Can these cameos save Corrie in 2025?

Ok, Corrie doesn’t need ‘saving’, but it’s been a tough old year for the ITV institution. Despite some epic storylines, great cast additions and a few much-needed departures (Gail definitely not included), there’s been a heavy dose of criticism not only from us superfans but across the media and the British TV-watching public. 

There’s a common theme to the dissatisfaction; there are just too many characters, and many of them are given storylines that don’t tug at the heartstrings because we haven’t been given enough time to care about them. And to be frank there’s a fair few that have been around a while that we still don’t give a monkeys about. Discuss among yourselves. Not to mention the numerous kids, teens and young adults causing chaos across the Street that don’t seem to be adding much…I’m not sure how many more scenes of forlorn mouth-breather Mason skulking around Victoria Gardens I can take.

We’re about to lose the much-loved Gail Platt and I’m still coming to terms with the news that Debbie Webster’s leaving storyline has been set-up - I refuse to believe it’s true until I see it on screen. There’s even a petition to keep actor Sue Devaney in the show. Get it signed! Losing Sue would be a significant loss to the show in my opinion. 

But the New Year might bring new fortunes for the beleaguered soap, and there’s a tried and tested way of  adding a bit of camp and comedy to the cobbles - celebrity cameo appearances. Some have been utterly ridiculous - I’m looking at you Lorraine Kelly - and others fall flat; the late Girls Aloud icon Sarah Harding gave it a good go on her limited run but it just didn’t work. But other short celeb stints have worked like magic - remember Ian McKellen as devious conman Mel Hutchwright? And Status Quo at Les and Cilla's wedding?

Here are some well known faces I think would spice things up a bit on the nation’s most famous street in 2025 - can you think of any others you'd like to pay a visit?

PETER KAY

I'm a big fan of all Peter's work from 'Phoenix Nights' to 'Britain's Got the Pop Factor and Possibly a New Celebrity Jesus Christ Soapstar Superstar Strictly on Ice' and am glad to see him back on tour after a few years out of action. Peter is no stranger to Coronation Street having had a small speaking part back in the late 90s and then as Shelly's love interest Eric Gartside in 2004. Absolute TV gold. Corrie is missing the laughs these days as it tries to draw a younger crowd the way Easternders has. Maybe Peter is the man to bring back the comedy by bringing back Eric Gartside? What would Jenny Bradley think of him?

JULIE WALTERS

Another comedy icon of the small screen, Julie has recently had more of a cinematic career, having appeared in blockbuster Mamma Mia and its sequels. She's now surely reached the status of being able to pick and choose her roles, so how about a few episodes of Coronation Street....serving two soups in the Bistro perhaps?

MEGHAN MARKLE

Despite turning their backs on the UK for a better life away from our dreadful paparazzi, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle often come back to Blighty for their various charities. And of course Meg is a former actress. Could she add a bit of glamour to Corrie and maybe provide a new love interest for Kirk? Or how about Gary Windass...she is partial to a ginger afterall...

CRAIG CASH

Monotone voice of Gogglebox and the legend that co-wrote The Royle Family, Craig is a national treasure. His dulcet Manchester twang and working class persona would fit perfectly with the rest of the Street. In fact, Corrie comes across as positively middle class these days. Perhaps it's time for a someone to bring the common touch back to the Street?

LISA STANSFIELD

Despite never having found her baby, Lisa Stansfield still tours the world and is a soul superstar. She still however lives in her beloved Rochdale, just a few miles from Media City where Corrie is filmed. Producers apparently offered her a role as landlady of the Rovers, a role Michelle Collins later took. Time to reconsider?

ANDY BURNHAM

Politicians have visited the cobbles for decades. From Thatcher to Ed Miliband, desperate for votes they've pulled pints and had selfies with our Corrie favourites in the hope of soaking up some of that working-class popularity. With Manchester's buses coming into public ownership and council elections to come in 2025, Greater Manchester Mayor Andy could do worse than a trip to Weatherfield on one of those famous yellow trams. 

DONALD TRUMP

Ok hear me out. I'm not fan of the orange menace either. But he's about to take the reins across the Atlantic once again and we all have to make the best of it. So how about a bit of relationship building by inviting the 47th President to the world's longest running TV soap. Carla could take him on a tour around Underworld as a foreign investor, to discuss their entrepreneurial expertise. Maybe even exchange some local delicacies...an Eccles cake in return for some of that famous chlorinated chicken...? Yummy. Trump has dipped his toe into acting before...who remembers him in Home Alone 2?

