It's absolute revenge: Interview with Julia Goulding

After finding out from Max about David's prison visit to Clayton and his hiding of her visiting orders – making her feel she was losing her sanity in the process – Shona Platt is incensed. 

Meanwhile, Kit Green's attempts to impress Daisy Midgeley are failing miserably. 

Each with their own troubles, they've somehow ended up spending the night together.

I travelled to Coronation Street Studios for an interview with Julia Goulding who plays Shona to get her take on what's going on for this unexpected  pairing. Those who don't wish to read any spoilers should look away now.

“I never expected Shona to cheat on David,” says Julia. “Eight years they've been together, and she's always been faithful; she's literally never looked at another man. But, she was pushed to it.” She adds, “I'm definitely on her side in all of this.”

Noting everything David has done, including gaslighting her, Julia reckons her cheating is “out of pure revenge. I don't think she's necessarily been lusting after Kit. I don't think he's really crossed her radar –she's probably served him a couple of times in Roy's Rolls. She's very loyal. It's absolute revenge.”

Jack P. Shepherd (David Platt) and Julia reportedly argue in defence of their own characters' actions. “From his point of view, I get it,” she says.“But, I'm not coming from his point of view, I'm coming from mine. He's been using her brain injury against her. And also, sorry, this is not the 1950s; a woman is allowed to make her own decisions and not have her husband hide her mail from her. I definitely think he's in the wrong.”

In tonight's episode, we saw Shona accept Kit's invite to his hotel room without it being clear if anything happened between them for the second time. Asked if she thinks Shona would be capable of embarking on a full-blown affair, Julia says, “Well it depends how good that night was, I suppose. She's obviously tempted, because she goes back to the hotel room. It must have been really good. She pops her anorak on, and off she goes!”

What we did see, however, was Shauna arrive home with an injury, and we're told she was hit by a car after emerging from the hotel, resulting in a fractured arm. This means she has to lie to David who thinks she has slept on the sofa for the night after an argument over what her use of the morning-after pill means. For Shona, it was on foot of her secret night with Kit, while oblivious David interprets it as a sign of her not wanting to have another baby with him when she apparently indicated she did.

Pointing out that Shona isn't someone who generally tells untruths, Julia describes this as “the start of this web of lies that she's spiralling into”

We're told Shona doesn't have any initial concerns about Kit having any secrets to hold against her, as he's nice to her, but that she is perhaps underestimating his ruthlessness.

While she acknowledges that “the brain injury hasn't gone anywhere,” Julia notes that shades of the old Shona are starting to emerge, and says, “It has just been such a joy to play...that fire and that fierceness is back with a vengeance.”

On the pending departure of Gail, Julia says “She's been a constant for Shona, for sure. I think she's feeling nervous because with Gail gone, it could expose a lot more goings on in the family.” In terms of actress Helen Worth leaving the show, Julia says, it was “horrendous” saying goodbye. “It was emotional on so many levels, because from my point of view, personally, I've not only worked with Helen for eight years, I've watched her since I can remember. So Gail's been part of my life since I started watching Corrie, and obviously the last eight years getting to know Helen as a person as well. So, yeah, it was incredibly emotional.”

By Emma Hynes

Read all about my recent trip to Coronation Street in A Rover Returns.

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A Classic Christmas for Gail? Interview with Corrie Producer Kate Brooks

“I love our Christmas Day. I just thoroughly enjoyed everything about it.”

It's always a big moment when a new Corrie producer takes the reigns, and quite natural for fans to receive the news with both excitement and trepidation, as we anticipate how the show will be shaped under their authority.

Kate Brooks was appointed to the role in April 2024, and we're told her first episodes are set to appear on our screens in mid-December; just in time for Christmas. 

I travelled to Coronation Street studios in Manchester for her first press conference, which was packed with news, views and spoilers. 

Those who don't wish to be in the know should look away now.

I'm delighted to be able to bring you a flavour, from Kate, of what the festive season will hold via a series of blogs. As the biggest news is that the Christmas Day episode will be Gail Rodwell's last, with actress Helen Worth bidding farewell to the show, this first in the series will focus on that storyline.

It's quite simply impossible to imagine Corrie without Gail after 50 brilliant years, and she leaves a proud legacy of both iconic performances, and the kind of reassuring presence, whether on-screen or not, which is the hallmark of any great soap character. She might also leave a final sprinkle of confetti in her wake - or not - as we're told her farewell may - or may not - involve a wedding to husband number five. 

Here's what Kate had to say about this, and what we can expect overall from Coronation Street this Christmas.

“It is, in a word, very fun. It's a really lively Christmas on the Street. It's really festive.”

“Lots of bombshells are dropped. Obviously this is set against Gail's wedding - whether she goes through with that or not, I cannot tell - but it is a story about the Platts at the heart of it. Basically, it's a story about family and how secrets can impact and implode on a family, so there is a lot of betrayals, lots of secrets are exposed during this episode, and it will feel very kind of Classic Corrie with a bit of a twist.”

