Want You Back (From The Dead)

Halloween traditionally was a time to remember the departed, in particular the saints, before the actual celebration of their faith, life and death on November 1^st. Over time and with the influence of various religions, cultures and cults the feast took on a more sinister meaning and now we revel in the possible return of the undead on October 31^st whilst loading up on sugary treats and filling our homes with bizarre plastic decorations.

A couple of years ago, before the pandemic, I gave in after a lifetime of resisting and finally dressed up for a Halloween with my family. It’s also my birthday so it marks my turning another year older and being another year closer to my own death. Which is nice.

Anyway I chose to dress up as my favourite Star Trek character at this party so I excitedly donned a stretchy silver catsuit in the style of Borg goddess Seven of Nine and checked myself out in my sister’s full-length mirror. This Blog, written at the time, will explain why I had to take the costume off immediately, and why somebody in Weatherfield suffered a similar Halloween fate.

The spookiest time of year is almost upon us again and to avoid any costume nightmares I won’t be dressing up this year, but it looks like some of our Corrie favourites will be. There’s a huge storm, an explosion, more sinkhole drama and some dangerous and unpleasant people returning to the cobbles so it looks like an exciting few episodes await us at the end of the month. We may even be treated to a bit of death.

Coming soon (run)...

In keeping with the ‘return of the dead’ (or undead) theme, I was thinking who I’d like to see back on the cobbles at Halloween. The Sanderson sisters returned to cause havoc in the brilliant Hocus Pocus and Michael Myers still can’t stop coming back to terrorist people at this time of year in the ridiculously scary Halloween films. Corrie does go a bit mad with its storylines from time-to-time, admittedly not zombie-mad, but why not embrace the supernatural for a few episodes?

Ivy Brennan is an obvious choice for a Halloween comeback. Already deeply spiritual in life, Ivy’s Catholicism often caused friction within the family. She died when on a “religious retreat” and after her death Vera Duckworth claimed to have bumped into her ghost on Don’s landing. An exorcism soon followed. Ridiculous.

"I see dead seamstresses"

The most perfect Halloween return, for me, would come in the form of evil (and recently cremated) Pat Phelan. I can just see the horrified faces of all those that hated Pat as he appears out of the October darkness seeking revenge. Eileen, half terrified and half unsurprised he’s come back would have to kill him again. It would be brilliant.

Norris Cole once held a séance after being convinced the Kabin was haunted. While it turned out not to be evil spirits but a bit of damp, perhaps he’s now floating about the place, trapped between two worlds, unable to leave Rita. Time for Gemma to get the candles back out and see how Nozza’s getting on since he crossed over?

I also have this image of Fred Elliot coming back from the dead like the Jacob Marley in a Christmas Carol but instead of chains he's got loads of strings of sausages holding him down. 

Fred. Dead.

Anyway it looks like the buildup to some the the Halloween and autumn/winter storylines has already begun. You can read more about what’s in store on the Blog HERE and on the Corrie website HERE.

Have a good one.

@StevieDawson

---

---

All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

The faces of Corrie in 1991

If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.

With thanks to Corriepedia for the information.

In 1991, 157 episodes were broadcast.

1. Jack Duckworth (108 episodes)

2. Liz McDonald (103 episodes)

3. Audrey Roberts (103 episodes)

4. Bet Gilroy (101 episodes)

5. Vera Duckworth (100 episodes)

6. Gail Tilsley/Platt (100 episodes)

7. Alma Sedgewick (97 episodes)

8. Mavis Wilton (96 episodes)

9. Don Brennan (94 episodes)

10. Ivy Brennan (94 episodes)

11. Des Barnes (93 episodes)

12. Jim McDonald (93 episodes)

Average age: 46

Note: This is the last time Ivy appears in the top 12

Download our App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook



All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

The faces of Corrie in 1990

If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.

With thanks to Corriepedia for the information.

In 1990, 157 episodes were broadcast.

1. Alec Gilroy (122 episodes)

2. Bet Gilroy (119 episodes)

3. Deirdre Barlow (118 episodes)

4. Sally Webster (115 episodes)

5. Alma Sedgewick (105 episodes)

6. Jack Duckworth (104 episodes)

7. Mike Baldwin (102 episodes)

8. Ivy Brennan (102 episodes)

9. Rita Fairclough (102 episodes)

10. Kevin Webster (102 episodes)

11. Audrey Roberts (100 episodes)

12. Ken Barlow (99 episodes)

Average age: 46

Download our App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook



All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

The faces of Corrie in 1989

If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.