LA VOIX

RuPaul's Drag Race is not everyone's cup of tea but it's generated a handful of household names. A recent success from the UK version of the franchise is La Voix, a fabulously camp comedy queen who is currently entertaining audiences with Vernon Kay in panto at the Wycombe Swan theatre. Perhaps a quick visit to Manchester after Christmas is in order...or is it time Coronation Street had a full-time drag queen? Oh yes it is....

Maybe you're totally against soap cameos. It's true they don't always work. But we are all missing that Corrie comedy magic we grew up watching, so desperate times call for desperate measures. Their BBC rival has a never-ending stream of former cast members to call back and make dramatic returns, but Corrie doesn't seem to have as many of those to draw on. And Eastenders, while high on camp, has never been famous for comedy. That's Coronation Street's USP, and one it should embrace. One thing's for sure, in 2025 fans are expecting a few changes if they are to carry on tuning in. Time will tell if producers are listening.

Happy Christmas everyone.

@StevieDawson 

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V is for Very Flippin' Good

If I didn’t know any better I’d say Peter Kay had his hands all over last night’s double Corrie. The two great episodes saw Carla face the consequences of her actions and we were introduced to a newly unpleasant and cantankerous side of Chesney that didn’t really suit him. There was love in the air as Billy and Paul finally had a smooch out in the open and not down a filthy alley (Billy promised to remove the stick from his backside in celebration), while Geoff and Yasmeen had a pea-based pun-off in a bizarre storyline based around veg.

There was also a welcome new addition to the Corrie cast, albeit only over the airwaves and not in the flesh. Legend of the real life airwaves and star of Phoenix Nights, Justin Moorhouse played a local radio DJ as Mary battled Gemma and Brian in a general knowledge quiz for a thousand quid prize.

JUSTIN IS ON TOUR! TICKETS HERE

It’s not the first time Justin has ‘appeared’ on Corrie. He delivered a car to Sally Webster back in 2011 and in 2014 he played Dean Upton, landlord of the famous Flying Horse. He’s best known for being a stand-up comedian, radio DJ in the North West, and of course his hilarious role as Young Kenny in Peter Kay’s brilliant Phoenix Nights.

JUSTIN (CENTRE) AND THE CAST OF PHOENIX NIGHTS

Having been banned from calling in to ‘Salford Sounds’ and ‘Radio Weatherfield’ for abusing the talent, Corrie’s Brian was forced to channel his knowledge through a willing Gemma, who had already spent the prize money in her head before they’d even started.

But that wasn’t the only time Peter Kay’s influence crossed my mind watching Wednesday’s Coronation Street. Having lost the radio quiz, Mary, clearly miffed, turned her back on the radio which was still blasting through the florist’s. She rested her head on her hands and appeared to flick the “V” sign to us viewers. These days Corrie can be very naughty when it comes to risqué language and innuendo so I have no doubt that this was intentional.

And who’s also famous for this (apart from Winston Churchill)? My comedy hero Mr Kay:

I really loved last night’s episodes. Carla is still breaking my heart and is clearly falling apart. The Coronation Street blog has given us a taste of what might be in store for this fans’ favourite. Meanwhile Roy is torn between logic and love like a Northern, working-class version of Spock from Star Trek. Paul is developing into a really great, likeable character while Nick is becoming ever more unpleasant. 

But most of all I’m loving the small stuff at the moment. The interaction between Rita and Brian in the Kabin:

 The three Sals. All legends and all brilliant on screen. I don't want any of them to leave ever:

Sally Dynevor, Sally Carman, Sally-Ann Matthews

I’m just really enjoying the nonsense. It is balancing out the serious stuff perfectly for me at the moment. So far, I’m a fan of Iain MacLeod as Producer.

I am on Twitter: @StevieDawson

As is Justin Moorhouse: @JustinMoorhouse 

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Corrie's Culture Club

Love it or hate it, Coronation Street has taken the last 56 years by storm. Ever since that first scene where Florrie Lindley giddily pictured her name above the corner shop, and Elsie Tanner stared into that pocket mirror resigning herself to the 'knacker yard' back in 1960, Tony Warren's precious creation has been unmissable even for those strange creatures who choose not to watch the world's longest running soap opera. In so many parts of British life, the comparisons and references to those rain soaked, terraced streets, Deirdre's famous glasses, Bet's beehive and leopard print - are ever present. Warren wrote what he knew about, he'd spent his childhood as an outsider, observing, taking mental notes. Those observations were the blueprint for what has become a British institution and perhaps gives us all the valuable lesson of paying more attention to the world around us. We all live in our own mini-soap operas, thankfully Warren shared his with the world and we are all the richer for it.

Corrie's initial success came from its brave depiction of working class northern life, written with grit and honesty, Warren stubbornly, and rightly insisting on casting people as close to the 'real thing' as possible, none of those RADA types. From that grew a bigger picture of the individuals within the Street, those who became enduring and much loved characters, entering into the nations hearts as if we knew them personally. From Ena Sharples, to a young Ken Barlow, viewers were hooked and invested in the ongoing stories of these people's lives. Many of us still are.

