V is for Very Flippin' Good

If I didn’t know any better I’d say Peter Kay had his hands all over last night’s double Corrie. The two great episodes saw Carla face the consequences of her actions and we were introduced to a newly unpleasant and cantankerous side of Chesney that didn’t really suit him. There was love in the air as Billy and Paul finally had a smooch out in the open and not down a filthy alley (Billy promised to remove the stick from his backside in celebration), while Geoff and Yasmeen had a pea-based pun-off in a bizarre storyline based around veg.

There was also a welcome new addition to the Corrie cast, albeit only over the airwaves and not in the flesh. Legend of the real life airwaves and star of Phoenix Nights, Justin Moorhouse played a local radio DJ as Mary battled Gemma and Brian in a general knowledge quiz for a thousand quid prize.

JUSTIN IS ON TOUR! TICKETS HERE

It’s not the first time Justin has ‘appeared’ on Corrie. He delivered a car to Sally Webster back in 2011 and in 2014 he played Dean Upton, landlord of the famous Flying Horse. He’s best known for being a stand-up comedian, radio DJ in the North West, and of course his hilarious role as Young Kenny in Peter Kay’s brilliant Phoenix Nights.

JUSTIN (CENTRE) AND THE CAST OF PHOENIX NIGHTS

Having been banned from calling in to ‘Salford Sounds’ and ‘Radio Weatherfield’ for abusing the talent, Corrie’s Brian was forced to channel his knowledge through a willing Gemma, who had already spent the prize money in her head before they’d even started.

But that wasn’t the only time Peter Kay’s influence crossed my mind watching Wednesday’s Coronation Street. Having lost the radio quiz, Mary, clearly miffed, turned her back on the radio which was still blasting through the florist’s. She rested her head on her hands and appeared to flick the “V” sign to us viewers. These days Corrie can be very naughty when it comes to risqué language and innuendo so I have no doubt that this was intentional.

And who’s also famous for this (apart from Winston Churchill)? My comedy hero Mr Kay:

I really loved last night’s episodes. Carla is still breaking my heart and is clearly falling apart. The Coronation Street blog has given us a taste of what might be in store for this fans’ favourite. Meanwhile Roy is torn between logic and love like a Northern, working-class version of Spock from Star Trek. Paul is developing into a really great, likeable character while Nick is becoming ever more unpleasant. 

But most of all I’m loving the small stuff at the moment. The interaction between Rita and Brian in the Kabin:

 The three Sals. All legends and all brilliant on screen. I don't want any of them to leave ever:

Sally Dynevor, Sally Carman, Sally-Ann Matthews

I’m just really enjoying the nonsense. It is balancing out the serious stuff perfectly for me at the moment. So far, I’m a fan of Iain MacLeod as Producer.

I am on Twitter: @StevieDawson

As is Justin Moorhouse: @JustinMoorhouse 

---

---

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

It's just not cricket

There has been a lot of underhanded behaviour in Weatherfield recently, what with Machiavellian Murderer, Rob Donovan doing all he can to ensure Peter goes down for a crime he didn’t commit; and the cowboy building operation being run to catastrophic effect over at “Jason's Construction”. It’s just not cricket.

It was with some relief then that I sat down last Sunday to watch the epic encounter between The Rovers Return and The Flying Horse. It provided a welcome break from Peter’s predicament and the gripping but intense wrangling between the Dobbs and Grimshaw households.

I’m not sure how the hastily assembled Rovers team managed to beat an established Sunday League team but that’s the romance of pub cricket, I suppose – anything can happen. Obviously, sport runs through Manchester’s core and it stands to reason there would be some competent cricketers in Weatherfield. The Rovers’ team sheet was as follows:

• Alahan, Dev
• Britton, Luke
• Britton, Steph
• Brown, Chesney
• Donovan, Rob
• Nazir, Kal
• Nazir, Sharif
• Nazir, Zeedan
• Platt, David
• Rodwell, Michael
• Windass, Gary

Although the talent belonged mainly to Zeedan, Rob and Gary, Platty deserves a mention for a solid catch early doors and Steph too for stumping out Dean Upton, Landlord of The Flying Horse. Dev’s most noticeable contribution came at teatime with a veritable spread laid on by D&S Alahan’s Corner Shop, much to the delight of both teams.

Twelfth Man Steve McDonald may not have touched a ball but he did a fine job of assembling his team. In a sort of ‘Director of Cricket’ role, he appointed Alya Nazir to take charge of team selection. This proved a tactical masterstroke as Alya effortlessly calmed the dressing room bickering and focused her players on the task at hand – wiping the smile off Dean Upton’s face and shutting Bobby the Trumpet up for good.

