Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 9th Jan 8.30pm

As promised, here is the 2nd part of Wednesday's Coronation Street.

Lewis's female harem are in awe at the funeral, as Audrey and Claudia air their grievances, in public. No dignity nor decorum as far as Audrey and Claud are concerned.

And as far Lewis?. Well, as my Nan used to say (she reminds me of Evelyn actually) 'there's no rest for the wicked', which is apt as his coffin goes back and forth as Claudia and Audrey halt and start his journey to the fire.

Back on the street, Liz has failed to show for the mitigating meeting with the Connors. As the Connors head back to the pub, Liz suitably arrives with the police in tow, just in time for Johnny and Jenny to be arrested!

Has Claudia avoided the same fate? She professes innocence as it becomes apparent that Lewis' ladies have paid for the service. Audrey, still smarting, delivers Lewis' old clothes to Claudia, around to Number 1. Will Ken heed the warning from the warring hairdresser?

Sally's suffering also continues as the brutal results of her beating are seen on screen. Meanwhile, bullying Marcia has been put into segregation. Talking to Tim on the phone, Sally breaks down. Here's hoping some more evidence comes to light.

Back at the Rovers, Sean revels in the news of his bosses' arrests to Nick, Gail, and Audrey.

Billy also arrives for his second 'date' but Paul already has company. A 'bit of trade' it may be, but Billy isn't in the mood for games and pushes Paul away.

The police pay another visit to the street (good job the cop shop is only around the corner) as Tim is given bad news about the alleged new evidence against Duncan. Even Interpol are involved! (Muse, The National, and other alt-indie bands were unavailable... sorry).

Under interrogation, Jenny gives the police 'no comment' which can only be the beginning of another police investigation. With the crimes on the street lately, I reckon they should set up an incident room in Roy's Rolls.

Meeting Rita in The Rovers, Cathy decides to pimp out Brian as the newsagent's new assistant. I'm sure that the wage decrease (as an ex-teacher) in an unpredictable economy, won't be a problem (!).

As the Platts head back over to the pub, (all of the gang together) a tipsy Gail does little to convince David that she works for MI5, whilst Audrey calls the police on Claudia. Nick heads home and takes his little gym bag with him. It seems Nick has a different kind of laundry (or money laundering), all together.

So is Claud completely innocent after all?. Tonight's revelation poses so many questions!. Keep your eyes peeled on the Coronation Street Blog, for more fan views, news, and opinion pieces.

And that's me done for another week.

What did you think about this Wednesdays episodes?. Go on, give us your opinion!.

You can follow me @rybazoxo over on Twitter, your self-styled 'Cobbles Connoisseur'.

TARA!

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 9th of Jan of 7.30pm

Welcome to Wednesday's edition of the Coronation Street Blog.

Revenge, regret, biblical theorising, and Pam Ayres, all laid claim to tonight's superb first half of Coronation Street.

From the pen of Jonathan Harvey, Lewis's funeral was always going to be laced with 'Carry on Corrie' and promising drama, as the dastardly charming cad was laid to rest. With Audrey's money still nowhere to be seen, the salon supremo was in no mood to attend the funeral. Until however, she sees Mary being late with the wreaths and decided to rope in Gail and Nick, in attending the ceremony.

With Billy otherwise engaged (flirty theological fun with Paul), the ceremony was comedically led by Weatherfields 'other vicar' (Hayley Cartwright).

Reminiscent of the salon awards ceremony, Lewis's funeral was full of camp camaraderie;  Evelyn as professional mourner (Blanche #Mark2) Claudia suddenly descending into Pam Ayres territory and Audrey again taking centre stage culminating in her claiming that Claudia had, in fact, nicked the cash, to extend her Salon empire. ABBA also piped through the music system, as Lewis's coffin slowly went to the flames. High camp indeed!.

To draw shade on Lewis's farcical funeral, Corrie gave us a little darkness, with Sally's nightmare conviction, still not overturned. As Gina and Tim try to convince Weatherfield police that Duncan's Mrs is still alive, Sally's ally Abi has now been released and the ex-mayor is left with drug dealing in her cell from her scouse cellmate (I forget her name). When the screws come calling, Sally is blamed as grass, and gets beaten up (off-screen).

Also trying to mitigate in Weatherfield's recent crime wave, Eileen tries to cool down Liz, who from being run over by Jenny, to being conned by Hannah and Jim, quite rightly seeks
to enact revenge and right some wrongs. Has Ellen managed to cool Liz down?. I hope not. Liz going against Jenny is like 'Aud V Claud' but with a harsher more darker slant.

In other news, Brian needs a new job, and Rita is feeling past-it. Can the former teacher run The Kabin, perhaps?.

Like Billy the vicar, I shall be back later for a second date, later tonight, with my review of 8.30pm's episode.

