Coronation Street Blog: may 2023

Showing posts with label may 2023. Show all posts

Monday, 29 May 2023

‘’I'm Old Man Chesney!’’ - Corrie Blog Interviews Sam Aston

Tonight Coronation Street shows their wedding of the year as quad parents Gemma Winter and Chesney Brown finally tie the knot. This year marks Chesney's 20th anniversary on the show, and with that in mind, I was elated when asked to join this latest Corrie press day to talk to actor Sam Aston about his two decades on the street, and of course his characters gloriously orange-themed wedding.

Hello Sam! How is Chesney feeling in the build-up to the wedding?

Initially, he was a bit stressed, as they had no money, and all he had was this burger van idea. He's quite a practical and simple guy who was just thinking about money, but once he realised how much this meant to Gemma, wanting to get married, and just be a family, he just wants Gemma to have the best day possible and worry about the money later.

Linda then turns up and offers to pay for everything. Does he feel bad about keeping Gemma in the dark about where the money has come from?

He does because he also knows that Bernie and Linda don't exactly see eye-to-eye and he is quite a proud man. He thinks that if they have to do it on a budget, that's what they have to do, but I think there is also the element that he can relieve some of the stress here and get the help It's a catch-22!

This year marks your 20th year on the show. Did you ever think you would still be here after all of this time?

No, not at all it's just a whirlwind. I think anybody who works in the building, not just the cast, knows how time just flies here, it's crazy. I came in on a 6-month contract as Fiz’s brother, and Cilla’s son, just to do a few episodes, and before you know it, I've been here 20 years. When you get a 12-month rolling contract, you wonder if your time on the show is up, but I'm still lucky to have been here. I try not to rest on my laurels, and then when you bring a family in for a visit, you become a fan again and realise how lucky you are! All of the cast call me ‘Chesney’ and now Dolly and Jane call me ‘old man Chesney’. Ben Price (who plays Nick Tilsley) has me as ‘Chesney’ on his mobile phone!

Chesney is that classic Corrie male character that's surrounded by all of these strong women! - Do you enjoy playing that part?

I can honestly say I have the best time. You know, working with Dolly (Gemma), Jane (Bernie), and Jacque (Linda), we have such a laugh on set. I think Chesney has just accepted the chaos. At first, I thought he was like, When is your Mum going Gemma? She really got on his nerves, but over time he has warmed to Bernie, and they get on nicely. It's a good partnership. Dolly and Jane both call me ‘old man Chesney’ cos I am like Chesney, so that's the name I’ve got for myself now. He is the old man figure in their house who keeps things grounded. He is very beige and very sensible, but it works!

We have seen pictures of Gemma and that OTT dress. He knows Gemma is generally OTT - did he imagine how the dress would be?

Yeah, I think Chesney is used to it now; she is bonkers but in a good way. He lives with her and Bernie and must be mad to live in that. When it gets to doing the day, he wants to roll with it and have the best time. I think the dress is pretty epic. When you need a drone (camera) to get it in the shot, that says something, doesn't it?!

Thanks, Sam! Watch the drama-filled wedding tonight on Coronation Street on ITV & ITVX Do keep an eye out for Gemma's epic dress!

I am @rybazoxo your Coronation Street superfan and Corrie blogger

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

Monday, 22 May 2023

Gemma’s Big Fat Weatherfield Wedding ! - Corrie Blog Interviews Dolly-Rose Campbell

Next week, Coronation Street is to air Gemma & Chesney's wedding and I cannot wait. For my latest Coronation Street press event, I was pleased to share screen time with one of my favourite Corrie actors, Dolly-Rose Campbell, to talk all about it!

Hi Dolly! - next year will be your 10th anniversary on Corrie. Did you ever imagine being involved in a Corrie wedding, a big-fat Weatherfield Wedding? I was only drafted in for six episodes whilst Paula (Lane - Kylie Platt) was away having a baby, so to be still here all these years later, having lots of fun storylines, is just amazing! Being a bride at a Corrie wedding is a real honour!

