New Year New Corrie?

Soaps are the talk of social media at the minute. Eastenders is good again, classic Emmerdale has just replayed those iconic plane crash episodes. And Coronation Street is dreadful. That’s what some are saying anyway and there’s a bit of theme to conversations around our longest running and much loved northern soap. ITV’s two big hitters Corrie and Emmerdale both seem to be suffering the same criticism…too many characters, poor scripts and more episodes than we need or want.

The latter will be due to the obvious fact that ITV is a very big and potentially very profitable business. More episodes of popular shows means more ad revenue in the breaks. And even as the quality of our favourite shows is affected, as it clearly is as more episodes are churned out, several million viewers regularly flocking to traditional TV channels means very happy ITV fat cats. But something has to give. 

Eagle-eyed viewers may have spotted fluffed lines in a recent episode of Coronation Street. Alongside a some very questionable directorial and editing decisions and camera wizardry. And it hasn’t gone unnoticed that some recent scripts seem to be written by people who have never watched the show. There are some things that Corrie’s icons would just not say and too many terrible script lines seem to slip through the net these days.

That said, Peter’s goodbye the other day was emotional (if a little rushed). The Rovers is open with Betty’s photo back where it belongs keeping watch over the punters, which can only be a good thing. And Coronation Street is jam packed with brilliant characters just waiting to be given some decent storylines and dialogue. 

Which is where we need to talk about what’s wrong with Corrie and how 2024 can only get better if a few things are addressed. Yes, everyone’s an expert. Suddenly we all know how to run a TV soap better than Iain MacLeod. But actually if lots of people are saying the same thing, maybe there’s something in it.

So whether you want them or not…here are a few suggestions to help get Corrie back on track in 2024.

CORRIE IS AN INSTITUTION. STOP MESSING WITH IT.

Creating dynamic, entertaining episodes of Coronation Street shouldn’t be like reinventing the wheel. It’s a cobbled back street. No fancy camera techniques are going to change that. And there needs to be some consistency between different directors, who often seem to have their own style. This isn’t the kind of job where you should be expecting to leave your own mark or identity. 

Also, except at Christmas or on very special occasions…no background music please. No sound effects. No dream sequences. A nice CGI moon over the Rovers is nice every now and then but that’s about it.

Think about some of the biggest episodes in the show’s history. Engaging stories, good dialogue and pulling at the heart stings with a good dose of humour. Simplicity works. 

NO. MORE. CHARACTERS.

When I think of the Corrie cast list I’m reminded of those trains in Japan with people on the platform jamming passengers through closing doors onto clearly full carriages. Just stop. It’s full. 

This could be part of the reason some characters aren’t cutting through. There’s not enough time and space for them all. At this rate they'll need to create a new tower block in Weatherfield just to house everyone.

FEWER CHARACTERS ACTUALLY?

Some are calling for a character cull. This might not be a bad idea. Simon Barlow and Beth Tinker are reportedly on their way out. Two down…

THINK OF THE CHILDREN.

Corrie will only draw in a younger audience (which is probably another ITV demand) when it gets the basics right. You can’t just throw in the cast of the Village of the Damned and expect them to fit in. Quality control is also an issue here. The kids are trying their best and this is no criticism of them, but there must be so much talent in the North West perhaps casting bods could widen their net a bit and find some hidden talent further afield than Cheshire?

The quads are getting big

WE JUST DON’T CARE.

We don’t care about Stu or Dom. Or Eliza. Or Yasmeen for that matter. We don’t care about Summer, or any of her boyfriends. We don’t care about Sean’s parenting. We don’t care about Dylan nor do we understand why he would rather be in Weatherfield with Sean than London and not with Sean. We don’t care about anything Shona has to say. We don’t care about Adam and Sarah’s on-off marriage. We don’t care about the Bistro. Or the police station which has had more scenes in it than the Rovers recently. 

Whoever gets shot or kidnapped next, guess what…we don’t care.

It’s all so dull.
 
WOMEN
In a relatively short time Eastenders has gone from poor ratings and rumours of the chop, to back to the very top of it’s game. A reset after the pandemic might have helped. It’s revival has seen producers put women front and centre. The BBC soap has been lucky enough to have icons of years past to bring back, in Kathy (Gillian Taylforth) and Cindy (Michelle Collins). Eastenders has realised that there’s comfort in the familiar and soap only really works when there are strong women leading the charge. Add in a bit of camp from writers such as Daran Little and the stories don’t need to be believable they just have to be entertaining as proven this Christmas as half the cast become implicated in murder. It’s as ridiculous as it is brilliant. 'The Six' long-running storyline that unravelled at Christmas was peppered with genius little comedic moments amidst all the edge-of-your-seat drama. It was really good telly. 

