Showing posts with label interviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label interviews. Show all posts

Saturday, 25 March 2017

Exclusive! More blog interviews with Coronation Street stars

Our blogger Graeme Naylor has been busy over the last few weeks, interviewing past Coronation Street stars - and with some panache too! 

In case you've missed any of Graeme's wonderful interviews, here they all are for your delectation.

I highly recommend them for reading with your feet up on the sofa, a cuppa and a nice chocolate biscuit to hand.

Read Graeme's exclusive interviews with:
  • Anne Cunningham, who played Linda Cheveski
    Read it here
  • Veronica Doran, who played Marion "Stardust Lil" Willis
    Read it here
Graeme also blogs about his passion for the Carry on Films and his own blog is definitely worth a look. It's Carry on Blogging and it's here!

The Carry on Fan Blog is also on twitter and facebook too.



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Thursday, 16 March 2017

Exclusive! Coronation Street Blog interviews

If you're famous - even just a little bit - 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 you to write a few paragraphs about why you love Corrie so much, your favourite characters and storylines and if you've any snippets you can share from behind the scenes.

We can't pay, sorry, but 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:
Our exclusive interviews with some of the Corrie cast, crew and special invited others...

Monday, 3 October 2016

Interview with Coronation Street archivist Helen Nugent


Christine Warren at the Coronation Street Fun Pages has published an exclusive interview with Helen Nugent who is the show archivist. Christine has a great interview where Helen tells her all about her job. There's a lot to it!

Helen has been in the job for 16 years. She reads all the scripts and summarises them, then updates each character's biography. All this is used by the Press Office and the Directors as well. She notes particular clips of film for future montage use or use by the media. She also gets to oversee official merchandise which is still being produced. She also is in charge of historical continuity and it's interesting to see her views on what happens when things get changed:

Yes, it does get tricky from time to time, but the thing is, it is a work of fiction, and sometimes the Producer will tweak history a little in order to have a good storyline.  For instance, we may change someone's birthday so they can have it on a day we go to air.  We know the diehard fans get upset if we change events of the past, and quite rightly so, and we do try very hard to stick to Coronation Street's rich history, but sometimes if we have a story we want to tell, it can't be helped.  I may not always agree with it, but ultimately it is their decision.

She has a lot of interesting things to say and the interview is very much worth a read. There are some great photos as well.



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Tuesday, 8 September 2015

Coronation Street Blog interviews with Sean Ward and Lucy Fallon

After a more complicated journey than usual, Emma, my fellow blogger, and I arrived at Media City, more than a little excited, it has to be said, at the prospect of interviewing several actors on the cobbles about the forthcoming Live Episode.

Corrie producer Stuart Blackburn addressed us all in his usual enthusiastic way, praising the actors and the writers. We were treated to an edited recording of the events leading up to the live episode, so we could see how certain storylines will play out on 23 September. It became clear that the Platts will take centre stage in the live episode due to their shenanigans with Callum.

You can watch those edited video teasers here:

Cliff-hanger Callum and the Platts Will Max be killed off? Will Sally and Tim's wedding go ahead? Will Roy and Cathy get together?
All of the actors interviewed confessed to being nervous as the episode approached and on August 11, the day of the interviews, not one of the actors had received a script, so as yet, not one line had been learned.
The common thread amongst all the actors was fear of addressing their fellow actors by their real names, not their Corrie names. Viewers of East Enders will recall that that actually did happen in their live episode. I’m happy to report though, that there was no crowing about this accident, only understanding and sympathy from the Corrie actors.


I interviewed Sean Ward who plays Callum and Lucy Fallon who plays Bethany Platt. As we all know, Bethany has, under great pressure from Gemma and Callum, given Callum an alibi. She has told the police that on the night that Jason Grimshaw was beaten to a pulp and hospitalised, unconscious, that she was actually with Callum and Gemma watching films, so therefore the assault on Jason had nothing to do with Callum. Of course, we know differently.

