Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 22 May 7.30pm

Welcome to Wednesday's episode part one, all wrapped up in a handy blog review.  

Steve's run of bad luck with Streetcars continues as GoLucky' are stealing all his customers and after his run-in with police and the robbery, he feels disheartened. Tracy tells him he can't give up, and he's soon back in the cab office armed with biscuits. Still feeling shaken though, Steve is called out for a fare and decides to go out armed again, only this time it's with a baseball bat stowed away in the cab.

At Roy's Rolls, Nick's slippery twists and turns (just what is he hiding?) continue. After picking apart Toyah's lie with ease, the dastardly factory boss asks Gary to cover for him, should the police ask him where the barber's fitting job money came from. Before leaving for a mystery meeting, Nick still has time to fill Leanne with more lies.

Apologising to David, Shona pays him a visit at the barbers and tries to make amends for the dinner date disaster, as a jealous Natalie looks on.

Also playing Leanne for a fool, Imran continues to deceive his girlfriend's sister and makes out he's on Tinder now he's split with Toyah. Questioning her job, Imran tells her that her secretarial position at the solicitors remains safe.

Roy apologises to Brian, in Wayne's absence, about his recent outburst. Later on, and bumping into Wayne outside the factory, Roy admits he is still carrying the stress of Carla's current mental state.

Paula and Sophie are back on the street following the pony trekking, regaling tales to Sally of ham and Pedro (!?) in Spain. Sally's tales of city farm riding suggest her social climbing skills are about to come to the fore again. Nick tells Leanne that Paula is still helping him to keep the police away from investigating his accounts. Trying to explain away any doubts to Leanne, Nick is now evermore desperate to keep the truth at bay.

Craig pays another visit to the barbers to see Natalie. However, David doesn't want to leave her on her own. That is until Natalie subtly suggests telling the young PC some home truths. David seems reluctant to leave her there and leaves Shona alone at home again.

Weighed down with Nick's troubles, Leanne confides in Sarah about the police sniffing around, only for Sarah to reveal that £30k went in and out of the factory books very quickly. Leanne decides to dig deeper. Phoning Elsa, Leanne finds out that the £30k didn't come from her at all, and as Sarah admits Gary's recent loan shark escapades, Leanne has food for thought.

Back at the barbers, David lets down Shona again as he's stuck training Natalie. After flirting in front of Craig, Natalie decides to take the lead and gives David a massive snog!

Just what is she playing at?

Out on the pick-up, Steve's nerves are shot, and to make matters worse, he ends up with a cab full of mouthy lads. Back on Coronation Street, the gang of lads try and do a fare dodge, Steve is quick to act with his bat. Chasing the lads down the street, one of them is suddenly hit by a car.

Steve's bad luck seems to have just gotten a lot worse!

I'll be back soon with a review of the 8.30pm episode.

Speak in a bit!.

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

TA-RA!

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Corrie Comicals week ending 12 April 2019

It was a little dour on the Street this week but any mention of the stoat is worth recording as the writers are clearly trying to maximise the value they can extract from it!  I sense Natalie (above) might want to do more for David than polish his weasel.

In the second part of Monday Emma was running riot and the Mr and Mrs competition which had commenced with "besties" David and Maria teaming up - after all they have spent years almost living in each other's pockets.  What was strange was this comment from David (above) about Maria never having had a ring on her finger - a comment with which she agreed!  To my knowledge Maria has been married twice - Liam and Pablo (the latter was gay) and engaged a couple more times I think - so she has had plenty of rings on that finger!  Somebody in continuity is probably having a nervous breakdown alongside Carla!

And I loved that Victoria Wood and her mate Kimberley got a mention.  Nicely done.  "Sinead Kimberley".

Neat piece of drama for those watching closely.  This scene with Gemma complaining about Gary (who is repairing Norris' roof at number 3) followed immediately after Carla had covered the camera on her laptop with some blu-tack.  All hackers cover their cameras as a matter of course I believe.  Talking of Gemma has anyone actually explained why she and Paul have different surnames - did I miss it?

