Coronation Street's Lonely Hearts Club

Guest blog post from Sharon Boothroyd
Sharon's website is at: www.ryecorn.orgfree.comAll proceeds from sales of Sharon's book are donated to the RSPCA
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I've often wondered how the scriptwriting team at Corrie pair up the singletons. It sounds like good fun, putting the characters together. So, with that in mind, I'd thought I'd play a game of matchmaking!

Chesney and Gemma belong together.

Chesney's relationships with Katie and Sinead were doomed and Gemma hasn't favoured well, either. Lusting after Callum got her nowhere, and her one night stand with Tyrone marked her as scarlet woman (although it takes two to tango) Her disastrous on/ off dalliance with toff Henry was never going to end happily. However, the path of true love never runs smooth. While Chesney faffs about, Gemma has no trouble seeking out a new beau. Like Rita, I don't have much confidence in scruffy tattooist Spike. Now, I'd put him with 'rough around the edges' Abi.

Even though she's blowing hot and cold, Leeanne has rekindled an interest in Nick. So who shall I pair Toyah with? With her good listening skills, compassion and clear maternal instinct, I think Toyah would be perfect for Kevin. I can picture her fitting in the Webster household nicely, showering warmth and love on to Kevin and Jack. They both badly need it at this time.

Why on earth don't Ken and Audrey get together? I've been longing for Audrey to kick Lewis out and install Ken in her comfortable, spacious semi. In fact, I'd like to see a wedding. A firmer link between The Barlows and The Platts would be good. At the moment, it looks like Claudia is going to get her claws in Ken. Yes, she's glamorous, yes, she's a good friend - but not a long- term partner for Ken.

Dev needs another love interest, doesn't he? He seems to be drawn to quirky kind of characters – Tracey, Gina, Julie. Yet these end badly. So I'd match him with the sensible Angie. While she does the books for Dev, the single working parent angle would provide them with a starting point to romance.

Billy and Sean – a triangle with Fiz's friend Kim, might be fun.

I'd pair Adam with Emma -the giggly hairdresser would make the dour Scotsman laugh.

Izzy and Ryan would make an interesting couple. After the road crash/ drugs storyline, helping Izzy at home with Jake would bring a sense of maturity to Michelle's lazy, wayward son.

Seb would be fine with Bethany, and I think bossy Gina would be good for laid- back Imran.

As for Gail and Eileen - we need a down to earth fella, someone Geoff, (Tim's dad) to create rivalry/ conflict between them again.

I could go on – a one- night stand between man- eater Moria and shy, bumbling Craig could make viewers laugh.

I can imagine a similar embarrassed 'morning after' avoidance with Peter and Alya – but I've waffled on too much.

Who do you think would make a good couple on the cobbles?

Guest blog post from Sharon Boothroyd
Sharon's website is at: www.ryecorn.orgfree.comAll proceeds from sales of Sharon's book are donated to the RSPCA
Fancy writing a guest blog post for us? All details here!   

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

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5 Corrie couples who shouldn't be together

There are couples I love on Coronation Street such as Tim and Sally, Johnny and Jenny, Newton and Ridley. And then there are those who, for this fan, just don't work. This doesn't mean that I don't love the individual characters but when they've been put together with, for me, the wrong person, it falls flat and they have no chemistry on screen. You may well disagree and I'd love to hear from you in the comments.  Here then, are my five least favourite couples on Coronation Street.

Toyah and Peter. I've written before about how much I love Georgia Taylor as an actress and how much I enjoy Toyah on screen.  But where's the feisty, fighting Toyah that we knew and loved from back in the Battersby days? Where's the drive and determination gone? Remember when she wanted to be a journalist, an eco-warrier with Spider? Now, that drive and determination has gone into her IVF and baby-making plans, she is consumed by it and it's become dull.  She and Peter have zero chemistry and neither of them look comfortable behind the Rovers bar. Bring back Spider for Toyah. Carla's coming back - will she take up with Peter again? And finally, bring back Liz to the Rovers for us all.

