Coronation Street Episode Review; Wednesday 4th of August 7.30 & 8.30

Never normally shy of a soundtracked vignette, I wonder if Corrie missed a trick by not using The Prodigy’s seminal single ‘Firestarter’ for Hope’s pyromaniacal attack? Although we don't quite see the actual fire starting, it's clear that she did it, and the consequences of her heinous act are sadly fatal. I have said it before and in several reviews, but this storyline involving Tyrone & Fiz’s relationship has been surprisingly good drama. John Stape made a murderous career out of 'accidentally' killing people; has Hope now taken up her father’s baton? The apple never falls far from the tree, even if it is rotten! It doesn't take long for Evelyn to smell the smoke coming from Hope and Fiz’s face says it all! 

Before that though, the fire needs to be investigated - the firefighter tells Ty it looks like Alina’s candle has fanned the flames. Hope was quick to point the finger in 'Roy’s Rolls' wasn't she, which is of course is the number one rule in any crime drama - the guilty are usually the first to speak! It's sad for Alina and the little life lost, but the fall-out to come is surely going to bring more carnage for Ty, Fiz, Evelyn, and the girls. 

If it takes a disastrous worldwide health pandemic to bring a character back to the forefront of the show, then surely it tells you something? Izzy’s shielding is serious stuff and I know we have to keep it light but I’m unsure if that factory should continue operating if this is how it treats the disabled workforce!! It's the devil in the deep blue sea, Sally was correct, but sometimes I think the devil is actually in the details. 

Billy is unforgiving towards Todd and his vow to solely support Summer is put into action when Adi shows his obvious affections. Of course, Dev has Tupperware boxes, and that little attention to detail helped keep the show moving tonight alongside Mary’s (as ever) fun flower facts and disclosing Eileen’s middle name. Dev giving Adi romance advice was also enjoyable. Those little snippets of mundane daily life dialogue are often far more entertaining than issue-based heavyweight pontification. Just saying.  

George and Eileen’s rom-com courtship is more six feet under than head-over-heels yet the Undertaker is still trying his best in wooing grim Grimshaw. Taking that funeral floozy to the pub (please let her be a new character!!) was fun - I wonder when these two will finally get together? Our Eileen could do with some fun, and not another funeral of a romance. 

Love is most definitely in the air tonight, as Adi also seeks advice from Amy which prompts Tracy to get the wrong end of the stick. At least we got Tracy on screen again. 

Talking of which, the low-key resurrection of Peter Barlow is long overdue. I'm glad to see him back, rejuvenated and rocking that haircut/denim combo. Can Carla and Peter please be happy now?! 

Elsewhere in tonight's episodes; Evelyn stole every scene she was in!

 

@rybazoxo 

---

---

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

Corrie Hate Crime! Interview with Corrie Producer Iain McCleod and The Sophie Lancaster Foundation

Tonight sees Coronation Street tackle a hideous hate crime when Nina and Seb are involved in a brutal and life-changing gang attack. In a storyline that's reputedly to last the remainder of the year, Corrie has worked with the Sophie Lancaster Foundation in researching and writing the story. The attack is primarily aimed at Nina Lucas’ goth persona mirroring the real-life attack and death of Sophie Lancaster, in Lancashire, in 2007.

As press day’s go, this one has a more serious and sombre air to it, but still, it’s always a pleasure to be invited to such prestigious online Corrie press events. Turning on my zoom (for some reason I opened it twice, so had double audio for a while) I joined Coronation Street online for this Hate Crime conference call in trepidation of how this storyline will pan out. 

Starting with the show’s Executive Producer Iain McCleod, and Sylvia Lancaster (Sophie’s Mum and foundation founder) we spoke about the preparation and research that goes into such a storyline such as this. 

Q - How did this storyline come about?

IM - A couple of years ago, the idea was floating around the writer's room and it felt like a story that needed to be told. It is something that sits very well within the soap genre and although we don't set out to change the world, we can be agenda-setting. I felt that the message of the story around tolerance and inclusion was incredibly pressing, more now than ever. We knew, even as far back as the introduction of Nina’s character, that this was the angle that the story was going to take

Q Was it important to have Nina's character embedded into the street, before producing this storyline? 

