Newspapers - stop nicking our work

It's a rum do and no mistake.

As Coronation Street fans we work hard here on the Coronation Street Blog to bring fans not just the breaking news and spoilers from the press and ITV. We work hard to bring the more fun, fan stuff for which this blog is best known - and for which it was created ten years ago.

We create our own content here, we don't just recycle any old story going around th'internet. We write about what we love and about what makes us choke on our milk stout.

This blog is a labour of love, a love-letter to Corrie, if you will.

When we report news from the press, we credit our sources - always.

However, in the ten years that the blog has been online, our work has been taken many times by tabloids and used without our permission.  It's not something I get used to, seeing original work that we created here, taken and repeated elsewhere with no credit to us.  All we want is the link, the credit, the nod. If you want to use our stuff, talk to me, please. 

In the last few days, three different online tabloid newspapers have taken two stories we created and passed our work off as their own.

Last week, The Sun took a blog post I created about Joseph Brown and his soap star sisters. Digital Spy also took the story but were good enough to credit and link to us for which I publicly thanked them on Twitter.

Today, The Daily Mirror ran a story about all of the ex-Corrie actors who are starring in panto this year. It was taken from our list which I created a while back.  It's a list I create every year at this time.  When tackled, the Mirror apologised to me by email, explaining that it was a freelance writer who had sold them that story. They have now updated the story with a link and credit to us. 

The Daily Star was next to take that pantomime story too, this time labelling it as their exclusive! I've written to them to complain and have had a reply via Twitter but as yet, no update to their article online.

As the tabloids become even more desperate for online content to get the clicks to feed their ads, I fear our work will be taken more often. And it's not just our work that gets nicked. My friend Christine in Canada who ran the Coronation Street fun pages (no longer online) had her work stolen too by a tabloid. And my guess is that every other successful, well-written, well-researched and hard working fan site gets hacked by the tabloids too.

So here's the thing.. 
Tabloid editors and freelance writers.
All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License
Play fair and give us a credit and a link.

Read more Corrie news, interviews, gossip and spoilers  

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

When Coronation Street makes front page news

When I saw Corrie on the front page of the Daily Mirror yesterday morning in a newsagent shop, my heart skipped a beat with childish joy.

The headline in one of the UK's best loved and best selling tabloid newspapers was of a Coronation Street spoiler.  You'll see it up there, under the red top mast-head, "Corrie Ken in love triangle".  It's a possible spoiler saying that Ken is going to have two women on the cobbles after his company now he's a widower. 

The first one who wants to take up with Ken will be Cathy's sister Nessa. You can read about her here.  And now the Mirror says that Audrey will also want to get cosy with Ken, hence the love triangle. You can read the Mirror story here.

But what I absolutely loved about this Corrie spoiler being on the front page of a tabloid on a Bank Holiday weekend is not so much the subject matter but the characters involved.  Does this front page spoiler scream anything about Carla Connor? No.  Is it about Callum Logan, Aidan Connor, Shayne Ward, Sarah Harding, some young Corrie hunk or gorgeous young girl?

Is it 'eck as like.

It's about Ken and Audrey.

It's a story about pensioners on the cobbles. It's about Corrie classic characters that matter to the nation. Characters we have known and loved for years, for decades. Characters we care about. And for this fan, that's exactly the sort of Corrie story that should be on the front page of the papers. Long may it continue. 

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

Blog interview with Coronation Street's Maltese transvestite

She needs no introduction. But we'll give her one anyway (settle down). Shania appeared on our screens in 2007 when Steve McDonald and Eileen Grimshaw took a trip to Malta. Cue bad karaoke, numerous cocktails and classic Corrie. Here's the Coronation Street Blog's interview with Princess Jordan:

Ok, first things first, you’re gorgeous – what’s your secret?
Firstly, thank you. Ha! Ha! I do try to look after my skin and so I eat plenty of fruit and vegetables. I try to excercise as often as I can, but I think I've also been very lucky as my Mum and my Nana both have great skin and so I guess I was very fortunate inheriting my youthful complexion from my family.