Corrie has undergone many changes over the years, but elements of the programme have become part of British culture. Here I take a look at some of Coronation Street's most enduring cultural icons:

Deirdre Barlow - Yes one woman captured the spirit of Corrie more than most, particularly during the tumultuous 90s. Her trademark specs, toned down in later years, became more famous than her and endless impersonations followed. Add in a few disastrous relationships and a spell in jail, and the British public were lapping her up. Anne Kirkbride may have left us, but Deirdre Barlow is a long way from being forgotten. Here's a clip from Britain's Got Talent, with Marea Smithson impersonating Deirdre and Audrey.

Bet Lynch - With her broad Heywood accent, gaudy outfits and bleach-blond beehive, Bet was like a caricature of a brassy barmaid, but she was all real. It was like the soap gods had sent her down from soap heaven, such was the appeal and brilliance of her character. Again, her unique and individual style set her apart from everyone else, and that's how she became and still remains, a cultural icon. Bet had an early rivalry with another Corrie icon, Elsie Tanner -here are their characters being played in the Corrie musical that never was on This Morning.

Dark satanic mills - Only yesterday I overheard a conversation about 'up north' being grim and 'just like Coronation Street'. We all know Corrie only represents a stereotypical northern town, and that there's a big wide world outside Weatherfield, but those red bricks and cobbles are just as famous as the people that walk on them.

Social media tributes - Coronation Street has it's own social media team these days which you'll see Tweeting away before, during and after episodes with spoilers and memes. But it's not just the professionals sharing photos, gifs and tributes online. Corrie's young audience have thought of many creative ways of paying tribute to their favourite soap, from memes of 'Severe Gails', a 50 Shades of Rita Hair Colour Chart, and of course that legendary 'Audrey Roberts Noise' video. 

Read all about it - archivists and former writers of Coronation Street have published numerous books about Corries history, the Coronation Street Blog and Corriepedia are a great online source of Corrie facts and opinions, but there are other books you should look out for too, particularly Corrie Blog Editor Glenda Young's Christmas bestseller - Deirdre, 'A Perfect Duet' a tribute to Roy and Hayley's time together, and that infamous character Norman Bates with a Briefcase. It's difficult to think of many other television programmes that have been written about in such a way.

The musical that never was - Coronation Street has covered pretty much every medium- television, film and feature length episodes, they have their own newspaper / newsletter the Weatherfield Gazette, cast members have released their own music and a whole raft of tributes, films and documentaries have been made about the soap, so it was only a matter of time before they made a stagemusical about it. Sadly after many rehearsals, ticket sales, television promotions and a great deal of excitement, the whole thing fell apart. Perhaps this was a sign that as much as we want the show to be appreciated in creative ways, we shouldn't get too carried away. That said, writer Jonathan Harvey wrote the Corrie! stage play which was received positively and you can read more about it here.

Stars in their alleys - everyone wants to be in Coronation Street. That's why we've seen some great cameos and celebrity bookings on the show over the years. Think what you like about the newer additions of Sarah Harding and Shayne Ward, Corrie has welcomed the A list with actors including Sir Ian McKellen, Norman Wisdom and Peter Kay. Others including Sir Patrick Stewart and June Brown appeared early in their careers and went on to greatness. Here's a great list of famous Corrie stars from Corriepedia.

Award winning telly - There's a snobbishness towards soaps (continuing drama) and on the whole that's undeserved, Coronation Street has won numerous gongs including BAFTAs and RTS awards, and has even recently been recognised for it's effort to create an environmentally friendly operation at Media City. Here's a high-brow RTS discussion about Coronation Street, which took place in late 2015. 

So congratulations Tony Warren. Not only did you create the greatest show on television, you became part of British cultural history. When people ask what Britishness is, they think of things like cups of tea, Yorkshire Puddings, queueing, complaining, and watching Coronation Street. That's a legacy to be proud of.

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Why Coronation Street fans must watch Goodbye Granadaland

If you haven't seen the Goodbye Granadaland programme, shown on ITV1 this weekend, it's well worth a look.

For Coronation Street fans in particular, it's worth viewing from around the 48 minute mark onwards because there are some lovely little behind-the-scenes snippets worth watching. 

The programme is narrated by Suranne Jones, who played Karen McDonald and includes contributions from Corrie creator Tony Warren and Corrie actors Barbara Knox and Philip Lowrie (Rita and Dennis Tanner) as well as ex-cast members Julie Goodyear (Bet Gilroy) and Sally Lindsay (Shelley Unwin).

