Kelly’s Homeless Drugs Crisis At Christmas!: Corrie Blog Chats To Millie Gibson

Kelly Neelan is Coronation Street's archetypal troubled teen. She's rebellious and misunderstood, vulnerable, and prone to self-destruction. Similar to a (younger) Abi, perhaps? Things have improved somewhat for Kelly recently, and guided by homeless friend Stu, she's gained a hairdressing job with Maria, made an ally in Aadi, and even Nina has cooled towards her! Nevertheless, Abi's return to the street means Kelly can’t stay around much longer. Reeling from Abi's warning to leave Coronation Street, the teenager promises to try and find somewhere else to live. 

Could Kelly be facing homelessness again this Christmas? Corrie blog donned a festive jumper, downed a mince pie, and joined an ITV zoom session to interview actor Millie Gibson, who told us all about it!

Hi Millie, What an incredible year you have had on the show! 

When you joined Coronation Street, did you ever imagine being involved in such hard-hitting storylines? 

No, not at all. I'm honoured and flattered to be trusted and be involved in such storylines. They are all very current and woke; hate crime, teen suicide, drug use, living on the streets, they are all delicate and equally challenging serious issues! 

What has the public reaction been like? 

It’s still quite mixed, I’m not sure if that comes as a surprise still. We have seen struggle with time in prison, the injustice, and more so when she came out. I think viewers are still holding on to her involvement in the attack.

Are viewers still ‘Team Abi’ do you think? 

Yes, and I think it’s hard to have sympathy for someone who's involved in such a horrible crime! It would be hard to give someone like that any sympathy, but people can relate to it. 

How does Kelly feel when Abi tells her to leave Coronation Street? 

Kelly never thought she would have allies with people like Nina, the Alahan’s, and Yasmeen. As she gets people on board, and her redemption begins, she realises she can’t share the same world as Abi. Abi is full of vengeance and anger for her. Kelly then starts to go into that self-destructive turmoil mindset again. 

On Boxing Day, Kelly still can’t find anywhere to stay. Before she goes, she leaves flowers for Seb at the memorial garden. Abi finds out and is furious. How does Kelly feel about this? 

It is an overreaction but if you put yourself in Abi’s shoes, she finds flowers from a person that was involved in her son’s murder. It acts as a reminder, it’s anger, and she kicks off big time. It triggers her next actions against Kelly and it’s the very worst. It becomes like bullying in that respect

With things taking a turn for the worse, Kelly goes back on the ‘spice’ again. How has it felt portraying this homeless / drug abuse storyline?  

It's been very challenging, and I was quite nervous to act out the scenes on spice. I did some research on how to perform it and I did some work with SHELTER to educate me in the homeless aspect. It was heartbreaking to learn more about young women being homeless. Responsibility is a big thing - I wanted to do it justice.

Kelly begrudgingly heads to an NA (narcotics anonymous) meeting, where Abi is also in attendance. How does she feel about this? 

In the NA meeting, it becomes apparent how weirdly alike Abi and Kelly are. It seems they both have a similar relationship with drugs, like a lot of addicts, and the family loss, alongside the self-destructive mindset. She doesn’t want to make too much of it in the meeting, at the risk of rattling Abi, but she speaks about her personal experiences and feelings, and Abi recognises a lot of herself in Kelly. 

Gary and Maria also offer to help and look out for Kelly. Does she see them as a new family unit? 

I think it’s another unlikely home situation. She’s house hopping and happy to have open arms and a roof over her head. However, it’s ironic that everything she’s been through so far, she wouldn’t have been through, if it wasn’t for Gary, and he knows that. If the truth comes out, it could be the final straw for Kelly!

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I think we can all agree that Millie Gibson has given outstanding performances throughout this year. Maybe 2022 will see her reconcile and become a confidante of Abi? Laura is also due back on the scene, so it looks likely that more trouble is on its way for Kelly!  