Gemma and Chesney have shared a lovely love story - fans were rooting for them to get together. What is it about these two that make such a great pairing?

I think Gemma and Chesney complement each other perfectly. I think he’s the calm side to her more crazy hyper side and he brings her down to earth. He accepts her for who she is, he doesn't want to change her, they are best friends, and they make a great team.

Gemma’s wedding was never going to be a calm or quiet affair. How important is it for her to have a big fancy do? Is it a case of having something to prove?

I don't think it's necessarily about having something to prove, more something she's dreamt of her whole life. It's about having her day, being a bride, and being fabulous. A day for not worrying about money, work, or learning to sign. Just a day for the family and being with the quads.

In the build-up to the wedding, Paul and Gemma have a falling out - she tells him not to come to the wedding. Can you tell us what happens?

In the build-up to the wedding, Paul is being distant and moody. Gemma doesn't understand why, nor why he isn't as excited as she is. It gets to a point where he blows up at her and tells her that nobody is bothered about the wedding, that he’s sick of her, and it really hurts her feelings. She’s angry at him and tells him not to bother coming!

Gemma's Wedding Dress - Behind The Scenes pic!

At the centre of Gemma's big day is the wedding dress. We've just been shown the pictures - it looks amazing! It's huge, orange, and it has a 7-metre train.. with fairy lights. What was it like to wear?

It was actually really comfortable, it was made to fit me, and unlike the pregnancy mould, it wasn’t heavy. I was blown away by it- it's a work of art. The detail that has gone into it is way more than I imagined.

The dress is orange! Where did the idea come from?

The idea came from the Coronation Street costume department designer, Alex. She decided on orange, the most Chesney colour, and we all thought that was hilarious and agreed! The dress was designed by a Manchester drag queen called ‘Liquorice Black’, his Nan is a fan of Corrie so I think that swung it for us. In the Weartherfield universe, Gemma has bought the dress second-hand and Izzy has made all of the alterations.

What was it like when the rest of the cast first saw the dress?

None of the cast saw it before the wedding, apart from Ryan Russell (Michael Bailey) who was having a costume fitting at the same time. Nobody else had seen it in its full glory, and I didn't actually wear it until we were inside the church. Barbara (Knox, Rita Tanner) loved it! and said it was perfect for Gemma, which was surprising.

Gemma has a sign-language interpreter at the wedding and you’ve been learning in real life. Why did you learn it in real life, and how is it going?

I'm halfway through learning level 2 at the minute. It's getting quite difficult, but I do enjoy it. As part of the casting, we wanted a deaf actor to be in the cast as Aled. He is deaf, and the actor's parents are also deaf - it made sense that either myself, Sam (Sam Aston - Chesney) or Jane (Jane Hazelgrove - Bernie Winter) learnt how to sign so we could help him on set, and to make him feel included.

That's brilliant Dolly, and really commendable! Thank you for the chat.

We are long overdue for a Coronation Street wedding, and this is a big one to look forward to! The dress is 2 metres wide, has a 7-metre long train, and fairy lights, and was designed by a Ru Paul's Drag Race designer. A mini-skirt was also made, due to the camera's struggling to get the huge dress all in the shot! We also get to see Billy do some archdeacon stuff, which is also long overdue.

Watch Coronation Street next week to see Gemma & Chesney’s Big Fat Weatherfield Wedding.

The wedding dress will be available to view at the newly opened Coronation Street Experience.

I am Ryan B Oxley @rybazoxo on Twitter.

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

Friday, 19 May 2023

Coronation Street Episode Review, Wednesday 17th May, 8 pm

Welcome to another Wednesday Weatherfield round-up and to catch up on the latest goings on, on Coronation Street. Following Monday night's fantastic episode (just me?) and Amy's anguish being posted online, I felt excited as tonight's episode began! There’s a lot to say for girl power on Corrie, and being a confessed feminist, I know whose side I'm on.