I asked Sean and Lucy how they felt about the live episode and though ‘petrified’ they both said they’re looking forward to it and are confident that when the time comes, they will be ‘on point’. The adrenaline rush will be like no other and will see them through. It will be both ‘a buzz and a challenge’ agreed the actors.

Though they have no script as yet, Sean thinks that he and Lucy are in the first scene of the live episode. Sean revealed that he learns his lines by writing them out, pretty much like you revise for an exam. It was amusing to think of bad boy Callum labouring over his lines and to imagine his neatly filed notebooks with his lines in, in his best handwriting.

Asked why Callum behaves as he does, Sean Ward said that, ‘Maybe he didn’t get enough hugs off his mum.’ He added that we will see a vulnerable side to Callum. Sean said he wanted to create a balance and that if he played Callum ‘just right’ then, like other soap villains, notably, Richard Hillman, he would go down in history.

Regarding him and Bethany, there never has, in Callum’s eyes, been a relationship. Bethany has a crush on him, and as he does with most women, he manipulates her and exploits the fact that she has a crush on him. Still on the women in his life, I asked him about his relationship with Gemma. He said that they had always been friends, that it was entirely platonic and that there is a codependency operating between them. Further down than him in the food chain, Gemma does his bidding, while simultaneously, there are people above Callum in the drugs food chain, which will become evident. There is tremendous pressure on Callum from those in the drug world more senior to him.

Still on the subject of women, Sean was amazed that women like a bad guy and said all women were crazy. Did women throw themselves at him? Sean managed that question well and said that he is now a one-woman man so he ignores ‘all that.’

Callum threatens the Platts that they are to do exactly what he says, or their lives will be in danger. Callum goes on the rampage and smashes up Audrey’s salon and the Platt’s house. And there will be more.

Sean has been involved in 12 hour days, working with the fight co-ordinator for over a month to get some good moves in the fights he has with Tony.  He claims too, that both he and the actor who plays Tony are enjoying the choreographed moves very much, putting together their fights. Sean even suggested that we might begin to feel a little sorry for Callum as Tony launches further savage attacks on Callum. Terence Maynard, who plays Tony, and Sean, have had to stagger home on those days. Nevertheless Sean has found these long working days thrilling and satisfactory. It is not usual for the character of Callum to be involved in fights as usually he orders his boys to do his dirty work. While his boys are at work Callum makes a point of being seen so that no one will accuse him and that he has witnesses. Clever Callum!

In real life, Sean said that he is often approached, sometimes jokingly, sometimes not, by people asking him, ‘Got any drugs mate?’ To which Sean replies, ‘No, it’s not real!’

Lucy Fallon was asked about people’s reactions to her character. She said that reactions were split. Young people thought she was ‘cool’ but older people were unimpressed by her and think that she is ‘rude and ungrateful’. She loves being at Coronation Street though and enjoys working with the Platts very much.

Lucy said that Bethany will grow up after the Callum rampage and begin to mature. She expressed a wish to have Craig, played by Colson Smith as her boyfriend, because ‘he is just so nice.’ Nobody can argue with that.


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Thursday, 21 August 2014

More Corrie news from Stuart Blackburn


As promised yesterday, there was a second part of the interview with Stuart Blackburn on Digital Spy. There were some interesting glimpses into what's in store for several characters including Tim who, in addition to being involved in Faye's storyline, will have something else revealed about him of a less comic nature.  I was also quite happy to hear that a reunion between Kevin and Sally is not on the books. I personally feel they're done and yet another reunion would be tedious.

Regarding the Platts, he assures us Paula Lane will return from her maternity leave and he's also quite chuffed at how well Les Dennis is working out as Michael Rodwell.

Antony Cotton's Sean is going to have a new romance but as always in a soap, there's going to be complications. "It's a really serious love story, as Sean is absolutely going to fall for this person. The only problem is who he falls in love with and what that means for the relationship - can it ever prosper?"