The only good thing about Anna and Kevin together is that Debbie Rush is leaving the show and their relationship will soon be over. Kevin's a Corrie legend, king of the bomber jacket. Anna's the required Street harpie. Apart they're fantastic. Together? Dull as ditchwater.

Oh, please don't hate me when I say that Billy and Todd shouldn't be together. I love watching these two as a couple, I really love it. But I want them to split up before Todd breaks Billy's heart, which he surely will one of these days.  That's the only reason I don't think they should be together because with these two, pain and heartbreak is just an episode away.

I'm going to say it and I'm going to say it loud. I LOVE Kym Marsh in Coronation Street. She's a fantastic actress and her character has grown in leaps and bounds over the years. She deserves every award going for the baby Ruari storyline which broke my heart in a million pieces. Michelle divorcing Steve made sense but putting her together with Robert Preston was a mistake of the highest order. The man is far too boring for someone as bright and sparky as Michelle. He dulls her light, split them up, please Corrie, and let her sparkle again.

And finally, Zeedan and Rana Nazir. She likes girls, Zee, and she's just not that into you. Dump her, get into your Speed Dahl van and drive far, far away.

Agree? Disagree? Let me know what you think.

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Which is your current favourite Coronation Street couple?

For a bit of fun this week in the run up to the Bank Holiday weekend, we're going to be asking every day this week who our current favourite characters are.  Today it's the turn of the couples.

So, who is your current, favourite Coronation Street couple?

For this fan, it's Sally and Tim for the comedy and lightheartedness they provide. Sally's interaction with her sister is sublime and Tim and Steve at the cab office are a delight to watch too. So not only is my favourite couple great fun to watch together on screen but separately on the Street too.

But never mind me. If YOU had to choose just one couple from the show at the moment, as your absolute favourite, who would it be?

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5 Corrie Couples Who Got Together in Real Life

News in this week that Coronation Street actors Daniel Brocklebank (Billy the vicar Mayhew) and Rob Mallard (Daniel Osbourne) are dating, made me think about other times that Corrie couples have got together in real-life.

Inspired by comments left on the blog post, here we go with another five Corrie couples who got together after meeting on-screen on our favourite soap.

Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs) and Lucy-Jo Hudson (Katy Harris) are married after meeting when working on the set of Coronation Street.

Tina O'Brien (Sarah Platt) and Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw) met on the set, and ended up married too. They're now separated.

Anne Kirkbride (Deirdre Barlow) met and married David Beckett after he turned up on Coronation Street as a joiner called Dave Barton.

Pat Phoenix (Elsie Tanner) married her Coronation Street co-star Alan Browning (Alan Howard). 

And even Tony Warren himself enjoyed a relationship with one of the actors in the show. For several years during the 60s, his partner was Ernst Walder, who played Ivan Cheveski in Coronation Street.

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Someone to watch over me

Now then.

Single men are starting to pile up on the corner of the cobbles, have you noticed? We have Ken, Norris, Sean, Brian, Roy, Chesney, Craig, Luke, David, Adam and now Steve. There are a number of single women at the moment, as well. Liz, Tracy, Rosie, Sophie, Alya, Cathy, Yasmeen, Kate, Rita,  Gail, Shona, Audrey, Gemma, Mary.

Since soaps don't seem to want to keep anyone single for long, it's a pretty safe bet that a few of those men will find someone to warm the cockles of their hearts before too long. I had time to let my mind wander around on the subject. See if you agree or disagree with my ideas.

Brian and Cathy are already making eyes at each other, we can probably pull them off the list though I really don't think they will go the distance. Brian is far too selfish and oafish. Cathy and Roy really would have been ideal but Roy isn't ready and maybe he never will be and that's ok.  Maria isn't on the list because of her affair with Aidan. We might reserve the more senior characters for the moment as well. Please, Romance Gods, don't put Audrey and Ken together now that Freddie has gone!