“Obviously, I think we're all in need of a bit of escapism at the minute, and we've had quite a dark, and brilliant, few months on the cobbles. Christmas, and the Christmas period for us, is all about trying to tap into the family dynamics of the Platts - what makes people tick - and ultimately trying to make sure that we give the glorious Gail the exit that she deserves."

"She's been such an icon on the street for such a long time - 50 years of television, which is amazing - and we can't tell a story about her exit, and we can't tell the story on Christmas Day about her exit, without it feeling and being steeped in nostalgia, and there's tons of nostalgia in this episode."

"Hopefully people will be crying, they'll be laughing, there'll be gasps as people kind of watch and go, 'Oh my goodness! That's just happened!' [It's] old school Corrie, but just with a real modern twist, and I think people will really, really enjoy it.”

“I want people to sit down Christmas night with a full tummy, watch this episode Christmas Day and go, 'You know, that's exactly what I needed.' So that's what Corrie is this Christmas.”

I don't know about you reading this, but when I heard fun, lively, festive, family, Classic / Old School Corrie, escapism, nostalgia and laughter, I was already thinking, that's exactly what I need from Coronation Street, before even seeing the episode. It sounds like essential viewing this Christmas, not least on foot Gail's farewell, which is the end of an era in the truest sense.

Expanding on what we can expect from her departure storyline, Kate says, “In the run up to Christmas she's found out that some of her nearest and dearest have absolutely betrayed her. She doesn't know who to believe. Even her dear old Mum has lied to her and she really struggles with that and she's a bit, like, 'I don't know whether I want this. I don't know whether I want to be with Jesse.' She contemplates and questions everything and every decision she's ever made; and obviously Gail's had a really colourful past, so that will be part of that Christmas Day episode.”

“She's going to leave the Street, and it's going to be so wonderful and sad, 'cos I'm devastated that Gail's leaving. It really devastates me, 'cos she's so iconic. And I think that label gets bandied about quite readily, but it's Gail! 50 years she's been on the Street. We've watched her grow, and it was really important to make sure that her exit and departure felt really fitting and in keeping with who she is as a character.”

Kate came across as very down to earth, passionate and knowledgable about the show. She did work on Corrie previously between 2011 and 2016, first as a storyliner and then story editor, before moving to a producer role with Emmerdale, so that may make her familiarity with it not wholly surprising. But she had on a Newton & Ridley jumper when we met – an homage to Weatherfield's finest brewery – which gave the impression we weren't just speaking with someone assigned to the position, but a fan of the show, and up for a bit of fun to boot; here's hoping her lovely good humour makes its way into the scripts!

It was great, and admittedly refreshing, to hear what lies in store for our Christmas with Corrie this year, and when Kate went on to talk about what the future held for clusters of characters, I felt the dear hope that strong characterisation, and character-led drama, might be a hallmark of her tenure.

Time, of course, will tell, but speaking in such terms felt like a good sign.

Now that we have an overall sense of the feel of the festive season on the cobbles, and what a farewell may look like for Gail, you can read all about what Kate had to say about those other characters which will feature most at Christmas and in the build up:

Christmas Eves: Carla and Lisa get Festive? Interview with Corrie Producer Kate Brooks

Nick, Leanne and Toyah Share Ex-mas? Interview with Corrie Producer Kate Brooks

Oh Christmas Three! Corrie Producer Kate Brooks Talks Daisy, Bethany and Daniel

By Emma Hynes

Read all about my recent trip to Coronation Street in A Rover Returns.

Read my recent Corrie interview with Calum Lill

Web

www.emmahynes.com

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Coronation Street episode review Thursday 26 December 2019

Boxing Day on the Street opens with Michelle placing flowers on the spot where Robert collapsed at the corner of the Rovers after he had been accidentally shot by Derek the upright but alcoholic former factory owner.  Although supporting Michelle Ryan and Ali are soon arguing in the cafe and Ryan explains that he refuses to consider Robert a saint because he is dead.  Ali reckons that Ryan is to blame for not informing on Gary to the police as that would have prevented Derek wandering around with a shooter.  Similarly both Michelle and Vicky (who magically appears in the Bistro despite having dumped her phone earlier in the week) consider that they are both responsible for Robert's death as if they had not framed him he would not have been outside the Rovers to get shot.  Regrets everywhere at past actions!  They both accept the need to move to Ireland and move on (above).

Shona is alive and recovering well from the operation to close the artery damaged when she took a bullet from Derek and pulling David's leg (above) over his leaving her bedside for a few minutes.  Shona gives David a matching female weasel to go with Vin Diesel in "Trim Up North".  Even Gail cannot work it out!