Katy Armstrong is going to take her future into her own hands and there will be someone from her, Izzy and Owen's past coming back into their lives. Could that be Owen's ex-wife? Cilla's coming back and she needs help and maybe we'll find out why Todd has changed so much. When asked, Mr. Blackburn says "At some point yes, but we're not there yet."

He also defends the decision to let Philip Lowrie (Dennis Tanner) go by talking about it being the result of bringing the old Dennis back, the one that schemed and ducked and dived. His fate was a result of that but he doesn't seem to write off ever having him back again if they come up with a good storyline for Dennis. Nice piece of deflection, or as we in Canada say "stick handling". 

Nick's future may not be quite so grim though they're going to be realistic and not make his brain damage vanish without a trace and there might even be a new love interest. Steve's mid-life crisis isn't gone and that may lead to a bumpy road for him and Michelle but it sounds like they will manage to see it through.

All in all, a few interesting bits and pieces in this interview.


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Wednesday, 20 August 2014

Stuart Blackburn talks about upcoming storylines


Digital Spy has the first part of a great two part interview with Corrie producer Stuart Blackburn on their site today. Part two will be posted there tomorrow. He's got a lot to say about upcoming and current storylines and characters with hints of things to come

October will be a major storyline month with Peter's trial, Tracy and Rob's wedding. Regarding the upcoming exit for both Peter and Rob, he says "Absolutely. They'll both be very different exits - one will be very high-octane and explosive, while the other one will be a lot sadder. I can't say which is which, though!" (I think I can probably guess)

He comments that Carla will immerse herself in the factory but that her and Roy's friendship will surface again near Christmas. The Platts are apparently going to have a "life-changing" Christmas, too, David in particular. We should see Kylie's ex surface about then.  The season will be rough for Roy and a bit rocky for Steve in the pub.

The New Year will also bring something devastating.

"Yes, coming up in the New Year, there is a real tragedy that's going to affect a dozen or so of our characters. Last year we had David and the car crash and of course that was a stunt, but it genuinely felt like it had come from story. It wasn't us suddenly deciding that we needed to do something spectacular to get the viewers.

"It's the same with what we're planning, because it'll come from a relatively long-running story. It is going to be spectacular and a little bit heartbreaking!"


Blackburn confirms that Faye will indeed become pregnant and we'll see how that affects the Windass Family and Faye herself, who  hasn't had an easy time of it in her short life. He says he's bringing along new characters in a "slow burn" to ease them in and we'll soon be meeting Zeedan Nazir, the last of the Nazir family. The contention between he and his father, Kal, will be explored. It actually sounds like it might be interesting. 

We often worry that these sensational stories are bringing Corrie to its knees but I often find, in most cases, the stories are handled well and acted superbly. They are often a lot less "explosive" than the PR machine would have us believe. 

Part two of the interview will be published on Digital Spy tomorrow.



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Tuesday, 12 November 2013

Coronation Street Blog EXCLUSIVE: Marc Baylis interview

Cross posted from our sister Canadian Bluenose Coronation Street Blog, with permission, and written by our blogger Diane (tvor) in Canada.

Watch a video clip of Marc at the event here and read the full write up of Marc's visit here.

Tonight in Halifax, Canada the Downeast Streeters are welcoming actor Marc Baylis for An Evening With...

Marc plays Carla Connor's brother Rob Donovan who's been creating havoc on the cobbles pretty much since his arrival. He's currently keeping company with Tracy Barlow and running a business with her. He and Carla are on the outs but that will probably change.

I was able to interview Marc via the chair of the Downeast Streeters Non-Profit Society (Thanks, Connie!) and I must say, it makes me look forward even more to seeing him tonight and hearing all he has to say. With no further ado, here's the interview:

Hi Marc, I am a contributing editor for the very popular Coronation Street Blog and its sister blog, the Bluenose Corrie Blog. I live here in Canada.  The fans in Halifax are very excited to see you when you are here in November. I understand you have some family here? Presumably you've visited before. What do you think of Canada and in particular, Canadian winters?

