When #CORRIE hits back

Corrie fans, like Manchester United supporters and Scientologists, can be very loyal to their cause. And at times they can be the most honest. Brutally so. Especially in the era of social media.

Twitter more than any other medium gives television viewers the unique opportunity to engage with cast and crew like never before. We can critique storylines, send gushing praise about individual performances or have a good old rant about there never being enough Rita on screen.

Former Exec Producer Kieron Roberts explained how important social media is to the soap, especially during awards season:

“We’ve done a lot of work on our website and on Facebook and Twitter to persuade people to get involved. That’s what you have to do these days. It’s no longer about filling in a form in the back of the TV Times. People vote by clicking a button on their phones and on their computers.”

He continued:

“A lot of the cast are on Twitter, too, so they are able to drum up support by building a relationship with fans as well.”

I’ve praised Corrie a lot on this Blog and on social media - I always prefer to keep my musings positive. But healthy critique is good and we should never shy away of speaking our minds (remind me of this when I'm next sending a barrage of abuse to Boris Johnson on Twitter).

Here, in my catchily-titled blog from 2015 “Corrie Superfan Seeks Paint Drying Companion”, I explained how I was watching the show more out of habit than enjoyment. And I wasn’t alone. Now though it’s all too easy to write a cutting little tweet directly to the source of your dissatisfaction - be it the writers, actors or producers. I’m never personally too harsh but some of you Corrie fans DO NOT hold back!

Apologies for the expletives and reference to football. 

It can be an unfriendly place the old t'internet, even here on the Coronation Street Blog we get some very unpleasant remarks in the comments section from time to time. In this relatively new era of engagement through social media though we on the Blog can reply to those comments, or delete them from existence if they are really offensive, and Corrie cast and crew themselves can hit back on Twitter. And they often do.

Tristan Gemmill has taken to Twitter this week to engage with a few of Corrie’s armchair commentators. His character Robert is, in Tristan’s own words in “a bit of a pickle” and some fans are not enjoying the long-running storyline and his love triangle with Michelle and Vicky.

Some people had a go at the character.

Others criticised the storyline.

And some just just let rip.

Sensing a social media storm, Tristan had his say.

There was even a hilarious intervention from his on-screen fiancée (or one of them) Kym Marsh.

And Tristan’s not the first to engage in Twitter drama over Corrie feedback. Dan Brocklebank, who plays Vicar Billy received a torrent of hate online after an on screen kiss. He didn’t stay silent.

Actors often use Twitter to respond to media stories about them.

The sassiest of online Corrie stars has to be Sally Ann Matthews. She’s probably the cast member that engages the most with fans, but she doesn't always receive the nicest comments. One particular ‘critique’ Sal gets when the show is on and Corrie Twitter awakens is…her hair colour. She now has a short but effective response.

TMI Sal.

And when it comes to responding to more serious criticism of the show, simple facts are all that are required.

So there.

In responding to some social media users, Corrie stars can reveal some big behind the scenes secrets.

Yummy.

Jane Danson felt she had to set the record straight over comments about her walk when filming pregnancy scenes.

And others simply put people, rightly, in their place.

But Kate has also made a serious point about the down side of social media.

Tina O’Brien, who plays Sarah Platt, let fans on Twitter know back in March that she was aware of their concern for her #BendyFingers

Try picking your nose with THAT. 

Engaging with your favourite soap stars online can be a mixed experience. A bit of sparring is fun. But it’s more fun to be kind. Don’t take it from me though. Take it from a fan.

Join me on Twitter if you dare @StevieDawson

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Kate Ford Interview: Tracy threatens Tyler

Tracy’s struggled for weeks with Amy’s teen pregnancy and knowing that Tyler is the father, what makes her finally decide to take action against him?

Tracy is so angry with Tyler for what he did to Amy and while Amy says it was consensual she is still a child and Tracy feels he took advantage. As a family they’ve been trying to work through this but with Vicky putting pressure on them, and Tyler now hanging round the street working at the bistro, it’s the final straw for Tracy. She can’t believe Robert would employ him and it really feeds her anger. In desperation she offers him £5k to stay away from Amy and the baby.

What will Tracy do if Tyler doesn’t accept the bribe?

If he doesn’t accept I think she’ll resort to desperate measures. Steve’s keen to listen to Amy and play the long game with Tyler but Tracy’s had enough and his smug attitude really pushes her buttons. 

Do Tracy and Steve worry that they could be pushing Amy further away?