Audrey explains that the girl weasel does all the work with the man-weasel getting all the credit and the man weasel gets paid more adds Shona.  Shona attempts to stand to go to the toilet and immediately collapses.  After the break she is rushed back into surgery and the same doctor who operated overnight, saw David this morning and then undertook the second operation (so how many hours has he been on duty) reports that during the operation she had a cardiac arrest and Shona's brain was oxygen starved, so there may be brain damage.  She has a further arrest once she has returned from surgery.  More seriously she cannot breathe without a ventilator and so it will be some time before they know the extent of any brain damage or indeed if Shona will ever regain consciousness.

Fiz and Tyrone decide not to tell Hope and Ruby why there are police on the Street (but did Hope have something to do with the unlocked shop?).  Gary is on Fiz's case not to report the gun she brought in and the grown-ups are saying nothing.  Jade has worked out that the gun was not decommissioned and leans on Fiz (above) to back Gary up and say nothing - and she now has a useful piece with which to blackmail Fiz later!  DS Thurston (where is MacKinnon?) interviews Gary and seems to swallow his story about alcoholic Derek going off on one.

Adam has spent the night at Daniel's and is unsure that Sarah meant yes when she said yes to his proposal and he has to find out.  Daniel is meanwhile missing his mate, Robert.  Adam is having trouble contacting Sarah.  Daniel and Bertie Osbourne and the  Connors gather at the Bistro for Robert's last lasagne with roasted vegetables.  Ryan and Ali continue to argue and eventually Ali leaves, turning up at the Weatherfield police station to give them information on the local loan shark's illegal activities (above).

Apparently Gary has another antique gun at the lock up so can pretend that was the one which Fiz brought in.  Hope had a hand in it - but with Derek Milligan dead will we ever discover what actually happened?  I am willing to take bets that Shona is not going to be well for a long time and will need to go away for special therapy somewhere remote for anything up to a year.  And have we really got to the bottom of what Max was doing when he was not at home or his grandmother's?

Written by Alasdair Morrison and directed by Judith Dine

Kosmo
@Kosmo100

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 30 Oct 8.30 pm

High up in the Welsh hills, the cable car has ground to a halt whilst Gemma's labour has just got started! As her waters brake, Chez rings 999 and gets the Welsh ambulance service on the phone. Gemma's soon fully dilated and ready to give birth there and then (lucky lad, my wife took 54 hours - true story!) it looks like Chesney might be about to deliver all the quads at once!

Watching this is triggering my vertigo so I guess Chez's head for heights has alleviated (80 foot up! catch the 'behind the scenes' footage on Corrie's twitter)

With that in mind, what did we think of the production, tonight? It does look real in some shots and after last weeks episodes, I wonder if they've now spent all of the production budgets?

It isn't long before Gemma gives birth to a little boy, the cable car springs back into action and an ambulance is waiting to collect them. We are then treated to a final action shot as the cable car comes to a stop - looked impressive, or a bit shakey?

Back on the street, Fiz's reluctance is appeased by Jade, as she convinces Fiz that she's little choice to depart (again). Jade does seem a bit keen to get Fiz out of the way, doesn't she? As news of the first birth reaches Rita, she lets Fiz know the news, and they head to the hospital. That was a quick trip to Wales, wasn't it?

Meanwhile, Gemma's second birth is proving troublesome, and the ambulance speeds to the hospital. My heart is racing here, as I suddenly remember my little girl being born (very long, and slightly troublesome). The panic on Chesney's face is certainly relatable! Sam Aston acts his little chops off there. Great work!

With Fiz out of the way, Jade treats Tyrone to a dartboard, although they did interrupt Evelyn listening to Kenneth Williams. I wonder what she was listening to. Was it camp classic 'Round the Horne' or the legendary 'Hancock's Half Hour'? I digress but I'm a bit of a fan myself.

At Speed Daal, Geoff plays dinner host to his family, and feeling celebratory, he decides to bring booze into the Pakistani / traditionally dry venue. Slightly offensive to Yasmeen's culture of course, but when did a little thing like that annoy Geoff?.

Calling another family meeting (remember the last one - hilarious!), Gail gets the gang together to discuss David's latest dilemma.  Always the orator, Gail treats them to a bizarre film analogy, telling them that all past mistakes must be ignored and that Audrey must forgive Nick so that the family can move forward as a unit. Will it work I wonder?

At the hospital, Gemma has a cesarean and safely gives birth to another boy and two girls, quickly naming them all after the welsh rescue team that managed the births.

Why didn't they name one of the baby girls after Sinead?

Miraculously,  Bernie has also (somehow?) managed to retrieve the engagement ring that Chesney dropped overboard.

With the ring in hand, Chesney proposes, and Gemma accepts! Chesney got his romance, after all.

Let us know your thoughts on this week's corrie, in the comments section!

You can follow me @rybazoxo over on twitter, your self-styled 'Cobbles Connoisseur'.

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