Novels by Coronation Street Blog Editor Glenda Young

Novels by Coronation Street Blog Editor Glenda Young
Showing posts with label coronation street writers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label coronation street writers. Show all posts

Thursday, 22 July 2021

Exclusive! Profiles of all current Corrie writers


Here for the first time, anywhere on th'internet are the profiles of the current Coronation Street writing team. Click on the name of your favourite writer to find out more about each one.

And if you can help update any of the Corrie writers’ profiles or provide their up to date pics, do please let me know.

Current writers (as at June 2021)
Mark Wadlow

See also:
Tony Warren, Coronation Street creator
Peter Finch, Corrie's first ever trainee writer
Martin Sterling, Corrie's Senior storyline writer

Ex-Corrie writers:
Furquan Akktar, Coronation Street Story Associate
Perrie Balthazar
Posted by Glenda Young at 08:49
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Thursday, 10 June 2021

Corrie writer profile: Berri George


Berri George's first episode of Coronation Street aired on Wednesday 9 June 2021 at 8.30pm.

Berrie is a London based playwright and performer. Her work has been performed at a range of the UK’s leading new writing venues including Manchester Royal Exchange, Bolton Octagon Theatre and the West Yorkshire Playhouse. 

Her one-woman show LARP was performed to five-star reviews at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.  

Most recently, Berrie has been working on ITVs CORONATION STREET as part of their Original Voices Initiative. 

Visit Berrie's website.

Discover more about all of your favourite Coronation Street writers.

Glenda Young
Twitter: @Flaming_Nora
Fancy writing a guest blog post for us? All details here!  
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All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
Posted by Glenda Young at 08:30
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Thursday, 14 January 2021

New Coronation Street writer - Nessah Muthy


Nessah Muthy's first episode of Coronation Street aired on Wednesday 13 January 2021 at 7.30pm.

Nessah Muthy is a multi-award-winning, two times Writer’s Guild-nominated, writer for stage and screen.

For screen, Nessah has written for On The Edge Series III (Blacklight / Channel 4). She currently has a television series idea in development with Character 7, and took part in the KAOS/Netflix Shadow Writers Scheme led by Charlie Covell.

For theatre, Nessah is currently under commission to: the Young Vic, Actors Touring Company (ATC), National Youth Theatre, Theatre Centre, The Brit School, Fuel, COMMON, Boundless Theatre and English Touring Theatre (ETT).

She has worked with a number of leading theatres and arts organisations including: the Royal Court Theatre, Punchdrunk, the National Youth Theatre, Cardboard Citizens, HighTide, Kali Theatre, Theatre Centre, Iris Theatre, Cloakroom Theatre and the King’s Head Theatre and the Gate Theatre/Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.

After a critically-acclaimed, sell-out run in London, Nessah’s immersive play for young people, Small Wonders, (co-created with Punchdrunk) transferred to Imaginate’s Edinburgh International Children’s Festival in May 2019 where it received five star reviews and was subsequently nominated in the Best Play for Young Audiences category at the Writers’ Guild Awards 2020.

Awards include: Character 7 Prize 2017 and the Adrian Pagan Award 2018


Posted by Glenda Young at 09:37
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Wednesday, 5 September 2018

New Corrie writer profile - Alasdair Morrison


Alasdair Morrison's first episode was Episode 9553 which aired on Wednesday 5th September 2018 at 8.30pm

Alasdair has worked as a Story Producer on Coronation Street as well as a Storyliner, Story Editor and Story Associate.

He's also worked as a Storyliner at Hollyoaks and was a writer for the TV show River City for the BBC.

If you can add to this writer's profile, including a photograph, please do get in touch.

Find out all about the Coronation Street writing team here.

Fancy writing a guest blog post for us? All details here!   

Read more Corrie news, interviews, gossip and spoilers  

Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook


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Posted by Glenda Young at 20:30
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Sunday, 20 May 2018

Fan Review: The Years She Stole by Jonathan Harvey



On the 2nd of March 2018, I interviewed Coronation Street writer, Jonathan Harvey for the Coronation Street blog!.

With Jonathan Harvey's most recent written episodes covering David Platts rape and Aidan Connors suicide (over 100 previous episodes of Corrie also penned), the award-winning playwright and novelist has returned to the world of fiction with a new novel.

It was with personal excitement and nervousness then that I, a huge Coronation Street fan, got to interview this fabulous writer to discuss his latest novel 'The Years She Stole' (which you can read here), I've also just finished reading the book, so here is my review!.



