Daniel and Bethany kiss- with devastating consequences?

Daniel seeks misguided solace in the arms of Bethany Platt

With Sinead’s final days drawing closer, the Tinker’s have an early Christmas dinner, which ends in an explosive row between Daniel and his dying wife.

During the family meal, Daniel suggests they call it a night as Sinead needs to rest. Seeing red, Sinead insists that he should leave. When Daniel storms out, he finds misguided comfort in the form of Bethany Platt.

“It’s emotionally complex”, said Corrie boss Iain Macleod. “Is she in love with the fantasy of Daniel or is she in love with the real man? Does she even know the real man?”

With Bethany’s feelings for her friend still very much at the surface, Daniel leans in for a kiss which she reciprocates passionately.

Rob Mallard (Daniel Osbourne) said: “It’s like a ball of fishhooks now because of that cluster of events that all happen together; trying to just isolate one of them and deal with it means you end up pulling all of them up at the same time. He’ll have to untangle all those emotions.”

However, Daniel’s reality can’t be forgotten for long as Ken rounds the corner and witnesses Daniel’s betrayal.

“He has a, already what they’ve been foreshadowing, a self-destruct development. You’ll see that first because that’s the snap of the elastic, isn’t it,” Rob discussed.

With Daniel and Bethany now sharing a guilt, will Daniel reveal the devastating truth to Sinead? Or will he keep it firmly under wraps?

Sophie Williams

Read some more of my general natterings on Twitter @soph_journo

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PEAK #CORRIE

I spotted a great photo on Instragram of Chris Gascoyne and Rob Mallard (Corrie’s Peter and Daniel Barlow) who have been filming in the Peak District.

Instagram: @chrisgascoyneofficial

It’s not clear exactly what they were filming, but reports have suggested Daniel is set to be consumed by grief after Sinead loses her cancer battle, and he turns to drink. Blog editor Glenda spotted a post made onTwitter by a golf course used as a filming location for the show two weeks ago. Are the Barlow brothers on some kind of detox retreat? Or is it something more sinister involving a cliff edge and a steep drop from one of the Peak District’s dangerous beauty spots? Time will tell.

Speaking of peaks, we’re heading in to a new season so I wanted to share some of my ‘peak' Corrie storylines from over the summer. 

Amy & Asha’s friendship

You can clearly see Tracy’s influence on Amy as the young Barlow grows into a young woman. She’s domineering and doesn’t take no for an answer, even some of her mannerisms are the same as her Mum’s. Surely it's only a matter of time before she batters someone over the head with some decorative art. Anyway all this has come in handy as we discover Asha has been struggling with her ethnicity and skin colour. If you need someone on your side, Amy Barlow is probably a good wingman and it’s great to see glimmers of Tracy and Blanche coming out in her as she helps out her mate.

Paul’s torment  

I’ll be honest I’ve found Paul’s struggle a bit difficult to watch as he reveals more about his sexual relationship and abuse at the hands of Kel. Last week we heard how Paul was in love with his stepdad when he was a teen and we even saw how young Paul looked when the abuse what happening in an old photograph, which made the story all the more shocking. What with Ali’s addiction, Sinead’s cancer and pyromaniac Hope on the loose, the serious storylines are dominating for me a bit and I hope the lighter side of Corrie returns as the dark nights start to draw in.

That said, character Paul has become a favourite of mine and actor Peter Ash seems right at home among the other cast. I hope he’s here to stay.

Playing it straight

James finally revealed his sexuality to some of his family, but out of fear of being bullied on the football pitch, vowed to keep everyone else in the dark. I think this is a really great storyline for Corrie to be going with, as in the real world we’re still yet to see an out and proud, top-flight gay footballer. Recently rugby player Gareth Thomas revealed to the world he has HIV just a few years after revealing he’s gay, which I’m sure broke down barriers and helped a great many people. The gay footballer story in Corrie will hopefully do the same and you never know, might even encourage a footy pro to come out.

I’m still trying to work the Bailey family out. Will they stand the test of time and become Corrie favourites? They have potential….

Adam Barlow

He might be slowly morphing into Pop Idol’s Darius ‘Hit Me Baby One More Time’ Campbell, a fellow Scot, but Adam seems a lot more mature and stable since returning to the cobbles. He thinks he’s sussed Gary Windass out but Gary keeps turning the tables and foiling Adams attempts to expose him. The rivalry is great telly, and it’s allowing the wayward Barlow to play the good guy. It suits him.

