The faces of Corrie in 2009

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 2009, 260 episodes were broadcast.

1. Kevin Webster (127 episodes)

2. Maria Connor (126 episodes)

3. Fiz Brown/Stape (124 episodes)

4. Tony Gordon (123 episodes)

5. Sally Webster (122 episodes)

6. Molly Compton/Dobbs (119 episodes)

7. Joe McIntyre (117 episodes)

8. Peter Barlow (116 episodes)

9. Steve McDonald (116 episodes)

10. Becky Granger/McDonald (114 episodes)

11. David Platt (111 episodes)

12. Jason Grimshaw (107 episodes)

Average age: 34

Note: This is the last time Tony, Molly and Joe appear in the top 12

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Corrie memory loss

Oh dear, it seems poor Gary, Owen and Anna haven't got the money that is owed to them by Stella, for the work they did on the Rovers.

Wait a second, isn't this the same family (minus Owen) who refused to pay Joe McIntyre for the work he did on the kitchen, also the same family. The same family who purposefully made Joe spiral into debt?

This also brings up the question of why Tina is close to them, especially Gary who played a significant role in ruining Joe's life, along side his Uncle Len, surely you wouldn't want to do someone a favour after they did that to your family.

I'm hoping Tina will turn on creepy Gary, who seems to be starting to head back into his old ways lately.

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Joe McIntyre's past set to come back to haunt Tina

Digital Spy says that Rick Neelan, the loan shark who hounded Joe McIntyre for money is set to return, this time he's after money that Terry owes him.

When Rick sees that Tina is involved he once again becomes menacing toward her and Tommy, telling them he wants the money paid back, quickly.

Terry suggests to the pair that they burn down Se7evnth Heaven to get the insurance money that owe Rick. Will they go through with the plan? More importantly, will the plan work?

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Coronation Street and mental health

I'm full of admiration for Ian Puleston-Davies (Coronation Street's Owen Armstrong), who spoke out recently about his experience of Obsessive Compulsive Disorder. It's not an easy thing to do. Beverley Callard has also spoken candidly about her experience of depression. There's still a considerable stigma around mental illness, mental health problems, call it what you will, and it really affects people's job prospects, relationships, self esteem, and so forth - so it's commendable when people in the public eye speak up. Sometimes, celeb depression/bipolar stories in the newspapers don't ring quite true somehow - but these ones do, to me. Personally, I've seen mental illness from both sides - I spent years working as a counsellor and then due to reasons I'll spare you, suffered from severe agoraphobia and panic attacks which were truly horrendous. Although I don't suffer from OCD, I can identify with much of what Ian describes. Terrifying stuff. Fortunately in my case the worst is way behind me, I battled through it somehow, but like many I'm always afraid it will come back.

Mental health problems of one kind or another affect at least one in four of us (that's the stat. that's usually bandied about anyway), so they are a part of daily life - and Coronation Street reflects this. And the good thing is, they don't ruin it by going all po-faced and heavy-handed - like some "other serial dramas" I could mention. A storyline which sticks in my mind for obvious reasons, is the Shelley Unwin one, where she developed agoraphobia. I thought it was handled pretty accurately, except she got over it awfully fast! but, hey - it is soapland, and it would have been awful AND counterproductive if they'd made it boring. Another storyline I thought was well-handled was Maria's reaction to Liam's death. The Peter Barlow alcohol storyline has also been excellent. But best of the lot, in recent times - and I know we were all sick to the back teeth of hearing "He was a GOOD MAN" - aaargh!! - was the Joe McIntyre debt/desperation/faking own death saga. Very true to life - mostly! There are many (I WAS going to say, "in the same boat" - but won't) - who will be equally desperate, especially in the recession.

Anyway - many, many thanks to Corrie cast, writers, etc., for increasing awareness of these issues and showing that they are part of our daily lives.

Reece Dinsdale to appear in Taggart

I was pleased to read in What's On TV (the paper edition, dated 3- 9 July) that Reece Dinsdale (Coronation Street's Joe McIntyre) has risen from his watery grave and is to appear in the next series of Taggart.

He'll guest star as DI Casey, an old friend of Matt Burke (I love Matt Burke! but that's another story) who arrives in Glasgow to help the team investigate the "muRRder" of a student.

Reece Dinsdale is a cracking actor and I'm really looking forward to this. The series will premier on STV this autumn and on ITV in 2011.

Corrie's Gail Force boat for sale on eBay

If you'd like to own the original Gail Force boat as used on Coronation Street, it's up for sale now on eBay. Dig deep, bids start at £695! Here's the boat in all its Corrie glory.

