#CorrieLive: A running commentary

I was really looking forward to the episode tonight and it didn't let me down. I wrote down a few notes while watching and I give you the running commentary:

Sarah's a brave little soldier, isn't she?

You can really feel the energy, can't you?

Yes, Sarah, he does scare you!

Cathy took Roy to Blackpool, she mentioned the Blackpool Tower... and everyone groans.

All that screaming and hollering, why can't the Nazir families hear them? Uh oh, it went quiet awfully suddenly. Holy crap, Kylie!

Now the first break. You know, I've been predicting Callum's death for months. I never expected it to be one of the main characters. But on the other hand, after all their history, it's probably poetic justice that Kylie was the one that killed Callum.

Aw, in spite of everything, Sarah still wants to call the ambulance and save him!

Tina O'Brien and Paula Lane are knocking it out of the park, i gotta say.

Poor Craig. Is he getting stood up? He looked great, didn't he?

Roy's driven to use exclamation marks. He really *is* wound up!

There's Eva, back where she belongs behind the bar!

I'm glad it was Carla left with Roy to put his world to rights. Poor Cathy. You have to feel for her. It wasn't her fault her timing was so off. And Carla's right, Roy is feeling more for Cathy and he's scared of it.

Oh typical. It's almost Keystone cops, isn't it? Key the car? How old are you? 12? Then, because it's so conveniently running, steal the car. You couldn't make this stuff up! Now what will they do with the body? Pull a John Stape and put him in the wheelie bin?

Liz and Lloyd were a good couple, weren't they?

Ah yes, the manhole cover that Tony conveniently found under the garage. Nobody is surprised Callum corked it and it was obvious that's where Callum was ending up.

Kylie in a panic, wants to run again?

Sarah's not fooling anyone, she's clearly not all right.

Anna does not "do" drunk very well. Anna drunk and Sally making digs has the inevitable result, Anna letting the Kevin Kiss Kat out of the bag. Uh oh! Had to happen.

There's a body in the kitchen and the neighbours at the back door.

Robert is very naive. He's going down with a crash.

I thought Lloyd had been around longer than 10 years!

Yet another relationship going down the tubes over just a kiss. Knowing it was Sally that did the kissing made it worse. I can understand Tim feeling like that.

Yep, Craig got stood up.

Sinead sure is walking well, and on heels, for someone that was wobbling on crutches a month or so ago.

Down the rabbit hole for Callum. Are they sealing that over? Otherwise, it's going to start to smell pretty soon.

Ooops, sound fail in the kebab shop.

What? Who takes a taxi back from committing a crime? Seriously? Too bad they didn't wait a few more minutes to steal the car. Callum would have been in the back and he'd have gone up in smoke, too!

Cake is never a bad thing to try. Well, maybe if it's soaked in rum and you don't like rum.

Oh, please, don't put Tim and Anna together. I have a bad feeling about this if he and Sally don't get back together.

Awwww a little kiss for Roy and Cathy!


Awesome old car! And it's good bye to Lloyd (and Andrea)

Mistakes always come back to bite you in the backside. That goes for Sally and it probably goes for David and Kylie. David says he's going to get Callum out of the hole and miles away. Wanna bet?

Ok. It's done.

Overall? Excellent. The bit with Todd and Tony stealing the car was contrived, obviously so that the manhole would be used. The neighbours that kept interrupting were also a bit "Keystone Cops" but you know... David, Kylie and Sarah really carried the episode and really nailed it. All three actors were fabulous.

The other main story involving Roy and Cathy was also really nice, Roy clearly at a turning point in his grief, as is Cathy. Both of them have found a way to understand that they can move on without forgetting their loved ones. It's going to be difficult for viewers to see Roy with someone else, but perhaps she's the right one. Hayley was the making of Roy, and now the tables have turned and Roy is the one that's giving Cathy the helping hand. It could work. I guess it will depend on how long Melanie Hill wants to stay with the show. David Neilson was in top form as usual, and was a joy to watch.