How did you get the Corrie gig?
There was an article in The Daily Mirror saying that ITV intended for Steve McDonald to have a holiday romance with a transvestite whilst he was on an exotic holiday with Eileen. The article said that ITV were still in the process of casting the character and so I got straight on the phone to my agent and asked if they could put me forward for an audition. The audition process was already at its final stages but they asked for my headshots to be sent over to Granada and luckily I was invited to attend an audition with Coronation Street producer Steve Frost and the storyline Director, Duncan Foster.

What are your biggest memories of filming your scenes?
I think the day I got the call from my agent to say that I'd been chosen for the part sticks out in my mind the most, it was my first audition for a speaking role and I didn't think for a second that I would be chosen. To be selected to appear on the nation's favourite soap had been a dream of mine since I appeared as an extra back in 1993 whilst I was in High School.

My biggest memory of actually filming the scenes has to be trying not to laugh as I took my wig off on the end of the bed and I caught a glimpse of Steve's jaw dropped to the floor, I had to try and stay in character and not laugh back at him. Trying to stay sensible with Simon and Sue around can be very difficult. They're hysterical on and off screen.

How would you rate Simon Gregson as a co-star and kisser?
Getting to work with Simon Gregson and Sue Cleaver was an amazing experience. What better mentors could you ask for on your first acting role? They bounce off each other so well and their comedy timing had me in fits of laughter throughout the days of filming. The laughs didn't stop when the camera stopped rolling. I literally haven't had such a funny week in my whole life. As for how good a kisser is Simon? A "lady" never kiss and tells. I might have accidentally fluffed my lines once or twice so that I could kiss him again if that answers your question. Ha! Ha! :o)

Your appearance on Corrie was all too brief – when will you be returning?
Unfortuantely there has been no official talks of Shania returning to the Street, although I am still asked when she'll be returning by people that I speak to online and that I meet. It's so amazing to know that she still plays on people's minds and regardless of whether she returns or not, I can say that I was involved in one of Soapland's most memorable storylines of all time. I would go back tomorrow if I got the call. Who wouldn't?

Are there enough trans-people on telly?
I would have to say I think it's time that a transgender character, played by a transgender actor appears in a soap. I received many emails and letters from the transgender community applauding the storyline and I think there is so much potential for such a character to highlight the personal struggles that a pre-op transexual has to go through. I know that Hollyoaks are tackling the issue with their new charcater Blessing, but from what I've heard from others is that the transgender community aren't too happy that they've cast a woman once again to play a male character. I hope Coronation Street is brave enough to be the first soap to have a full time transgender character.

Who’s your favourite Coronation Street character? (You’re not allowed to say Shania!)
I must say I have a soft spot for Steve. His face makes me laugh without him saying a word. He doesn't have much luck either does he? Just as everything seems to be going well for him his world comes crashing down in one way or another. I was so happy when he won Best Comedy Performance at the NTAs this year. Well deserved.

What are you up to these days? I remember seeing you on a very well-known talent show last year
I was involved in The Clubtown Freaks that were lucky enough to make it to the live semi finals of last year's Britain's Got Talent. I am currently involved in a British feature film. It's a very dark role and I am really enjoying playing the bad guy for once. It is very similar to The Bourne Identity and The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo and it's amazing to be a part of. I can't say much more at the moment but I'll keep you informed closer to the date of release.

Princess is on Twitter: @1PrincessJordan

Georgia May Foote Interview

Calling all fans of Georgia May Foote, who plays Chesney's teenage love interest and mother of his expectant child, Katy Armstrong.

The interview has some sexy photos of her dressing more like Rosie Webster, which she tells audiences is more "the normal her." The 20 year old actress claims she won't be joining the gang of Corrie glamourpusses - but it seems to me that this photoshoot is exactly that!

Read the rest of the article HERE if you're interested in Georgia's viewpoints on her character's teenage pregnancy and her own personal life.

Hope Not Hate visits Corrie set

There's a good little YouTube of the Daily Mirror's Hope Not Hate bus on its travels this week. Not only did it take in the Emmerdale set this week, it also visited the Coronation Street set too. You can watch the clip on YouTube right here. The whole video's worth watching for its worthy message and the Corrie bit clicks in towards the end, around 3:35.