The news about Joe's drowning is a little bit painful

The news about Joe's drowning is painful for me. My dad completed suicide by drowning almost two years ago, in April 2008. He had been suffering from psychosis and sadly took the decision to drown himself. We knew he was missing, and spent an awful twenty-four hours with the police looking for him before they found his body.

When I knew this storyline was upcoming I knew it would be hard for me. It is. It's acutely painful. I've been exactly where Tina is. I've identified my dad's body, I've cried in disbelief, I've lived it and I'm so so sorry for Tina. I knew Michelle Keegan would be excellent and so far she is. Helen Worth is always good.

Just excuse me if I don't blog about this storyline for a couple of weeks. It's far too close to home.

Joe's death, the aftermath

Joe's death has had an effect on me. What kind of effect? An outpouring of words, that's what. You didn't expect me to come over all grief-stricken did you? I can't say I'm sad to see Joe go because we really never had a chance to form a sympathetic bond with the man for the most part even if you did feel a bit sorry for some of the bad things that happened to him. My essay is over here, all about Joe, his downfall and the effect it's going to have on Gail.

Video: Joe's Death: The Fallout (or fall overboard?)

We the viewer know that Joe went under and has drowned. Gail still holds out faint hope that he's faked his death as planned and will return at some point. Tina, of course, will be devastated thinking her father has drowned. How will she react when she is told that her father faked his death (so everyone thinks)? ITV have a video interview with Michelle Keegan who has some insight into it all. It's pretty clear she and Gail are going to be at loggerheads. You can also see some behind the scenes footage at ITV, where there is also a video interview with Helen Worth about the storyline.

Joe McIntyre's big send off

Oooh, I'm that excited about tonight! And something you rarely see on our screens - a Corrie trailer! It's been showing all week, and it's got me definitely in the mood for seeing these two episodes. Sadly, I'm out tonight and tomorrow, so it'll be Wednesday before I get chance to see them!

I do like Joe, but I'm sick of this whole storyline - I wish they could've ended it when Joe broke into the medical centre, but I suppose loan sharks don't just disappear into the night. It would be nice for Gail to finally have some happiness, though. I adore Tina and I know she'll be brilliant in the upcoming weeks coming to terms with her dad's death.

Does anyone else in the UK find it ironic that they've been showing a series called "The Lakes" in between Monday's Corrie eps since the beginning of the year? "Come to the Lakes - where fictional characters die for the insurance".

I'll be avoiding the blog until Wednesday so I'm not totally spoiled story wise, but this is the first big storyline of the year folks - enjoy it!

Pics: Joe McIntyre's funeral filmed for Corrie

There's paparazzi pictures online of some of the Coronation Street cast filming Joe McIntyre's funeral. Gail's in tears, Audrey's got that look on her face, Tina's upset and David's there too. Looks like a dramatic spring on Corrie coming up after Joe's watery death in the Lake District next month.

Kate Ford nervously returns

Via Digital Spy and then via Hello magazine, Kate Ford has admitted that she was pretty nervous on her first few days back on the set of Coronation Street as convict Tracy Barlow. She was so nervous that her dry throat was causing the sound guys grief! Tracy will be back initially for the funeral of Blanche Hunt and later she'll be involved, back in jail, when another resident is incarcerated. My money's on Gail who is apparently going to be in the nick for Joe's murder but of course, we know that's going to be accidental. But since Tracy is due to be on the canvas at the end of the year full time, how do you think they'll manage to get this "twisted sister" out?

Gail Platt... just what was she thinking?

I'm sure someone else will be along with a much more in depth analysis of Gail and Joe's wedding, but my first thought on seeing the dress was: "OH MY GOD WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU WEARING?!?!?!" It would have been lovely without the high-necked bit, really.

A lovely touching moment between Ted and Gail though, when he told her he never thought he'd be a dad and here he was giving her away. I love Ted, I think he's how Ken was before he started being a right old busybody.

As an aside, how hot does Tina look in that turquoise dress? Mmmmm! Furthermore, is it just me who can only call Gail, Gail Platt? Not Tilsley or Hillman or McIntyre, but Platt. She'll always be Platt. I loved Martin, and some of my earliest Corrie memories are of his affair with Crazy Carmel.

Joe McIntyre to get killed off in his canoe

Spoiler of the week - and it's only Monday - goes to The Sun who reveal that Gail Platt's new husband Joe will be bumped off in an insurance scam that goes horribly wrong.