Sally's kiss with Kevin came back to bite her and Tim's heart is broken, not just because of what Sally did but because it was his new best mate, Kevin. That's the ultimate betrayal, isn't it?

And finally, Lloyd and Andrea leave the street for a new life. Off they rode in an antique car with arms full of balloons. I will miss Lloyd a lot. I won't really miss Andrea. I didn't dislike her but I never really warmed up to her, either. They had a happy ending, though, and that's enough for me.

All in all, well done to the cast and crew!!!

There's a longer, more detailed blog post with more thoughts over here on State of the Street.


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#CorrieLive - What did you think of it?

It's been months in the planning and it happened tonight.

It's now all over - so what did you make of it all?

Who gave the best performances, in your opinion? Was anything better than you expected and were there any storyline shocks along the way you weren't expecting?

Let us know what you thought of Coronation Street's live episode #Corrielive by leaving your comments below.

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#CorrieLive is upon us

Excitement and nerves are mounting for the cast of Coronation Street as they get ready for tonight's live broadcast. There have been a number of cast members interviewed on television and in the newspapers. Many are nervous but are also looking forward to the experience. Nobody wants to be the one that messes up. Sean Ward said on Lorraine that he's going to pretend it's just another dress rehearsal and Hayley Tamaddon is worried about dropping a tray of champagne filled glasses.

There have been two weeks of rehearsals and the adrenaline will be pumping tonight. Digital Spy reports  Stuart Blackburn told Good Morning Britain that "there's shock and awe as things explode. It's just fantastic. It's got everything." He's confident everyone will be spot on.

There is also a worry that a match between Manchester United and Ipswich at Old Trafford nearby might cause some problems. The football stadium is less than a mile away and there are fears that noise from the crowds might be audible though one source says that they've filmed through matches in the past and it's not been a problem. The match starts at 8, half way through the broadcast. I'm sure sharp eared viewers will be listening for it!

The logistics behind doing this for television are staggering. Many of the actors have not done live stage work and even the ones that have know it's the ultimate challenge for a performer. Storylines are at a turning point for more than just the Platts. I'm excited! Bring it on!


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Spoilers for next week's #Corrielive on Coronation Street

The full weekly preview, with pictures is right here on Corrie.net

Missed last week's Corrie?
Catch up with the Coronation Street Weekly Updates

"A thrilling week of episodes will see lives changed forever on Coronation Street as secrets and lies are exposed and some of our most loved characters are pushed to the edge.

In a series of Corrie cliffhangers threats that were once empty now become a reality, while matters of the heart come to a head with far reaching consequences for a number of the street’s residents.

Callum Logan will stop at nothing to get what he wants and in a desperate bid to get sinister gang leader Denton off his back Callum wants cash, and he wants it from Kylie and David. The couple are living in fear as Callum blackmails them, come up with £20K and he’ll leave son Max alone and get out of their lives for good – otherwise he’ll hurt them. As they try to raise the money, a menacing Callum is doing everything he can to put the frighteners on the Platts. Pushed to the edge, there’s nowhere left to run for the Platts!

Jason meanwhile has also been on the receiving end of one of Callum’s beatings. He’s determined to seek revenge and is baying for Callum’s blood but it soon becomes clear that Jason’s in no physical state to carry out a revenge attack himself. Worried about the bitterness Jason is harbouring, dad Tony and brother Todd decide to take matters into their own hands. As they plot to hit Callum where it hurts, Tony and Todd both have a dark side to draw on but have they met their match in the evil Callum Logan?

With her wedding to Tim just around the corner Sally should be every inch the blushing bride. Instead Sally’s tormented by guilt following a forbidden kiss with ex husband Kevin. Sally knows she made a mistake and is desperate to ensure her wedding goes ahead. But daughter Sophie is in the know and it’s not long before neighbour Anna overhears the juicy gossip. Sally’s on a mission to keep her saucy secret hush hush but how will Tim react when the truth comes tumbling out? Will Tim be saying I don’t instead of I do?

