Famous Corrie fans wanted for charity

Are you famous? Even just a little bit?  

If you are, and you're a huge Corrie fan with 10 minutes spare to write about your love for our favourite soap, please do get in touch.

All we ask is for a couple of paragraphs about why you love Corrie so much. It could include your favourite characters and storylines and if you've any snippets from behind the scenes. 

In exchange, we will donate £25 to a charity of your choice - and your work will be read by up to half a million Corrie fans worldwide. Yes, that's half a million Corrie fans reading our Coronation Street fan website every month.  We will of course link to and promote you and any website or links, including your chosen charity, you'd like us to include with your blog post.  

If you're interested, please email a couple of paragraphs and your chosen charity for the donation, to me at glenda.sunderland@gmail.com  Thank you!

Some of our exclusive VIP bloggers and interviews so far include:

• Cold Feet actress Lorelei King. Read it here.
• Exclusive interview with Judy Matheson, who played the role of a nurse in Coronation Street's first colour episode from 1969. Read it here.
• Dave Dutton - the man who's played 10 different roles in Coronation Street
• BBC6 Music DJ Chris Hawkins
• Corrie scriptwriter Debbie Oates
• The Coronation Street Digital Editor
• Bishop of Jarrow
• TV writer Caroline Corcoran
• Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper)
• TV writer (and husband of Julie Hesmondhalgh) Ian Kershaw
• Edna Walker, the original Head of Wardrobe at Coronation Street. 
  The woman who  dressed the Coronation Street icons.
• Downton Abbey and Titanic creator - Julian Fellowes
• Novelist Maeve Binchy
• TV presenter Jon Connell
• Paddington Bear (yes, really!)
• Writer and Journalist Anne Marie Scanlon
• Comedian Tommy Reckless
• Cllr Fraser McPherson 
• Radio presenter Jonny Mac

Our interviews with some of the Corrie cast, crew and special invited others...

• Corrie Director Terry Dyddgen-Jones. Read it here.
• EXCLUSIVE interview with David Neilson (Roy Cropper) by our bloger Martin. It's in three parts. Part 1, Part 2, Part 3 
• Joe Duttine (Tim Metcalfe). Read it here.
• Scriptwriter Susan Oudot
• Janet Hampson - Coronation Street casting director
• Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts)
• Furquan Ashtar - Coronation Street story associate
• Corrie writer Jonathan Harvey 
• Behind the scenes with Mark Llewellin
• Q&A with Craig Gazey (Graeme Proctor)
• Rupert Hill aka Jamie Baldwin
• Corrie secrets from Digital Spy
• Jayne Tunnicliffe aka Corrie's Yana
• Corrie secrets from Inside Soap magazine
• Grace Dent's soap secrets
• Ian Wylie's Corrie gossip

Read more Corrie news, interviews, gossip and spoilers  

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Hollywood star Kevin Hart visits Coronation Street set

Hollywood actor and comedian Kevin Hart paid a visit to the Coronation Street set today.   The official Coronation Street website at itv.com/corrie has more pictures of his visit to the cobbles.

If like me, you've never heard of Kevin Hart, then here's his IMDB entry. I think it's fair to say he's famous.

Kevin is here in the UK promoting his new film called Ride Along.

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Fans vote Keith Duffy as fave Corrie famous face

Coronation Street Blog readers have voted Keith Duffy as their favourite famous face who appeared on Corrie. 345 voted and 58 (16.81%) voted for the Boyzone band member who played Ciaran McCarthy between 2002 and 2005 and from 2010 to 2011.

In second place was Nigel Havers, who received 56 votes (16.23%). He played suave escort Lewis Archer between 2009 and 2010 and from 2012 to 2013. In third place was Ian McKellen with 49 votes (14.2%) and he played con artist Mel Hutchwright in 2005.

In fourth place came Bradley Walsh with 44 votes (12.75%) who played Danny Baldwin between 2004 and 2006 and in fifth place was Maureen Lipman who played Rovers manageress Lillian Spencer in 2002, receiving 24 votes (6.96%).