You can follow me @rybazoxo over on Twitter, your self-styled 'Cobbles Connoisseur'.

TA-RA!

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Will they? Won't they? Should they? HAVE THEY!?

What a start to 2019 Coronation Street has had. Already a death! Lewis was a bit like Pat Phelan in some ways - you knew he was about to do something rotten to a much loved character but you’d forgive him each time because he just made love to the screen. Well, no more. Give that screen a wipe as you dab away your tears. Lewis is dead and Audrey is alone again. To be fair, nobody could match up to her Alfie anyway, and she didn’t really seem suited to debonair Lewis. But it was fun while it lasted.

And thirty-four years into avoiding talking about their love for each other, Chesney and Gemma are still wasting time with other people, unable to tell each other how they feel. Why is that? You’d have thought Gemma would have been right in there. She clearly thinks Chesney is too good for her and is scared of the rejection. So Chesney is cracking on with Emma. Who is lovely but that won’t last. 

 

Simmering romantic tensions are threatening to spill out into the Street as we start the brand New Year. Which ones do you approve of and which send you reaching for the sick bucket? Here I speculate whether these Corrie couples should, would, or have got it together…

Ken and Claudia (Kendia)

The pompous bookworm and the hairdressing glamourpuss appear to be in a relationship already. Nothing has been confirmed on that front but they are spending a lot of time together and can often be spotted wandering across the cobbles arm-in-arm. I’m in favour of this development. Claudia is a bit more cultured than Deirdre was, but there’s something in that raspy voice and big hair-do that make it all a bit familiar. And she and Ken seem to have good chemistry. Some might see it as a betrayal of Deirdre but he wasn’t faithful to her in life so there’s not much chance now is there? I say go for it Ken.

VERDICT: SHOULD AND PROBABLY HAVE

Ken and Audrey (Kendrey)

Old friends Ken and Audrey have had their ups and downs but there’s always been something between them – more so from Audrey - but they’ve just never quite made that leap to see what would happen. I can just see Ken making the move from the One Coronation Street to Grasmere Drive leaving the rest of the family to fight their battles in the tiny terrace whilst he sees out his retirement in Audrey’s lovely semi. But I just don’t see them seeing out their retirements together. Aud’s going to need a shoulder to cry on in the coming weeks, but it probably won’t go beyond that for our unlucky-in-love almost-pensioner and her old friend.

VERDICT: SHOULDN’T

Billy and Paul (Baul. Or Pilly?)

Paul’s arrival has sent hearts aflutter in the knicker factory, and the revelation that he’s actually Gemma’s twin brother has opened up an interesting new direction for her as she struggles with her feelings for Ches. But what or who will Paul be doing now that he’s started to make himself at home? It looks as though a defrocking might be afoot with Billy discovering Paul’s sexuality. But will Paul be in it for the right reasons and are they well suited anyway? I think not on both counts. But I’m liking cheeky Paul already – he fits right in and allows us to get to know Gemma a little better.

VERDICT: SHOULDN’T BUT PROBABLY WILL. YOU KNOW WHAT GAYS ARE LIKE. 

RAMPANT.

Dev and Moira (Doira)

I’ve just pulled this one out of thin air but I reckon this romantic double act could be comedy gold. She’s crazy as hell, but with certain airs and graces, and he has a pretentious side too so their mad, up themselves double act could be a slapstick winner.

VERDICT: MUST

Sophie and Kate (Skate)

I never saw the chemistry between Kate and Rana, however their emotional scenes over Christmas really packed a punch and I could sense the love between them for the first time. That said, now that it’s over it should stay that way. There's suspicion something is going on between Kate and Sophie but things are uncertain at the minute. I remember interviewing Brooke Vincent about Sophie’s love life a couple of years ago, and she said she doesn’t want to be put with every other lesbian in the show because that’s not realistic, and I agree. Her pairing with Paula worked for me as it was unexpected, and I’d love to see more scenes with Stirling Gallacher, I think she’s great. However anything between Sophie and Kate would be too obvious and I can’t see much entertainment from them as a couple.

VERDICT: SHOULDN’T

Carla and Peter (Parla)

This star-crossed pair have shared some lovely scenes in the past couple of weeks. There’s still a bit of game-playing between them, but they are both in on it and seem to be taking a more mature approach to their feelings rather than just jumping into something out of lust. I have to admit I’ve lusted after both of them of late, they are a right sexy pair and I think they are perfect for each other. The only down side to anything happening between them is that eventually it will come to an end to again. This is Coronation Street. And not only will it be disappointing for us all, it will most likely be a very, very dark time for Peter and Carla. 

VERDICT: MUST 

Steve and Abi (Stabi?)