Roy and Cathy’s friendship is now stronger than ever. But while she harbours ever growing feelings for her new companion, Roy is still battling his emotions after the loss of wife Hayley. As Cathy pulls out all the stops to celebrate Roy’s birthday will a surprise trip to Blackpool, a place with so many painful memories for Roy, tip him over the edge? And as Roy is confronted by echoes of the past will Cathy feel able to open up and voice her secret longing for a relationship with Roy?

Andrea’s secret is out, she’s having Lloyd’s baby and Lloyd couldn’t be happier. But as the couple prepare to head off into the sunset, to start a new life in Jersey, Steve is battling with the resentment he feels towards his former best mate and business partner. Not only did Lloyd let down his mum Liz to take Andrea back, he also can’t get his head round how Lloyd can trust Andrea after everything she’s done. Andrea and Michelle are desperate to bring the friends back together but as Lloyd’s farewell party approaches will they have to resort to dirty tactics to force the pair back together?

And as teen Craig awaits the arrival of holiday romance Caitlin, he’s a bag of nerves. Will Caitlin hold true to her promise to visit Craig on the street or will his dream date end in tears?

In the midst of this week of spectacular episodes Coronation Street will mark ITV’s 60th anniversary with an exciting live episode on Wednesday 23rd September. ITV are keeping exactly what happens under wraps, but one thing is for sure, lives will never be the same again!"

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In pics: Coronation Street spoilers for #CorrieLive week

New photos have been released by Coronation Street of the episodes preceding the dramatic live screening next week.

The pictures from scenes to be screened on Monday September 21st show the build up to all the storylines which will be at the centre of the drama on Wednesday 23rd.

One of the images show the final scene from the Monday of Sarah Platt being confronted in the living room of number 8 by evil drug dealer Callum Logan. The action in the live episode will pick up at exactly this point on the Wednesday.

Other images released today show:

    Steve and Lloyd burying their differences over a few drinks in the cellar of the Rovers.
  

Cathy and Roy spending Roy’s birthday in Blackpool

Anna overhearing Sally and Sophie talking about Kevin and Sally’s illicit kiss.

    Jason and Tony plotting their revenge on Callum

  

Callum threatening the Platts in the bistro and the police at the Platts’ house. 

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Coronation Street Blog Interview: Michael Le Vell and Brooke Vincent

There are few father-daughter onscreen relationships that are, to my mind, as authentic as the one between Kevin and Sophie Webster. I have enjoyed watching their bond over the years, and when my fellow blogger Ruth and I travelled to ITV in Manchester to interview the pair, I was interested to see if this same chemistry existed between the two actors, Brooke Vincent and Michael Le Vell.

As we talked about the live episode, how they feel about the show, their characters, and future storylines, there proved to be a lovely bond that was at once cheeky and respectful, and made interviewing them rather entertaining.

Both agreed that it was time for Sophie to grow up a bit and that, after a number of relationship traumas, she needs time to herself rather than having a new love interest. “People forget how long it takes to get over things like that” says Brooke as she recalls Sophie’s experiences with Sian, Jenna and Maddie.

Brooke saw it as a “massive honour” to be trusted with the lesbian storyline at the age of 16, and her progression into a young women now seems timely. “I’m two years older than my character so I’m constantly like, ‘right, when can she wear make-up? When can she wear red lipstick?’" Brooke tells us. "It’s going to be nice for me to grow up finally and wear stuff that I’d wear maybe when I was 21”. It will also help that she's to leave her job at Dev’s behind, as we’re told she’ll play a big part in the expansion of the garage where she’ll be working alongside her Dad helping him to run the business.

With regard to the live episode, Michael doesn’t feel having done one before eases the pressure, and really puts the viewership into perspective when he notes “We’ve all done live theatre before, but to fill a theatre with how many people are going to watch that one episode, you’d probably have to fill a West End theatre for the next 20 years 7 nights a week.” He revealed that they have a two week rehearsal time leading up to the episode which takes place on 23 September, and they never normally have this. He continues, “this is so different as well because I think a lot more people have a lot more lines to say because there’s no big stunt in it and it is all character driven storylines, and so people will have a lot more words and will definitely be on their guard.”