Apparantly, Joe decides to fake his own death to avoid his crippling debt problems and leave wife Gail with the proceeds from his life insurance. But as Joe takes the boat to the Lake District and prepares to jump off his boat, a strong gust of wind blows its sail pole, which knocks him unconscious and into the freezing water. Ah well, I guess it was too much to expect for Gail to be happy for long.

Joe in Loan Shark Hell

Hands up, who saw this coming? Thought so. Ok, you can all put your hands down again. Yes, Joe is going to have a little trouble with a vicious loan shark. According to The Sun, Joe owed a supplier £2000 but the supplier gets bought out by a less-than-upstanding "street banker" who then raises the interest rate and starts coming after Joe for the inflated amount of £7000! The thug, named Rick Neeland, threatens and intimidates Joe and his family, pushing Joe into some desperate action to save his loved ones. My speculation? This may or may not lead to Joe's death as previously rumoured but as it happens in November, it seems it will coincide with his departure as Reece Dinsdale is leaving the show later this year.

Joe's Addiction

You know, far be it from me to defend David Platt. He's a nasty little oik and a small part of me will enjoy seeing him get a good pasting. Not that we'll see it, because it's a mystery, innit? Anyway, that's not what this post is about. Joe. Joe's Addiction. I saw it coming months ago. David, naturally, managed to take full advantage of the situation after Graeme decided not to supply Joe after that one time. Too risky, he's turned his life around, as he said in last night's episode. David did not actually go out and buy the drugs, he stole the ones Joe already had, extorted money out of him and withheld them, teasing him with one at a time.

In a way, David did Joe a favour by only giving him one or two even though Joe went spiralling into withdrawal. Oh sure, David twisted it when he told Audrey that he kept the pills from Joe to help him. That covers him when Joe (and Tina) blame David. There's a small grain of truth in David's story, just enough to be remotely believeable.

But David is NOT to blame. David did not go out and obtain drugs for Joe over and over, not even the once, and he didn't give those all to Joe either. Joe got addicted all by himself. Joe begged and pleaded Graeme and David to get him a supply. Joe stole from Gail. Joe broke into the health centre. All by himself. As of last night, he is taking responsibility and is not putting the blame on David, like Tina is but she's got a hate on for David anyway. She's bound to want to defend her Dad, and she's not going to want to believe the worst of him.

Maybe we'll see Joe and Peter go to the same addiction meeting. Maybe they'll forge an unexpected friendship or at lease support each other. I'd like to see Peter reach out to offer help when Joe's ready to take it. It would be realistic. It doesn't look like Joe is ready yet, but he will be.

Reece Dinsdale for Strictly Come Dancing?

As we've heard already, Reece Dinsdale, who plays Joe McIntyre, is leaving Coronation Street soon. And it's rumoured that he'll appear on the next series of Strictly Come Dancing, or at least it says so here.

As I'm a big fan of both Corrie and Strictly, you can bet your sequin-covered tush I'll be covering this one for the blog if any present or ex-Corrie actors appear on it.

Joe McIntyre to be killed off in Corrie

Shock news from The Mirror today is that Reece Dinsdale, who plays Gail's fella Joe McIntyre, is to leave Coronation Street - in a coffin! Yes, he's getting killed off in a bizarre plot to do with his addiction to painkillers.

Coronation Street weekly awards, June 6

Spy of the week: Graeme Proctor. Up a tree, camo-painted face, code names and everything.

Plan goes wildly wrong award: David set up Gary to burgle Audrey's house. But Ted turned up to house-sit, was surprised by Gary and later, is most definitely having a heart attack. Oh crap!

The Other Shoe dropping award: Finally, Peter has realised he can't stay sober on his own. He went to the support group meeting, was horribly embarassed and self conscious but, cranky and needing a drink, he shouted at little Simon and realised he needed to sort himself out for the lad's sake, if nothing else. I'm Peter, I'm an alcholic. Baby steps, Peter. Well done.

Surreal moment of the week: Hayley turning around in the cash and carry and seeing dozens and dozens of life sized Eddie Windasses with Roy Cropper's name on his chest.

Get a grip award: Gold Star: Joe freaking out without his pain pills
Silver star: Kevin starting to think Jason fancies Tina and looking distinctly jealous.

Reece Dinsdale: "I've been a fan of Corrie since I was three"

Reece Dinsdale, who plays Joe McIntyre on Coronation Street, says being in Corrie is like a dream come true as he's such a fan of the show. He's clearly loving being on the cobbles, you can tell from reading the interview that he's hugely enthusiastic about the role as Joe. I like him as a character, he's a good 'un and anything that puts a smile on Gail Platt's face is ok by me.

See more little blog snippets about Reece Dinsdale here.