Muriel Sparks

Obviously, like any sane humanoid, I'm thrilled at Sally Webster's* burgeoning political ambitions.  The snobbish Street harridan knocking on doors, disapproving of their nets, then asking for them to vote for her?  Amazing,  Count me in.  Let's get her all the way to Parliament.

What I don't approve of is the way this began, and the way men washing Maddie's mural off the wall of the ginnel was presented as the Big Evil Council treading on the Little People.

Let's think back to how this started.  Kevin's garage got spray painted.  He reported it to the council - despite Tyrone reminding him that as a private business, it was their responsibility to clean up any graffiti.  Kevin went on the warpath.  The council arrived, and, while assessing the area, noticed a wall covered in spray paint.  They removed it.  This is, in fact, their actual job.

The Websters were horrified.  Craig offered to repaint the mural.  The Council turned up to remove the paint again, and it turned into the Gunfight at the OK Corral, only with Karcher water sprays.

Again, this is the council's actual responsibility.  Craig didn't get permission from anyone to paint that muriel.  No application to the council, no written authorisation.  He did it off his own back.  Fair enough - he wanted to commemorate a dead friend.  But don't be surprised when it gets noticed and scrubbed off.

The Websters turned this into an unfeeling government body stamping all over the wishes of the locals, but it's a ginnel, not the Tate.  It's someone's wall - please note that the mural is not painted on the wall of a Coronation Street resident, but on the back of a Mawdsley Street house.  Those people might not be that keen on a big piece of spray painted art mucking up their property.  And Sally's being very choosy about what is good graffiti and what is bad graffiti; she was absolutely furious when Craig spray painted her house last year.  Graffiti-ing is a crime, and just because Craig's a bit artistic doesn't make it right.  If he'd just scrawled RIP MADDIE in two foot high pink paint on the side of the chippy would we be having this debate?

If you want to put up a memorial to Maddie, fine, get permission first, like any sane person.  If you can't be bothered, don't complain when the authorities come along and remove it.  Or put some varnish over it; that'll really fox them.

*yes I know she's called Sally Metcalfe now but I've been calling her Sally Webster for nearly thirty years and I'm not about to change.

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Corrie's Caitlin could have been cast as Maddie Heath

Eve Gordon, the actor who plays Craig's girlfriend Caitlin in Coronation Street, posted a nice little nugget of information last night on twitter.

We saw Caitlin helping Craig on Corrie last night as they repainted Maddie's memorial mural in the ginnel. 

And here's what Eve had to say after the episode aired:

Fun fact: My agent submitted me for the role of Maddie nearly 3 years ago... seems surreal that now my character is chalking her memorial 😂😂

— Eve Gordon (@EveE1izabeth) January 8, 2016

You can follow Eve on twitter at @EveE1izabeth

See also: Where have you seen Caitlin Ryan before?

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From Maddie to Martha - Amy James-Kelly is back on TV tonight

Amy James-Kelly left Coronation Street as Maddie Heath after Maddie died a nasty death in the Victoria Court fire.  The actress is back on TV tonight in a new series called Jericho.

Set in Yorkshire during the 1870s, it tells the story of a navvy town community gathered to build a huge railway viaduct.

Annie Quaintain is evicted from her home after the death of her schoolmaster husband. Together with her two children – Martha, played by ex-Corrie actress Amy James-Kelly, and George (Sam Bottomley) – she heads for an uncertain future in the remote settlement of Jericho.  Set in Yorkshire, the new series is inspired, in part, by the construction of the Ribblehead Viaduct.

Amy says she likes the fact that Martha is so very different to any other parts she has ever done before. "And that's exactly why I wanted to leave Coronation Street. I wanted to do something completely different", she says.

It starts tonight at 9pm on ITV.  You can read more - and full cast interviews - on Ian Wylie's blog here.


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Pics: Maddie Heath's death in Coronation Street

 

These are the dramatic scenes from tonight’s Coronation Street when viewers saw Maddie Heath die as a result of the injuries she sustained in the explosion on Coronation Street last week.

A devastated Sophie Webster could only stand and watch in horror as the crash team desperately tried to save Maddie’s life.