Recalling the Eastender’s live episode in which an actor’s name was said instead of the character being addressed, both vehemently agree about how easy it is to do this, and reveal that it happens all the time on set. Michael tells us “That’s what the public want in some perverse kind of way, they want to see these mistakes. And because the tram crash did go so smoothly last time, everyone thought it was recorded.”

Brooke adds, “It’s so easy for people to sit at home and judge, ‘cos I do it, when you’re watching, say, I’m a Celeb’. If something like that does happen, we’re not going to get sacked, are we?” she laughs, “I’ll just say ‘sorry Mum’ and carry on”.

While they’re worried Sally and Joe’s capacity for corpsing could be their downfall, Michael loves that they brought him into the Tim and Sally storylines, as they all have such a laugh. Brooke talked about how strange it was to have a new man join their family. “It was like real life” she tells us, “I was like, I’ll sit up straight and I won’t be lounging, and it was like my Mum got a new boyfriend in a way. And then we just really quickly gelled together”. Both agree that it would have been so easy to have the men at odds, but that it works so much better that they don’t hate each other.

I asked Michael what he thought of the decision to have Sally and Kevin kiss. Joking that “she’s not made of wood” he tells us “I love the partnership with Sally and Tim, they’re fantastic to watch and they make me laugh a lot. I don’t want to see them split up as a viewer.”

Michael talked about his pride in being part of Corrie, how much he loves it, and how moving to Media City UK has been great for bringing everyone involved closer together. His advice for any budding Corrie actors is to know your lines which proves humorous to Brooke who recalls him messing up during the Jenny Bradley balcony scene despite drumming it into her that she must remember hers. He can’t wait for the return of Sally Ann Matthews, and neither can I. Describing her as fantastic to work with, he adds, “She’s a such a wonderful person to be around, and a wonderful actress...and she did know her lines, every day.”

This cheeky parting shot summed up what was an enjoyable interview, and the relationship that exists between Brooke and Michael.

See also my interview with Joe Duttine and Sally Dynevor.

By Emma Hynes
www.emmahynes.wordpress.com/
Twitter: @ELHynes

Find out everything you need to know about Corrie's live episode! 

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Coronation Street Blog Interview: Joe Duttine and Sally Dynevor

When the opportunity arises to interview Corrie’s couple-du-jour, as Sally might have it, you’re going to make sure you’re there with bells on, and that is precisely what my fellow blogger Ruth and I did when we travelled to ITV in Manchester to get the low down on the live episode - and much more.

I wish I could say we lounged on Sally's Manhattan range sofa eating Viennetta while she looked disapprovingly at Tim for cracking open a couple of cans of lager and plonking them in front of us as they frothed at the mouth, but as Sally herself knows only too well, you can’t have everything. What we experienced, in fact, was even better; we got to interview Joe Duttine and Sally Dynevor about the live episode, the action to come for Tim and Sally, and what it’s like to play contemporary Corrie’s most popular couple.

The minute they sat down, it became clear that these are two actors who enjoy one another’s company, and the chemistry between them was a platonic version of that which we see on screen. It came as no surprise when Sally remarked “we work so well together and I feel like we bounce off each other.” I asked them both if they felt the chemistry between them contributes to how well liked they are by the viewers. “Definitely” Sally told me. “I think [it’s] because we get on so well.” Joe agreed, adding “If you don’t get on with people it’s hard to work with them, but especially playing comedy. If you don’t get on with someone it’s going to be tricky.”

They are naturally fully aware of how popular they are as a couple, and I asked them if they’d had any interesting reactions from fans. “Yeah, I think they like Sally and Tim together” Sally noted, “we get a lot of feedback on Twitter which is nice.” Joe related a funny experience he’d had when, while driving on the motorway, he spotted a car full of lads with baseball caps alongside him giving him some very enthusiastic thumbs up, adding “I thought I had a flat tyre or my lights were off or something”.

