good idea to start documenting some of my days in order to keep motivated and to look back on one day. 12 months later we started putting that together to make a short film; Bored Of Being The Fat Kid'

The film's director Tim Royle. Pic @whitenosugartv

So is it any good? 

In an image-led industry, where it’s more noticeable when women lose weight, Colson putting his head above the parapet is certainly admirable and gives a fresh and insightful narrative. Taking Craig Tinker’s fictional drive to use weight as grounding, Colson takes us on his off-screen journey of losing weight, how he broke acting as the ‘fat ginger kid’ aged 11 and how social media trolling made him change his whole image, aged 22. 

At 17 he went on a diet for the NTA’s, with some success, but then immediately returned to unhealthy takeaways, and in this film, Colson addresses his relationship with food and the regaining of control. Acquiring a life coach, the actor initially weighed 22 stone, and by changing his diet and incorporating a fitness regime, the effects soon became apparent. Although lockdown could have been a curveball, and a perfect excuse to stop, Colson started running, and lost an initial 5 stone, before further weight dropped off. 

Being naturally thin and short myself, I’ve never knowingly had a weight problem (although thin people do get them) however, as a former boozer ( I quit drinking having been inspired by Peter Barlow’s relapse) the self-improvement, self-reflection and that need to change, is instantly recognisable, relatable, and very familiar. I’d imagine ITV must be looking at making a full-length version of this short film, but in the meantime, 11 minutes is a perfectly palatable length!

Colson cheered us all up with Corrie Good News, and with his latest film ‘Bored Of Being The Fat Kid’. he’s done it again! Well done, Colson, this is a very inspiring film! 

Watch it the film HERE

@rybazoxo

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Nick has a secret love child! Corrie blog interview with Ben Price

Fatherhood has come late to Nick Tilsley, in more ways than one. Shattered by Oliver’s recent diagnosis, which now seems terminal, the surrogate father is battling emotions, keeping strong for Leanne, and undoubtedly pained by the all-consuming grief. Therefore, the timing of bumping into his ex-Natasha Blakeman couldn’t be worse. Upon discovering she has a 9-year-old son - is Nick the lad’s Dad? 

In my third Corrie press day this week, I chatted with actor Ben Price to find out all about it. Having just dashed offset from filming dramatic scenes, the actor was in a candid mood.

Q - How is Nick feeling coping with Oliver’s illness and being the surrogate father? 

A - At the end, when he comes down to the final part of the decision on Oliver’s medical condition, he’s there to support Leanne but he’s not part of that final decision making. It does hurt him and he’s sad. He’s not angry about it as Steve seems to be stepping up now. It’s quite tragic. 

Q -  In the middle of all of this, Nick is dealt a bombshell by Natasha. How does he feel upon first seeing her in the hospital car park? 

A - I think it’s one of those things. The way I played it is he’s so overwhelmed by the Oliver situation that he fails to compute the gravity of it. If they’ve had met without this situation, it may have been different. It’s bad timing. 

Q- How does he feel when he then sees her with a child who's old enough to be his son? 

A - He’s overwhelmed and I think he would like a bit proof to work it out. Is she lying or what lies have been told, the guilt of not being there, guilt for what’s going on with Oliver. I think once it’s confirmed for him, then I think it’s huge for him. An amazing storyline but what a time to find out this news, when his stepson it dying! It’s too much for him and he can’t deal with both. He compartmentalises Natasha and Leanne for a while.

Q - With Oliver’s conditioning worsening, he’s not going to find the time to break this news to Leanne, is he? 

A -No and he tries and his Mum talks to him about it and Nick likes to play a straight bat and I don’t know whether that’s the right thing to do in this scenario. I don’t know whether he would have better to say, ‘not now, let’s meet in a year or six months’ but they don’t as it makes a great story! He then goes to meet his son, it’s a powerful moment. He then has to tell Leanne, deal with what she has to say and then deal with Natasha too. He’s over the moon, a protege for the factory! but it’s elation and devastation as Oliver is likely to die. 

