#CorrieLive is upon us

Excitement and nerves are mounting for the cast of Coronation Street as they get ready for tonight's live broadcast. There have been a number of cast members interviewed on television and in the newspapers. Many are nervous but are also looking forward to the experience. Nobody wants to be the one that messes up. Sean Ward said on Lorraine that he's going to pretend it's just another dress rehearsal and Hayley Tamaddon is worried about dropping a tray of champagne filled glasses.

There have been two weeks of rehearsals and the adrenaline will be pumping tonight. Digital Spy reports  Stuart Blackburn told Good Morning Britain that "there's shock and awe as things explode. It's just fantastic. It's got everything." He's confident everyone will be spot on.

There is also a worry that a match between Manchester United and Ipswich at Old Trafford nearby might cause some problems. The football stadium is less than a mile away and there are fears that noise from the crowds might be audible though one source says that they've filmed through matches in the past and it's not been a problem. The match starts at 8, half way through the broadcast. I'm sure sharp eared viewers will be listening for it!

The logistics behind doing this for television are staggering. Many of the actors have not done live stage work and even the ones that have know it's the ultimate challenge for a performer. Storylines are at a turning point for more than just the Platts. I'm excited! Bring it on!


Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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

Coronation Street live episode - everything you need to know

Here in one handy little blog post is everything you need to know about
Coronation Street's upcoming live episode.

When is it on?
Read here!

Are there any official ITV Corrie pictures?
Read here

Are there any spoilers and news?
Read here!

And here! 

Video trailers with spoilers:
Cliff-hanger Callum and the Platts
Will Max be killed off?
Will Sally and Tim's wedding go ahead?
Will Roy and Cathy get together?


Blog interviews about the live episode
Sean Ward (Callum Logan) and Lucy Fallon (Bethany Platt)
Joe Duttine and Sally Dynevor (Tim and Sally)
Michael le Vell and Brooke Vincent (Kevin and Sophie)

Which two characters will be leaving during the live show?

Read here!

Why won't Jane Danson (Leanne) be in it?
Read here!

Why won't Samia Ghadie (Maria) be in it?
Read here!

Why did William Roache (Ken Barlow) say he won't enjoy it?
Read here!

 

Why are Corrie doing a live episode, anyway?
Read here!

 

After the live Corrie episode ends, Coronation Street Live: Uncovered,
presented by Stephen Mulhern will air on ITV2 at 10pm

Will Coronation Street feature in any more ITV 60th Anniversary shows?
Read here!

Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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

ITV confirm date and time of Corrie live episode

Rehearsals have begun on Coronation Street’s live episode - as the transmission date and time is officially confirmed by ITV.

The hour-long episode will be shown at 7.30pm on Wednesday September 23rd as part of ITV’s 60th anniversary celebrations.

Photos have been released by ITV, below, showing the 48 cast involved in the episode taking part in the read-through of the script.

 

And today (Weds Sept 9th) rehearsals have started at the show’s studios at Media City.

The cast will have two full weeks of rehearsals before going live to the nation on the 23rd.

A new image has also been released of Kylie, David and Sarah Platt trying to escape the clutches of drug dealer Callum Logan. The image replicates the ITV official ‘Nowhere left to Run’ promo currently running online and on ITV.  Or you could watch this fun version....

 

The live episode will focus on the Platt’s desperate attempts to thwart Callum and his plan to extort £20,000 from them. The backdrop to the drama at the Platts will be Lloyd and Andrea’s leaving party in the Rovers, Roy’s 60th birthday party at the cafe and his burgeoning relationship with Cathy, meanwhile there’s a shock in store for Tim when he finds out about Kevin and Sally’s illicit kiss.

After the episode fans will then also be treated to a special ITV2 show hosted by Stephen Mulhern interviewing cast as they come off air and revealing behind the scenes secrets. This will transmit at 10pm and you can find out all about that here.

The rehearsal period will be covered by the official ITV Coronation Street digital team, providing exclusive content on itv.com/corrie, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Youtube with never-before-seen access throughout every stage of the rehearsal process and something extra special planned for the big day.

Find out everything you need to know about the live episode here.

Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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

Watch: Colson Smith's live episode video diary

In the run up to Coronation Street live's episode, the official ITV Corrie site have given Colson Smith (Craig Tinker) a camera to video his rehearsals and show it online.

The first instalment from Colson's diary is online now and it's a three minute gem.  Colson tells us he's nervous about doing the live episode, especially as he's never done any live theatre before. He reveals that he's going to be in the live episode for six scenes and as he rips open his script for the live episode, he tells us the first word uttered will be 'Back...'