IM- Absolutely. I think when Nina’s character was introduced she was a bit unusually presented and maybe people saw that as a barrier to liking her. You may remember that when she first came in, we did play some casual intolerance in the cafe, we were quite keen that we would play the reality of people seeing her without knowing her, and then realising that in fact, she’s just like any other teenager. We took our time in peeling away the layers of the character and then introducing the relationship with Seb. It was clear then that this was the right time to move forward with the next chapter of this story 

Q Was it deliberate to attach that character to Roy. In the sense that Roy has had all sorts of waifs and strays in his life before, but Nina is family?

IM - We wanted to make it to someone connected to Roy, as his relationship with Hayley exposed him to prejudice and intolerance. We felt like he was someone with the right level of life experience to be a moral guardian to Nina through this romantic phase of the story and then the difficult phase that's to come. Nina is Roy’s one remaining family member -that we know of - so we used that as a good stepping-stone to tell this story 

Q- How important was it to work with Slyvia Lancaster in the development of this storyline? 

IM - Incredibly important and not least to ensure that we had some authenticity in Nina’s presentation that was right and in the fall-out that follows. We know the foundation does some amazing work and wants to change society's view of intolerance. It enabled us to not only tell a really good story, but to maybe change people’s preconceptions about the alternative culture, and how society deals with different cultures. It’s also important to look at how society prosecutes those kinds of crimes too. I hope what we put on screen does justice to the foundation. It's the human being that matters, not what they look like!

Sophie Lancaster (image via @sophie_charity)

Remembering this real-life heinous crime with such clarity, I was very honoured to listen to Sophie Lancaster’s Mum talk about Sophie, the work the charity does, and the fact she was a big Corrie fan too!

Q - How did you feel when you were first asked by Coronation Street to help with this storyline? 

SL - As you can imagine, getting the email from Coronation Street asking to work with them was a surprise. The experience has been very professional, very well looked after, and they have been very sensitive to the issues involved. We knew they would do it sensitively and do a good job

Q - You were also involved with the development of Nina’s character in the early days. How do you feel about how the character has progressed and the fan base she now has? 

SL - People have taken Nina to their hearts, looking behind the image and seeing the person - it's a massive part of the work that we do

Q - You used to watch Coronation Street with Sophie, and she had a favourite character. Can you tell us more about that? 

SL - It was years ago, they had a character called ‘Spider’ who was an eco-warrior type and I can see him as visibly as anything with a combat jacket and a beanie hat. Sophie loved him, everything he stood for, and who he represented

Q - How do you think Sophie would feel now, having the charity work with Coronation Street in her name?

SL- She would be astonished I think and very proud of that. 

Read all about Sophie's story via the Sophie Lancaster Foundation

Follow on Twitter @sophie_charity 

Still to come from our latest press day is our chat with the lovely Mollie Gallagher (Nina), Harry Visinoni (Seb Franklin) Sally Carman (Abi Franklin) and the finale being a rare interview with street icon David Neilson (Roy Cropper). The latter article is being written by fellow Corrie blogger @stewiedawson who I had a chat with yesterday, post-interview. Quite frankly, he delivered such eloquent enthusiasm over all things, Roy Cropper, that I had to pass the baton on - and I can't wait to read it. You're in for a right treat there! 

@rybazoxo 

---

---

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

'It has rocked their world but they will always be OK’ Corrie Press Day Interview with Joe Duttine and Sally Dynevor

We continue our Corrie 60th anniversary blog interviews joining ITV journalist Nina Nannar to have a good chat with Joe Duttine (Tim Metcalfe) and Sally Dynevor (Sally Metcalfe) about Geoff, Sally and Tim’s relationship, and Coronation Street’s legacy.

NN = Nina Nannar, JD = Joe Duttine SD = Sally Dynevor 

NN - The Geoff coercive plotline has cast its net far and wide for Tim and Sally.

JD- ‘I think this has opened up another world for Tim, hasn’t it? Tim was quite happy just sitting in the taxi office and eating those pink wafer biscuits. Suddenly his Dad comes along and tells him this massive lie. A whole world of things that Tim now has to explore. It is nice to have this turning point.'

NN- Sally and Tim are that 'classic Corrie' couple on the street. How do you think this whole discovery will affect them? 

