Coronation Street Episode Review; Wednesday 22nd December 7.30 & 8.30

Daniel and Daisy’s will they / won’t they courtship has been fraught with soapy drama and an abundance of hurdles, right from the off. Summer’s crush, random Wethy county footballers, and Mad Max with his box of teenage boy tricks, a plethora of dramatics designed to get in the way of love’s young(ish) dream. An intelligent dashing trainee teacher meets vacuous (but gorgeous) barmaid - it’s what soaps are all about! With Christmas just about upon us (shudder), I wonder if this will be the heart-warming romance that warms us all up on the 25th? 

I can easily envisage the Weatherfield snow falling on the cobbles as Daniel and Daisy finally announce their flourishing romance to the Barlow clan, all assembled for a joint turkey dinner with the (equally dysfunctional) Platts? With the Christmas Market in full flow, the residents head out to the Corrie carol concert (I can relate with Carla on this one). Shona and David take Max out for a stroll, Daniel makes eyes at Lydia, whilst confiding in Daisy, and Sarah has plans to cajole the Barlow / Platt clans together to announce the family Christmas dinner.

 

With the carol singers all ready to sing a festive tune or two, it seems Max has humorously changed the lyrics to the songs, just as he found about Daniel defending him, and Daniel is humiliated in front of the whole street. Daisy soon grabs the event mic and defends her ex-boyfriend. It’s hardly a corrie classic like Audrey’s infamous mic-drop moment, but it certainly impresses the trainee teacher. Will they / won't they?  I think they will. Also, are itv.com selling these Rovers aprons? I might want one... 

Max’s misdemeanour is perfectly timed for Sarah to get the clans together to announce the family Christmas day. The assorted Barlow’s and Platt’s throw bile at each other - it’s all looking good! Max and Daniel eventually make peace, but I can’t see that happening with the rest of them! The dysfunctional disparity, arguments, an ex-alcoholic, and people you’re related to, who you also despise. Now that is something I can relate to! 

Elsewhere on the cobbles; The truth of Curtis’s crimes hits home for Emma, Nina struggles to run the cafe Christmas stall with Roy still AWOL, and Abi makes peace for the sake of the festivities. 

 

With the cast assembled and ensembled (even at a designated 2-metres), it’s been good to see residents back on screen and mixing again. 2021 has been a tremendous year for Coronation Street, jam-packed with drama, horror, crime, violence, death, and all in the middle of a massive public health emergency!! The 61st year of the show is one for the history books. 

 

Wishing you all a fantastic December 25th! & a Happy New Year X 

 

I am @rybazoxo your Corrie Connossieur

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Festive Fisticuffs For Fiz’s affections? Corrie Blog Chats To Alan Halsall & Jamie Kenna, as Phill & Tyrone Fight on Christmas Day!

With Mimi off the scene, and Phill moving out of Number 9, you could be forgiven for thinking the wheels were in motion for Tyrone’s return to the heart of his family (and Fiz's heart) for Christmas? Wrong! In what promises to be a comedic battle for her flame-haired affections, Coronation Street Blog spoke to Alan Halsall (Tyrone) and the (surprisingly cockney) new boy Jamie Kenna (Phill) to learn all about this Christmas Day funny fracas!

Hi Jamie, The relationship will Fiz has gone well so far, but Mimi has soured the nest a bit?

Yes and No. Does it beg the question of whether that has happened in previous relationships? He loves Fiz, really into her, and I think this is the wake-up call to temper that relationship with Mimi. He needs to cut the apron strings a little bit.

How did you land the role of Phill on Coronation Street? 

I auditioned for a different part a few years ago. It was a close call, between me, and the guy who eventually got the job. The feedback was good, but you hear that all the time and I disregarded it. Years later, my agent put me up for the part of Phill (six or seven episodes) and offered it straight away. So, I auditioned for this part a few years ago now. And, when mentioning my accent (Jamie is from London) they were unsure whether I would be cockney or do my northern accent. I just got offered the part (without auditioning) and they weren't sure, so they had to call upstairs and decide on it. Getting the job, I mean, it’s Coronation Street, it’s iconic! I've been acting for 22 years now, but to step on the cobbles on that set, is very special! I always remember a scene when Ken Barlow punched Mike Baldwin, that stuck with me, and now I’m on the show. Incredible! 

Talking about Corrie love rivals, like Ken and Mike, Alan (Tyrone Dobbs) has joined us for the interview! In the run-up to Christmas, the battle between Phill and Tyrone is now warming up.  

Alan, would you say Tyrone has now realised what he’s been missing and wants Fiz back? 

I would say that Ty has realised and in the hardest way possible. He thought the grass was greener with Alina, all in his own making, and every time he looks across Coronation Street, he sees the kids and Fiz and realises just what he's missing. He wants Fiz back, but has this very tall stumbling block in the way!

 

Jamie, do you think Phill is aware of the fight on his hands? Or is he not that concerned at the minute? 