There has been speculation that the Powers that Be will throw Shona and David together. I kind of hope not because it would be weird for David to be romantically partnered with the mother of the man that killed his wife. But stranger things have happened. They are about the same age, actually. We were told that Shona was just about 13 when she gave birth to Clayton who was 15 when he killed Kylie. I think I'd rather see David single for a little while longer and then meet someone completely new.

But you know, I think Shona might make a good partner for Steve even if she's almost a generation younger than he is. (and a couple of Coronation Street Blog commenters seem to have agreed with me just as I was writing this!) That never stopped a romantic pairing on Corrie. Most of Deirdre's men were yards older than her! Shona has that earthy no-nonsense attitude and she's not self centered or a drama queen like Michelle. I think she could suit Steve very well and throw in the added bonus that a new partner, a much younger model,  would put a knot in Michelle's face even if she does say she doesn't want Steve any more.  I like her, I do. There's something about her. What I don't want is for Steve to end up with Leanne with the only thing they have in common being wee Oliver. Leanne needs someone responsible, someone that isn't jealous and insecure. I used to think she and Robert would have made a good couple but I don't really like him much anymore. Leanne and Peter are water under the bridge, too.

I think Rob Donovan was the love of Tracy's life. He really "got" her, accepted her for all her faults and they really worked well together. They also had more than the usual things in common. Murder, much? But since that's a no-go now that Rob is back inside, I wonder if Luke can forgive her? They weren't a bad couple though Luke is probably too honest for Tracy. I think we should suggest that Luke and Alya get together. Alya has ambitions but maybe she'd like a steady guy who is good with his hands, eh? They need to use Alya or lose her because on the rare occasion we do see her these days, she's got her nose in the air or a scowl on her face. They've made her dislikable and I'm afraid she probably isn't going to be around long if they can't think of something soon.

I would have suggested Gemma and Chesney get together but I really don't think they would make a very good couple. Gemma would have him for breakfast. I'm pleased that Gemma is trying to gain some confidence and turn her life around, I really am, but she's far too much for Chesney and he's too much of an old soul for her.

I don't think Kate and Sophie should get together but what happened to their friendship? It seemed to go the way of the dodo after Caz left and Kate got embroiled in her father's fling with Jenny Bradley and is now pursuing her father's health problems. Mind you, when Kate first arrived on the scene, I did think she would be a good partner for Sophie. She has a sense of humour and is a lot of fun and would bring Sophie out of her surliness.  Rosie should not be with someone like Adam because he wouldn't treat her well. He'd look down on her and treat her like an object. She and Jason were really good together. Jason adored and cherished her and They were pretty much equal in the intelligence department. I do think Rosie needs to mature a bit, though, because she's getting too old to be this daft bimbo. She's got to find a direction for her life or a hidden talent.

I'd also like to see Sean find someone that truly appreciates him. I did think he and Billy were good together but I'm sure there's a match out there for Sean somewhere. Maybe someone a little older who can give him a bit more confidence in himself so he won't be such a slave to his own insecurities. It would be nice to see him reconnect with his son, Dylan, too. Maybe find some who has a child of his own, something they'd have in common.

While it's lovely to see some of the senior characters find love, it feels too incestuous for any of them to fall for any of the others. They've all been friends for far too long for it to  believably morph into love.

Finally, it seems very much like Nick is spiralling into his jealousy again over Peter and Steve both. Nick's jealousy and insecurity is going to be his downfall I think. Leanne is already showing signs of him being instrumental in putting her between a rock and a hard place constantly by not being able to compromise.  Leanne should stay single for awhile, please. Don't put her with Steve just because she's got Steve's baby.

Who would you like to see some of the Corrie singles matched up with? Someone current or new? Someone unexpected?


Crossposted from State of the Street
By Tvor (Twitter @tvordlj)

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