Q - Nick and Natasha departed on very bad terms, with Gail in the meddling. How will the dynamic change with his Mum, with Natasha being back on the scene?

A - Well, that’s just Gail isn’t it? He’s going to have to take that. I think Gail makes an effort, with the child being the difference. Like with Kylie, and with Shiona, she realises that the grandchild is important, he’s part of Brian, so that seeps into that part of her history. She’s going to make the effort and Natasha has considerably changed. 

Q  - Is Nick concerned that Natasha has some unspoken agenda, to maybe get back with him and be a family unit and her previous behaviour?

A- Yes, I think he is at the start. He thinks he’s being played a bit, about whats happened. Then he realises that she’s done an incredible job in raising him, but he feels guilty about not being there. 

Q- Is he angry with her for mussing ten years of the child’s life? 

A -I think he’s sad that she felt she couldn’t come and find him to tell him about it. He feels its a reflection on him and not Natasha. He has driven himself through business but his personal life feels rubbish. 

Q- Filming in Oliver’s storyline and what’s coming up on the screen, has reached a really sad place. How have you felt?  

A - First off, Jane is amazing - I have to say that. She has carried this story from the off and has done for the last six months to a year. The way we are filing now, your in the hospital setting, all day every day. It’s been amazing, don’t get me wrong but it’s such a sad story. 

Q - Do you feel the responsibility, as an actor, when portraying such a tragic yet true-to-life story, with Oliver’s condition?

A - Yes, of course, you do- it’s very hard. I’d be lying if I didn’t say that I don’t go home at night and read more of the script and have a little cry. You feel it, you’ve got to, you’re paid to feel it. But sometimes, Jane does something or somebody plays a scene, and it just cuts you. Jane’s a Mum, you know. It’s an amazing story, and they weave all of these other parts in. I read the script and think ‘I want to know what’s going to happen next, too'

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I’m looking forward to seeing Gail’s response to Sam, are you? 

Keep your eyes peeled on the Corrie blog as I also chatted to Jack P Shepherd about David Platt’s 21 years on the street, the sinkhole, and Shona!

I’m @rybazoxo your cobbles connoisseur and Wednesday episode reviewer!

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Corrie, Covid19 & Cast Chat! Corrie Press Day {Part 2 of 3}

I’ve never tried to use zoom before, not once. I've never even heard of it until this virus volcano erupted everywhere! I work from home in the day job, and on the internet, so largely autonomous all round. Therefore, just thinking about joining this live corrie press event, with all these people present, plus corrie VIP's - my fear, excitement, and nerves are all over the place! I have a fairly new laptop and strong wifi connection so no worries there at least. But, they will see my face, right? My subtle little twitches, flicks of my lockdown hair, vaping like Liz Mcdonald in The Rovers beer garden - frightening, but oh so exciting! I’m even sat strategically so maybe people can see my framed corrie cast cards/rovers beer mats, on my bedroom wall? I imagine not but it's a load of framed titbits that I've amassed via writing for this blog so why not, eh? 

Of course, this press day is all about COVID 19 and we can rejoice that Corrie is back filming (with no break in transmission) from 8th of June. With Nick (Ben Price BP) and Leanne (Jane Danson JD) currently involved in Oliver’s illness storyline, the actors have both filmed scenes this week and are asked how it feels to be returning to the studio after lockdown? 

BP  “It’s split into two - the bit before the set and once you get on it. As actors we are then back on the home turf - the writing is excellent! The weird part was losing the physical aspect. Jane was doing an incredible job in a scene, beautifully played and my instinct, hand on heart, was for Nick to hug her. We couldn't do that obviously but we shared glances and expressions which works too. It was great being back on the studio floor. We had ten scenes and we flew along, it was nice"

JD - “To echo everything that Ben said, we've worked together for 10 years, so we trust each other. There was an element of excitement and didn't feel too different apart from the physicality. We can read each other so well, and in fact, got through the day in the normal amount of time. We are a family and a team so we've got even closer now’’

You have a huge storyline at the minute with Oliver {played by twins}, how will you act the storylines without a young cast member on set? 