I know they’ve already dabbled. But I want them to dabble more. Abi has been a revelation for me since she arrived, she’s such a complex but likeable character and there’s real warmth in her that fits perfectly on the Street. And in some of her less guarded moments she has a comedic quality that fits Steve’s personality perfectly. Or maybe they are too alike? I’m not sure yet but I think they Stabi should have another stab at it. Sorry Tracy. 

VERDICT: SHOULD

Norris and Mary (Morris)

Word is that Norris is heading back to the Street soon, and I’m sure he’ll have some interesting stories to tell. But he’s missed a lot being away from Weatherfield for so long. Particularly with Mary and her family woes. Will her time of need see him become her knight in shining armour. Or will he return with a love interest in tow? Either way I quite like Mary in spinster mode, and Norris as a lone busybody. Not everybody has to be in a relationship, right?

VERDICT: SHOULDN’T

Who do YOU think will be getting it on in 2019?

@StevieDawson

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Farewell, Lewis Archer

Ah, the soap con man. A staple character of any soap opera. Pat Phelan, John Stape, Lewis Archer. Although the lines between con man and complete psychopath can become blurred - see the two former names - Lewis Archer has “con” written through his DNA.

A suave suit with not a hair out of place, he roamed the cobbles like a well-dressed predator hunting for his prey. I refuse to believe it’s been a little over nine years since Lewis first stole someone’s cash and fled the street. But no amount of money was ever enough for him as he always came back, desperate for more and stopping at nothing to get what he wants.

Unfortunately many times, that came at the cost of Audrey’s heart. Everyone knows that Aud’s love life hasn’t been kind to her, and Lewis was no exception. He was a charmer and so bloody good at it that he could charm the skin off of a snake. Audrey was blinded by his exterior chivalry. So was Gail for a little while, but in the end her skepticism drove a Lewis-shaped wedge between herself and her mam.

I honestly could not think of a single person who could’ve played Lewis other than Nigel Havers. Portraying the role so brilliantly is so important to make a bad guy likeable, and Havers did that with such perfect conviction.

I’ll be the first to say that I will really miss Lewis. I’ve seen a lot of speculation about what he was really up to in his final hours and I am willing to believe that he’d changed. It’s easy to think that he was preparing to swindle Audrey yet again. Was he though? Or had he really learnt the error of his ways?

While I think he had definitely thought about that £80K in Aud’s bank, he left it untouched. Even the most cruel of hearts have the power to love and I do believe that Lewis loved Audrey.

Maybe I’m just a hopeless romantic who tries to see the good in everything, or maybe I’m just mad... who knows. But what I do know is that the name Lewis Archer will never be forgotten.

Sophie Williams

Read some more of my natterings on Twitter @sophie_jw26

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 2nd of Jan of 7.30pm

Welcome to Wednesday's edition of the Coronation Street Blog, and a happy new year, to you all!

Like many a man before him, Lewis Archer has been struck by the curse of Corrie's black widow, Gail Rodwell. No sooner had the dastardly cad threatened Gail against thwarting his latest plan, Lewis was dead in the bedroom at Grasmere Drive from a heart attack. Was Lewis really ready to propose to Audrey, or was his suitcase for one a dead give-away? (pun intended). It doesn't bode well for our Audrey,  a mere 20 years after Alf's demise (in Gail's living room), and weeks after Archie Shuttleworth shuffled off this mortal coil, she's again left to wallow in grief.

Lewis hasn't even gone cold before Gail is sanctimoniously slagging him off to Shona, and Audrey vows to ostracise her daughter.

At Roy's Rolls, Mary meets Angie for a coffee and briefly mentions Jude's (barely) noticeable absence. Angie however, is ready to move on, and out, of Jude's life. Hiring a private investigator, Mary remains reluctant. Can she finally track down her son?. Borrowing Roy and his woody, the duo heads off to Blackpool in search of Jude. Finding the wayward liar by the seaside, it appears Jude has booked into the hotel under an assumed name, with a dodgy Irish accent, and a blonde in tow.

At the salon, Emma suddenly seems cautious of Gemma and is wary of her Boyfriends BFF getting in the way of their flourishing relationship.

Inspired by Maria's words of wisdom, Emma takes a leaf out of Gemma's book, and dresses to impress, looking like Gemma's fashionista doppelganger!. Meanwhile, Miss Winter appears to have a silent caller.

At The Rovers Return, Billy offers new boy Paul a pint and some vicars wisdom, whilst Nick takes a call from Audrey's accountant. Ignoring all of her calls, Audrey later meets the family at the pub. Taking a voicemail from the accountant, it's revealed that all of Audrey's £80k has gone!!. Audrey faints in shock!.

What did you think of tonight's part one?

I shall be back with my review of tonight's part two - a little later on.

You can follow me @rybazoxo over on Twitter, your self-styled 'Cobbles Connoisseur'.

TARA!

Fancy writing a guest blog post for us? All details here!  
 

Read more Corrie news, interviews, gossip and spoilers  

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