The Years She Stole (published 8th of March 2018) is a story that delves into family relationships, loss, love, and scandal. Told in a 'dual time frame' narrative, the story spans two decades and ultimately brings two separate stories together into a dramatic conclusion.

In 2017, Rachel Taylor is pregnant and on a working holiday in Morocco. When the travelling executive receives an urgent call from her mums best friend, she needs to hurry home to her childhood village.

In 1978, Shirley Burke is on a family holiday when she first sets her eyes on Doug, a man considerably older than herself and with a young family. Is this just a holiday romance for the teenage temptress?.

Rachel is an intelligent high flier that has a fraught relationship with her mother. Shirley could be seen as a ‘black sheep’ in her working-class family and is the idealistic day-dreamer. Two characters that couldn’t be any different, so what story would bring these two strong females together?.

Jonathan Harvey delves deep into the female psyche to tell a story of love, lust, family ties, and a catastrophic childhood disappearance.  Laced with funny prose, strong characterisations, and a style that would suit most Corrie fans, it's engaging, very funny and an engrossing tale. The book contains two references to Coronation Street and carries a certain northern grit and wit that we Corrie fans so enthusiastically devour. Overall it's a compelling story and one that would suit a TV drama adaptation.

The Years She Stole is available to buy now  
Follow Jonathan Harvey on twitter

I am @rybaxoxo I review Wednesday 7.30pm episodes for the Coronation Street Blog. I'm also your self-styled 'cobbles connoisseur'.





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Posted by at 17:26
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Wednesday, 2 May 2018

Home from Home: New BBC Sitcom by Chris Fewtrell and Simon Crowther


Chris Fewtrell (left) and Simon Crowther (right) are two names with which Coronation Street fans will no doubt be well familiar, both having written for the soap for fourteen and twelve years respectively. In that time, they have brought a myriad of storylines to life through their carefully crafted scripts.

In looking back at episodes they've written which have resonated with me, some in particular stand out. With Simon, I count the one in which Jack Duckworth passed away as one of the best I've seen in my time watching the show. In it, we were witnessing the death of a legendary Corrie character in more ways than one, as we saw a man experiencing an encroaching distance between himself and the world around him before he became reunited with wife Vera in death, and it was intensely moving. He also wrote a key episode as part of the 'Who Killed Tina?' storyline, where Rob Donovan pushed her from the builders yard balcony.

When it comes to Chris, regular readers of the blog will be accustomed to me writing about his work over the years. We recently asked viewers to choose their single favourite episode of Corrie. A tall order! But, mine was one by Chris which directly followed Deirdre’s funeral in 2015. Slow paced, dialogue-heavy and covering just two locations, as friends reminisced in the Rovers, and the Barlows thrashed it out next door, it was sublime. Other key episodes for me which were written by him include the deaths of Michael Rodwell and Kylie Platt, and a beautiful episode from December 2013 in which terminally ill Hayley’s Christmas wish is simply to see the daffodils in spring.

The Hackett family (Little Neil (HARVEY CHAISTY), Neil (JOHNNY VEGAS), Fiona (NIKY WARDLEY), Garth (OSCAR KENNEDY)(Image Credit: BBC/James Stack)
Given the calibre of both writers, I was very excited to learn that they had created and written a new sitcom together which is currently airing on BBC One. Home from Home is a six-part series telling the story of the Hackett family who have fulfilled their dream of buying a lodge in the Lake District where dad, Neil (Johnny Vegas), is determined to have the perfect time for his family of four. 

Reining in Neil’s enthusiasm for a flawless adventure for his clan mightn’t be such a challenge were he not neighboured by the infuriatingly accomplished Robert, played to perfection by Adam James. On encountering this perceived challenge to his manhood, Neil's resolve becomes less about making decisions that please himself and the family than being better than Robert, often at the impossible. Buoyed by the enthusiasm of youngest son Little Neil (Harvey Chaisty), his resolve persists despite doubtful, yet benevolent, looks from wife Fiona (Niky Wardley) who is reluctantly supportive of his efforts, and the pained stoicism of older son Garth (Oscar Kennedy) who is every bit the awkward, yet endearing teenager.

The Dillons (Robert (ADAM JAMES), Penny (EMILIA FOX)(Image credit: BBC/James Stack)
What’s wonderful is that Neil's battle against this male embodiment of everything he perceives he isn't is one-sided. Rival Robert has no interest in one-upmanship which makes it impossible not to like him. In fact, every character is endearing and relatable, which is quite a feat when they engage in conflict at various points as things develop, and the main protagonist experiences jealousy, envy, disappointment and anger throughout. I think the key to this is that Neil's suffering is at the hands of himself rather than the person he’s pitting himself against, and this makes him sympathetic while absolving the other characters of blame for his self-inflicted victimhood. Johnny Vegas succeeds in silently conveying what's really at the heart of Neil's actions in those quiet moments between his disastrous attempts at achievement. The rest of the cast have no choice but to be on the journey with him, and in turn evoke empathy and sympathy by their very situation. Their ability to make the most of it is another contributory factor to ensuring their likeability.

