Charlotte Jordan Interview: Don't Mess with Daisy.

Charlotte Jordan’s feisty character Daisy Midgeley has split fans’ opinion since her arrival in late 2020. The catty, sarcastic and often mischievous step-daughter of Jenny has though added some much needed light relief in the Rovers following the elder’s love life woes and the death of ex-hubby Johnny Connor. Jenny’s usually great for those comedy moments we all love in Corrie but with the addition of a new family member the bickering back and forth has added an extra bit of camp to the iconic boozer. Now Daisy’s getting some proper screen time, how will the character develop?

The blog chatted with actor Charlotte and discussed some upcoming storylines that will lead us into the spring. We’ve seen Daisy reconnect, via a bit of saucy roleplay, with Daniel Barlow. And even though he’s revealed he pushed young Max down the stairs, she’s not yet been put off. 

But now a character from Daniel’s past is set to return to the Street and Daisy is not happy…

I think it took her by surprise. You know that he has this dark streak that she was not aware of. But, you know, even if they are apart for a while, they can't last for long. So I think it's a THING.

Perhaps opposites attract?

I think they'll bring out different things in each other. And, you know, they're going to surprise each other. And so that's it's going to take is going to keep him on his toes. And I think he'll keep her in check. And I think there will be a good path.

But…Nicky (Daniel’s sex-worker ex) is back…

She doesn't even know that she exists.

But it’s immediately a red flag. When she’s asking about her boyfriend who she's just got back on a stable footing with, Daisy being Daisy sees as a threat and tries to get rid of her!

So Daisy’s not happy then?

She's a very impulsive character. She's very reactive. So, you know, she'll hear something from someone beautiful, like Nicky, and just impulsively go, nah. No, you can't have him go away, bye! Daisy being Daisy she’ll say something to get rid of her.

And what about Nicky’s past?

I’d like to think she would try to be understanding and sympathetic, but being so insecure, I think she'll just see her as a threat. She ends up making everything about her. So I don't think she'll react as maturely as she could. 

She’s driven by insecurity? 

Bloody Daniel is not being honest with her. He's not being upfront. He's not being truthful. And for someone who does go on about morality and all of that, he's in a bit of a hypocrite, in my opinion. 

What lengths do you think that Daisy would go to keep her man? 

She does have a ruthless streak. And I'd like to say because they've been so on an off. For them to just be getting back on an even field and even footing, I think she's going to try and protect that. And being Daisy, she won't go about it in the right way. But it does come from a place of fear and a place of wanting to be with him and just sort of wanting to protect what they have.

Are you looking forward Daisy and Nicky locking horns? 

Yes, definitely. That's what Corrie's known for, isn't it really, strong women showdowns. And so hopefully we can scrap these restrictions and actually get it done 'old school style'. It would be lovely.

Is Nicky even a match for Daisy if it gets to that?

She's certainly not going to be a character that just sort of rolls over and takes it. She’ll call her out. She’s not going to just sort of wither away and say, excuse me.

Could she use Daniel’s secret against him if it all goes wrong?

She does have a somewhat spiteful nature when pushed to it. I imagine if things went really catastrophically wrong and she was really hurt then yeah, I wouldn't put it past her. It wouldn't surprise me if that if that did come about. If she ever got really, really heartbroken by him.

Could Daisy and Daniel become the new Ken and Deirdre?

Those are quite some names to be throwing about! I have no idea! If people get that vibe from them, then that’s amazing…wonderful. Who knows, we will see.

We've seen Daisy do some pretty dark things, is she hiding more darkness?

Yeah, that's something that they've (writers) not touched on yet. Even when I've asked, I actually don't know, I've asked about it because her past is something that's really interesting to me. I would like to know about it because she’s such a contrasting character. I'd like to know why she operates the way that she does. And it wouldn't surprise me if there's been some very dodgy dealings there. Or she's had to do some dodgy things to escape some bad situations. She's got a very unstable childhood. And I thought that if you have one of those, it can sort of go one of two ways on it. So it wouldn't surprise me if she's had some very difficult situations. 

Do you enjoy working closely with Sally (Ann Matthews)? 

Of course I do. She’s a Queen. Yes. I think that me feeling so comfortable on the street so early on was maybe down to Sal. She was really welcoming. She really took me under her wing. Yeah, I think she's a legend. 

And what's it like working with Rob Mallard? 