Entirely non-comical this moment - but it brought a tear to the eye in the Kosmo household.  Hopefully the end of the Sinead cancer treatment story (who knows?) as she read the message and rang the bell.  I have no idea if this is common practice - but the idea is certainly positive.  Good wishes to all who have been through such experiences.

Sally has a little pot for holding the tv remote so it does not disappear.  We have five remotes and a large basket for them.  What we do not have in the remote basket (which is not remote - it is always neatly at hand) is any chewing gum.  Luckily it is sugar free chewing gum!  (The missing remote was upstairs as Abi had liberated the batteries for use elsewhere - I assume it brought her some pleasure!).

And there is always space for this little treasure.  Steve has suggested to Tim that a glass of red wine is known to be good for the heart (I blame the Daily Mail for these stories) and Tim gave it the thumbs up.  Sally of course instantly vetoes the suggestion with a call for water!  Steve observes that Tim said that without opening his mouth and Emma being her simple self points out that it was Sally speaking as if Steve could not tell them apart!  Beautifully done.

Some of you with good memories might recall I had no time for the Aidan storyline as I could not believe it.  My wife feels much the same about the Carla story which is currently occupying vast amounts of air time.  I feel less antagonism for the latter as sometimes people do react in unusual ways and she was also very stressed from overwork.  So for the moment I am giving it the benefit of the doubt - just.  I hope that unlike Steve's recovery from depression a few years ago she does not seem to snap out of it unreasonably quickly.

Writers: Susan Oudot (Monday); Ian Kershaw & Sam Holdsworth (Wednesday): Jan McVerry (Friday)
Directors: David Moor (Monday & Wednesday): Diana Patrick (Friday)

Kosmo
@Kosmo100

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Coronation Street Episode Review; Friday 5 April 2019

The comedic stream in this episode was provided by Chesney, Gemma, Paul, Joseph plus Rita.  Gemma overloads the washing machine and does not realise that it is destroying itself in the kitchen as she has her headphones on "LOUD".  The machine is probably dead and Gemma resolves to buy another one and at Paul's suggestion they go to visit "Hong Kong Stuey" who has a lock up on the estate.  He is fresh out of dodgy washing machines but instead sells them a set of disco lights and smoke machine so once again the volume is turned up to 12 and with "smoke" appearing under the front door (above) into the Street, Chesney (who apparently has no keys to his own house) and Ty break down the door.  Rita was apparently in the corner of the front room having a nice brew whilst the smoke machine was smoking!  Chesney tells Gemma that he wishes she would grow up and the latter realises she is jeopardising her new relationship (particularly once Rita spells it out to her) and against that Chesney also becomes aware that whilst he needs to be a good father to Joseph he can afford to lighten up a little. 

Peter "celebrates" his birthday but it is proving hard for Carla who hunkers down inside number one until Ken gives her a pep talk advising her that she will be judged by her actions to help people impacted by the disaster through meaningful deeds.  Nick spends the day running around trying to find a new unit in Bury (a long tram ride away) to get the factory running again.  Needless to say the workers are not keen on this when told in a mass meeting in the Rovers and some quick thinking from Carla generates an alternative.  Production is happening cheaply in Milton Keynes as previously planned and they will rent the community centre to take on the packing and despatch until - well who knows when.  Imran tells Carla and Nick that none of the workers will ever work for her again and above we see Carla replying that they have all agreed.   Apparently Yasmeen has no planned uses for the community centre so it can convert to a packing station!

Brian is upset that Roy and Wayne have found out that the ring comes from Egypt and tries to talk Roy into a boy's holiday in Egypt.  Roy is feeling particularly conflicted over his relationship with Carla and the matter of right and wrong - care for her employees at the top of the pile.  Further investigation leads to Roy discovering that the troops stationed in Egypt at the time for the Suez crisis were 40 and 42 Royal Marine Commandos.  The archive is help in the Royal Marine Museum in Portsmouth so Roy heads to off there to see what those records might hold.  It will also give him distance from Carla and recent events and we know it will help Roy process his thoughts.