I've only been over in the summer before whilst seeing my family and absolutely fell in love with the country. The main thing I found was how friendly everyone is. I've not braved a winter as yet but believe me... I've brought my thermals!

Do you read the Coronation Street Blog and social media fan sites?

I have read the Coronation Street Blog and especially when I was preparing to start filming on the street. With the show's rich and lengthy history it was impossible for me to know EVERYTHING so I used as many resources as possible for research. It came in very handy to say the least. With regards to social media, I tend to stay away as no matter how many positive comments you may have with regards to the performance there will always be some negatives. It's the nature of being in such a popular show. The negatives can unfortunately be the comments that can stick in actors' minds and therefore throw you off the job in hand. And if we don't concentrate on the job in hand then there will be less positive comments... Vicious circle. Ha ha!

I've enjoyed your portrayal of Rob Donovan and find the dynamic between Rob and his sister, Carla very interesting. There's a lot of history there and we've already seen some of the sibling rivalry, the hurt, the regret, the resentment and the underlying caring. Is the show going to pursue that some more?

Its great to hear that you find the dynamics interesting. Alison and I are having a lot of fun playing them and without a doubt there is still a lot more to be revealed and unravelled when it comes to their history. This will be discovered from particular circumstances that arise over the coming months where we get to see them being closer than since the 'Silk' situation.

Rob seems to be in much the same position as Tracy's ex, Charlie Stubbs, who also could recognise Tracy for who and what she is but who was also one to avoid committment and step-parenthood. Rob is much nicer than Charlie, of course, but if he doesn't want that committment, do you think he could fear for his own life as well?

I think that Rob's arrogance steers him away from being fearful of history repeating itself. Also, there is a lot of trust in the relationship stemming from them both feeling at times in their lives as outsiders, or, in prison term 'Insiders'. Forgive the pun! This has helped to create a  natural bond which enhances their love of fun and danger in life which can be troublesome for the other residents of the street.

Changing the subject away from the show... when you were first finding your feet as an actor, was there someone who mentored you or inspired you?

I have been fortunate to have a few mentors at crucial stages through my life who I can't thank enough for their investment in my aspirations. I think that no matter who we are, or where we come from, we all need support and encouragement. There are a lot of fine actors out there that inspire me. The dream I guess is to work with them.

Actors find it difficult to get that first break. What was yours and do you have any advice for people trying to get into the business?

One reason that we find it so difficult to find that first break is that there are so many actors and so few opportunities. From a personal perspective I have always looked on every job as an achievement and a break. From a viewer's or public point of view then Coronation Street is without a doubt my  first break. However, without any of my previous work I may not have even landed the role of Rob. Thankfully... I did. So I guess my advice for any budding actors would be that if you work hard and be professional then more opportunities will come your way and then it's up to you to take them. Oh.. Also, please, have a sense of humour!

Thanks very much for taking the time to answer my questions! I'll be posting the interview on both the Coronation Street Blog and the Canadian timeline sister site, the Bluenose Corrie Blog, most likely the day of your appearance here in Halifax! I will be there and look forward to meeting you in person! 

Watch a video clip of Marc at the event here and read the full write up of Marc's visit here

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Wednesday, 14 December 2011

Kate Ford on Tracy's latest schemes

Digital Spy has a great two part interview this week with Kate Ford who tells all about her alter ego's scheming in her efforts to keep her claws into Steve McDonald.

We know that Tracy miscarries and then takes an opportunity to blame Becky because she thinks Steve and Becky are finding their way back together.

Tracy blackmails her mother into keeping her secret while she finds herself dug in deep to the point where she can't back out anyway, because the lie would drive Steve away.