It's just ridiculous because we just bring out a very childish side in each other. And so it's always a laugh on set together, lots of giggles. But, you know, we do also take very seriously and want to do a good job, but mainly it’s giggles!

How have the public reacted to Daisy and Daniel?

Very positive, very nice people have lots of lots of lovely things to say about them. And you know that they're opposites in terms of character. So I think they're entertaining to watch. 

And if Daisy was your friend and she came to you for advice, what would you say to her?

“I would say you just need to sit down and have a cup of tea. Just let it sit for maybe 24 hours and see if you still want to take this action. But let's just think about it first.”

A cup of tea does solve a lot of things. 

You can read more about Nicky Wheatley's history HERE.

Twitter @StevieDawson & @CoroStreetBlog 

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Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 14 May 2021

Good day; I am away next week so Ms Kelstar and I have done a swapsies and I get to to tell you about the comings and goings on the Street on Friday night.  Tonight was largely dominated by the after effects of Seb's death but to provide some relief Sam was drafted to firstly irritate David by wanting to discuss the deeper significances of Treasure Island - which David has never read (has David read any books, ever?).  Arising from a discussion in Roy's Rolls which Daniel overhears David coerces Daniel to do some Sam sitting which morphs into Sam setting Daniel a test on verbal and non-verbal reasoning!  Sam is dismissive of his test answers but still offers Daniel the job of tutoring him for the Oakhill entrance exam.  Daniel considers Sam a bit of a pain in the neck but when Sam (above) agrees to £35 / hour (over £60k pa) a rate at which I can see Natasha blanching ever so slightly Daniel can see this as a good way of funding his studies to be a teacher - as it is more than he pays for Bertie's babysitters!

The Seb story has various strands.  The police advise Abi that Eli Higginson and Jason Dowling have pled guilty to GBH on Nina and that Kelly Neelan has been charged with GBH in connection with Nina and with the murder of Seb.  Meanwhile Corey has been placed at the scene of the crime and remains a person of interest but has not been charged.  One of the accused has indicated that the attack took place because Nina was a goth!  The good news is that as charges have been brought Seb's body can be released for burial.  So the next we see is of Abi is at Shuttleworth's where George has had this amazing idea for the funeral utilising some goth aspects.  Abi wants none of that and storms out of the undertakers.  She takes her anger out on a car bonnet with an extra large wrench (above).  

The next strand revolves around Kelly who has a bail hearing this morning.  Laura Neelan (Kel Allan reprising the part) is laying the law down to Imran that he is to get her bail so that Kelly can live with her and she is going to see Social Services to organise it.  At the hearing Imran tries to get Kelly released whilst Abi glowers from the back of the court.  The judge is having none of it and Kelly is held on remand.  There are two outcomes to this Laura gives Imran a good telling off for failing to get Kelly released.  Outside Underworld Toyah (above) tells Kelly it is her fault for disappearing leaving a scared teenager in care.  Imran also has to tell Toyah that in the light of events Social Services will not be returning Kelly to their care - but he is determined to defend her as he is convinced from her reaction that she was not involved.  Earlier Toyah had said that Kelly returning to the Street and their care was probably not a good thing - but she seems less certain later on.  She and Imran agree that they have to help her and Imran tells her he loves her, especially when she gets her knickers in a twist outside an underwear factory.

Nina has had a dream and she thinks she is recalling events - and that Corey was definitely there - but she cannot remember much more.  She is however ready to leave hospital and Roy has brought her favourite dress and makeup.  She recounts the story to one of the policewoman who seems to be running the investigation - but she does not even know the names of those pleading guilty.  The police are blaming the CPS for not charging Corey rather than the absence of evidence.  Nina carefully re-applies her makeup before leaving hospital (above).  Even now she has to be herself.

Summer is caught up in all of this which gives Paul and Todd to have a shout at each other for no good reason.  She has bunked off school because she cannot face it - and admits as much to Todd and Billy when she gets home.  Todd however does find Paul and apologise - the latter was right over Summer and Todd admits it (above).  Paul apologises as well and they talk about Summer and Seb.