 

But as Maddie slipped away she also took with her the dark secret that Jenny Bradley is planning to kidnap Kevin Webster’s son Jack.

On the night of the fire Maddie had found Jenny, disguised in a black wig, packing a bag full of Jack’s belongings. After a struggle with Jenny, Maddie managed to escape and ran to tell Sophie what she had discovered.

But as she rounded the corner to where Victoria Court was in flames she got caught up in a huge explosion from the builder’s yard.

Jenny thinks she has got away with it and resumes her plan but In the coming weeks viewers will see Sophie’s suspicions grow - especially when she hears a half garbled message left by Jenny on her phone just seconds before the explosion.

Has Maddie’s death given Jenney a second opportunity to carry out her dastardly plan or has Maddie left a big enough clue from the grave to stop the kidnap plot?

See also: Amy Kelly lands new TV role

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Tracy's Revenge - burning issues

So there we have it. Kal is no more and it's not looking good for Maddie. Following the slowest rescue in history, Carla, Amy and Leanne survive to fight another day on the cobbles. Who knows what happened to all the other Victoria Court residents, and who cares? 

We are now left with the fallout from an eventful few days on Coronation Street. Old rivalries start to re-emerge, cracks appear in once strong relationships, and a tangled web of lies dominates the Street. Zeedan is left heartbroken at the loss of his dad Kal, making orphans of him and his sister Alya. But a surprising relationship will emerge out of the fire, as Zeedan and Leanne strike up a friendship, which comes about as Leanne struggles with Simon's behaviour. The upcoming domestic abuse storyline involving Leanne and Simon has been well publicised but Zeedan's involvement in helping her through her ordeal is a surprising twist, although the Coronation Street blog understands it will go no further than friendship.

With Maddie now in a serious condition in hospital, Jenny is hoping her actions this week will remain a secret. But what of baby Tom, and her plan to run away with Jack? The lies and revelations of her dead child will continue for a while longer, but will Maddie ever be able to warn Kevin and Sophie before it's too late? A voicemail left on Sophie's phone amid all the panic might just give the game away. I asked actress Sally Ann Matthews how she felt about the character descending into what can only be described as 'madness', and how that might affect the longevity of her character. She said she didn't really acknowledge that Jenny wasn't 'normal' at first:

"When I got the scripts I didn't really think about her being mad, or abnormal, and I don't think when she came back on the Street she was. I just took the scripts and played them the best way I could as the story progressed, without thinking about whether she was mad or not. But now we all see she definitely has issues and we'll see all that come out.'

"I don't believe that she's planned any of this. Jenny was very reluctant to look after Jack, you have to remember that."

Producer Stuart Blackburn told the blog that the resulting storyline following Maddie's accident and Jenny's deception will lead to a 'coming of age' period for Sophie Wesbter, as she and her family come to terms with the aftermath of the fire. 

As Tracy tries to cover her tracks and ensure the blame for the fire stays at Carla's charred door, the lies and deceit spread throughout the street. But some lies have now been, or are about the be exposed. Tony has gone AWOL but will return to face the wrath of Liz and fight for control of the Rovers. Gavin's secret is still to be revealed, and with the whole family implicated, the Platt household is set for a bumpy ride, even more so now we've seen that Kylie is back. The custody battle for Max will continue, but who will side with who? There's some sad news for Nick too, as Erika loses the baby.

During all of this drama, we'll lose some cast members and gain a few, and we'll say a final goodbye to a much loved character. It's going to be emotional!

@StevieDawson 

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The barnets of those on the cobbles - Part 2

Having already blogged about the state of the barnets of those on the cobbles, it is now incumbent upon me, particularly after last night, to add a little more.

A few people commented on whose hair they liked in my previous post - Sally’s hair was praised as was Fiz’s hair and also Tyrone’s ex – the beautiful, but violent Kirsty.

Recently, I noticed that Carla’s hair is no longer black. It is, in fact, quite blond, at least the top layers are. When did that happen? I remember seeing Peter and Carla together and thinking how their hair complemented each other – dark and dangerous.