Kate says that Tracy put the blame on Becky after fainting  at Becky's flat and falling down the stairs. It was an impulse to blame Becky with opportunity knocking. Tracy was genuinly upset at losing the babies but as Kate says, "what she does would stop anyone from feeling sorry for her". Indeed! Kate defends Tracy's bitchy personality by saying that Tracy "is true to herself and doesn't let herself get walked all over. It's just not necessarily a good thing taken to the degree that Tracy takes it!"

Kate confirms that she's going to be around Coronation Street for some time to come.

Part one of the interview on Digital Spy is here and there's a bit more here.

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Wednesday, 19 January 2011

Interview with Paula Lane and Katherine Kelly

Paula Lane and Katherine Kelly are both nominated in next week's National Television Awards, Paula for Best Newcomer and Katherine for Best Drama Performance (Good luck, ladies!).

In the Manchester Evening News today, there's a long interview with them both. Each of them is very supportive of and full of praise for the other. Katherine lauds Paula for jumping into a front burner storyline from the start, which isn't easy on a young actor. Paula is grateful for all the help Katherine gave her.

The two of them will be glammed up for the awards next week, making a change from their usual tacky gear. Will either of them come home with a gong? Katherine doesn't think she can come out on top of her competition. It's a tough call but I reckon Paula does have a good chance at winning in her category. She's one of the best newcomers on Coronation Street in some time, I think. She's playing the heck out of it and though Kylie isn't on our screens at the moment, she'll be back to cause more havoc, I'm sure.

Sunday, 7 March 2010

Helen Worth feared the worst

In a smashing interview with the Mirror, Helen Worth says that she thought for sure that was it, she was being written out after being charged with murdering her new husband Joe. Gail will be arrested at Joe's funeral in a couple of weeks but it's not the last we'll see of Helen by a long chalk and she's quite happy about that. Ms. Worth doesn't give interviews too often so it's a treat to hear her talk about her upcoming storyline and the filming inside a real prison. Gail's roller coaster history is mentioned, to which Helen comments "Calm stories are not fun stories are they? It has never been boring." She also adds, "I’d be in a mental institution if my life was like Gail’s." Indeed.

Helen commutes from London. She gets out and about and does a lot of work for charities, especially ones that help preserve animals like the Born Free foundation. One thing that I didn't know is that she auditioned for two other characters before she got the part of Gail Potter. They don't say who, though. Even then, it took three years for "Gail" to really catch on.

Helen has been in show business most of her life, including appearances on stage as one of the Von Trapp children in Sound of Music and a part in 1968's Oliver. I remember seeing her in The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie and in an early Doctor Who episode as well.

Gail's upcoming storyline, which will include the return of Tracy Barlow, will be a major front burning storyline on Coronation Street, and I, for one, am looking forward to it. Gail has always been one of my favourite characters.

Saturday, 6 March 2010

Jane Danson interview

There's a good interview in the Mirror with Jane Danson. She speaks about being in "gritty" storylines and tells us about home life with her actor husband, Robert Beck, and two small kids. She had a tough time after the birth of her second baby last year. She'd lost her beloved dad to cancer just before she got pregnant, then her newborn was ill for awhile and it all led to a case of baby blues. She doesn't think any more kids are on the cards but says her husband has been an enormous help. They have been together for 11 years and really "get each other", something that she says on screen characters Leanne and Peter have as well.

Peter and Leanne are going through an emotionally draining storyline this week when Simon goes missing in Blackpool, every parent's nightmare. They'll get through it, and of course, Simon will be ok, and Jane says she hopes Peter and Leanne will go the distance.

Monday, 8 February 2010

Helen Worth interview

Tonight is the night that Joe reveals his plan to Gail and sails off into the night to execute that plan. Pun intended. We will find out that Joe, planning to fake his death, drowns accidentally though his widow, Gail, gets banged up for it, because Joe forged her signature on a life insurance plan. Digital Spy has an interview with Helen Worth that's quite good.