At this stage, I don’t think he’s aware, having not witnessed anything directly of Tyrone’s real feelings. He's aware of some animosity, it’s a bit awkward, and that he wants to offer an olive branch. Phill is not quite aware of the full extent of Tyrone’s regret, nor the battle that he faces at Christmas! 

Phill has booked a winter log cabin for Fiz and the girls. How does he feel when Fiz tells him she can’t go? Does this set the tone for Christmas Day? Maybe he’s now not in the best of moods? 

That's an interesting one. He had it all planned out, he took Tyrone out for a cup of tea and got his permission. He was looking forward to it, and he has taken a shine to the girls, but he’s a nice guy and tries to put a positive spin on it. He is disappointed.

Alan, when Fiz and the girls turn up on Christmas day, does this put Tyrone in high spirits? 

Not at the beginning of the day, no, he’s planning discount fish cakes with his Nanna! It’s hardly the greatest of Christmases, his family are away, and he's having to listen to Evelyn telling him it’s all his fault. So when he opens the door and sees his girls there, it makes his Christmas. 

What makes Tyrone try and kiss Fiz? Is it the Christmas alcohol, festive reminiscing, or does he just misjudge it, and think that Fiz would reciprocate? 

I think it’s a mixture of all of those things! They’ve had some Christmas drinks, he feels settled being back at number 9, and he thinks Fiz has come back because of him. Tyrone is very capable of misreading things! He misreads it, and Fiz puts him straight. 

Jamie, How does Phill feel when he finds out about the kiss?  

He’s not happy! I think it’s the first time you will see another side of Phill. He's a nice guy but can only be pushed so far. He’s not happy when he finds out. I don’t want to say too much but it’s certainly a tipping point! 

Alan, things soon descend into a typical Corrie Christmas. What can we expect to watch? 

Rather than it being a typical fight between them and using fists, they use things lying around the house like Christmas decorations etc. Phill uses his six-foot height to his advantage. It was soo much fun, inflatables, marigolds, and we hope it will put a smile on peoples faces at Christmas. We couldn't waste this opportunity. We get on so well in real life - a real bromance!

 

Thanks to Jamie and Alan for a brilliant zoom session. 

Keep following @corostreetblog for more cast interviews, opinion pieces, episode reviews, and gossip! 

I am @rybazoxo your Coronation Street connossieur

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Wednesday 8th December 7.30 & 8.30

It may only be the 2nd week of December but with the Christmas Market and parties, festivities appear to have begun early in Weatherfield! Well, maybe for some, at least. Daniel Osbourne may have received a very unwelcome present: unemployment! 

Can Max’s jealousy derail Daniel’s promising teacher career? The fall-out from the Ice Ball does anything but melt tonight and Summer's crush causes cobbles carnage. I like this a lot. Billy is seething and anything that gives the vicar some drama (aside from actual archdeacon work) is good by me. Putting Paul in the middle of it also works well. I guess Todd was too busy burying the dead, but that fire and brimstone biblical dialogue between the two only heightened the fact that there is still passion between Paul and Billy?  Paul misconstruing it as grooming is also clever. I even enjoyed the well-constructed police interview! 

I felt sorry for Daniel, and, as I'm old enough to remember Ken Barlow's teaching trauma's, let's hope this is the first and last for Mr Osbourne. Who knew an energy bar and a misplaced poem could cause so much trouble?! Daisy's subtle side was also a surprise and a surprisingly well-balanced approach to Daniel. Maybe she has some redeeming features after all?  

Phill’s nice-guy persona, adoringly affectionate of Fiz and the girls, has left Tyrone in an emotional quagmire, feeling not very festive at all. He wants his ex back in his life, and with things running smoothly for the couple in recent weeks, Tyrone has become sidelined watching the blossoming romance,  giving consent for a Christmas getaway for the girls, and Phill has even moved into Ty’s house for a bit. All subtly done, with plot and cast in place for Phill’s harmonious festive birthday celebrations. However, this is soapland, and in the (glaringly obvious!!) absence of Evelyn to ruffle feathers, Corrie has quickly introduced Phill’s haughty, snooty, snobbish Mother Mimi into the mix and it works well. I’ll admit, I find her ridiculously irksome, I want Evelyn back, and Ty and Fiz back as a family unit. Which, I guess, is the way this is going to go? 

Anything involving Steve and Tracy is top-drawer Corrie for me, and Amy’s grade predictions saga was laced with Corrie humour. Steve’s impression of Tracy ‘playing her tapes’ ‘minge bag’ and classic banter between this brilliant duo, was a real treat. At least we can instil some Tracy into this whole Curtis debacle. Tracy diving into Daniel’s strife, and tearing a strip off of Billy, was also good. My two favourite characters at war, and what war this could be. 

Tonight’s Corrie had bathos in abundance, and with some brilliant writing - which is what Coronation Street is all about. With Christmas just around the corner, I think the tone is now set! 

Elsewhere on the street - Michael struggles to look after Glory and discovers the truth about Grace’s disappearance. Meanwhile, Stu is still harbouring blame for the Speed Daal inferno. 

 

@rybazoxo your self-styled cobbles connoisseur 

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