In sixth place was Roy Hudd who played undertaker Archie Shuttleowrth between 2002 and 2003 and in 2006 and 2010, receiving 18 votes (5.22%). Rula Lenska, who played hairdresser Claudia Colby, came in seventh place with 15 votes (4.35%) and Peter Kay (played Eric Gartside in 2004), Status Quo (as themselves in 2004) and Kym Lomas (has played Michelle Connor since 2006) all were in eighth place with 13 votes (3.77%).

Sue Johnston, who plays Gloria Price, came in ninth place with 9 votes (2.61%); Stephanie Beacham, who played Martha Fraser in 2009, came in tenth place with 7 votes (2.03%); both Norman Wisdom (played Ernie Crabbe in 2004) and Robert Vaughn (played Milton Fanshawe in 2012) received 6 votes (1.74%) and were in eleventh place; and both Noddy Holder (who played Stan Potter in 2000) and Stephanie Cole (who plays Sylvia Goodwin) were in twelfth place with 4 votes (1.16%).

Bernard Cribbins (who played Wally Bannister in 2003) received 2 votes (0.58%) and Honor Blackman, Andrew Sachs, June Whitfield and Josephine Tewson all received 1 vote (0.29%). I've omitted the votes for Mollie Sugden, Patricia Routledge, Prunella Scales and Patrick Stewart because they appeared in Corrie before they became famous.

Happy with the results?

I have to say I did think that Mel Hutchwright would come out on top because, for me, he's been the best guest star and had a great storyline.


And if you haven't yet, you can vote for your favourite Corrie gossip here.

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Corrie A-Z: F is for Famous Faces

Corrie has had many famous faces making an appearance on the show over the years. While some have appeared before achieving true stardom, others have made guest appearances because it is their dream to appear on the cobbles. While Corrie has had its spin-off A Knight’s Tale, many knights of the realm have appeared on the show – Ben Kingsley (1966-67), Norman Wisdom (2004), Patrick Stewart (1967) and Ian McKellen (2005). Cliff Richard appeared as an extra in the Rovers in 1997 while Trevor McDonald made a cameo appearance during the 40th anniversary live episode in 2000. HRH Prince Charles also made a cameo in the same episode while John Russell, the 13th Duke of Bedford made one in 1973.

 

Many well-known actresses have made appearances on the show as well. Joanna Lumley appeared as Ken Barlow’s beau Elaine Perkins in 1973 while Dynasty star Stephanie Beacham played another of his conquests Martha Fraser in 2009. Former Bond girl Honor Blackman guest appeared as Rula Romanoff who was an old friend of Rita’s in 2005 and Maureen Lipman appeared as snobbish Rovers manager Lillian Spencer in 2002. Are You Being Served? star Mollie Sugden played Laughing Donkey landlady and Annie Walker’s rival Nellie Harvey between 1965 and 1976 while her husband William Moore, of Ronnie Corbett sitcom Sorry! fame, played Betty’s hubby Cyril Turpin between 1969 and 1972. Other actresses include Prunella Scales, June Whitfield, Kathy Staff, Beryl Bainbridge and Lynda Baron.

 

‘Allo ‘Allo! star Gorden Kaye played Elsie Tanner’s nephew Bernard Butler between 1969 and 1970 while The Wombles star Bernard Cribbins starred as Blanche’s boyfriend Wally Bannister in 2003. Keeping Up Appearances stars Patricia Routledge, Judy Cornwell, Josephine Tewson and of course Geoffrey Hughes made appearances in Corrie over the years. Future and former soap stars also made appearances like Peter Dean (EastEnders’ Pete Beale), Arthur Pentelow (Emmerdale’s Henry Wilks), Frazer Hines (Emmerdale’s Joe Sugden), John Bardon (EastEnders’ Jim Branning), June Brown (EastEnders’ Dot Cotton) and Sue Johnston (Brookside’s Sheila Grant). Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts) made her debut in 1979 and was known for her role as Marilyn Gates in Crossroads between 1964 and 1968. Singers and musicians have also made appearances over the years including The Monkees’ Davy Jones, Herman Hermits’ Peter Noone, Slade’s Noddy Holder and West End star Michael Ball. Rock band Status Quo guest appeared at Les and Cilla’s wedding in 2004.