So how does it feel to play Sally and Tim, both of whom have clearly changed as characters over the past two years? “I love it” responds an enthusiastic Sally, “I had all the drama a few years ago, now I’m getting all the comedy. It’s so weird how you develop and evolve, I never had that kind of stuff.” Joe was similarly enthusiastic and astute about the development of his character. “When you come into the soap the writers find out what they want to do with you and they can change it, can’t they” he explains, “they clearly did that with Tim. I was only here for three months and it felt like I was going to be the new bad guy and then they put Tim with Sally and his characteristics changed so they started writing for him differently.” Joe sees this character development as influential on his relationship with Anna, “[it] meant that it was difficult for her to dislike him. They came together over Miley” he explains.

So should we be concerned about a potential relationship between the two? “I think Tim and Anna are good friends” Joe notes, “It’s alright to be good friends. I don’t think we need to see people having it off with everybody just to get drama.” Hear hear!

We’re told that while it won’t be plain sailing when he learns about the kiss between Kevin and Sally, he doesn’t see Tim as a man who would turn violent, and explains, “I don’t think Tim is the fighting type. I don’t really want to see Tim become aggressive and I don’t want to see him become a player either. I just think he’s a decent bloke that just likes his creature comforts and the simple life. I think there’s lots of other characters in the show that can be the ones that are promiscuous and commit adultery, but I don’t think Tim’s the type to do that.” Yet again, I find myself nodding in agreement.

It’s great to hear Joe expressing such opinions, and to learn that he has this depth of interest in his character. Sally adds, “I think that’s why Sally’s attracted to him, cos he’s a really genuinely nice guy.”

Sally and Joe like the fact that Sally, Tim and Kevin work well as a trio. “I think that’s really good, 'cos you’ve not really seen that before, it’s quite nice that people can actually get on” Sally tells us, and Joe agrees, adding “I think it would’ve been a bit obvious to make Tim and Kev enemies, 'cos they’ve got no history, why should they fall out? They’ve got something in common, they’ve dealt with it, and now they’re friends”.

So what do they think of the kiss which, we’re told, will come out in the live episode? “It was only a moment of madness, it didn’t mean anything” Sally replies, “I think she’s really worried about Tim’s reaction, ‘cos he is quite a sensitive soul. I think there are feelings for Kevin. They were married for 20 odd years, and they were remarried, so they’ve gone through a lot. There is a connection there but he’s more of her friend and it’s a case of overstepping the mark.” We also learn that Anna finds out, and both Sally and Joe agree that she’s the worst person who could have.

With the live episode fast approaching how do they feel about it? Despite already having one under her belt, Sally is naturally nervous. “It’s the scariest thing you’ve ever done because you just don’t want to be the one that messes up Coronation Street. There’s a lot to worry about” she explains. While her biggest fear is corpsing, because when Joe makes her laugh, she can’t stop, his is losing concentration. Joe hasn’t done live TV before, but plenty of theatre and is up for the challenge.
Neither had received the scripts when I spoke with them, and Sally revealed, “I would love to be a fly on the wall when the writers get together for their meetings, because we’re in their hands really.” Joe adds, “There’s a lot of secrecy around this show. They just drip feed you information, that’s the truth.” There were nevertheless still things they knew about but on which their lips were very firmly sealed, and we were provided with no certainty as to whether or not their wedding will go ahead.“It’s so hard when we want to talk about things to you but we can’t” laughs Sally. When it comes to this pair, I happily welcome the element of surprise, as it makes the enjoyment of this brilliant couple all the sweeter.

See also my interview with Michael Le Vell and Brooke Vincent.

By Emma Hynes
www.emmahynes.wordpress.com
Twitter: @ELHynes

Find out everything you need to know about Corrie's live episode!

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