There aren’t many icons Corrie could tempt back. Bev Callard as Liz McDonald is an obvious one though that doesn’t seem likely any time soon. But Coronation Street isn’t short of characters and actors who can go toe-to-toe with their London rivals. Jenny Bradley has become a much-loved Cobbles matriarch. Alongside Daisy and Rita, that’s quite a formidable family. Debbie Webster is criminally underused. As is Glenda. Perhaps 2024 will be the year the Shuttleworths finally get settled in and we have some decent storylines for Tony Maudsley and Jodie Prenger. 

Tracy Barlow could do with coming out of hibernation too. 

A NEW MIKE BALDWIN?
Another part of the formula for a successful soap is the presence of a baddie or a lovable rogue. Tracy has filled that role well over the years. Cain fills those shoes over in Emmerdale and Janine Butcher has done the same in Eastenders until recently. Factory mogul Mike Baldwin was Corrie’s answer to Donald Trump for decades. He was the character viewers loved to hate and we need some of that back on Corrie. I always thought Max Beesley, born in Burnage, would be a good Corrie rogue….

Petition to get Max Beesley in Corrie starts here

THE ROVERS RETURN
The New Year saw the return of the Rovers Return. Thank god. And wasn’t it nice to hear that buzz of people in the background after what seems like years of emptiness and no atmosphere since the pandemic. So what if pubs are empty in the real world? Corrie’s not real - lift our spirits a bit and have that place full to the rafters! Put the pub back at the centre of the show.

At the minute, even the decent storylines in Corrie seem rushed and badly thought out. Attention to detail is lacking at it seems like those at the top have run out of steam. Coronation Street appears lost and unloved. 

So a reminder to Corrie bosses and ITV….you’ve got a massive, loved and cherished TV show and all the resources that go with it at your fingertips. What are you waiting for? Do something decent with it. Surprise us!

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Ed Bailey's Gambling Ruins Christmas (And Why I Wish Peter Wasn't Leaving!)

What started at the bookies, had led Ed to the pawn shop, faking a burglary, and selling his family Christmas presents to pay off Tony's debt. It's a shame Peter Barlow is leaving, as the former bookie and alcohol addict could have been a great adversary for Ed Bailey in this latest Corrie addiction storyline.

However, as Corrie producer Iain Macleod told the blog in October, this latest Bailey storyline will take us into the new year 2024 long after Peter's departure. Talking about the storyline, Iain said "Ed’s gambling has, so far, only ever existed in the back story, and we've seen him tempted a few times in the show. We thought there's a huge unexplored storyline there for us’’ Iain continued "The addition of Ed’s Dad was an effort to try and contextualise a bit by seeing what made Ed what he is. Generally speaking, addictions come from somewhere, normally, and we wanted to see what it was with their shared history and the dynamics between the Bailey brothers, so here comes Dad to help us work that out!" 

How does this affect the Baileys come Christmas time? 

"In the run-up to Christmas, we have some fun with (Ed and Ron's) Dad arriving, but there is an undercurrent, and underneath it all, Ed’s problems are spiralling and mounting. It culminates in him hitting rock bottom - forced to do something extremely upsetting and what Ed would see as an ultimate betrayal'' Iain continued, "It's desperately sad, from the viewer's point of view, and the character's perspective. It stays a secret for a time, but then it explodes when the family realises what he has done he’s cast into the wilderness"

How does this affect the rest of the family? 

"There’s a bit of a loyalty battle between the children as to which one is (going to) be sticking by their dad and (who's going to be) cutting him adrift. We wanted to make this feel relatable and down to earth in the telling of an addiction story and its impact on a family. We have some fabulous performances from the cast. It's a strong ensemble piece that takes us into the new year!"

Cheers, Iain 

@rybazoxo Corrie Blogger, Cobbles connoisseur, and definitely(!) not bitter that Peter is leaving... 

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Corrie Canine Chaos Sparks Danger For Evelyn & Cassie!

This week on Coronation Street we saw battle-axe Evelyn Plummer confront the mistreatment of a dog outside Roy's Rolls. As the storyline hit our screens, my mind took me back to October of this year when we (and fellow press) spoke to Corrie producer Iain Macleod, who told us all about it:

Hi Iain, what's this latest Evelyn storyline all about? 

''Evelyn makes herself a bit of an enemy in the shape of a man she sees mistreating his dog. It starts with a relatively small exchange where they cross paths at the precinct, some crosswords exchanged! Iain continued ''it goes from there to a situation of court appearances and trips to the hospital, with some danger for Evelyn and Cassie!''

How did this story come about? 

‘'It was an opportunity to do two things really - N0.1 was to see Maureen (Lipman- Evelyn) be strident, kicking backsides and taking names, but also’’ Iain continued ‘’to give us a chance to explore more, her relationship with Cassie. Since Cassie was a teenager, their relationship has been nonexistent - what has existed has been very bad-tempered with lots of estrangement. This is an opportunity to explore their dynamic and this story puts them on the same team'' 

How does this affect Evelyn's relationship with Cassie? 

