Will It Be Bail Or Jail For Bernie Winter This Christmas?

Whether crystal-healing spirituality, dodgy-dealing, or dalliances with Dev, earthy mum Bernie Winter is one of my favourite newest Corrie characters of recent years. With her heart of gold (probably stolen), Bernie plays perfectly to Paul and Gemma’s dramatic lifestyles, and she’ll do anything for her kids. However, by handling stolen goods to pay for Paul’s MND equipment, could Paul's mum face Christmas in jail and miss her son's final festive family celebration? 

Bernie faces court this week

A few weeks back, we chatted with Corrie producer Iain Macleod, who gave us a tease of what’s to come for Bernie this Christmas;

Iain said  ‘’The challenge with a storyline like the one we're doing with Paul, is the inevitable medical progression, and taking great care to show that in as much detail as we can. As a soap, we are in a position to do that, but you always need a story that you can tag onto the top of that. We are always keen to keep that family busy, and although the medical story is still going on, we have to contend with catastrophes that have nothing to do with the illness at all. This Christmas, trouble arises from Bernie and her historical involvement with Shelly’s slightly dubious online scamming. This puts her (Bernie) into a massive amount of legal hot water and the very likelihood that she won’t be present for what will be Paul’s last Christmas. Iain continues ‘’It's classic scheming and scamming and Bernie very much being Bernie through it all, but it very much overlayed with the tragic poignancy of a last Christmas for Paul and the fact that the family may not be able to spend it all together for this one last festive moment’’

Iain also told us to expect a look into Bernie’s past and her trouble with the twins ‘’There’s going to be a fascinating exploration of the family’s history. That family was scattered to the four winds for most of the twin's childhoods. It wasn't an easy time for Gemma, Paul, or Bernie. They didn't have any money, and because of Paul’s historically abusive stepfather. What we've tried to do, is make it bittersweet and realistic, as far as we could. A very fitting, funny, and fairly poignant last Christmas for Paul''

So is Bernie facing jail time this Christmas or does Paul’s condition mean she can plead clemency? The story looks like it's going to kick off this week, so make sure you watch Coronation Street on ITV & ITVX

I am @rybazoxo on X Let me know what you think about #Corrie 

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Wednesday 19th of October 8 pm

In tonight's Corrie, Summer and the gang have prepared the charity stall, and various residents have donated generously. It's a good storyline feeder; Daniel donated some of Sinead’s old things, Carla empties her glamorous wardrobe, and Gemma grabs a bargain denim jacket. Summer is kept busy but remains downhearted following the split from her boyfriend. As Aaron works at the garage, Asha acts as a relationship conduit, telling him about Summer’s sadness, but he admits to being too busy coping with his Dad’s rehab. I was hoping Corrie could get Peter Barlow involved here, but it seems he is also too busy protesting with that pal of Spider. With Gemma blagging herself a nice denim jacket, Chesney's mortified when meeting her at Roy's, she goes to the toilet, he goes to answer her mobile, and manages to find a positive pregnancy test in the jacket pocket! 

I imagine Chesney was envisaging hitting himself over the head with a brick again but was soon relieved when Gemma told him it wasn't hers. Gemma then wonders whose pregnancy test it is! Carla and Daisy are soon suspected, but when Summer tells Paul she’s misplaced her denim jacket, and Gemma tells her brother about her bargain purchase, the secret's revealed. Summer is pregnant! By the end of the episode, she tells Aaron the news - the gloomy duo is back together. 

Meanwhile, it's doppelganger duplicity, as tonight's episode gave us the tail end of Fern's jewellery heist, fleecing the shop while dressed up as Bernie. After splashing the cash at the Rovers with Dev, the police are soon knocking on Bernie's door, and when shown the CCTV, she knows it's Fern, but will anyone believe her? 

Sam’s still pushing for a meeting with Harvey, and today is the anniversary of Natasha’s murder (I'm still fuming with you, Corrie!),he's finding it a struggle. At the anniversary memorial Bistro meal, Nick delivers a rather unsubtle speech - Sam is not impressed, deciding not to read out his poem, instead, he tells the family about his letters to the killer. My stand-out scene from tonight's offering was that between Audrey and Sam -a masterclass in Coronation Street. Audrey thinks she persuaded him to stop writing letters to Harvey, but he later tells Hope he was lying. Steven also visits Audrey and sees his ex-wife Gabrielle having her hair done. Later on, we see him on the phone with some business contact - it seems he is still trying to fleece Audrey for her cash. I also think Glenda mentioned seeing blood on a jacket at the bring-and-buy and we know she's no fan of Steven. Was this a foreboding future thread - could it be Leo's blood, perhaps? 

Elsewhere, Stu tells Dee-Dee about his guilt for Eliza. We then find out that Lucy and Bridget have been arrested, charged, and sentenced - all in one week. Stu is now in limbo with his acquittal, whilst social services tell them that his granddaughter has to go into care.

I am @rybazoxo self-styled cobbles connoisseur & Coronation Street superfan. 