Colson tells us how he learns his lines for Corrie and we also see him at the hairdressers. As the cast have filmed everything leading up to the live episode, and beyond, some eight weeks ago, it's important for continuity that haircuts are the same as they were eight weeks ago.

The next instalment of Colson's video diary will be Thursday this week, 10 September. I'm looking forward to it already.

Watch instalment one here.

Find out everything you need to know about Coronation Street live episode!

Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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

How the Corrie Live Trailer should have been done

With thanks to TV's ANDY GIBSON ‏@AndyGibsonTV on twitter for this little gem.

It's how the Corrie Live Trailer should have been done.   

You can watch the original here.


 
Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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

Trailer video: Roy and Cathy in Blackpool

The official Coronation Street website at itv.com/corrie have released another trailer teaser video of events leading up to the Coronation Street live episode that will air in September.

This trailer video is all about Roy and Cathy and whether their friendship will develop into something more.

The video is probably only available to those in the UK so for overseas fans and those who want to know what's going to happen - here it goes.

It appears as if Cathy has confided in Anna about her feelings for Roy and that they are more than just platonic.  She clearly wants to get closer to Roy and Anna encourages her to do so and to be open with Roy about her feelings.  However, when Cathy tries to talk to Roy, he clearly doesn't have a clue what's going on, if anything, between them. There's a touching scene when Cathy covers Roy with a blanket after he falls asleep on the sofa.  And then it's Roy's birthday and she gives him a card in which she's signed "I Love You, Cathy".  Oh dear, is it too much, too quickly for Roy?

The couple are then pictured on Blackpool Beach, which was a destination Roy seems not to have been aware he was travelling to so it might have been a surprise day out from Cathy. Cathy takes off her sandals and runs down to the sea after telling Roy there's something she wants to tell him.  She thinks Roy has followed her into the shallows for a paddle, but when she turns around, Roy has gone... and that's where the video ends.

Have a look at it here.

See also: Trailer video, Will Max be killed off in Coronation Street?
See also: Trailer video, Guess who finds out about Sally kissing Kev?
Read all the news and spoilers so far about the Coronation Street Live episode. 


Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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

Trailer video: Guess who finds out about Sally kissing Kev?

The official Coronation Street website at itv.com/corrie have released another trailer teaser video of events leading up to the Coronation Street live episode that will air in September.

This trailer video is all about Sally and Tim's upcoming wedding... and whether Sally's kiss with Kev ruin the whole blinking lot. 

The video is probably only available to those in the UK so for overseas fans and those who want to know what's going to happen - here it goes.

The video shows Kev and Tim's bromance developing. Kev celebrates his 50th birthday this week on September 3rd and it appears as if Tim gives Kevin a gift of a bracelet. So far, so good.  Then we see Sophie joking with her mum and asking her if she's still got feelings for Kevin. But then the money shot at the end is of a very shocked Anna Windass who's listening over the garden fence as Sophie and Sally chat.

Sophie says to Sally: "You're going on about Anna and how common she is, but she's not the one who's going around kissing her ex-husband, is she?"

The look on Anna's face is priceless.  Will she do anything about the information she overhears and ruin Sally's big day? I wonder... and that's when the video ends!

Have a look at it here.

See also: Trailer video, Will Max be killed off in Coronation Street?

Read all the news and spoilers so far about the Coronation Street Live episode.  

Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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

Watch: Coronation Street cliff-hanger live episode teaser

The official Coronation Street website at itv.com/corrie have released a trailer teaser video of events leading up to the live episode.

When is the live episode? Here is everything you need to know about it, including the date and who won't be taking part.

In this trailer video (which is probably only open to UK fans... sorry, overseas fans) David, Kylie and Sarah Platt are "pushed to the edge" by camp Callum - culminating in the hour long live episode during ITV’s 60th anniversary week of September 21st.

See also: Will Max be killed off in the live episode?



Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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

Corrie's Bill Roache: "I don't enjoy live episodes"

Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in Coronation Street, spoke to the Daily Mirror at the weekend about the upcoming live episode of Corrie this September. 

He confirmed he will be in it but said: "I've been in all three. I don't enjoy it. It's a bit too much. You feel as if the viewers are all sadists waiting for something bad to happen.It is stimulating, though. It's a challenge. When we first started in 1960, we used to do the first episode live and record the second one. That happened for the first few months."