HIT ME BABY

KISS ME BABY

Quad Squad

The ever expanding Brown-Winter family is offering some much needed light relief at the minute. Poor Gemma is almost as wide as she is tall now as we get ever closer to the quads’ birth date and as always, chaos follows the every member of the family. Bernice has brought an extra layer of crazy as actor Jane Hazelgrove plays Gemma and Paul’s mum brilliantly. They’d better get that extension built and quick.

Emma cools off

It’s been so nice seeing Emma and Steve get closer, even if there’s still the odd awkward moment between them. Emma has obviously realised she needs to make the most of having people that love her around following the death of her dad. But are we missing something? Emma’s mum Fiona has appeared a few times by video call, but what if she comes back to the UK? Will she bring even more secrets with her? I hope so. Again, Alexandra Mardell who plays Emma has fitted in to the cast perfectly and I hope she’s around for years to come.

It looks like we are headed for a dramatic few months on the cobbles. Fingers crossed for an intense and gripping resolution to some long-running storylines with a good mix of laughs in between.

I’m on Twitter: @StevieDawson 

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When #CORRIE hits back

Corrie fans, like Manchester United supporters and Scientologists, can be very loyal to their cause. And at times they can be the most honest. Brutally so. Especially in the era of social media.

Twitter more than any other medium gives television viewers the unique opportunity to engage with cast and crew like never before. We can critique storylines, send gushing praise about individual performances or have a good old rant about there never being enough Rita on screen.

Former Exec Producer Kieron Roberts explained how important social media is to the soap, especially during awards season:

“We’ve done a lot of work on our website and on Facebook and Twitter to persuade people to get involved. That’s what you have to do these days. It’s no longer about filling in a form in the back of the TV Times. People vote by clicking a button on their phones and on their computers.”

He continued:

“A lot of the cast are on Twitter, too, so they are able to drum up support by building a relationship with fans as well.”

I’ve praised Corrie a lot on this Blog and on social media - I always prefer to keep my musings positive. But healthy critique is good and we should never shy away of speaking our minds (remind me of this when I'm next sending a barrage of abuse to Boris Johnson on Twitter).

Here, in my catchily-titled blog from 2015 “Corrie Superfan Seeks Paint Drying Companion”, I explained how I was watching the show more out of habit than enjoyment. And I wasn’t alone. Now though it’s all too easy to write a cutting little tweet directly to the source of your dissatisfaction - be it the writers, actors or producers. I’m never personally too harsh but some of you Corrie fans DO NOT hold back!

Apologies for the expletives and reference to football. 

It can be an unfriendly place the old t'internet, even here on the Coronation Street Blog we get some very unpleasant remarks in the comments section from time to time. In this relatively new era of engagement through social media though we on the Blog can reply to those comments, or delete them from existence if they are really offensive, and Corrie cast and crew themselves can hit back on Twitter. And they often do.

Tristan Gemmill has taken to Twitter this week to engage with a few of Corrie’s armchair commentators. His character Robert is, in Tristan’s own words in “a bit of a pickle” and some fans are not enjoying the long-running storyline and his love triangle with Michelle and Vicky.

Some people had a go at the character.

Others criticised the storyline.

And some just just let rip.

Sensing a social media storm, Tristan had his say.

There was even a hilarious intervention from his on-screen fiancée (or one of them) Kym Marsh.

And Tristan’s not the first to engage in Twitter drama over Corrie feedback. Dan Brocklebank, who plays Vicar Billy received a torrent of hate online after an on screen kiss. He didn’t stay silent.

Actors often use Twitter to respond to media stories about them.

The sassiest of online Corrie stars has to be Sally Ann Matthews. She’s probably the cast member that engages the most with fans, but she doesn't always receive the nicest comments. One particular ‘critique’ Sal gets when the show is on and Corrie Twitter awakens is…her hair colour. She now has a short but effective response.

TMI Sal.

And when it comes to responding to more serious criticism of the show, simple facts are all that are required.

So there.

In responding to some social media users, Corrie stars can reveal some big behind the scenes secrets.

Yummy.

Jane Danson felt she had to set the record straight over comments about her walk when filming pregnancy scenes.

And others simply put people, rightly, in their place.

But Kate has also made a serious point about the down side of social media.

Tina O’Brien, who plays Sarah Platt, let fans on Twitter know back in March that she was aware of their concern for her #BendyFingers

Try picking your nose with THAT. 

Engaging with your favourite soap stars online can be a mixed experience. A bit of sparring is fun. But it’s more fun to be kind. Don’t take it from me though. Take it from a fan.

Join me on Twitter if you dare @StevieDawson

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