It is with deep regret that I have to report on the Bailey's.  Ed has bobbed off to see Aggie now the staircase is finished and Ronnie is hanging around like a bad fart.  Ed gives Michael the keys to the camper van and later Jenny gets Michael to go into the Rovers for free (Ronnie paid and Jenny insisted on cash - not payment in kind) drinks enabling Ronnie to get the van keys out of Michael's pocket (above).  Ronnie wants to re-establish himself within the family by getting the camper van ready for Ed and (presumably) Aggie's return.  Jenny and Ronnie seem to be enjoying some gentle flirting and interaction - Ronnie is no doubt about to be very disappointed.

Once she and Roy arrive on the Street she sees Asha and wants to know if the latter is still giving Corey an alibi.  Asha says she is not - with Nina calling him a scumbag and suggesting it is Asha's fault.  Abi emerging from the undertaker tells Nina that Asha is not to blame - it all started because of the way Nina looks with her stupid clothes and make up.  Abi tells Nina she is to blame for Seb's death.  If Nina were normal Seb would not be in the morgue according to Abi.  Abi carries on telling Nina "you ain't wise, you ain't woke, you're a weirdo".  Nina runs away and then Abi tells Asha to grow up - everything has consequences.  Roy goes to look for Abi as Nina explains to Carla what was said and the latter goes to the garage to get Abi to see some sense and apologise to Nina.  Abi does not see sense.  Roy finally finds Nina (above) and she is feeling the weight of Abi's accusations.  She cannot remember more and she wants to tell Seb she is sorry.  Nina is even asking herself if she is a freak as everyone has said for years.  Nina adds that she loved clothes, loved art, loved being herself, but perhaps she and Roy are the freaks after all.  Roy manages to get her to come home and once there Nina washes off the makeup, removes her dress and re-appears in the cafe in torn jeans and an old woolly of Shona's trying to be normal - and as everyone says she does not look like Nina (below).

As she says Seb was killed because of what she looked like, so she is not that person any more.

Written by David Isaac and David Proud on a first outing to the Street and directed by Peter Rose.

Kosmo

@Kosmo100

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Coronation Street Episode Review Friday 14 February

Greetings Corrie fans it’s Kelly here with your Friday night review.

In Victoria Court, Gary is in Maria’s dressing gown making her breakfast in bed whilst singing Toto. He tells her she deserves a bit of Valentines Day pampering (I mean not warbling dodgy 80’s soft rock hits would be a start) and books for her to get her nails done before rushing off to attend to some business. Not long after he leaves Ryan turns up acting shifty with a mysterious package which he refuses to hand over to Maria. Maria’s suspicions are immediately aroused. Not sure why because Ryan only has two facial expressions: shifty and bewildered. He once tried to convey the emotion of astonishment but it was mistaken by everyone for trapped wind.

The other street residents are having a rather mixed Valentine’s Day. In the ‘loved-up’ corner are  Sarah and Adam (despite trying not to flaunt it in from of Shona-deprived David); Cathy and Brian, who are wooing each other with a rendition of Lady Marmalade and Tim and Sally, though she is far less keen on his idea of them getting matching tattoos.

In the ‘it’s complicated’ corner are Bethany and Daniel. Having spent the night together they have an awkward meeting in the café, which quickly turns into full-blown horror show when they’re met with the righteous fury of Beth Tinker. Reminding them that Sinead has only been gone for four months she shames Daniel, who then tells Bethany they should stay away from one another. Later he confesses to Adam, who tells him that if he does like Bethany he needs to just deal with people’s reactions. Clearly not one for procrastination, Daniel finds Bethany in the Rovers and announces to everyone that they’re now an item and they should all get used to it.

Also having trouble with the mysteries of love is Ed. In the Bistro he meets Danny, an old mate working there as temporary manager, who tells him he’s come out as gay. When James arrives, Ed introduces them but it’s quite clear that they already know each other pretty well. When Ed leaves, they sneak into the kitchen (where no food preparation is taking place) and have a kiss. James says he doesn’t want his dad finding out, but Danny tells him he thinks Ed is more open-minded. As his dad is at that very moment sitting on the sofa with Aggie making Larry Grayson jokes, (Ed mate nobody under 40 got that reference at least update your casual homophobia to the nougties), he may be being a little bit optimistic!