He said: "It's great that Corrie still want me. I've got some good stories coming up which I'm excited about. People always ask when I'm going to retire, and I say not any time soon. If you want to keep young, you have to keep going. The fact I have to learn so many lines is good for me. I love the Street and everybody in it. I'm very fortunate to have been in it so long. I still film from 7am to 8pm just like I did when I first started."

Coronation Street's hour-long live episode will be screened on Wednesday, September 23. Read all about it here.

Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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

Spoilers! Corrie producer reveals live episode details

Stuart Blackburn, Corrie producer, said that the Platts and Callum will be at the heart of the live episode.  He has promised it will be full of drama, comedy and tears.

Stuart said: "It's going to back to basics and much more about the storytelling. We have got a fantastic cast and I've got complete faith in each and every one of them. We're using a huge number and it's going to be a huge challenge."

"At the heart of all of this is going to be about the Platts and the ongoing feud between them and Callum. Whoever thought David Platt would be one of the good guys? This is going to be full of shocks and turns and twists and will really make everything that has come before look like a prologue. Decisions are going to be made that starts with Sarah stupidly thinking she can take on Callum. From that point on, all decisions made will have ripple effects for years to come and that's not just hyperbole - it will happen."

The live episode will also feature a "key moment" for Roy and Cathy after Roy becomes uneasy when Yasmeen suggests he and Cathy are more than just friends.

Stuart said: "It's been a really tough one for us to do, because the memory of Hayley is still so fresh, and yes we want Roy to be happy. Whether it happens or not is up for grabs. Again, it's about decisions. Cathy takes the decision to surprise Roy to give him a really good day, which actually then puts their relationship under huge pressure."

And Sally and Tim's wedding will feature in the live episode, which sounds great. But Sally's recent kiss with  Kevin is discovered, well, it is soap after all.

Stuart said: "The significance is that this live episode is the week before their wedding. When did a soap wedding ever, ever go to plan?"

Finally, Lloyd and Andrea will leave the street together, but not before Lloyd's "bromance" with Steve gets a fitting send-off.

Coronation Street's live episode will air on Wednesday, September 23.

See also: Bill Roache: "I don't enjoy live episodes"
See also: Coronation Street Live Uncovered with Stephen Mulhern

Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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

Date for your diary: Corrie live episode

The date of the hour-long Coronation Street live episode has been revealed today. 

Hayley Tamaddon, who plays Andrea Beckett on Corrie was interviewed this morning on Good Morning Britain. You can read her interview here.

Hayley revealed that the date of the live Corrie episode in September will be - mark it in your diary - Wednesday 23 September.

Coronation Street's live episode is in celebration of ITV's 60th birthday.

We already know that it'll be an hour-long episode, that two characters will be leaving together during that live episode and that at least one actress won't be taking part.

Another actress - Samia Ghadie - writes in her column for OK magazine that she won't be taking part in the live episode either. Samia, who plays Maria Connor, will be away on maternity leave at the time of the live episode.


It's going to be a life-changing episode - read about it here.

Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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

'Life-changing' Coronation Street live episode to air

Coronation Street's live episode in September this year is in celebration of ITV's 60th birthday.

We already know that it'll be an hour-long episode, that two characters will be leaving together during that live episode and that at least one actress won't be taking part.

Another actress - Samia Ghadie - writes in her column for OK magazine that she won't be taking part in the live episode either. Samia, who plays Maria Connor, will be away on maternity leave at the time of the live episode.

Samia talks about the live episode in her column. She reveals that filming starts next week for the block of episodes surrounding the live episode.

She says: "The cast have been given all the scripts, apart from the actual hour long episode of the live as that is under lock and key, so even we don't know exactly what's happening!

"All we do know is that there will be life changing events for some of our most loved characters – I can't tell you which ones though!"

Now then, I know that soap-speak has to be dramatic, that's the nature of soap. It's hyper-real and super-dramatic.  So the words "life-changing events for some of our most loved characters" might just mean something as mundane as another baby for Kylie and the resulting paternity battle - is it Callum or David's, for example. (I'm guessing here by the way).  Or it could be Eileen decides to leave Streetcars after Fat Brenda's eaten all the Gypsy Creams. It really could be as everyday as that.

Except it won't be, will it? It's to celebrate ITV's 60th birthday so I'm expecting, and worrying that it might be something huge.

What if it's Rita leaving ... or worse? What if it's Tracy taking over the Rovers after her stint at being good manages to convince Steve she's worth another chance and he moves her in behind the bar and boots out Liz? What if it's Becky returning? What if? What if?

What do you think - or hope - it might be, Corrie fans?

Download our free App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook | Visit Corrie.net



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