Amy’s furious that they’re interfering but I think they’re so wrapped up in doing what they think is best at times they lose sight of how Amy is really feeling. Tracy’s torn between the desire to protect her daughter and not wanting to upset her. It causes tension between Steve and Tracy and Amy can feel that too.

Does Steve disagree with Tracy’s insistence that they need to take action against Tyler?

They end up rowing, he accuses her of being irresponsible for not listening to Amy and being rash but Tracy just wants to protect her baby and she thinks Tyler should be punished. In her eyes he’s much older than Amy and he should be held responsible.

Do they have any idea what Amy really wants?

Tracy thinks she’s doing the right things but Amy is really upset by all the arguing and the name calling. Tracy doesn’t want it to damage their relationship but Steve can see it is pushing Amy away and he tries to warn her. Tracy’s gutted but she can’t hold back..

Do you think this could damage their relationship with Amy moving forward?

Yes in trying to do the right thing every step of the way Tracy has stopped listening to Amy and the worry is that Amy will look back on this experience and resent her parents for the way they handled it.

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Star of the Week: Tracy Barlow

This post is a little later than usual as I’ve had to go up to Manchester; keep your eye out for exciting stuff!

I’m not going to lie to you, I flippin’ love Tracy Barlow. A truly iconic character, Tracy has had her fair share of ups and downs (I use those words loosely).

Everyone knows Tracy as Queen Bitch of Coronation Street, letting nothing and no one stand in the way of what she wants. However much she has mellowed over the past couple of years, this week in particular we’ve been constantly reminded of just how far Tracy can turn.

It’s a bit odd watching Tracy being sweet and loving towards Steve, a bit like a lion shacking up with a gazelle. Steve’s been playing a very dangerous game of late, and he should be fully aware of the consequences.

Back to Tracy, I was cracking up at the start of the week as she got embroiled in a war of heated words with Leanne about little Oliver wearing the “McDonald tartan” to the wedding, a topic that Tracy refused to let go of throughout the week.

While she’s planning the supposed wedding of her dreams, the poor love has Steve fooling around with Leanne... again. Quite ironically, Steve was reminded of Charlie, who “had his head caved in with a nik nak”. I think Tracy’s days of battering her boyfriends with statues are over, but if Steve really believes that he can get away with cheating on Tracy, he deserves every bit of her wrath.

Finally, if the way Tracy reacted to Peter not coming to the wedding didn’t set off alarm bells with Steve then God help him.

Who’s your Star of the Week this week?

Sophie Williams

Read some more of my general natterings on Twitter @sophie_jw26

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George Michael on Coronation Street

George Michael - God rest his soul - lived a colourful life. Apparently though, he was never happier than when drinking tea and watching Corrie in his PJs. A man after my own heart!

I remember reading this interview with him in the Guardian when he said that his guiltiest pleasure was Sunday morning when he saved up “loads of episodes of Corrie to watch”. I was already a fan but he went up further in my estimation when I discovered he was into Coronation Street.

George was renowned for his sense of humour and he loved Corrie because it was “a laugh”. He once said that “even when life is tragic on Coronation Street, it's still funny”. 

I wonder if George ever knew that his face was plastered across the wall of the factory in the late 1980s. I bet he would have got a real kick out of it if he did.

"Well I guess it would be nice... if I could touch your body"

One of my favourite pastimes when watching Classic Corrie on ITV3 is following the winds of change in popular culture in 1980s Weatherfield. Well, that and keeping track of Sally's changing hairstyles.

Although I was disappointed to learn last week that sometime around November/December 1988, the Smiths poster (see previous blog) had been removed, I was cheered by the fact it had been replaced by an image of George Michael from the famous ‘Faith’ video released a year previously. I bet Morrissey was livid!

George Michael was such a big Corrie fan that he once went on a private tour of the set and enjoyed meeting the actors and crew as much as - or possibly more than - they enjoyed meeting him. There are some wonderful accounts of this online and apparently he was there on the day Kate Ford was rehearsing the scene in which Tracy murdered Charlie Stubbs. See this article in the Manchester Evening News.

I guess that means George visited the set in late 2006 or early 2007. Sally Dynevor shared this brilliant photo on Twitter soon after his tragic death. Obviously, I'm dating the set visit from my encyclopedic knowledge of Sally Webster's hairstyles! 

I’m not sure if George would still regard Corrie to be a laugh or if, like the rest of us, he might be questioning whether his beloved soap had featured a bit too much of the tragedy recently at the expense of the comedy.

Still, I'm pretty sure he’d have had faith, faith, faith - and that’s exactly what we've all gotta have. 

By Martin Leay, on Twitter @mpleay

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