With thanks to Corriepedia for the information.

In 1989, 115 episodes were broadcast.

1. Jack Duckworth (90 episodes)

2. Sally Webster (89 episodes)

3. Audrey Roberts (88 episodes)

4. Vera Duckworth (87 episodes)

5. Alf Roberts (85 episodes)

6. Rita Fairclough (84 episodes)

7. Martin Platt (78 episodes)

8. Bet Gilroy (77 episodes)

9. Betty Turpin (77 episodes)

10. Ivy Brennan (75 episodes)

11. Tina Fowler (75 episodes)

12. Jenny Bradley (74 episodes)

Due to lack of space, Gail Tilsley and Kevin Webster fail to make the top 12, but they also appeared in 74 episodes.

Average age: 44

Note: To date, this is the only time Tina and Jenny appear in the top 12.

Download our App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook



All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

The faces of Corrie in 1988

If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.

With thanks to Corriepedia for the information.

In 1988, 104 episodes were broadcast.

1. Vera Duckworth (87 episodes)

2. Emily Bishop (79 episodes)

3. Jack Duckworth (78 episodes)

4. Ivy Tilsley/Brennan (74 episodes)

5. Alec Gilroy (73 episodes)

6. Mike Baldwin (72 episodes)

7. Bet Gilroy (72 episodes)

8. Betty Turpin (70 episodes)

9. Sally Webster (69 episodes)

10. Ken Barlow (67 episodes)

11. Percy Sugden (66 episodes)

12. Alan Bradley (65 episodes)

Due to lack of space, Gloria Todd fails to make the top 12, but she also appeared in 65 episodes.

Average age: 51

Note: This is the last time Emily (to date) and Percy appear in the top 12 and the only time Alan appears.

Download our App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook



All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Top 50 Corrie Couples - Nos. 46 and 45

46. Eddie and Anna Windass, 2008-2011 (16 votes)

When they arrived, Eddie and Anna had aspects of Stan and Hilda and Les and Janice – him being the layabout and she being a screech. Although not married, Anna took Eddie’s name. Introduced as a family that refused to pay Joe McIntyre for a kitchen refit, they soon moved into No.6, next door to Joe! Both Anna and Joe’s partner Gail tried to make amends between the two warring families but to no avail.

While Eddie got a job in Streetcars, Anna got a job as a waitress at Roy’s Rolls. Anna disagreed with Eddie’s scheming and scamming and was ashamed when Eddie stole and posed as Roy Cropper in a scam to get a free holiday. In 2010, the Windasses become interested in adoption and they take in Faye Butler. A troubled girl, Faye caused a rift between Eddie and Anna and when Eddie issued an ultimatum to Anna, she chose Faye and Eddie left for Germany.

Do you think Eddie suited Anna better than Owen does? Should the Windasses be at 46?

45. Don Brennan and Ivy Tilsley/Brennan, 1987-1994 (18 votes)

After first husband Bert died in 1984 and a romance with George Wardle in 1985, Ivy Tilsley met cabby Don Brennan in 1987 when he drove her home. Don was a widower, and he and Ivy married in 1988. Ivy’s life changed forever in 1989 when Brian was fatally stabbed. Already a staunch Catholic, she turned more towards religion and away from Don, leading to tension between them. Only being married for two years, Don soon realised that he had made a mistake in marrying Ivy as she became obsessed with the relationship of Gail with toy boy Martin Platt and the effect it had on Nick and Sarah Louise and even got Social Services involved. Don forced Ivy to apologise.

By 1992, Don had an affair with barmaid Julie Dewhurst and when Julie later dumped him, he attempted suicide and had to have his lower leg amputated. Ivy, devastated by his adultery, turned to drink. They soon reconciled, but slept in separate rooms. Don left Ivy in 1994 and she went on a long retreat to a convent, where she suffered a stroke and died. Although he’d asked for a divorce, Don was left a widower for the second time.

Were you a fan of the Brennans? Should they be at 45?

Check out who was 48 and 47.