 

Other famous faces have enjoyed a regular stint on the cobbles. Dad’s Army’s Arthur Lowe was draper Leonard Swindley between 1960 and 1965, Nigel Havers has played charming escort Lewis Archer since 2009, Roy Hudd played undertaker Archie Shuttleworth between 2002 and 2003 (with guest appearances in 2006 and 2010), Bradley Walsh played factory tycoon Danny Baldwin between 2004 and 2006, Rula Lenska played crimper Claudia Colby between 2009 and 2011, Keith Duffy played barman Ciaran McCarthy on and off between 2002 and 2011, Kym Marsh has played Michelle Connor since 2006 and Stephanie Cole has played Sylvia Goodwin since 2011.

 

Other famous faces who’ve appeared include Robert Vaughn, Bill Maynard, Keith Barron, Tony Booth, Geoffrey Palmer, Peter Postlethwaite, Peter Kay, Phil ‘The Power’ Taylor, Last of the Summer Wine’s Bill Owen, Brian Wilde and Frank Thornton, Fawlty Towers’ Andrew Sachs and Only Fools and Horses’ John Challis.

   

Who’s been your favourite famous face to appear on the show? Vote below! The choices include stars who were already famous before their Corrie debut, so the likes of Arthur Lowe and Mollie Sugden aren't included.

 

Mine has to be Ian McKellen as con artist Mel Hutchwright. He had brilliant lines and provided wonderful light relief and had great chemistry with all the senior cast members. One expects him to appear in Emmerdale conning the villagers over there!

And if you haven't yet you can vote for your favourite Corrie family here. Voting closes at midnight.
 

 

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My Fantasy Corrie Cast

After reading the recent post about Lysette Anthony joining Corrie, I was just thinking about all the famous faces "d'un age certain" - 'scuse my French - that have appeared on Coronation Street.

Not the ones who appeared when they were still unknowns, like Joanna Lumley - I mean well-established faces, such as Sir Ian McKellen, Andrew Sachs, Nigel Havers, Anthony Valentine, and so forth. And I was also thinking about those who have expressed a wish to appear, such as Julie Walters and Joanna Lumley.

How do the producers decide who will "blend in", as a character rather than a famous face, and who will not? It must be pretty difficult with the bigger stars. Ian McKellen was great - he really did seem to be "Mel Hutchwright". I didn't really find myself thinking "Oh, there's Ian McKellen." Now there's quality.

Why have I used this picture? well, Frances de la Tour and Richard Griffiths are two actors I'd love to see in Corrie - and they are so good, I'm certain they'd "fit in" in the Rovers. Other members of my "fantasy cast" would be Leonard Rossiter and Christopher Cazenove. Okay, both have sadly left us now, but hey. I think Richard E. Grant could be good, and also, Kate O'Mara, Kylie Minogue and Pamela Anderson - though how you'd get Kylie and Pammie to "blend in" is beyond me.

Corrie Christmas Special: Stars on the Street

Keep your eyes peeled for what sounds like a wonderful Coronation Street special on Saturday December 19th. It's called Stars on the Street and it's a celebration of the many famous people who have walked on the Weatherfield cobbles, from rock stars to royalty and from movie stars to comedy heroes.

Cast members from the past and present tell their stories about working with other celebrities and there are interviews with stars including Status Quo’s Francis Rossi, Keith Duffy, Patrick Stewart, Mel B, Maureen Lipman, Andrew Sachs, Rula Lenska and Noddy Holder, who have all appeared on the soap.

Saturday 19 December, 8pm on ITV1.

Famous faces on Coronation Street

The Radio Times has a wonderful gallery of famous people who have joined the cast of Coronation Street over the years. Have a look at it here. Here's Arthur Lowe who played Leonard Swindley in Coronation Street from 1960-65.