JD- “The twins are amazing and rose to the challenge so it’s not ideal but we just have to do our best. The looks are played off the characters – it’s a bit disappointing not to have them as the story is about Oliver but so far so good. I hope we can get them back but safety has to come first”

BP - “I slightly feel the scenes we play with a child anyway are restricted as to when they’re not there, you’re having the real adult conversations. I don’t think you lose a lot really – when we’re around that bed because you’re adults talking about a child who is very ill, it’s watered down and there’s a lot that can’t be said. The scenes are more interesting between Nick and Leanne speaking from their heart”

How does it feel applying your make-up? 

BP - I'm not very good with props. I spend hours in make-up normally (laughs). I have to reduce it down to 2 minutes. I’ve had a home haircut – but David runs a barber, I must’ve seen him! 

JD - “Because of my storyline I haven’t had much make-up as Leanne is going through a miserable time. But it’s our hair for the ladies – we’re not all blondes! I had to get my husband to do the roots a few times to keep it the same with Leanne – it would have looked strange. It’s just adapting -we’re plodding along really, that’s what it is”

How did it feel when you realised Corrie wouldn't be going off-air due to COVID 19?

JD - “It felt like I was leaving when we first shut down. To go back into a building that was getting fuller again was lovely. Everyone was so courteous to each other and helpful and selfless – they were super kind to us. At the end of the day, unprompted, there was a round of applause and that was emotional. That usually only happens on special occasions like someone leaving or going on maternity leave. It was emotional to get the ball rolling”

BP - “ It means a lot to me, to Jane, the work to get us to that point – I was under no illusion of how many hours that took. I am very proud to get back to entertain and tell these stories. It’s a vital show. It was almost like one of the lives – there were nerves, we did it, it was possible – and so many casts texted me asking how it got on and there was just relieved to be able to say that we’re back!”

So what did you think of that? Keep em’ peeled for part 3 as I divulge the latest on-set gossip, how the older cast will be kept on screen, a post-pandemic stunt, more from series producer Iain Macleod, and how COVID 19 will affect big Britain's Got Talent Final week…

I am @rybazoxo your cobbles connossieur 

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Ben Price interview: Nick's dark side exposed in Underworld roof collapse

In the weeks before the factory collapse we’ve seen Nick coming under more and more pressure as he battles to keep the fact he stole Audrey’s money hidden, is Nick a man on the edge?
Yeah he’s on the edge, I don’t think Nick likes not being in control. This all started when he lost his money to Elsa and it was a way of regaining control. He always thought he’d have chance to pay his gran back before she found out but in classic Corrie style it escalates and becomes much bigger than he thought, especially now his brother knows and Natalie is on the street. I think he thought he could take the money and fix it later.

Knowing what he did could ruin his family and his relationship with Leanne, how far is he prepared to go to keep this hidden?
I think he’ll just lie through his teeth until he gets to such a point and backed into such a corner that he has to tell the truth, and even then he won’t tell the whole truth. He truly believes he is omnipotent, he can fix this, people will see his point of view.

While dealing with his problems at the barbers shop has he taken his eye off the ball at the factory?
Yeah definitely, he thinks he can just fly in and out of the factory and say do this, do that and it will almost run itself. He doesn’t want to be too involved in the day-to-day, talking to Kirk, he just wants to be in the office doing the big deals.

How is the working relationship between Nick and Carla?
I think quite good actually, they work well together, they’ve put their past relationship behind them and they’re good in business together. As an actor I like the scenes in the factory, I think they work well together.

How does Nick react when he discovers that Carla is planning to outsource production and cut him out of the business?
He’s angry because then it’s about money and Nick’s not prepared to lose his money. He’s not shocked because it’s Carla but he’s angry. It’s one of those situations where she’s trying to get one over on him and it’s all a bit of a headache. For Nick he bought into the factory and he just wants to get on with running it, he’s already dealing with David at the barbers so he could do with an easier life. 

