Coronation Street wins Christmas Day soap ratings war

It's good news for Coronation Street and ITV as our favourite show won the war of the soaps on Christmas Day.

For the first time in years, Coronation Street beat EastEnders on Christmas Day in the ratings.  

Coronation Street had 8.27m viewers giving 30.7% audience share as opposed to EastEnders' 7.78m viewers giving 29% audience share.  Figures have been verified by overnights.tv.

Well done, Coronation Street!
See also: My Coronation Street Christmas
See also: Review of Coronation Street Christmas day episode
See also: The alternative Queen's Christmas Speech - by Fat Brenda

Follow Coronation Street Blog on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

My thoughts on Christmas Corrie

So what did we all make of Coronation Street's festive offering this year? Every year the Corrie powers that be pull out all the stops to attract viewers on Christmas Day, topping the year before. Each year features much the same formula which must include snow, a sing song and a music montage at the end which is jolly on the surface while flitting from one miserable gob to another.

Here are my highs and lows from last night's hour long special. Let's start with the positives:

• "Come to Deirdre!" Anne Kirkbride was back on good form as Deirdre returned to the action from Canada. The sight of Deirdre trundling round the Rovers with her mistletoe crown was pure joy. 
• One of the best lines of the night went to my favourite, Audrey Roberts. As the Platts/Tilsleys/Prices celebrated Christmas in the Bistro, Audrey's comment about where we were up to with Gail's surnames cracked me up! And it's still McIntyre for anyone who cares.
• Roy and Hayley continue to shine whenever they are featured. Their bitter sweet final Christmas delivered, although like Roy, I was frustrated by their constant interruptions. The sight of Hayley watching the Amsterdam DVD brought a tear to many an eye I'm sure.
• Sally Webster was on brilliantly snobbish form when she helped out at the soup kitchen - definitely a highlight despite dreary daughter Sophie's burgeoning new romance with the girl who "trifled" with Sal.
• I do like Andrea so far, she seems like good fun. I can see her and Lloyd making a good couple, although hopefully her presence will also make Steve realise just how much the miserable Michelle is dragging him down. Her jealousy is just outrageous!

Last night's Christmas special was by no means perfect though. Some aspects really got on my nerves:

• Why must it snow every Christmas? It's a small point but it really is cliched and is becoming very old hat. Weatherfield really is like the Bermuda Triangle when it comes to festive weather.
• That dreadfully forced singsong in the Rovers - what was that all about?! Poor Rita didn't even get a look in. Like the snowball fight, it felt like a really forced attempt at showing the warmth of the Corrie community, despite all the depressing storylines going on around it. Unlike the singsong which took place when Hilda left the show back in 1987, this just didn't work for me.
• Oh the Platts. What can I say? There was a real moment of drama when Nick lashed out at Leanne, however I am wondering just how much more they can wring out of these scenarios. Kylie's drunken rampage is far too reminiscent of anything Becky did in her time. Even the horrific intervention at the nativity was nothing Peter Barlow hasn't done before. 
• Peter and Tina. Yikes. This already feels like old news. Peter is particularly pathetic in all this. He's just gone through with his fifth marriage and he's already making overtures at a girl young enough to be his daughter. How many more affairs will we be subjected to? I've had enough of Tina appearing in every scene too.
• Gloria Price really did irritate me last night, though I guess that was the plan. Why must she continue to make such unpleasant remarks at the most inopportune moments? Are the writers still trying to make her fit as a Blanche Hunt replacement, even at this late stage? It still ain't working.

The final scene featuring the Roy and Hayley snowman and woman was really sweet, but for some reason it just didn't affect me as much as I thought it might. So all in all, a mixed bag for me last night. 

However I'm interested to know what you all thought of it, so let's have your views!

Follow Coronation Street Blog on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Merry Christmas from the Coronation Street Blog

Merry Christmas to all our readers from the team at the Coronation Street Blog

Follow Coronation Street Blog on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

When's Coronation Street on over Christmas? - Full schedule

When's Coronation Street on over Christmas? 