JD - 'They will bounce back. They will have another night in the conservatory overlooking the hot tub and crack open a nice bottle of something. They will get back on track. It has rocked their world, but they will always be ok, I think.'

NN - How have you found the coercive control storyline? 

JD- 'Quite horrible when you think of the reality, but it has been great. Tim has got involved with some characters he wouldn’t normally interact with and the variation as an actor.'

NN - Sally, you have been in Coronation Street for a long time now - how does it feel to be still involved after all these years? 

SD - 'I am so proud of Coronation Street, it is an incredible programme to be part of and I am pleased to have been part of this domestic abuse storyline. It is so important, and there is a responsibility to the storytelling. I watch all the montages of years gone by and it's amazing that we have had 60 years of fantastic stories. I have loved this coercive storyline, one of the best I have been in. Coronation Street does comedy and dark drama together so well - I think that is why it's been on for 60 years, they do it better than anyone else.'

NN - When you joined Corrie 30 odd years ago, did you plan to stay in as long as possible or was it just another acting job? 

SD - 'No, I left drama school, was in a few telly things, then I got offered Corrie but for only two episodes. I kept getting called back then John Temple (Corrie producer) stopped me in the canteen and asked if I would like a one-year contract. I was amazed, that does not usually happen to an actor. I have enjoyed this job so much. If I left I'd be lost and would miss it so much.'

                                                             ****

Keep your eyes peeled for a few more Corrie press day interviews. It was such an honour to join Micheal Le Vell, Sally Carman, Mark Frost, Mikey North, & Sue Devaney for a chat about the Coronation Street demolition plot!

I am @rybazoxo your cobble connoiseur

---

---

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

Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 27th Nov 7.30 pm

Just what is Jade up to at N0.9 Coronation Street? Arriving as a friend and helping hand / live-in nanny to fire-starting Hope, it seems she's slowly turning against Fiz and becoming possessive of the little girl. I wonder why?

With Fiz's suspicions about her daughter's pyromania, and Tyrone's disdain at her not telling him about it, things are becoming intensified. Speaking with Evelyn, Jade suggests that Fiz has some kind of issue coping with Hope. Can Jade hoodwink Ty's Nan into her campaign against Fiz?
Reconciled with Tyrone, it looks like things are getting better for Fiz, and Jade (reluctantly) offers to babysit so they can have a night out. Jade persuades Evelyn that babysitting the girls may not be fun, so she heads to bingo and Jade is left alone with Hope.

Roy's reunion with his half-brother is also continuing to gain pace, and he looks to be back to his old self. Nina may not be keen on her newly found uncle just yet though, as Richard's recent outing with Roy has drained him. As Roy meets Richard at his home, his severely ill brother has a proposition for Roy about looking after his Niece, when the time comes. Can we see Roy looking after a goth teenager? I think this could have some longevity, in terms of future storylines?

Nick and Sarah seem to be steaming ahead with their packing and distribution plans, swapping sewing knickers for packing boxes, but the staff shareholders are still unkeen. Meanwhile, ex-factory boss Carla is seeing some success with Sinead's beard oil business. I wonder if this storyline is heading where I think it is?

Nick reverts to his usual sly behaviour and try's to persuade Kirk that packing is the future for the factory. Can Kirk be persuaded to change the staff mindset?

Poor Paul has finally had his cathartic release. Having poured his heart out to his Mum and Gemma about Kel's abuse- the mental scars are still ever-present. Upon seeing his boyfriend in turmoil, Billy decides to organise Paul a councilling session for sexual abuse survivors. Will Paul finally open up?

Also in need of counselling (pre-marriage) Robert and Michelle still seem intent on getting wed! just what is she planning? It's nice to see Robert oblivious for a change but I still can't help thinking I'd like to see Michelle fail at the final hurdle. Is it just me?

Later, and making another trip to see Richard, Roy causes more friction with Nina and accidentally injures her, whilst shifting some of Richard's medical equipment.

Back at N0.9, Jade is left alone with Hope and decides to cover her arms with make-up, making them look like bruises, and takes pictures.

I did wonder what Jade was up to, and it's now becoming ever clearer...

Keep your eyes peeled for my 8.30 pm episode review, and we can find out more.

I am @rybazoxo your self-styled cobbles connoisseur. Give us a follow on twitter.

---

---

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