As the post goes viral amongst the residents, it isn't long before Aaron is fired from the garage. Steve tells Tim how guilty he feels, and Tim offers support, explaining how Faye has managed to turn her life around. Aaron’s Dad soon finds out about the blog, visits N0.1, and tells Steve that he can expect a cease and desist letter instructing Amy to take the post down. Steve tells her to leave it online, dragging Tracy to see Dee-dee legal advice, who tells them it could cost hundreds of thousands to contest and they could lose everything. Steve's reluctant yet Tracy is adamant that a fight is on. Tracy goads Steve, bringing Oliver into the argument, and even though I'm a big Tracy fan, I was stunned by that cruel jibe. Steve storms out, going to see Leanne, who tells him that Tracy is right and he should put that same fight into seeking justice for Amy. Aaron then pleads with Amy to remove the post, which she reluctantly agrees.

Later, at the solicitors, Dee-dee receives instruction from Aaron's solicitor stating that Amy has to write a retraction statement, as a podcast has picked up the issue and broadcasted it to the world. Steve is now up for the fight and Aaron's Dad tells them he will sue them for everything they've got.

Meanwhile, Craig’s enthusiasm for the C.I.D secondment is seemingly good news for Faye, as she has the day off, deciding to throw him a celebratory surprise promotion party. I was unsure why Izzy was putting such a downer on it, but hey-ho it gave her something to do.

Faye then gets a surprise visit from Miley and Jackson, and she soon heads to Roys for a family lunch, to help her daughter with her genealogy homework. With all of the family in attendance, Gary quickly spots Faye’s admiration of Jackson. Back at the flat, Faye is getting party pieces ready, and Gary warns her about her ex's intentions. Over at the Bistro, Sally steams in to take charge of decorations, and everyone seems to be bemused by Faye planning a party for this C.I.D promotion. Sally was hilarious! - I loved that.

Craig is soon looking for Faye, and Tim tells him she was out having lunch with Jackson! Craig questions Faye, but it seems his detective skills are a little off. I can see now why everyone thought that a promotion party was a little bit funny.

At the STC, Daniel tells Max how worried he is about him and suggests he invites his Dad back for another visit - he needs the family support. David is soon back at the centre and Max opens up, explaining his guilt at getting involved in the right-wing activism and despair at how he may struggle to rebuild his life. David tells his son how much he loves him and how he will get him through it. This was tonight’s stand-out scene for me. Rarely do we see such male emotion like that - superb! Less impressive is the scene with Max’s new friend ‘’singing’’ down the phone. Max tells his pal that he’s not sure about rejoining the real world, it's soon clear that he hasn't told his friend about why he is in the centre in the first place. I can't remember his pal's name but I think we can see where this may be going.

Elsewhere, in the build-up to the wedding, cash-strapped Chesney buys his and Joseph’s morning suits from the charity shop. Linda offers to buy them new outfits and then lends Chesney some more money so can pay for the rest of the wedding. Gemma remains oblivious.

In other news, Ryan’s back recovering in the hospital and Carla visits - she’s feeling guilty about going away. Ryan’s more positive after another text from ‘Crystal’. Carla questions Daisy about Crystal’s intentions, with the barmaid playing dumb. Later, Daniel surprises Daisy with a date night.

What did you think of tonight’s offering? I am @rybazoxo if you want to tweet and let me know!

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

Tuesday, 16 May 2023

Faye Windass Waves Goodbye To Weatherfield! Corrie Blog Interviews Ellie Leach

Yep, you've read that right! After 12 years, Faye Windass is leaving Coronation Street.

Miley's recent return with Jackson has thrown Faye into a myriad of emotional conflicts. She’s got doubts about her flakey relationship with Craig, wants to be a mother to her daughter, and is harbouring feelings for her baby daddy. Although originally reluctant, Faye has quickly fallen in love with her daughter and shared a kiss with Jackson. With Craig resorting to blackmail, Faye is pushed to the brink, and after reconciling with PC Tinker, she says a sad farewell to Weatherfield.

Being your intrepid Corrie blogger is always a treat, and no more so than when I join a Corrie online press day to chat with the cast!

