Review: Corrie's Charlie Stubbs in pantomime - Oh yes he is!

I love pantomime, I really do and I attend one every Christmas.  And when the panto at my local theatre includes an ex-Coronation Street actor, I love it even more.

Last night I set off to the Sunderland Empire to see Bill Ward, better known to us Corrie fans as Charlie Stubbs, in Jack and the Beanstalk. You must remember Charlie Stubbs? He was the one that Tracy Barlow batted to death with an ornament. 

Bill is pictured at the top of this blog post in character as Fleshcreep, the baddie. But he played a baddie with a difference, with a bit more style and finesse than the usual pantomime baddie has, and he played it for all he was worth. He was sharp and very funny and really rocked the green velvet suit, I have to say! Although the audience started booing Fleshcreep when he came on stage at first, we warmed to him by the end and every time he came on stage it was a delight to see him again. You can't say that about too many baddies in panto. 

In true panto style, Fleeshcreep made reference to all things Weatherfield with a mention of hotpot, Tracy Barlow, Janice Battersby and Bill Ward's own role in this year's Inside Soap Awards when Emmerdale won Best Show-stopper for the motorway crash and James Barton's death. James Barton was the role that Bill Ward played in Emmerdale, the soap he moved onto when he left Corrie.  Oh, and did you know he was a professional landscape photographer? You can find out more on that here.

Bill was in Emmerdale for three years and over 300 episodes, before his character met a rather gruesome death at the hands of emotionally volatile partner, Emma. And as we know, in Coronation Street, Bill played builder Charlie Stubbs, who, er, met a gruesome death at the hands of his emotionally volatile partner, Tracy Barlow.  He says he's a bit worried about doing any more of these kinds of jobs ...

But anyway, back to the panto.

Starring alongside Bill Ward are Janine Duvitski as the Fairy. You'll know Janine from Benidorm where she plays swinger Jacqueline.

Princess Jill was played by Jade Natalie who sang her heart and soul out all the way to the back row of the dress circle and beyond. Along with David Barrett as Jack, the pair of them were a worthy pantomime romantic couple.  Graham Martin played the King with aplomb.

But it was Charlie Guest as Simple Simon along with Philip Meeks as Dame Nellie Trott who were my stars of the show. These two are everything that a good panto should be - silly, a bit (but not too much) rude and lots of good fun.

The panto was magic, just brilliant. With stunning costumes and sets, hilarious song and dance routines, plus more jokes than a bag full of magic beans.  The second half had me in tears of laughter and the bit when you get to put your 3D glasses on ... well, I won't spoil it for anyone going to the theatre but there was an awful lot of screaming going on in the theatre last night, and most of it came from me!

And on a more personal note, the panto turned out to be very special to me because it was the first time since I was seven years old that I've heard this song sung...
 "Why does the brown cow give white milk when she only eats green grass..." 
I was transported back to the early 1970s in a heartbeat - and enjoyed every single second too.

Jack and the Beanstalk is on at Sunderland Empire until January 7 2018.  Don't miss it.   Buy your tickets here.

• Check out our list of all the ex-Corrie actors in panto this year.

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Spend the night with Corrie's Charlie Stubbs

Bill Ward, who played Coronation Street's Charlie Stubbs, went on to play James Barton in Emmerdale.  And he's doing "An evening with..." event at the Emmerdale Experience.

Guests will have the chance of a full Emmerdale tour, a meet and greet with Bill, and a pint/glass of wine in the replica Woolpack set.  Also included is a frree souvenir photo with Bill Ward (and signing opportunity) and a Q&A session with Bill in the Woolpack.

It takes place on Friday 7 July at 6.30pm

All for £55 per head. Tickets are limited so book online now to avoid disappointment.

All details here.

Read more Corrie news, interviews and spoilers 

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Two Corrie Bad Lads are Not Dead Enough

Two ex-Coronation Street actors are starring in a stage play of Peter James' Not Dead Enough.

Bill Ward, who played Charlie Stubbs in Corrie is sharing the stage with Stephen Billington, who played Corrie's Greg Kelly aka Les Battersby's son.

Bill Ward plays the role of DS Roy Grace in the "chilling stage play" and here's the science bit:

"On the night Brian Bishop murdered his wife, he was sixty miles away, asleep in bed. At least that’s what he claims. But as Detective Superintendent Roy Grace continues to deal with the mysterious disappearance of his own wife, he starts to dig a little deeper into the chilling murder case and it soon becomes clear that love can be a dangerous thing... Not Dead Enough, will have you on the edge of your seat and guessing right to the end

If you'd like to know more you can see more deatils and book tickets here:

• Mon 22 - Sat 27 May at the Opera House, Manchester - buy tickets here.
  
• Tue 30 May - Sat 03 June at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley - buy tickets here

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Charlie Stubbs joins Emmerdale

Bill Ward, who played Charlie Stubbs on Coronation Street, is joining the cast of Emmerdale.