Fear not, said I, incase mighty dread has seized your troubled mind. Glad tidings of great joy I bring to you and all mankind, etc. Anyway, enough with the carols, here's the Coronation Street schedule for Christmas and New Year 2013:

Christmas Day - 7.30pm for one hour
Friday 27 December - 7.30pm and 8.30pm
Monday 30 December - 7.30pm for one hour
New Year's Day - 7.30pm
Friday 3 January - 7.30pm and 8.30pm.

See also: Coronation Street Christmas spoilers

Follow Coronation Street Blog on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Video: Behind-the-scenes at Coronation Street's Christmas episode

There's an excellent little video on the official Coronation Street website at itv.com/corrie showing some behind-the-scenes filming of their Christmas Day episode. 

There's snowball fights, snow machines, a fight between Tina and Kylie, a few words from the special effects coordinator,
UK fans can watch it here. 

Sorry, overseas fans, it looks like ITV, STV and UTV have locked all videos now for UK viewing only.

Follow Coronation Street Blog on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Tonight: Coronation Street cast sing for Text Santa

Tonight's the night for ITV's Text Santa - Friday 20 December 2013. 

Tune to see some of the Coronation Street cast perform a special version of "Fairytale of Weatherfield" featuring Shane MacGowan of The Pogues and there’s a promise of more exclusive live performances by “very special, mystery guests”.

You can watch a video of the cast preparing for Text Santa here.

And sing along with our special lyrics of the Weatherfield version of Fairytale of New York here.

Cheryl Cole also turns up and makes a special appearance in the Rovers Return - pictures here.

Text Santa raise funds for charities including - Age UK, Barnardo’s, BeatBullying, British Heart Foundation, CLIC Sargent and Help the Hospices.

Follow Coronation Street Blog on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Coronation Street Christmas tree ornaments

Coronation Street Christmas tree ornaments are now for sale at Zazzle.co.uk.  They're not official merchandise but they are fun. 

You can also buy this fab Granada TV t-shirt which is the perfect outfit to wear when you're reading Coronation Street Christmas Spoilers.

Find more Corrie gifts to buy at Zazzle.

Follow Coronation Street Blog on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Coronation Street Christmas Spoilers 2013

Christmas is my favourite time of year and along with the tinsel, tree and turkey, I love it when the Coronation Street spoilers come out to tease us with events on the cobbles at Chrimbo.


In this week's fab double issue of Inside Soap magazine there are the following teasers for Coronation Street Christmas storylines.


There's a glimmer of hope for Kylie and David to get back together but not before Kylie causes mayhem for the Platts.  Kylie sulks off in a drunk, emotional state and David finds her by the canal on Christmas Eve where they have a heart-to-heart, but will they get back together?

Carla has shock news for Peter!  Inside Soap says: "Peter's absolutely stunend by Carla's shock news and it has huge implications for their relationship."  Meanwhile, Peter and Tina continue to flirt and Tina throws herself at Rob to make Peter jealous (and Tracy livid, I hope!).

Nick loses it completely at the Platt's Christmas dinner and slaps Leanne in a vicious rage beside the sprouts.


Steve's school mate Andrea sets her cap at Lloyd and gives him the glad eye.

Steve's in the dog house when he buys Michelle a ridiculous gift. 


Sophie bonds with a homeless girl called Maddie - but could her new pal end up being bad news?

And of course, it'll be Hayley's last Christmas.  Tissues at the ready, folks.

Follow Coronation Street Blog on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Where to see Coronation Street cast switching on Christmas lights

Are any of the Coronation Street cast switching on the Christmas lights in your neck of the woods this year? Let us know and we'll update this blog post.

So far, we know about:

Catherine Tyldesley, who plays Eva Price, and Ryan Thomas, who plays Jason Grimshaw, will illuminate Reading's Broad Street Mall on Saturday, November 16, at 4pm.  More.

Georgia May Foote (Katy Armstrong) will be the star of the glittering switch-on show in Bury. She will join Key 103 radio presenters Adam Catterall and Darren Proctor for an evening of music and entertainment on Thursday November 7. More.

Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs) and Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Stape)  are heading to the Cleveland Centre in Middlesbrough to help switch on the Christmas lights on Saturday November 16.Santa will arrive at 4pm with the main switch on by his Corrie guests at 4.30pm. More.

You can follow us on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License