Carla also reveals that the factory roof needs replacing, how does Nick react to this, is he worried?
Yes but only in terms of the money they’re going to need to spend, he doesn’t expect it to ever actually collapse. He thinks they can just gloss over it, get Gary up there, do a bit of a botch job and carry on as normal.

When he tells David that he’d be better off if the factory burned down as all his money is tied up in it, how serious is Nick? Does he really want the factory gone?
He says it quite flippantly but then on closer reflection he thinks wouldn’t it be great.

Is Nick capable of intentionally damaging the factory to claim on the insurance? 
Nick’s bizarrely moral in terms of people and danger but not at all in terms of money. If he thought there was no one in there, which is meant to be the case on the day of the roof collapse, then yes he could be capable of it. The stakes have to be high enough for Nick for him to go that far, could he use it to his advantage, does he feel he’s got no other options? Nick’s a planner, if he knows there’s no one due to be in there it could be the perfect opportunity. The roof is already a mess, do a bit more damage and blame it on Carla maybe. If it’s just purely financial, controlled and no one could get hurt then yes I think he would do it. If he can come out of the situation well and move on then fine.     

We’ve seen a darker side to Nick since his return, what is it that has made Nick so embittered? Could Nick be a future villain?
I don’t know whether he’s an out and out archetypal villain but has he had enough of being pushed around and being the nice guy? Yes. Does he think he’s smarter than most people on that street? Yes. Does he think he can get away with most things? Yes he does. Nick’s come back to the street thinking I’m going to get something for myself, I’ve looked after everyone else over the years and all they’ve done is take from me; his wife, his family, his brother, Carla, his business, the bistro. Anything he’s ever started has been taken from him and actually he’s had enough. He thinks none of them are that smart so catch me! Maybe David is though, we’ll have to see. 

Where is Nick when the factory collapses? 
He’s in the barbers shop, he runs out in the aftermath.

Are you enjoying playing a darker Nick?
Yes it’s great, I don’t worry personally about whether Nick is liked or not liked, I enjoy him being the sort of character where people say ‘ooh I don’t like him, he thinks he’s all that’. I like that, I think it’s important for him and his character, and his brother. Neither are that bothered whether people like them or not, they’re out for what they can get, they’re very well matched. It’s nice to have come back and see the writers have used that time when he’s been away to reimagine him. It’s nice to come back to a different Nick.

How long will Nick and David stay ‘thick as thieves’?
Not very long! They’ll definitely turning on each other when the pressure gets too much, I think they have to, that’s the relationship between the two brothers. Normally they don’t get on then it’s some outside force that joins them back together. The advantage of them being brothers is you can get away with a lot more than with another character, you always can, it’s in their blood. They can be intrinsically linked but still hate each other and that is very interesting to play. As David’s got older he’s got two sides; the responsible family side and and the angry side. Nick has that anger too that he holds over what happened to his father so they’re well matched and they’re smart. Nick blinds his mum and his Gran but David sees him for what he is.     

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Ben Price interview: Being the Corrie baddie - and barber

Originally Nick and Shona didn’t see eye to eye, tell me about their relationship.

He doubted her. To set up with the mum of the person who killed your wife Nick quite rightly wanted to know what the reasons are and thought that can never work, it will always come back. He immediately thinks David was in a weak position, Kylie had died, he’s losing his grip, and he thinks Shona just jumped in. Nick is there as the big brother to say you might have got him but you haven’t got me.

He slightly softened towards her once he found out about David’s rape and realised she was the one there for him. Do you think underneath that he still has those doubts?

Yes, and I think what’s perfect in the story with the two characters is to keep that alive for if they want to write it to come back. If it goes nowhere then fine but Nick needs an attitude towards her which is ‘we’re alright for a while, you seem to be doing alright, but I don’t trust you’.

So him and David have now got the business and they have this secret, how is that going?

The good thing about David as a character is he’s morally a bit suspect so it’s perfect in the way that he just writes those things off and is like right now I run a barbers, okay you nicked the money but now I run a barbers and he can hold that over Nick. Nick wants something else for himself, he wants to pay Audrey back but he also wants the barbers to work, he is driven by his own business, he’s sort of under Carla a bit and he doesn’t like that. He doesn’t mind being in the factory but doesn’t like the fact Carla thinks he can’t do it. 