It was none other than Jenny Bradley to whom I awarded the top hair-do, in my first piece.  But now, after seeing Jenny, covering her crowning glory with a glossy black bobbed wig, I have to say that I think it rather suited her. However, that is not really the point. The point is that she has gone so far in her efforts to disguise herself, all for the purpose of taking off with little Jack Webster, her ‘son.’ Her city of choice is Hull and she, Jenny, is now calling herself Melanie, as we discovered from her phone call to order a taxi last night.

But really, does she honestly believe that Kevin and Sophie will not turn over every stone in their search for Jack.  She cannot believe she get away with it, can she? Maddie will surely dash out to alert Kevin and Sophie that there is Jenny, in his house, with a bag ready packed for Jack, and that Jenny is wearing a black wig. At least, Maddie will dash out if she is allowed to do so. And what will happen to the wig?

The last word goes to Liz, who at the wedding looked very glamorous with her up-do. Anyway, last night Liz let her hair down, both literally and metaphorically.

I even feel a third hair post coming on, but I’ll wait and let things settle before I do.

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Corrie's Amy Kelly lands new TV role

Amy Kelly, who plays Maddie Heath in Coronation Street, is leaving the show, as we already know.

Amy has now been cast in a new ITV show called Jericho.  It's an 8 part drama series set in the Yorkshire Dales in the 1870s, Described as rough, rustic yet with a wild west carnival atmosphere, Jericho is a community of pioneers, settlers and outcasts and people with secrets to hide.

Amy will play the role of Martha. The show will go into production later this month in North Yorkshire.

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Four characters leaving Coronation Street

There has been a lot of casting news around Coronation Street recently with comings and goings and I felt it was time to clarify who was leaving. 

As far as we know, these are the characters who have been confirmed by ITV as leaving the show.

Kal Nazir

Julie Carp

Maddie Heath

Andrea Beckett

Also leaving for a break when actress Samia Smith goes on maternity leave later this year, will be Maria Connor.

And of course, our beloved Deirdre will be written out this summer too in what will be a very emotional Corrie exit. Her funeral has been written, Chris Gascoyne will be returning as Peter Barlow and the funeral will screen this summer.

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Amy Kelly quits Coronation Street as Maddie Heath

ITV have confirmed that Amy Kelly, who plays Maddie Heath, is leaving Coronation Street.

Stuart Blackburn said last year: "The joy with Amy is that she has no idea how good she is. Short of her wanting to go, the character of Maddie will be here as long as I'm here."

Today, Amy says: "I made the decision to leave because I'm young and adventurous and I want to gain more experience and explore and improve my craft. Acting is my passion and I'm excited to see where it takes me."

"It's been like a second home but like all young people, you eventually fly the nest. I can't thank everyone enough who made this, not only possible, but fantastic."


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Time for Sophie Webster to grow up?

Ah Sophie Webster, what has become of you? Unfortunately young Sophie is now neck and neck with Michelle for the award of character most likely to get on my nerves.

It wasn't always this way. Once upon a time Sophie was bright and cheeky and a great foil for her sister Rosie. We felt sorry for her as Sally lavished all her attentions on Rosie and her ambitions at Oakhill. However since Rosie departed for the bright lights of wherever it was she went, Sophie has taken centre stage chez Webster and sadly not in a good way.

I think it was a great decision to have a regular lesbian character in Coronation Street, I just wish it had been someone likeable. Instead we have pouty, shouty, narky Sophie being disrespectful to her mother and boringly self-righteous whenever the mood takes her. Her religious leanings are only mentioned these days when the writers remember.I applauded her Christmas time charity work but unfortunately that has been dropped, only being a segue for yet another tortuous romance.

I didn't particularly enjoy the Sophie/Sian pairing as they were a tad on the screechy side for me. Sophie and Jenna was just wrong from the start. Ms Webster ruined Jenna's career and most probably the characters future storyline potential.

Now we come to Maddie. I am trying to like her but it's all just causing me too much effort. The pair of them sleeping rough should have been thought provoking, instead I found it tedious and I struggled not to fast forward. I just hate the way the pair sneer at Sally and anyone else who disagrees with them. It feels like both characters would be better suited to EastEnders or Hollyoaks.

