Welcome to Wednesday's edition of the Coronation Street Blog and the first of tonights two episode reviews...
Is Tyrone a 'plumber' and not a mechanic?
The discovery of a family name and a birth in a library, leads Roy, Fiz, and Brian to come to a startling conclusion in their amateur ancestry investigation.
Have the trio found Ty's real maternal grandmother?.
Has Liz seen a ghost?.
Jim's baby bombshell has blasted the barmaid back to the past. A mix-up at the hospital, or something sinister?. A meeting at the Bistro proves emotional for Liz, but Eileen ponders an interesting question;
'Does lightning really strike twice on the same street?...
Back on the cobbles, David can't be bothered to school Max with geography homework, as the online football tournament is reaching its climax!. As Gail's living room is prepared for the 'Corrie cup final' Mary is well into the spirit (as always) soon chanting 'Alahan United' in the middle of the street...
Ryan meanwhile is looking for a book on 'Gazza' to score a password and a crypto fortune!, whilst Imran has slotted two 'goals', it appears Adam still hasn't realised it may actually result in an offside.
Or is that Jim & Hannah?...
Anyway, that's me for another week.
I hope you've enjoyed my mid-week paean to part one of tonights Coronation Street drama!
I'm @rybazoxo your self-styled 'Cobbles Connoisseur'.
Our blogger Glenn Meads had the honour of interviewing Corrie newcomer Hannah Ellis Ryan. We'll see Hannah on screen next week, on Wednesday 12 September, as she has been cast as Liz and Jim McDonald’s daughter. Yes, the daughter that Liz thought had died a day after being born. Back then, Liz had named her baby girl Katie but it appears that the character will return with the changed name of Hannah, the same as the actor's own.
Away from the cobbles Hannah also works in the bar and box office at the Hope Mill Theatre. And she is also co-founder of theatre company Play With Fire. Hannah says this about turning up in Coronation Street: "Being my first TV job, I haven’t had that experience yet of watching myself on TV, so it will be surreal to say the least. Also Corrie has such a dedicated and active fan-base, so there is a part of me that is nervous about how they will respond, naturally. We all want to go down well with the die-hard fans." There's a lot more to the interview about Corrie and Hannah's co-stars - and it's an excellent read over at I Love Mcr.
Queen Elizabeth has had it tough of late.
And I’m not talking about our dear head of state who recently had to take a
stroll with her perma-tanned counterpart from across the pond. I’m talking
about THE Queen – Elizabeth Jayne McDonald of Weatherfield. Fabulous, feisty and
fiery as ever. If a little bit lost at the moment.
I’ve observed with interest over the past
week the reaction to the impending ‘return’ of Liz and Jim McDonald’s daughter Katie.
A few tabloid rumours followed by a casting announcement sent viewers and fans
into meltdown. It’s certainly a risky move if what’s been reported is true. But
we don’t know any of the detail yet, there could be an unexpected twist – who knows.
I do know that rival soap from t’other side o’ th’ills Emmerdale has taken on a
similar storyline and it has actually worked really well. (Don’t tell anyone I
watch Emmerdale it will ruin my reputation with the other Bloggers).
Charity
Dingle’s torment after experiencing sexual abuse subsequently led to her
discovering her ‘dead’ baby son Ryan was actually saved and given up for
adoption. There have been some really moving scenes as the two
have tried to get to know each other, and Emma Atkins who plays Emmerdale's Charity has
further cemented her place as one of our best soap actors.
Back to the cobbles, Liz has had a tough
time trying to do the right thing by Johnny, supporting him in the wake of
Aidan’s suicide, marriage troubles and most recently the kidnap of baby Suzie.
Putting her own feelings to the side Liz had encouraged Johnny to stay with
Jenny, but when the time came to take the jump, he knocked her back and she’s
back in the all-too familiar position of being alone. With the return of Jim
and the arrival of Katie, viewers will be on the edge of their seats to see how
the intriguing turn of events pans out. Here I set out ten reasons why the coming months will show us the best of Liz McDonald, and why it will make unmissable telly:
ARMY TRAINING
Liz was an army wife to a Northern Irishman
with a chip on his shoulder. She gave as good as she got with Jim but it must have been character building.
Liz often gave Jim a piggy-back from the Rovers
THE DEATH STARE
It speaks for itself. Expect to see a lot of this in the autumn.
Did you eat the last Wagon Wheel?
HER TRUSTY VAPE
Liz is often seen disappearing into a cloud
of smoke as she ponders her troubles. And she's gone through many different types
of e-cigarette over the years. I swear in one episode she was sucking on a bicycle
pump…
It was a cold day in Weatherfield and Jenny had forgotten her mittens
LONGEVITY
Liz has been in some of the most shocking
storylines on the Street. She’s almost been broken, had a few stints in Spain,
but she’s always come back. Surely nothing can bring her down?
THE PERFECT DOUBLE ACT
They have their ups and downs but Steve and Liz are one of TV’s most unlikely, but most brilliant double acts.
A SCOTTISH ten pound note? Not in our pub...
STEVE’S MANY WIVES
Despite being at loggerheads with all of Steve’s wives and girlfriends at the start, Liz’s maternal instincts often kick in and she ends up taking their side when the situation calls for it. Whatever the coming months throw at Liz, we’re certain to see those instincts return.
JIM
Yer man is on his way back. He can be a bit
of a villain but the love has always been there….so it has. Will they be able to rekindle that love when Charlie Lawson reprises the role?
FRIENDS
"What have I told you about wearing mauve?"
Liz’s bestie, and our much loved favourite
Deirdre is no longer around for her to put the world to rights with. But Liz can count
on the support of Eileen and other familiar faces on the Street. And then of
course there’s Moira…
COMEDY TIMING
Liz can hold her own in any situation. But
Bev Callard's comedy timing, particularly in scenes with Simon Gregson, is a joy. Even
if sometimes the comedy comes by accident. Watch this clip:
TAKE NO PRISONERS
When the going gets tough, Liz gets going.
And she’s not to be messed with. Over the years she’s thrown countless numbers
of punters out of the Rovers by the scruff of their necks, and fought off who knows how many love rivals in the street.
For all of the above reasons and more, Liz McDonald really is the Queen of
Coronation Street.