Helen says that Gail doesn't willingly go along with Joe's plan but does so reluctantly because she believes in standing by her man. In the end, though, she tries to stop him when they row on the dock. So Joe disappears and Gail thinks he's gone ahead with his plan, which includes leaving her behind to lie to insurance companies and the police. (Nice guy. I don't think.) Gail even lies to her son, Nick, who's suspicious and we know it all goes pear shaped and Gail will go to prison for awhile.

Helen Worth is delighted that her character is still getting major storylines after all these years and says, with regards to the upcoming Corrie 50th anniversary, "The whole aftermath of my storyline is a big part of the anniversary."

Saturday, 6 February 2010

Kim Crowther in depth

We know Corrie producer Kim Crowther has announced that she's leaving and Phil Collinson is going to replace her. Digital Spy has a series of in depth interviews with Ms. Crowther. The first is here and there's a link to a second part. Over here, she talks about some more storyline spoilers.

She mentions the 50th anniversary and that ongoing plans still haven't nailed down a "big event" type of storyline to climax in December for the anniversary. Kim will be finished her involvement at the end of March and is looking forward to spending more time with her two small children.

A few storyline spoilers: Tony Gordon is coming back (trial??) and it may have something to do with Maria's return. On the return of Tracy Barlow, she says, in part "We have a story to get her out and we've researched it so it's perfectly legitimate". Seems like it could be one of those "technicality" things! She also defends the Molvin storyline, saying "It's a little slice of real life" where "it happens up and down the country - people copping off with each other's husbands and partners".

It seems that rumour of Sophie coming out as a lesbian may be true. This will be played out later in the spring and looks to be kept a secret from her family (but you know when it comes out, it'll be quite a shock for both snobby Sally and conservative Kevin!) There are lots more storyline spoilers so do check it out!

Thursday, 22 October 2009

Gray O'Brien doesn't want your knickers

There's a nice, long interview today in the Daily Record with Corrie's Gray O'Brien. He talks about his character Tony Gordon and mentions that although he plays a murderer, he's also the (some would say) sexy boss of a knicker factory yet fans haven't sent any knickers through the post! I suppose that's a throwback to when fans used to send things like earrings to Julie Goodyear? He's also not had old ladies whop him with handbags in Tesco and I think he's just as glad on both scores. Still, the fans have grown to "love to hate" Tony (I know I have) and he's enjoying the ride.

He's not saying whether Tony will survive his upcoming heart attack but does hope it might make people think about their health (i.e. don't murder someone, the stress could bring it on?) Gray knows lots of people that have had heart attacks and realizes a healthy lifestyle and reducing stress are important so he does his best on that count.

He also talks about his lovely co-star, Alison King in glowing terms. As well, he's going to be in panto in Manchester this season in a production of Aladdin. That may mean some time off from the cobbles but does it mean Tony dies or does Tony go to jail? We do know that he's going to make what he thinks is a deathbed confession to Roy Cropper. If he survives the heart attack, will Roy go to the police with his information? Will he be believed or will Tony manage to talk himself out of it? All this is yet to come! Stay tuned!

Sunday, 9 August 2009

Canada's Number One Corrie Fan

The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation (CBC) held a contest this spring to find Canada's number one Coronation Street fan and the winner was Oshawa, Ontario resident, Deborah Cyr. I've known Deborah for several years through a couple of the Coronation Street online communities and she's kindly agreed to an interview. Deborah has met over 40 Corrie actors and has almost as many autographs as she has met actors. She's had a private VIP tour of the set with one of our favourite (now ex-) stars, Jayne Tunnicliffe (Bickerton) who played Yana Lumb. She's even had two video messages, one from Jack P. Shepherd and one from Rob James-Collier (be still my beating heart!)

Deborah wins a trip for two to Manchester for a visit to the set, sometime early in 2010, and she's quite excited about that.

Get to know a bit more about Deborah, one lucky lady! The full text of the interview is here. Congratulations!

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