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Wednesday 16th of February 7.30 & 8.30 pm

This week, Wednesday night’s Coronation Street concentrated on Amy’s post-birthday spiking nightmare, and her new relationship with the reformed bad boy, Jacob. Drink spiking is another issue-based storyline, but, it's also very relevant - less so in the U.K mainstream media, but, Sheffield (my home town) had a spate of drink spikes just before Christmas, so kudos on this occasion! Steve takes the fatherly concern to the extreme and wallops Jacob with a (well-staged) punch. 

Thankfully, Amy speedily recovers from the spiking (thanks to her boyfriend) and is soon ready to leave the hospital. However, we viewers are left wondering about who would put GHB in her drink? Would I be wrong in thinking it could be one of the teens that were out at the club that night? Aadi and Asha were both out, and Aadi has had one or two drunken random acts in his recent past, or, is that a red-herring? 

Jacob does try to make some headway with Steve tonight ( he does seem genuinely rehabilitated) but that punch puts paid to any resolution between the two. I guess Jacob could remind Steve of his younger self? Even Leanne is on Steve’s side and chastises Amy with a verbal warning about her new fella’s past. 

Anyway, the police have reviewed nightclub CCTV which confirms Jacob didn't do it, so it seems Daniel’s own investigating is well worth continuing. Later, Jacob is arrested anyway, but for supplying fake I.Ds to the youths.  Amy is muddled by all of the events and seeks solace in a chat with Sam and Simon, who drive forward a few more home truths. Simon then admits to getting Jacob arrested, and rather than stick up for her fella, Amy proceeds to dump him instead. Is this the end of their relationship, or merely the beginning? I hope it's the latter, as those two have great chemistry, as do Daniel and Daisy, who I’m pleased are also back together following their Valentine meal. 

Also, following their separate drunken Valentine night, Sarah and Lydia are both back at Underworld and nursing hangovers. It is brilliant to see Underworld back on screen, and loony Lydia’s hate campaign against Adam and Sarah is a treat. Tonight, Lydia’s machiavellian machinations continue and with all talk of her affair with the married man, Sarah gives her a warning about wrecking her own life for a fella. Is Lydia suggesting that this fictional married man she’s seeing is Adam? This story is one to keep me watching, unlike Tim’s heart attack recovery, which gets less funny by the week! Elaine has embarked on a heart health course, much to her son's, and Sally's annoyance.

 

Meanwhile, familial fallouts at N0.5 continue, as Joseph’s Grandma pays a visit to check on the young lads home situation. Bizarrely, Izzy didn't tell her Mother about her grandchild going missing, and being oblivious to recent drama's, Linda takes Joseph's parents to the bistro for a meal. The truth is nearly out via big gob Debbie Webster, but Chesney and Gemma cover it up instead. 

Overall, a good pair of episodes with a lot going off tonight! It was great to see Leanne back on screen, Mary, albeit briefly, and this new 'whodunnit' alongside loony Lydia's incessant craziness, was a real treat. 

Ps - I have a 5-year-old daughter so I can very much relate to Russsian poo-lette!

PPS - I absolutely adore Bernie!

 

I am @rybazoxo your self-styled cobbles connoisseur

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Wednesday 26th January 7.30 & 8.30 pm

This week, Wednesday night’s Coronation Street gave us the downfall of Bernie Winter’s recent kidnap cash scam (of sorts), and devil-child, Hope, suitably sold her down the river. I’ve enjoyed this storyline. I don't think I’m on my own in saying that Bernie wasn't a favourite (to start with) and now I think she has longevity, in the vain of Janice Battersby, perhaps? I've been watching classic corrie (for blog research, obviously), and you can see the similarities. Evelyn's involvement (in pushing this plot strand to a conclusion) was a nice touch and gave it added depth. Any added Evelyn involvement makes it top-level Corrie, of course. More of that, please. However, Bernie is now in real trouble with Dev, her blended family, and the Weatherfield keystone cops. 

The best scene of tonight was the gathering outside Chez’s front door, and it was good to see Evelyn, Bernie, and Dev in serious confrontation, instead of the comedy corner shop stuff. The dawn/or dusk of natural lighting did give the scene a sense of dark foreboding and was a good direction. Tonight's plot also brought the 'Fiz always defending evil Hope' strand back into play. Will she finally see sense? Here’s hoping! 

Also tonight, and still seething from Maria’s political pee take, Sally (sidelined by Tim’s post-op heart problem) decides to hang up her power suit and clipboard, in aid of her husband's recovery. Have we seen the last of our favourite Coronation Street Mayor? (Sorry, Alf) I hope not. I would not have thought of throwing Sally and Maria together, and although the acorn was the climate change story, I think Corrie has done well with this (unexpected) comedy tree. I hope we see more from them both soon. Talking of bolshy women, dashing Daniel seems to have been caught in Lydia’s net, whilst his ex Daisy struggles with her true feelings. Lydia is going to be a bunny-boiler, isn't she?

Elsewhere,(or, things that don't float my boat) Jenny inadvertently meets Leo’s Dad, Teddy, and the relationship progresses anyway, and Craig’s crutch investigation deepens.  

 

I am @rybazoxo your self-styled cobbles connoisseur 

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