The actor has landed the role of John Barton's older brother James and will begin filming in September.  Bill will play a farmer and single father to three grown-up sons. Viewers will soon discover that he had a rift with his sibling which wasn't healed before John's untimely death last year.

Speaking of his new role, Bill said: "I'm really looking forward to it. The Emmerdale team are a very talented bunch indeed and I'm extremely chuffed to have been asked to join them."

Emmerdale fans will see Bill on screen as James in October.

See also: Whatever happened to.... Bill Ward?

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Whatever happened to… Bill Ward?

In the second of a series of guest blog posts from Michael Smith, we take a look back at some of the ex-Coronation Street actors to see where life has taken them since they left the cobbles.

Bill Ward swaggered onto our screens in 2003, as bad-boy builder and womaniser, Charlie Stubbs.

During his time on the Street, he led the ever impressionable Jason Grimshaw astray, psychologically tormented barmaid Shelly Unwin, had affairs with Maria and Tracy, and then came back to sleep with Shelly one last time to father her baby.

Man-eater Tracy Barlow has ruined the lives of many Weatherfield men in her decade long stint on the show, but it’s only our boy Charlie who paid the ultimate price: with his life. 

So what has become of Bill Ward’s career since his turbulent  Weatherfield days?

Ward’s first role post-Corrie saw him follow in the footsteps of another character who met an early grave on the street, Richard Hillman, as he made a guest appearance in ITV’s Midsomer Murders. This was one of a number of television appearances on British staples that include Doctors, Casualty, Heartbeat and Cold Blood.

Ward also played Rufus in the television dramatisation of Robin Hood. Again, the role was not completely removed from the sinister Charlie Stubbs, as he took the role of a tax collector - everyone’s favourite profession!

What you might not know is that it’s not just our classic British dramas where Ward has been ubiquitous in his time after the Street. He’s also been a permanent fixture on the stage.

Ward’s evil deeds in the Street made him a natural fit for the role of Simba’s evil uncle Scar in the West End musical version of The Lion King. He also played Lancelot in the Monty Python musical Spamalot and Sam Phillips in Million Dollar Quartet. 

If you want to see Charlie now, then your best bet is a trip to see the Spice Girls’ musical Viva Forever! Ward has been cast playing TV talent show judge Johnny. The character has an uncanny resemblance to Simon Cowell.   

Ward’s also a man of many talents. He holds a degree in History from Bristol University and is a keen photographer. In fact, you can currently see an exhibition of his photography at a gallery in Didsbury.

See also: Whatever happened to Brian Capron?

 
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Corrie bad lad starring in Spice Girls musical

Bill Ward, who played Coronation Street's Charlie Stubbs - the one who got bashed to death by Tracy Barlow - is now showing his more artistic side.

He's currently starring as Johnny in the Spice Girls musical Viva Forever in London’s West End.

And an exhibition of Bill's photography – depicting some of his favourite scenes of Manchester (view some here at the MEN)  – is going on show at a new exhibition, called ‘Passing Through’.

It features shots of places that Bill visited during time off from filming during his spell in Weatherfield from 2003-7.

The photos include moody depictions of Castlefield basin, Trafford’s swing bridge and the Lancashire coast. Bill said he became fascinated with Manchester’s canals during his time on Corrie - and always takes the time to photograph areas such as Castlefield basin when he’s back in town.

The exhibition is at the Wendy J Levy gallery in Didsbury between February 12 -March 1. The gallery is open 10am-5pm Tuesday- Saturday.

Bill will give a talk about his work at the gallery in Warburton Street, on Sunday, February 11 from 3-5pm.

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Photography Exhibit from Ex-Corrie Star Bill Ward

Charlie Stubbs might have been a bad'un and now dead and buried but actor Bill Ward, who portrayed him, has had a lifelong hobby as a photographer. At the end of this month in Manchester, he'll have a show of his recent photographs of the Manchester area.

According to an interview with the MEN, He says he often chills out with a walk around the city with his camera and the shots of the city and it's people make up the new exhibit called "Passing Through". 
“My character was an unpleasant piece of work so I liked keeping keeping myself to myself and staying undercover. I saw that there were so many beautiful routes in Manchester to photograph.”  A lot of the photos feature water, the river and canals around Manchester and Salford. He promises that there are prices suited to all budgets.

Although he is currently living in London, the exhibit will take place in a purpose-buillt marquee in the Spinningfields area of Manchester at the Buy Art Fair over Thursday September 27 to Sunday September 30.Tickets are available on their website/blog. 




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Bill Ward stars in Look Back in Anger

Bill Ward, who played bashed-up builder Charlie Stubbs in Coronation Street is joining the cast of Look Back in Anger at the Northern Stage Theatre in Newcastle.

Bill takes the lead role as Jimmy Porter in the play. Many people think Bill is from Manchester; however, he’s actually a born and bred Geordie from Gosforth. Bill makes his debut at Northern Stage as the original disillusioned, working-class ‘angry young man’. The play runs from March 6-21.

For tickets and further information, have a look here.