Keep following @corostreetblog for more cast interviews, opinion pieces, episode reviews, and gossip! 

I am @rybazoxo your Coronation Street connossieur 

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 22nd of August 7.30pm

Welcome to Wednesday's edition of the Coronation Street Blog and the first of tonights two episode reviews...

Renovation of The Rovers Return is in full swing?. Johnny and Jenny spread the news around the street ahead of the relaunch night, promising big changes at Weatherfield's N01 watering hole. Are the couple just ruffling feathers, or is Betty's hotpot consigned to history?. Let us hope secret 'hot pot' recipe holder Sean, can return to the street in time...

Also out and about is Billy the vicar. With his guilt-ridden conscience still heavy, the vicar visits a badly beaten Josh in the hospital.
Will the blinded rapist be finally convinced to admit his attack on David?. Maybe, but its one confession at a time tonight, as Billy has another one to come, just around the corner.

Meanwhile, permatanned David returns from Barbados and is already preoccupied with Audrey's odd behaviour. Lying to Gail about the cruise, it appears Audrey isn't sailing away with ABBA at all. In fact, she's is still in Weatherfield, and has a new 'captain' over at Grasmere drive. Will conniving cad Lewis back on the scene, will it be 'S.O.S' for our favourite salon owner?.

Following Carol's savage beating, Sean calls an ambulance for his friend. Unexplainably bumping into Billy, Sean finally succumbs to his pride and confesses he is homeless. Is our Hot Pot back safe on the streets of Weatherfield?.

Anyway, that's me for another week. I'm off to 'The Roverz' for a Truffle Lasagne. Jokes!. I'd rather have Betty's hotpot any day of the week!!.

I hope you've enjoyed my mid-week paean to the drama of Coronation Street.


I'm @rybazoxo your self-styled 'Cobbles Connoisseur'.



TARA!

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 1st of August 2018 7.30pm

Welcome to Wednesday's edition of the Coronation Street Blog and the first of tonight's two episode reviews...

Its the first of the month and not a white rabbit in sight down Coronation Street. No rabbits, just moths... and they're all over Underworld.

Hardly freezing (it looks like the heatwave has hit Weatherfield), Sean is in his tent settling in (of sorts) to sleeping rough.

Accosted by a fellow vagrant, Sean lies and tells her its a sponsored 'sleep out', and gives her his tent, as he's hoping to snap up Dev's friend's bedsit. Unfortunately for Sean, the deal has already fallen through.

Sean's homeless nightmare continues... 

Back at Underworld, (the newly smutty businessman), Mr Hanlan arrives to give Alya a big new underwear deal. However, with Daniel's unwittingly unleashed moth infestation, the deal is full of holes...literally.

Also great to see Jimmy Cripps (read about that here) arrive back on the cobbles, fresh from his vlogging tips and ready to exterminate!.

Gemma fails to rule the roost at The Rovers Return...

At The Rovers Return, Gemma's enthusiasm for all things booze continues in earnest. Leanne and Toyah decide to give her a chance to run the pub for the day!. Can the 'girl most likely to have a crack' really become the pubs latest landlady?. You'd hope not after she nearly loses Sean's wages and overbuys £300 of stock, in the process. Henry the heir, however, suddenly appears skint?.

Upon returning to the homeless site, Sean flashes the cash in front of the homeless woman, Carol, and is unfortunately seen by some unsavoury looking characters. Sean's act of pride did not bode well with a concerned Eileen, nor does it with his new friend, Carol. And as we all know, pride comes before a fall. With fellow vagrants following him into the toilets, it doesn't look like Sean's Orwellian 'The Road to Wigan Pier' experience, is going to get any better, anytime soon.

In other news, Shona fantasises a vendetta towards a beaten-up Josh, Sinead is pregnant, and Johnny continues to drown his sorrows.

Keep an eye out for @GlennWrites who's back from his holiday ready to unleash his 8.30pm episode review for all of you lovely readers.