What did blog readers think of stand-up comedian Justin Moorhouse as Deano? I thought it was a decent cameo and I’d like to see a recurring rivalry develop between the two publicans. After all, The Flying Horse want to win back the vintage Space Invaders machine they forfeited in defeat. Maybe the Weathy Arms could also be involved in a round robin.

Zeedan was brought into play for the first time – the final member of the Nazir squad. Despite being an excellent all-rounder, his hatred of Leanne (who he had yet to meet) was such that the mere sight of her made him throw his bat down in disgust and walk off the pitch with very few runs on the board. And they say cricket is a gentleman’s game! Leanne is going to have her work cut out there and it remains to be seen if the Nazirs will gel as a unit.

Thank goodness for Gary Windass who managed a respectable 59 runs before being ruled out for LBW. Michael “42 runs a season” Rodwell may have been free from the shackles of his electronic tag but he didn’t run very far on this occasion, finding himself out for a duck. The sight of Michael clutching his chest sowed the seeds of an imminent storyline.

So what about “star batsman” Rob Donovan? Well, he spent the day desperately trying to prevent Carla from revealing to Ken her newfound belief in Peter’s innocence. But what really knocked him for six was discovering that a new development is being built on the site where he hid the murder weapon. He really should have checked the local planning applications before disposing of the evidence – surely Deirdre could have helped him navigate the Weatherfield Council website? The retrieval and reburial of said evidence was far more pressing than pub cricket and Rob remained AWOL for most of the match.

When the Rovers were down to their last batsman, it looked like Stevie Mac and his oversized hat would get a run out after all. However, in the nick of time, Rob arrived in T-shirt and jeans to save the day. On the last ball of the last over, The Rovers needed four runs to win. Swapping the lead pipe for the cricket bat, Rob smashed it out of the park and won it for Team Rovers.

I enjoyed the cricket storyline. It showcased the sense of community and camaraderie so central to Coronation Street. When Rob’s teammates lifted him aloft amidst chants of “Legend, Legend”, I almost found myself forgiving him for all that he’s done. And that’s the tragedy – Rob has been a great character in recent months. It's a shame they made him a murderer. I feel he had much more to give.

But the die is cast. Carla is getting suspicious and he won’t be able to pull the wool over Ken’s eyes for much longer. Rob is on a sticky wicket and when the truth comes out, there’ll be no chance of bail.

By Martin Leay

Twitter: @mpleay

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

Tonight! Justin Moorhouse makes Coronation Street debut

Tonight's the night when comedian Justin Moorhouse makes his Coronation Street debut.

Pitted against Steve in a pub cricket match, Justin will play the landlord of rival pub The Flying Horse.

Justin says: I’m delighted to be treading the cobbles. It’s always been a dream of mine to appear in the Rovers Return, even though as landlord of the Flying Horse, I feel like I’m a spy."

Justin, known for Phoenix Nights and Looking for Eric, will be joining the Street prior to taking his one man Stand Up Show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this Summer.

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

Rovers Return plans cricket match against Flying Horse

There's a Coronation Street spoiler and picture in today's Daily Star showing comedian Justin Moorhouse as landlord of the Flying Horse.

Justine plays landlord Dean who turns up at the Rovers to check out the competition. The Star says he then boasts about his pub’s cricket team before Steve hits back by telling him that his Rovers team would thrash them in a match.

Dean tells Steve that they’ve just been let down by a team they were due to play in a couple of weeks - and the pair shake hands on taking part in the match. And after Dean leaves the Rovers Steve starts to panic - as the Rovers doesn’t have a cricket team.

Sounds like a challenge that Corrie could rise to. I wonder who will be on the cricket team? It'll be Steve for sure, maybe Lloyd, Kirk, Tyrone, Dev, Khalid, who else..? 

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

Comedian Justin Moorhouse joins Coronation Street

The official Coronation Street website at itv.com/corrie announces that actor and comedian Justin Moorhouse will be joining Coronation Street this summer.

Pitted against Steve in a pub cricket match, Justin will play Dean Upton, landlord of rival pub The Flying Horse.

Justin says: I’m delighted to be treading the cobbles. It’s always been a dream of mine to appear in the Rovers Return, even though as Dean, landlord of the Flying Horse, I feel like I’m a spy"

Justin, known for Phoenix Nights and Looking for Eric, will be joining the Street prior to taking his one man Stand Up Show to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival this Summer.

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