He and David have very different roles, do you think Nick thinks he is in control? 

Totally, if old brains there had sorted it out 18 years ago he would have his own salon by now and he hasn’t worked it out. Nick has come in and opened it like you’re not that smart. 

Will Nick always have that superior air? 

Yes, and I’m really trying to play that now.

Is it nice to play a bit of a baddie?

Yes, it is, what I like about him is that he’s not a big baddie. He’s someone that the audience, rather than shouting at the TV, are like oh he’s not nice. That’s not nice. And that’s important for Nick long term that you see that side of him where you think he’s not all that. He thinks, and Gail thinks he is the golden boy but he has that different side and it’s nice to play.

So the irony of the Shona situation is that Nick is criticising something she is doing yet there he is with his own secret

Yes, which is perfect. I love that duplicity. Getting caught for fraud it’s like ah it wasn’t really a crime. But it is. He thinks of Shona like that’s drugs, that’s not nice, it’s dark and dirty which has affected lots of people’s lives, Nick thinks he’s just taken some money off his gran, she won’t miss it anyway so that’s fine. It’s that superiority thing, he thinks why are you bringing murder and drugs into our family and if somebody goes well you nicked some money he would say well that’s completely different. 

Does he care about David? 

With Nick and David all of it is family, and within it they can fight and kill each other and hate each other but any outside influence they would turn on. It’s exactly like a Cain and Abel situation. It’s blood it’s family it’s the strength. If you have a strong family, you let go of every preconception you’ve got about what you can get away with within the family. Play it to the max because anyone comes outside you turn on them but within the family you can do what the hell you like. 

Nick walks in when Shona is cornered by two thugs in the barber shop, talk me through what happens there

The fact that they are there is not the shock it’s that they’ve come to his business and he’s like, oh, I’m going to have to deal with this. In his superior way he thinks they are not going to be that smart, they aren’t very nice. And also he sees it as holding something over Shona. But then it gets quite serious, he realises she’s panicked and they are going to do something serious to her son and although Nick doesn’t like her, he likes David enough to think he can save this or help her. He makes sure that if anyone’s going to bring Shona down its him.

Shona then admits that she is smuggling the drugs. Talk me through the scene where David starts smashing the mirrors because he realises Nick knows what is going on 

David reverts back and is like right I’ll just ruin it all I’ll smash it all which is his default as Nick steps back a bit.

Do you think they can make a go of the business?  

Nick is a fish out of water. He is in a barbers which is great as a character. He is still in the factory so it maintains that business air. Having that release for the characters is very good. Within the Platt’s there is a very good balance of drama and lightness and comedy. That’s what’s nice about the barbers. You should hopefully create a place where the audience goes ‘Oh it’s these two in the barbers, let’s watch this let’s watch them wash some hair’. It’s a good idea, it’s about family the street, the more you stick families together, the more you make them go into business together the more people get the dynamic of the street. It is very difficult if you are a new character in a new set, two old characters in a new set will work. Audrey’s has worked for so many years, people come in and out to have their haircut, the barbers is already working like that, already people come in. Craig comes in and Gary’s in and out. People come in for a chat or to have a little light comedy scene. 

Is the barbers a bit different for the street?

Yes, a bit like when they had the gym but you can’t just have people pop in and you don’t have a lot of dialogue in a gym but a barbers is all about the chat. You’ve set up a place a bit like the bistro and a bit like the rovers. They are not really there for what they are meant to be there for, it’s a place to have characters meet that wouldn’t normally meet. 

What’s your working relationship like with Jack? 

I was very lucky, we are friends and that’s because I think he’s very good and also we have a laugh. When I started he was quite young and we just laughed. We were doing all these scenes together which were crazy and high octane and in the end we both respect each other and work well together. We made a film together away from Corrie and it worked well because we understand each other.

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