Sophie, like several other characters, has lost her way. We've had her current incarnation for ten years now and while it is great that young actors stay in Corrie that length of time, I just wish they could focus efforts on taking them in interesting directions. Why can't Sophie better herself, get back to college and move on? She seems stuck in a neverending loop of working in Dev's, chasing Maddie around the place and being nasty to her mother. Enough already!

So do you agree, is it time Sophie Webster grew up?


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Behind the scenes at Coronation Street with Amy Kelly

The official Coronation Street site have released a behind the scenes video with Amy Kelly, who plays Maddie Heath.

She roams around the new set and studios talking about what it's like being the new girl and what's in store for her character in the coming episodes.

There is some lovely footage of Amy in make-up, her dressing room and wardrobe, poor thing only has one costume, and some excellent shots of the Webster house indoors and the set outdoors.

Sorry, but it's probably not available to overseas Corrie fans.

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Corrie newcomer Amy Kelly reveals Maddie's a big softie

Amy Kelly, who plays Corrie newcomer Maddie Heath, is interviewed in this week's fab Inside Soap magazine.

It's a good read and Amy reveals a little more about Maddie.  After pushing Sally Webster's face into a trifle at Christmas, we're going to see more of Maddie when she snogs Sophie.  But there's more to her than a hard-nut from a drop-in centre for the homeless, as Amy explains:

"Maddie has been kicked out by her mum, who has a mental illness.  When you see Maddie with her family, whom she still visits occasionally, you see a different side to her.  She can be really soft with her mother ad works hard to keep her calm, but can easily flip from that to being harsh and telling the likes of Sophie to back off. Maddie cares a lot for her little brother, but she's not used to letting others into her circle of trust."

Amy says that Sally Dynevor, who plays Sally Webster, has taken her under her wing on the Corrie set. And she says that her "Corrie-obsessed" family are over the moon that she's been given a part on the show.

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New Corrie character - meet Maddie Heath

Sophie Webster's new girlfriend, Maddie, will make her debut on Coronation Street on Christmas Day and there's a good interview with Amy Kelly, who'll play Maddie, at itv.com/corrie today.

ITV reveals that Maddie comes from a dysfunctional family, she's a complex character who doesn't let people get too close. 

Amy says this about playing Maddie on Corrie: "I love playing Maddie because of how hard you have to try to get your head around her; there’s just no figuring her out and I think maybe that’s why Sophie is so drawn to her – she wants to be the one to work her out. Maddie is impressed with Sophie’s determination, but she keeps her on her toes!"

Amy impressed the Coronation Street casting agents in her audition, despite it being her first ever screen test.

She said: "My audition was on Friday 13th, so I guess it’s not so unlucky after all! I got the scripts and all along I said I’ll be happy if I just get as far as a screen test. Then once I found out that I had a screen test, I started thinking: ‘You know what… This is possible… I could actually do this…’ When I got the call saying I’d been offered the part (I was on the bus home from college when my phone rang so I had to contain my reaction) I honestly could not believe it. Neither could my mum!"
 

Read the full interview at the official ITV Coronation Street website.

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Sophie Webster's new girlfriend revealed

There's an excellent interview in the Mirror today with Brooke Vincent, who plays Sophie Webster on Coronation Street. 

Brooke talks about her new boyfriend, her relationship with Michael Le Vell, who plays her on-screen dad Kevin and reveals a lot about Sophie's Christmas Day storyline when she meets her new girlfriend.

On Corrie's Christmas Day episode, Sophie meets her new girlfriend, homeless Maddie Heath, as she works in a soup kitchen on Christmas Day.  Brooke says: “Maddie shakes things up, she’s very much a Kylie Platt or Becky McDonald character but a lot worse. She’s very demanding and hard to read – you’re intrigued by her. I think she’s a good match for Sophie, who stands her ground with her. They’re both feisty and want to get one over on each other. Sophie likes her because she’s naughty.”

But Sophie's mum Sally takes an instant dislike to Maddie - and Sally ends up with her face covered in trifle.  Now that's going to be worth watching!

Sophie's girlfriend Maddie Heath will be played by actress Amy Kelly.

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