Robert’s wife Penny (Emilia Fox) is also a disdainful joy to behold, whether smoking on a climb or musing loftily over how she thought her life would end, and their adopted daughter Petra (Olive Gray) is an intelligent, good humoured teenager who reacts with respect and kindness, not cruelty, when Garth’s crush is exposed by his little brother. Indeed, Harvey Chaisty's authentic performance in the role of Little Neil is a consistent source of humour.

Mercy (ELAINE PAIGE)(Image Credit: BBC)
Elaine Paige is a very welcome surprise in episode two, and marvellous as Neil’s confident, flirty, mother, Mercy. Even though she clearly riles Fiona (would anyone want to see their mother-in-law arrive at the Acropolis on their honeymoon to Greece?) she is an absolute delight. Nor do we like Fiona any less for her frustration. Again, all characters prove relatable at some point. The pairing of Mercy with Paul Barber in the part of Fieldhouse is a joy, and I hope we haven’t seen the last of either of them. In fact, while Paul has already had a couple of stints on Coronation Street, I could imagine this pair treading the cobbles, and would happily see Mercy dragging her leopard print cases out of a taxi and up to The Rovers' door.

The programme is a lovely watch which aptly captures the joys and fond frustrations of the family holiday. The comedy is as airy and warm as the beautiful Lake District cutaways that have me vowing to visit for the umpteenth time, but there is also enough spice in there to ensure it’s in no way saccharine.

From a writing perspective, you can hear both their voices in the script, which is interesting to observe if you’re a fan of seeing how collaborations are borne out. Aside from the show being a very enjoyable watch, knowing the work of both Chris and Simon on Corrie, it’s intriguing from the point of view of seeing how writers we know well in one arena bring their ideas and work together to create something new in another. If this does interest you, I’d recommend taking a look at their brilliant interview for BBC Writers Room in which they talk about their paths to writing for Corrie,  how they approached writing this programme, and who inspires them.

Home from Home airs Fridays on BBC One at 9.30pm, and I highly recommend tuning in. If you’ve missed the first two episodes, you can watch them on the BBC iPlayer. This week's third episode, with added Susan Calman in the role of Lorraine Sykes, sees Neil throw a party in an attempt to rectify his lack of popularity, but we're told his plan backfires when Robert proves to be the life and soul of the party.

I'm looking forward to it already!

By Emma Hynes
www.emmahynes.net
Twitter: @ELHynes
Facebook: @EmmaHynesWrites
Instagram: emmalouhynes



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Posted by at 12:19
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Wednesday, 17 January 2018

Coronation Street writer leaves the show


Farewell to Coronation Street writer Ben Tagoe, who has left Coronation Street. His last episode will be shown tonight - Wednesday 17th January 2018.

Writing on Twitter today, Ben said: "Back in Aug, I took the very tough decision to leave the @itvcorrie writing team. My last ep is on at 7:30 tonight. Absolutely loved my 3 years on the show. It has been an honour and a privilege. Best wishes to all on the cobbles! #corrie #CoronationStreet"

 Ben is a playwright and screenwriter, originally from Perth, but now living in Yorkshire. His first Coronation Street episode aired on Friday February 20th, 2015.

 Ben was selected for the BBC Writers Academy 2011/12 and he is now a regular writer on CORONATION STREET (ITV). His plays include THE THING ABOUT PSYCHOPATHS (Red Ladder), COLD TURKEY AT NANA’S (Oran Mor/Perth Theatre), BITTERSWEET SUNSHINE (Red Ladder) and VEGAN WEDDING (Slung Low), and he was selected for the Bruntwood Hub in 2013/14.

 Ben's website is at http://www.bentagoe.co.uk/

 See also: Corrie writer Ben Tagoe: From selling phones to writing soap

 If you can help update this Corrie writer's profile, leave a comment below or email me here.

To read about all of the Coronation Street writers, click here.

Read more Corrie news, interviews, gossip and spoilers  

Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook 
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Posted by Glenda Young at 09:19
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GRITTY SAGAS BY CORRIE BLOG EDITOR GLENDA YOUNG, PUBLISHED BY HEADLINE. CLICK PIC BELOW!

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