Download our App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook



All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Favourite Corrie couples countdown - fourth poll

 

Hello all! Now, I hope you've voted in the second poll of ten because that is now officially closed. But you have until midnight next Monday to vote for two of your favourite couples in the third poll.

So, who's in our fourth poll?

 

Ernest Bishop and Emily Nugent/Bishop (1969-1978) – After spending the 1960s finding a man, Miss Nugent met photographer Ernest in 1969 and found they shared the same interests – religion, community involvement, music and literature. They married in 1972 and settled at 3 Coronation Street. Middle-aged, they’d missed the chance of parenthood but had the opportunity of fostering in 1974. Ernie’s financial woes in 1976 strained the marriage somewhat as he accepted to accompany strippers on the piano at the local nightclub, much to Emily’s annoyance. He did find employment at the factory as a wages clerk but was gunned down in a robbery in 1978. Emily was heartbroken.

 

Dev Alahan and Sunita Pareck/Alahan (2004-2006, 2010-2013) – Sunita was Dev’s assistant at the Corner Shop and she was smitten with him. But it wasn’t until she had a brain tumour that Dev realised he loved her. Dev dumped his girlfriend Maya for Sunita who didn’t take it too well. She framed Sunita for bigamy and blew all of Dev’s shop up and tried to kill the Alahans by gassing them but they escaped. The Alahans then settled into married life and twins Aadi and Asha were born in 2006. But the marriage collapsed when Sunita found out about that Dev had fathered many children with his shop assistants! In 2009, Sunita re-entered Dev’s life and they decided to give it another go. But, in 2012, a bored Sunita had an affair with Karl Munro and Dev moved out. But after a few months, Sunita realised that she’d made a mistake and she reunited with Dev. But the reunion didn’t last long as Sunita caught Karl starting a fire in the Rovers and he pushed her down the cellar steps into the flames. Although she’d survived the fire, Karl finished her off in the hospital by dislodging her life support tube.

Ashley and Claire Casey/Peacock (2003-2010) – Ashley and Claire met when she became a nanny for his son Joshua. They married in 2004 and in 2006 their son Thomas, who was re-named Freddie after Ashley’s dad Fred died later that year. During their six year marriage, the Peacocks had their fair share of drama, from Claire’s post natal depression to Freddie being kidnapped by disturbed Casey Carswell who also tried to kill Claire and manipulate Ashley by having an affair with him. As well as dramas, Ashley and Claire starred in comic storylines that include a house swap with the Websters in 2008 and Claire forcing Ashley to have a vasectomy in 2009. The marriage came to a tragic end when Ashley was crushed by a beam in the aftermath of the tram crash in 2010.

 

Alf Roberts and Renee Bradshaw/Roberts (1977-1980) – After chasing Maggie Clegg in the early 70s, it was no surprise when Alf started courting shopkeeper Renee and many accused him of being interested in her because of the shop. After two proposals, they married in 1978. When Alf announced his retirement from the GPO, Renee was worried as she didn’t want Alf with her day and night. She felt awful when he was injured in the Rovers lorry crash in 1979 and was happy for him to be with her behind the counter. In 1980, they decided to sell up and move to Grange-over-Sands to run a sub-post office there. But while on the way home from a visit, learner driver Renee stalled the car and a lorry crashed into them. Renee died and Alf decided to stay on at the corner shop.

 

Don Brennan and Ivy Tilsley/Brennan (1987-1994) – Ivy met cabby Don in 1987 when he drove her home. Don was a widower, and he and Ivy married in 1988. But when her son Brian was stabbed to death in 1989, Ivy turned more to religion than to Don and the couple grew apart. Don soon found out that he’d made a mistake in marrying Ivy as she became obsessed with Brian’s widow Gail’s relationship with Martin Platt and the effect it had on the children. Don had an affair with Julie Dewhurst in 1992 and when she dumped him, he attempted suicide but it only resulted in him having his leg amputated. Ivy, devastated, turned to drink as she and Don slept separately. Ivy later left the street for a convent, where she died of a stroke in 1995.

 

Have you got favourites in this five? Well vote for two of them and we'll see where they'll be in the countdown! Voting closes at midnight on Monday, 2nd December.
 

 

Follow Coronation Street Blog on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License