New Blog Contributor - Stevie Dawson

As the blog’s newest contributor I thought I’d take a moment to introduce myself and explain my reasons for coming on board.

As with most of you that visit this site and watch the show, I have grown up with Coronation Street and living in London, I now tune in eagerly on a Monday, Wednesday and Friday to get my little fix of ‘home’.  I grew up in Rochdale in a terraced house and we had many interesting neighbours, some of whom wouldn’t have been out of place stitching knickers in Underworld or vying for Ken Barlow’s affections over a pint of Newton and Ridley’s finest. We had births, deaths, marriages, the odd affair and in my own personal life, a ‘coming out’…of sorts.

Because of my working class roots I’d always seen the amazing way Coronation Street writers had captured real life. In my younger years, whilst living with my Aunty Jean, I spent a lot of time with ladies of a certain age who all seemed to have huge hairdos, and even though they lived in places like Cleveleys and Blackpool, they always sported fantastic sun tans. They were always lovely to me and to this day, my favourite character in the show is Rita Tanner, played by the incomparable Barbara Knox, who always reminds me of those amazing women and that time in my life.

I was also lucky enough some years ago to work for a Corrie favourite. Before my move to London I pulled pints for Beverley Callard and her now husband Jon behind the bar of their two pubs. Bev played the unforgettable Liz McDonald and is currently wowing audiences playing Mari in the stage version of Little Voice across the UK. I don’t think I’m alone in hoping she returns to the Street one day…

So what should you expect from my contributions to the Coronation Street Blog? I want to highlight the genius of the script writers, who never fail to amaze and amuse me and deserve all the recognition they get. But I am also interested in Corrie’s history, it’s strong female characters and what the future holds for our favourite show.

Stay tuned.

Stevie

Stevie's travel blog: www.mrdawson.com and Twitter page:  @StevieDawson

You can follow us on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog

Meet our new Coronation Street Blogger - Graeme Naylor

I have been following the Coronation Street blog regularly over the past two to three years, mostly lurking in the background, occasionally posting a comment if I felt strongly enough about a particular issue. I believe the main strength of this blog is the real passion for The Street, its characters, actors and its rich history. I think the blog continues to strike the right balance between looking back at past Corrie successes while also critiquing the current, modern day programme. Both elements are crucial. I do have a major soft spot for traditional 60s/70s/80s Coronation Street, but I hope not to be one of those commentators who are always saying the show is simply not what it was. I believe very strongly that Coronation Street, despite some short-comings, is still head and shoulders above the competition. 

I have been watching Coronation Street for over twenty years, my first memories date back to the iconic storyline between Rita and Alan Bradley. Coronation Street was simply always on in our living room whenever it was broadcast. Initially I watched reluctantly with my mother but soon enough I was hooked, which I continue to be to this day. So well-known is my adoration for the world's longest running soap that not a Christmas or birthday goes by without a friend or loved one presenting me with a delightful (!) Corrie-themed gift.

One of the highlights in all my years watching The Street was in the run up to the 50th anniversary in December 2010. I was lucky enough to attend the British Film Institute in London to watch the first three landmark episodes of Coronation Street in the presence of the programme's creator, Tony Warren. It was wonderful to hear anecdotes from him on how he created this amazing series. Less impressive was my first trip to Granada Studios back in 1995. As a very excited 12 year old, we queued so long to tour the studios that when the big moment came I promptly fainted and ended up in Granada's Medical Room. Can't win 'em all.

Over the years there have been many characters I've loved and many I'd happily have written out myself. Favourites have always been the strong, resilient woman who usually form the backbone of the programme - Annie Walker, Hilda Ogden, Elsie Tanner, Bet Lynch, Alma Baldwin, Betty Turpin and of the current cast, Audrey, Rita, Hayley and Gail. I particularly love when Corrie does gentle comedy - Fred Gee's infamous wig and Stan Ogden's fruit machine spring to mind! One of my favourite scenarios was when Alf went to Buckingham Palace to collect his OBE, while Audrey missed out and ended up being replaced by none other than Betty Turpin. Like most fans of the programme, I do have a mental hit list of characters I would happily cull! I would love to share both my positive and occasionally negative views on The Street on this blog.

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New blogger! Coronation Street episode reviews

Hi everyone, my name is Steven and I've just joined the wonderful Coronation Street Blog team to write episode reviews.

I've been a Coronation Street fan since 1994 when my parents took my sister and I on the old Granada Television Studio tour and we walked along Coronation Street. I remember looking through the letterbox of the Platts and seeing storage containers littering the place. Back then the corner shop was still owned by Brendan Scott and the Queen of the Rovers was still Bet Gilroy. I then wanted to watch an episode of Coronation Street to see where I'd just been and I was hooked instantly.

The first story I vividly remember and enjoyed was Derek Wilton and his missing gnome Arthur. Norris Cole had kidnapped him and was sending postcards from Arthur from far flung places of the world. Derek (or Dirk as Norris would call him) was out of his mind with worry before Norris revealed all while drunk on his stag night. I was devastated when Derek later died of a heart attack in 1997 as he had become my favourite character.

I've watched Coronation Street religiously since 1994 and love it to the same extent I did then. I have to admit my favourite two Corrie couples of definitely David & Kylie and also now Steve & Tracy.

I'll be posting episode reviews now on Tuesday mornings (as I work Monday nights and have to tape Corrie! Booooo!) and Thursday & Friday nights after transmission.

I am also a huge fan of Fomula One, the band Erasure & singer Kylie Minogue. Feel free to follow me on Twitter - I'm at www.twitter.com/modtl11 - and my website is http://www.marchondowntheline.co.uk/