''Cassie, as is her preference, takes things too far, which causes serious strife for her'' said Iain, '' and at the end of it, they reach a new level of understanding and equilibrium. They get to know each other in an adult relationship, probably for the first time’’.

What is Roy’s involvement in all of this? 

''the story that starts rather innocuously, almost comically, with Roy and Evelyn facing off with this man mistreating his dog. Suddenly, we find ourselves in a rather serious story! Iain enthused, ''I love stories like that, that starts as an acorn of something, then a forest of bad outcomes for our favourite characters! '' 

Thanks, Iain

So, what are your thoughts? It looks like Evelyn's dog-related drama, which started on Wednesday night, may have some serious repercussions this Christmas! 

Let me know your thoughts on X  #Corrie

I am @rybazoxo your Cobbles connoisseur and Corrie superfan

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Daniel Discovers Daisy's Affair! : Corrie Love Triangle Becomes A Foursome?

Way back in April, I attended one of my most memorable and emotional Corrie press days. Luckily enough to get a preview of the acid attack episodes, I gasped as Ryan dropped to the Rovers floor in agony, burning from the sulphuric acid. Daisy dragging him to the shower in her wedding dress may have been a symbolic harbinger of her relationship with Daniel, but we had no idea at that time. With the marriage never being mentioned again, the wedding ring disappeared - and Ryan and Daisy's emotional entanglement and subsequent affair began. Daniel has had some vague suspicions and nearly caught them in the act at the hotel recently. This week, the teacher finally catches Daisy out. Add Bethany Platt to the mix (Daniel’s ex) who's returning any time between now and 2024, and I wonder if this love triangle of the year is about to turn into a foursome? 

Daniel and Daisy argue over the kitchenette

Back in October, Corrie Blog caught up with Corrie producer Iain Macleod, who told us what's to come this Christmas and New Year as this love triangle explodes! 

Hi Iain, What can you tell us about Ryan, Daniel, Daisy and the return of Bethany? 

‘’I’ll start by saying that I love this love triangle - I veer from week to week from being ‘Team Daniel and Daisy’ to ‘Team Ryan and Daisy! Normally, in soaps like ours, when you have an affair, you end up having to make one person behave badly to orchestrate the cheating, but this has been so organic from the start. I entirely understand Daisy’s feelings for Daniel and the depth of those, but I also understand the (depth of) feelings she’s got for Ryan, having survived this terrible ordeal. I don't know who I am rooting for!’’

Daniel sees footage of Daisy & Ryan together?

Daisy’s feelings for Ryan can't go undiscovered forever. Is he due to find out anytime soon? 

''He does indeed start to cotton on, (to what's been going on between them) and the feelings they have for each other. (Daniel realises) the betrayals they’ve committed behind his back. There are intense sequences where Daniel starts to put the pieces together. We see a slight revisiting of some of Daniel's darkness (not quite to the extent of pushing anyone down the stairs) but, what we know about him'' Iain continued ''is that when pushed into an emotional corner, a switch goes. He’s capable of doing some fairly underhand, and classically dark things. We’ll see flashes of that as the story unfolds and some classic soapy manipulation on his part, to try and distance Ryan and Daisy, as quickly and as fair apart as possible. Ultimately, it all comes crashing down: there are some fantastic scenes concerning the end of that (Daniel and Daisy) relationship!''

Daisy contemplates wearing tartan

Where does that leave Daisy? 

‘’There are some big dilemmas for Daisy: if it's not Daniel, then does she choose Ryan purely because he is the default setting? Ryan is also quite vulnerable - he could get his heart trampled on. In the middle of all this, a volatile cocktail arrives with Bethany, who has all of this history with Daniel, and that sharpens Daisy’s focus in terms of how she feels about him''

Ryan and Daisy's Last Christmas?

What can we expect in the New Year, with Bethany adding to this Ryan, Daisy, and Daniel story? 

‘’ A brilliant classic soap story, I think. Without duplicating anything, we are attempting to go to something that has the same level of emotional heft as some of those classic affairs of yore: Mike and Deirdre stuff, like a love triangle of the ages. It's (the storyline) going to go deep into next year as buried feelings come back to the surface with a bang or two! Bethany is a different proposition this time around. (She has) the beginnings of a successful journalism career, and is now an equal foe for Daisy. Bethany is coming back for this Daniel story and is also involved in a huge storyline coming up this next year ''

Thanks, Iain! 

I think the acid-attack storyline (although utterly shocking) has given us a plethora of classic Corrie drama, and as this love triangle becomes a foursome, it looks like plenty more is still to come!

Watch Corrie this week on ITV & ITVX as Daniel begins to discover Daisy’s affair. 

I am @rybazoxo on X - Corrie blogger and Cobbles Connossieur #Corrie

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