Anyway, that's me finished for another week. I'm @rybazoxo your self-styled 'Cobbles Connoisseur'

Same time, next week.

TARA!

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Our interview with Antony Cotton as Sean's homeless storyline begins

‘it’s a monstrous beast, being homeless’ -Antony Cotton

CORRIE PRESS DAY (PART 2) 13th of June 2018 – Coronation Street Studios – Salford

Welcome to interview No. 2 of my visit to the Coronation Street set, and my day caught in a flurry of exclusive summer storyline interviews.

Now situated inside the ‘Coronation Street’ hub after quaffing ITVs deli lunch and copious cups of coffee, I was sat in the midst of Fleet Street's finest, ready for another interview with a Corrie cast member.  Settling down with the rest of the press, a jovial, chatty, confident and charismatic Antony Cotton (Sean Tully),  sat poised and ready to answer our questions.

A serious storyline is afoot as Sean descends into the harrowing modern-day nightmare, of homelessness.

Going to great lengths to research the story, Antony Cotton has actually already had personal experience of homelessness.

''During my stint on Dancing On Ice, I went on Facebook (not that I’m ever on it), going through thousands of messages, by fluke, I opened one from an acquaintance I'd met a few times socially, who asked for help as he was homeless. I rang him and questioned what was wrong and once I knew it was real, I knew I had to help''

Finding himself navigating the often un-linked social services and minefield of social security issues, Antony contacted Manchester homeless charity – Barnabus and whilst simultaneously filming ‘Dancing On Ice’ training for the show, and filming Coronation Street, the actor set about helping his friend, in anyway possible, subsequently finding him a home, giving Antony a unique insight into homelessness.

‘’The moment you have no address you have nothing, that’s why there are so many homeless people’’-  continued Antony, on Sean’s homeless storyline

Rather than sofa surfing or lodging which is something Sean has always done (whether at Eileen’s or with Fiz & Ty), Coronation Street felt obliged to engage Sean in a literal and very real homeless storyline, which shocked Antony the actor.

‘I thought that Sean would not be in that position but it is true, and very spookily, so much so, that I had to go back to the charity Barnabus to research the storyline’ he admitted 'I had already done the research without knowing’

At this point in the interview, I must tell you a fun story. So, about 18 months ago, before joining the Coronation Street Blog, I won a competition with this blog and received a brilliant Sean Tully notepad in the post (see pic above). I thought ‘Ooh I can take that with me to the press day’. Only in the middle of the interview, I realise I’m scribbling away in it, which caught the eye of Antony Cotton, who definitely saw my notepad. Surreal doesn’t quite cut it!

Anyway, back to Sean’s storyline and Antony’s thoughts on it

"My first scene in the tent is where Sean is getting the tent from a bush and I thought well would you put it there really? but I knew it was true as my friend had done it."

As an ambassador for various Army charities, Antony is incredibly passionate about the homeless and the plight of the socially ignored and is rather humbling with it.

The interview ended with a final thought from Antony;

"There is the translucent element of homelessness. They are treated like the walking dead; it's been a real eye-opener."

Coronation Street has produced Sean’s storyline in conjunction with UK homeless charity 'Shelter' whom who can find out more about here.

I am @rybazoxo and I write Wednesday night episode reviews for @CoroStreetBlog Follow me for more content on Corrie’s summer storylines, coming soon.

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Pics: Corrie film new homeless story at Manchester canal

The Manchester Evening News reveals that Corrie have been out on location filming a new story about homelessness.

Aidan Connor, Eva Price and Billy (the vicar) Mayhew rescue a woman living under a canal bridge.

Apparantly, the three of them go searching for an illegal worker who escaped the clutches of Richie O’Driscoll in his Cheshire mansion. 

Ooh, I always thought that Richie one looked a bad 'un.

It is expected the scenes filmed this week will be aired in March.  More information and pictures at the MEN.


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