A few weeks ago I shared screentime with Ellie Leach, who told us about her screen debut, Faye’s final storyline, and her favourite moment from 12 years in Weatherfield!

Hi Ellie! Faye's become torn between her daughter and her life on the cobbles. How hard has it been for Faye?

Yes, it's been tough. When Miley first returned, Faye was adamant she didn't want anything to do with her as she feared this was how things would turn out. I think she's struggling because she doesn't know how these two factors of her life could come together?! She must choose between one or the other. It's a whole lot of heartache that she wanted to avoid.

What are her feelings for Jackson?

I think she’s torn between this life that she's got with Craig and what her life could be like with Miley and Jackson. She's seen how much of a great dad he is. She's thinking about the life she could have with her family. She can't have any children with Craig, so she's torn. In her heart, she knows how she feels about Jackson, but in her head, she doesn't want to leave the street just for the sake of her child, and she worries about how it will all pan out.

Why did Faye accept Craig’s proposal?

It's hard for her because she has a lot of love for Craig, but I don't think she’s in love with Craig anymore. Obviously, the kiss happened with Jackson, just previously to the proposal, so she’s got a lot of emotions running around in her head. Her family were there for the proposal, as were Craig’s, and Glenda was singing away in the background - how could she say no?! It's whether she follows her head or her heart as Jackson has also offered to take her away with this ready-made family.

Craig desperately tries to hold on to Faye, and he starts mentioning the hit-and-run accident. He does kind of start to blackmail her. Does she see Craig in a different light?

Yeah, definitely. I think everyone knows that Craig is a fun-loving, kind character, and we've not seen him act like this before. As much as it drives her to stay because she’s scared of that getting out, it also drives her further away as she doesn't want to be in a relationship with a blackmailer nor does she want to go back to jail, so she’s stuck. He’s clutching at straws, as he’s also involved in this - she’s scared of everyone finding out.

In real-life you are good friends with Colson Smith, who plays Craig, how did it feel filming those scenes together?

Colson is my best mate, and we always have a laugh, whatever scenes we are filming. We've worked together for so many years now, and we know each other so well, it's good that we can do hard-hitting scenes and be perfect friends afterwards.

Faye decides to stay on the street, but Craig gives in and tells her that if she wants to go to Slough with Miley, she should do it. If he hadn't said that, do you think she would have still stayed?

The overriding feeling was that she wanted to be with her daughter. Craig held a massive secret against her. Would that have jeopardised her family? - I don't know. She doesn't want to watch her daughter leave but doesn't want the secret to come out.

After hearing Craig say those words, she decides to leave the street, and the policeman is heartbroken. Can you describe your final scene to us?

It was very emotional. It's Faye leaving the street after 12 years, but also me leaving after 12 years as well. The saddest part of the scene is when they are in the taxi, Faye sees Craig walking the street on his own. Faye stops the taxi and tells him she will always love him. It is sad because we see two people who love each other, but there are too many other factors to make it work.

Can you remember your first ever scene on the show?

Yes, it was on location. She was about to be fostered by Eddie and Anna who'd brought a cake to the foster home with them. I was little, so young, and had pigtails in. It's crazy to think that it was 12 years ago. Growing up on Coronation Street was the best experience -everyone made me feel welcome. When I first started, Brooke (Brooke Vincent - Sophie Webster) my cousin told me to be myself and be on time. Coronation Street will always be part of me, and Faye will always be part of me.

What was your favourite moment on the street?

I remember (filming a scene) when Faye realised that she may have been pregnant but didn't want to buy a test so she sent Craig into Dev’s shop. When we were filming, Colson knocked a loaf of bread off the shelf, and the whole frame fell over. We looked at each other, started laughing, and realised we couldn't carry on the scene. It was so funny!

Thank you, Ellie - all the best for the future!

Farewell then, Faye Windass! Craig is now single again, and Underworld has lost another staff member! Will you miss this long-standing character, or are you glad to see her leave with a happy ending? Let us know in the comments box.

Tune into Coronation Street next week to catch Faye's final scenes.

I am @rybazoxo on Twitter - your Coronation Street fan blogger