Charles Lawson interview: The return of Jim McDonald

 

How does it feel returning to Coronation Street?
It’s my 40th year in the business this year so it’s a bit like riding a bike. It’s a job I’m proud of and a job I enjoy and I get to share a dressing room with Simon Gregson so that’s good.

Why did Jim originally decide to go ahead with the plan?
I don’t think he is the instigator of the idea and now he’s in it up to his neck. As soon as he sees Elizabeth, he realises he’s a mistake and he wants her back but he is in too deep. But Jim makes mistakes like everyone does, he is not a bad man.

Does Jim feel like they are going too far with the plan?
Yes he does and he makes it very clear he feels guilty but unfortunately the damage is done.

How serious is his feelings for Hannah?
He doesn’t want what Hannah wants. He was in prison and he felt abandoned and there she turns up and take care of him but it becomes apparent pretty quick that she is the driver of this plan. She’s traced him through his army records and obviously she’s had a plan going on in her head.  It’s clearly a spooky relationship.

Do you think that Jim still has feelings for Liz?
Anyone in the real world knows that when you love someone and it’s genuine you tend not to fall out of love no matter what happens so yes he does and long may that continue.

How do you think Liz would react if she found out the truth?
She would be broken hearted and very disappointed in him because it’s clear she still has feelings for him.

What are Jim’s redeeming qualities?
You can see he has made a mistake, it’s all gone pretty pear-shaped for him.

Do you think Liz and Jim should get back together?
It never went away for him and neither has it for Liz but it would be a pretty boring story if they just kissed and made up. But I hope in the future it could be Jim, Liz and Steve together, that would be in an ideal world.

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Jim McDonald is returning to Coronation Street

There's a story in today's Mirror which says Jim McDonald is returning to Coronation Street.  It appears from details online that Jim will on Steve's wedding day to Tracy Barlow.

Steve's getting married again? Oh yes - have a look here.

Actor Charles Lawson, who plays Jim, says: “They wanted me back full time this year but I couldn’t do it as I am doing Rebus on stage (find out  more on that here), and a thriller.

"I’m going to film a bit but then will be back again next year.

A Corrie spokesman said: “Jim is such a hugely popular character. We’re delighted he is coming back for what will be a typically explosive Jim storyline.”

Find out who else is leaving, joining, returning or taking a break from Coronation Street

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Charlie Lawson to play Ian Rankin's Rebus on stage

Charlie Lawson, better known as Coronation Street's Jim McDonald, is currently being rumoured to return to the show after Kate Oates said "a big name" was due to be announced as returning to Corrie.  

Well, if Charlie is returning to the show, he's going to have to fit it in around a pretty major work.

It's been announced today that Charlie is appearing as Rebus in the debut stage version of Ian Rankin's Scottish, dour detective character.  

You can read more about that here.

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Jim McDonald is not returning to Coronation Street

I was rather hoping that the recent rumours about Jim McDonald returning to Coronation Street would come true.

Alas, it appears they're false.

A Coronation Street spokesperson has been speaking to OK magazine today, after rumours spread on th'interweb that big Jim was coming back, so he was. Well he's not, so he isn't. 

And so Eizabeth remains on her own in the Rovers Return, without a fella to warm her barm cakes.  I think it's high time Liz had a new man.  What do you think?

Anyway, back to Jim. 

The Corrie spokesperson told OK: "He is not returning to the show - he is mentioned in upcoming storylines but does not make an appearance."

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Liz McDonald's Achilles Heel

Cross posted with permission from State of the Street.

With the latest rumours suggesting that Charlie Lawson may bring Big Jim McDonald back to Coronation Street, there are fans jumping for joy and other fans cringing. I'm one of the former. People accuse the character of Jim as being a "one trick pony", coming in to do the same things over and over. He'll try to get Liz back, she'll be tempted, he'll mess up, argue with Steve, probably do something stupid and leave. Lather, rinse, repeat.

And maybe it will go down like that, with lots of Jim's sayings to pepper the pot. "The Big House", "So it is", "I'll tell ye this and I'll tell ye no more", "Ach to be sure" and calling Liz "Elizabeth". It ought to be a drinking game! Fans of Jim squeal when one of his familiar sayings slips out. You feel let down if one's missing, in fact.