Brooke Vincent, who plays Sophie Webster is interviewed and says this about Corrie:  "Looking back to how it first started, it's like a different programme. A completely different programme".

I'm not sure I agree with that statement. What do you think?

The original Head of Wardrobe called Edna Walker talked about dressing Pat Phoenix as Elsie Tanner with her tight blouses, and said that Doris Speed wanted comfy shoes as Annie Walker.  Priceless.


Then host Peter Kay, who himself appeared on Corrie once as a brewery drayman, had a peek into the props store, a veritable warehouse of a place housing Corrie props including such unlikely things as Sunita's coffin and Fred Elliot's coffin and a pair of Deirdre's very early - and huge - glasses.

Here's Peter Kay pictured holding the urns with ashes of Jack and Vera Duckworth.

There were also a large amount of models for previous Coronation Street set.

What will happen to all of these old props, no longer needed, by Coronation Street as they move from the Quay Street set to the new one at Media City?

We've read in the tabloids in the past of Corrie props being found in rubbish skips, thrown out and unwanted. I've even seen Corrie props up for sale on eBay by someone who worked for the show.

Would it be too much to hope that these props, these amazing bits of history from Coronation Street  the longest running soap in the world - might find their way into a museum of some sort, a tribute? Let's hope so.

(edited. You can watch the show on Youtube here. Thanks to Stevie for the link!)
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Goodbye Granadaland - Saturday 15 June

 

Set your clocks for this ITV documentary to be shown on Saturday 15 June at 8.30pm on ITV

 

Granada Studios has dominated the Manchester skyline for the past 56 years – a beacon to the very best in British television. The first television complex to be built in the UK and home to some of the greatest television programmes of all time. 

 

Now, after over half a century, the building will close as ITV moves to its new home in Salford’s Media City. It’s time to switch off the lights with Granada’s biggest fan, Peter Kay, as he goes behind-the-scenes at the iconic Granada building on Manchester's Quay Street.

 

Using archive clips of some of the well-loved and acclaimed programmes filmed and produced there - from Coronation Street, Prime Suspect, Jewel In the Crown and Stars In Their Eyes, to landmark musical performances including the television debuts of The Sex Pistols, Happy Mondays, Take That and the Beatles – audiences will be taken on a nostalgic and heart warming journey spanning seven decades of programme-making. 

 

Granada has given debuts to some of the comedy giants of the past 56 years, from Woody Allen making his only ever UK stand-up appearance in 1965, through to the broad appeal sitcoms and sketches of the 70s, to the 80s alternative scene and biggest names of the 90s. The strong backing of new generations of northern comedians meant Granada programming enjoyed the talents of comedy legends such as Frank Carson, Victoria Wood and Julie Walters, Steve Coogan, Caroline Aherne and John Thompson. 

 

Pop stars, movie stars, sporting heroes and royalty have all passed through Granada’s gates over the decades and this landmark show brings some of the studios’ most momentous and iconic stories to life.

 

Peter Kay said: “For me Granada television had always felt like the factory in Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory. Nobody really knows what goes on inside and nor should they as that's the magic, but tonight we finally shine daylight upon the magic of Granada one last time and bid farewell to a magnificent era."

 

The documentary tracks the story of Granada from its inception in 1954, including rare archive footage of its co-founders – brothers and entertainment moguls Sidney and Cecil Bernstein, who set out their ambitious vision for the company from the outset: “We still want the best, what’s good enough for London will be good enough for the north, but they want something in addition. What Manchester sees today, London will see eventually.”

 

The epic story of Granada is told by some of the famous faces that have starred in or worked on its shows. Featuring new interviews with Dame Helen Mirren (Prime Suspect), Lynda La Plante (Prime Suspect writer), Charles Dance (Jewel In the Crown), Matthew Kelly, Sir Michael Parkinson, the stars of Coronation Street, Jeremy Irons, Shaun Ryder and many many more.

 

Dame Helen Mirren credits the huge impact Granada had on her career: “If I were to break my life up into big chunks, I would say ‘theatre, Granada, and film’. Granada Television created me in many ways.”

 

The celebratory programme also follows veteran daytime presenters Richard & Judy as they revisit the offices where they began their careers as journalists and fell in love. Plus, Peter Kay gets the behind-the-scenes gossip from unsung heroes like the restaurant staff, security men, wardrobe and props.

 

From historic performances by the great Sir Laurence Olivier to the gritty reality of The Jeremy Kyle show, the studios have been part of the fabric of British life for almost 60 years. 

 

As ITV prepare to pack away the glitz and glamour, the building’s legacy lives on in the people who have worked there, the audiences who have visited and the millions of people who enjoyed its shows. 

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