In the ‘just give me the feckin’ chocolates and let me eat myself into a diabetic coma’ corner are Abi and Ray. Having found out her fella is a sex pest she confronts him, but he plays it down inviting her to his charity ball and sending her a Valentines hamper. Acting like he’s won her over, she tells Bethany that she is biding her time and is going to bring him down. As the event is in full swing Bethany, Alya and Daniel all watch to see what Abi has planned. Grabbing the microphone, she introduces Ray’s previous victims to the assembled crowd and tells them what Ray tried with all of them. Furious he drags her into the kitchen (again no one working in there) and tells he that while he’s a rich, respected bloke who does a lot of work for char-ridee, she is just a junkie slag who no one will believe. Abi toughs it out but is clearly upset. Stealing Ray’s car keys, she ignores a concerned Kev’s pleas to not get herself in more trouble, drives it away and torches it whilst singing Disco Inferno (which was actually the least terrible song of the night!) 

Meanwhile back to Gary and Maria. At his lock up Gary gives one of his desperate ex-customers £200 to pay off a less friendly loan shark. This is overseen by Maria who of course gets the wrong end of the stick. As she sulks in the barbers, Dr Ali turns up and before you can say ‘I only came in for a trim!’ they’re bonking on the leather sofa. Obviously it was a slow day for customers. Probably best as the waiting area might need a bit of a going over with a wet wipe! As they get dressed, Ali rather smugly assumes they’re back together, which made me go off him a bit...that and the straggly hair…and the appalling tattoos <sighs and stares off into middle distance>.

Back at the flat, Gary has decorated with the sort of pink abandon that even Barbie might reject as being a bit much. Arriving back from her appointment with the doctor, Maria has a face like a slapped arse. She accuses him of still being a loan-shark and says she’s sick of being lied to and treated like an idiot (if the shoe fits). Gary promptly produces Ryan and his ex-customer to back up his story and then tells her that the reason for all his secrecy was that he was going to propose.

To Maria’s surprise he then pops the question again…but will she say yes? Should she say yes? Tell me what you think in the comments section or catch me on twitter @mskelstar

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Daniel, Sinead, Bethany and Gail

A trip today to the Home Cinema, Manchester today, to watch five back to back episodes featuring Daniel and Sinead, played by the seriously talented, Rob Mallard and Katie McGlynn. They will be screened next week.

I guarantee you will not be disappointed. I guarantee that you will need tissues.

We all know it’s coming and coming soon, but in art as in life, nothing really prepares you for it. The true tragedy is of a girl aged 25 years, married to the man she loves and with a sweet baby, who she utterly adores, having to leave that man, Daniel and the adorable little Bertie. The heartbreak, which Katie McGlynn conveys so brilliantly and convincingly, is in the fact that she will never see her child go through the various stages that await us all: 1^st birthday and subsequent birthdays, 1st day at nursery, first day at school, then secondary school and on and on, through childhood illnesses, other difficulties and on and on until by then, little Bertie will not be so little and will leave school for a job or higher education. Through all those milestones, without his mum, Bertie must pass.

The vast majority of the episode in which Sinead death is played out in Daniel and Sinead’s bedroom. The two actors were there for many hours and because they associated it with death they found that it prompted tears relatively easily. In fact, they both reported It was hard NOT to cry in those surroundings.

As anyone would, Daniel is struggling. He decides to bring Christmas to Sinead, as she won’t be here when Christmas comes. He does a terrific job: snow is falling, a Christmas dinner is prepared with all the family, but, mistakenly, Daniel believes that Sinead will now be tired and tries to get everyone to leave. Sinead objects and a row ensues. Daniel threatens to leave – and Sinead tells him that that would be a good idea.

Out he goes and bumps into Bethany, who sees a heartbroken Daniel weeping in the street. Viewers will remember that Bethany has been carrying a torch for Daniel, who has been her writing mentor. Bethany is desperate to comfort Daniel and when Daniel goes in for a kiss, Bethany responds passionately.

                                          And Ken sees them.

Ken orders Daniel home to look after his dying wife. Does this kiss with Bethany make Daniel a bad person? It’s not his greatest act but I believe it to be psychologically convincing in that it is a moment of relief, a mad misjudgement, but not a sin.

Bethany’s name is mud. In fact, in Tracy’s words, ‘You bitch!’ Thankfully Gail returns just in time. She does a terrific job of comforting Bethany. What’s more, Gail has a plait. She is then, in her new zen life, a Platt with a plait! (I know she is Gail Rodwell but the word play is irresistible).

Naturally, Sinead is not best pleased, on discovering the truth, but as she says, she has to forgive Daniel for Bertie’s sake. In normal times, things would have been very different.

by Ruth Owen, @Ruth1722

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