Being the end of term Ruby and Joseph head off to school with amazing Easter bonnets for the competition which Joseph wins, as Chesney is super-competitive and went to the Stockport Hat Museum for ideas.  Mary takes the children off for a burger ensuring they are not around when Ches and Gemma are having their argument.

The broad bean story from last year has resurfaced.  Geoff using magic Freshco beans has implied he had a huge crop.  Brian has nothing.  Brian replants under Geoff's instructions and the latter then guides Brian on how to talk to plants (or shout at them).  Yasmeen takes Geoff to task and whilst she enjoys his normal humour this treatment of Brian is simply wrong being cruel and insensitive.  Above we see Geoff telling Brian just what joke he has played on him and is forced to make a proper apology for his actions as Brian prefers that to being bought a drink.

Natalie rematerialises at "Trim Up North" with only David around, eating his lunch.  She carries on until he gives in and employs her.  Naturally enough Leanne stops by to see her partner and is surprised that Nick's "solicitor" is sweeping the floor.  Out of nowhere comes a complete fabrication that Natalie was working for a hair transplant company as a salesperson whom Nick had been consulting but had decided not to proceed.  Despite her history with Nick Leanne actually believes the entire pack of lies, which David supports as it comes trotting out of Natalie's mouth!  Above we see the moment that Nick realises Natalie is back and is asking why she is there.  Despite not knowing what has gone down Nick agrees with every word of Natalie's lies.

There is another reflection on Rana's life at the Victoria Gardens with slide show etc.  All Imran cares about is bringing Carla to justice and argues with Kate who tells him to go away.  Imran watches some of the video and then leaves.  As he walks along Victoria Street he meets Carla, Nick, Yasmeen and the factory workers arriving at the Community Centre to get it organised.  He tells the factory workers he cannot believe they are doing this.  He again says that Carla murdered Rana.  As Beth enters the Community Centre she tells Carla in no uncertain terms that this changes nowt.  Carla is becoming ever more detached (above) and in a brief telling sequence I cannot capture we see multiple Carla's as her mental deterioration increases.

Is it me or does Natalie just seem a little too keen on David?  Another stunning story from Mary tonight.  Does the show have a complete collection of all the little stories she has ever told - tonight's was about Gozo!  A number of storylines and outcomes which I hope come - Chesney becomes interesting and does not harm Gemma's contribution.  Can Natalie maintain the deception - after all Nick did rip off Audrey and surely that has to unravel?  Can we now put Rana to bed please?  And the powerhouse which is Evelyn helped nudge a couple of stories along.

Writer: Chris Fewtrell.  Director: Matt Hilton

Kosmo
@Kosmo100

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Find out all about naughty Natalie from Nottingham

Cassie Bradley is the actress playing Natalie from Nottingham in Coronation Street. She's been interviewed in the Nottingham Post and it's a good read.

We first saw her on the cobbles in January, travelling up to Weatherfield from Nick Tilsley's Nottingham restaurant to do her boss's dirty work and empty Audrey's bank account to the tune of £80,000. And now she's back.  And that means trouble for Nick as she wants money to keep schtum.

How did you get the part of Natalie in Corrie?

I auditioned and had a screen test at the Coronation Street studios at Media City in Manchester. I was immediately struck by the close-knit family atmosphere, the amazing Northern welcome - I was offered multiple cups of tea by every department - and the incredible buzz of excitement in the studios with multiple film units shooting at the same time. It’s a feeling I’ve only experienced a couple of times before - when working at the National Theatre and on BBC Casualty. I knew it was a special place the minute I walked through the front doors.

Have you bonded with anyone else in the cast?

The whole Corrie cast, crew and production team are a joy to work with. The Midlanders say “eh up” to each other and I’ve had some friendly banter with James Burrows (from Derby). There’s now a strong Midlands presence in the Corrie green room!

You can read the whole interview here.

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

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