As far as being a one trick pony, when I look back, there are many, many characters that are just the same. Stan Ogden, anyone? (Drink, cower under Hilda's wrath, cook up schemes, evade work where possible. Repeat. And the same could be said about Jack Duckworth)

But the main reason I would love to see Jim back for a visit is the chemistry that has always been there between Lawson and Bev Callard as Jim and Liz McDonald. It's there with Simon Gregson as his son, as well. They all three just leap off the screen when they're in scenes together. It's not just familiarity that comes with acting together for a long time, either because it was evident even in the early days of the McDonald clan.

Jim and Liz were always a fiery couple. Jim had a quick temper but Liz had a volatile one as well. She was never cowed by him and stood up to him frequently, especially if she was defending one of her lads against their father's rages. It became too much, Liz started to look elsewhere, and they divorced but Jim is the love of Liz's life. He's edgy and a bit dangerous and she likes that in her men. I think that's why she seemed so suited to Tony Stewart. They are exciting and she knows they're probably going to let her down in the long run but she just can't resist.

Jim swept her off her feet as a teenager and they married when she got pregnant. She may have regretted that she was more or less a single parent because of his duties in the army but they had that passion that never really left and that's the passion she remembers when he comes around, even after years away. They fit together like two halves of a pair of scissors. 

Will we see Jim return? There's always a possibility as long as Jim is alive and the producer and writers cook up a story. As much as Steve and Liz keep washing their hands of Jim and his monumental mistakes, Jim is still Steve's dad and Liz will always be in Jim's heart. She'll always be tempted even though she knows he's not good for her. Jim is Amy's granddad and they love each other. I think conversations between Jim and Amy as she is these days would be a joy to behold.

I'm definitely in the Yay camp. I'll tell you this and I'll tell you no more, Bring Back Big Jim!

Tvor (Twitter @tvordlj)
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Charlie Lawson in new TV show - he even sings the theme tune

Charlie Lawson, who played Jim McDonald in Coronation Street, will be appearing on Irish TV in a new series called Are We There Yet! Charlie is one of two Irish men who have to get around Ireland on £10, a tank full of fuel, and nothing else but the help of Irish celebrities along the way.

It's a wild and funny programme, Part Top Gear / Part Billy Connolly / Part Interview Program and travel. As with any good telly programme, it has a theme tune, which is now available to download at iTunes.

Charlie sings the song which is called Rare Old Mountain Dew and you can listen to it here.

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Charlie Lawson returns to TV in new BBC drama

Charlie Lawson, who played Jim McDonald in Coronation Street, will be starring in a new BBC drama. 

Charlie has returned home to Northern Ireland to film the new BBC One series My Mother And Other Strangers. It's written by Barry Devlin who penned Ballykissangel and Darling Buds Of May.

I's a World War Two drama which follows the fortunes of the Coyne family and their neighbours as they struggle to maintain normal life following the arrival of 4,000 United States Army Air Force (USAAF) servicemen and women in their rural parish in 1943.

Lawson takes on the role of parish GP, Dr Black.

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Jim McDonald's coming back to Coronation Street, so he is

Jim McDonald is on his way back to Coronation Street.  Charlie Lawson will reprise the role of Jim and he'll be back on our screens in June.

I did notice last night on Corrie that Jim's picture was prominent in the back room of the Rovers when Steve and Andrea were doing their history course work.  It's not a picture we've seen before in the back room, or if we have, then not for a very long time. Clearly they've started signposting Jim's return already.

The official Coronation Street website reports today that: "Full storyline details are top secret, but we can exclusively reveal that Jim will still be serving time for armed robbery and that we're set to see more of his life behind bars.

How Jim's return will affect son Steve and ex-wife Liz is still under wraps, but it's safe to say that whenever Jim's around things tend to get a lot more complicated for the McDonalds.

Charlie will begin filming in June and will return to screens later this year."



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Corrie fellas to tell tales from the Street on stage

Charlie Lawson and Nick Cochrane, who played Jim McDonald and Andy McDonald on Coronation Street, will be telling tales from Coronation Street next month.

Charlie and Nick will  take to the stage at Colne Muni, Albert Road in Lancashire on Thursday, November 15.

Together the actors are behind Tales from the Street, a look back at their time on The Street and their life since. Lawson’s other credits include the medical series Doctors, 80s comedy Bread and The Bill. 

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