'It has rocked their world but they will always be OK’ Corrie Press Day Interview with Joe Duttine and Sally Dynevor

We continue our Corrie 60th anniversary blog interviews joining ITV journalist Nina Nannar to have a good chat with Joe Duttine (Tim Metcalfe) and Sally Dynevor (Sally Metcalfe) about Geoff, Sally and Tim’s relationship, and Coronation Street’s legacy.

NN = Nina Nannar, JD = Joe Duttine SD = Sally Dynevor 

NN - The Geoff coercive plotline has cast its net far and wide for Tim and Sally.

JD- ‘I think this has opened up another world for Tim, hasn’t it? Tim was quite happy just sitting in the taxi office and eating those pink wafer biscuits. Suddenly his Dad comes along and tells him this massive lie. A whole world of things that Tim now has to explore. It is nice to have this turning point.'

NN- Sally and Tim are that 'classic Corrie' couple on the street. How do you think this whole discovery will affect them? 

JD - 'They will bounce back. They will have another night in the conservatory overlooking the hot tub and crack open a nice bottle of something. They will get back on track. It has rocked their world, but they will always be ok, I think.'

NN - How have you found the coercive control storyline? 

JD- 'Quite horrible when you think of the reality, but it has been great. Tim has got involved with some characters he wouldn’t normally interact with and the variation as an actor.'

NN - Sally, you have been in Coronation Street for a long time now - how does it feel to be still involved after all these years? 

SD - 'I am so proud of Coronation Street, it is an incredible programme to be part of and I am pleased to have been part of this domestic abuse storyline. It is so important, and there is a responsibility to the storytelling. I watch all the montages of years gone by and it's amazing that we have had 60 years of fantastic stories. I have loved this coercive storyline, one of the best I have been in. Coronation Street does comedy and dark drama together so well - I think that is why it's been on for 60 years, they do it better than anyone else.'

NN - When you joined Corrie 30 odd years ago, did you plan to stay in as long as possible or was it just another acting job? 

SD - 'No, I left drama school, was in a few telly things, then I got offered Corrie but for only two episodes. I kept getting called back then John Temple (Corrie producer) stopped me in the canteen and asked if I would like a one-year contract. I was amazed, that does not usually happen to an actor. I have enjoyed this job so much. If I left I'd be lost and would miss it so much.'

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Keep your eyes peeled for a few more Corrie press day interviews. It was such an honour to join Micheal Le Vell, Sally Carman, Mark Frost, Mikey North, & Sue Devaney for a chat about the Coronation Street demolition plot!

I am @rybazoxo your cobble connoiseur

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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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Join Corrie's Sally on charity Himalayas Trek

Join Coronation Street's Sally Dynevor, who plays Sally Metcalfe, on the trek of a lifetime in the Himalayas, to raise funds for Prevent Breast Cancer.  

Sally is an official patron of the breast cancer charity and works tirelessly to raise awareness of their cause. She truly believes in the charity's mission to prevent breast cancer for the next generation.

The treks take place next year and you can find all details including cost and how to sign up at the Prevent Breast Cancer website.

See also: Christmas presents for Coronation Street fans

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Sally Dynevor interview: Dodgy Duncan and Sally's downfall

How is Sally feeling does she think justice will prevail or is she really worried?

She is innocent, she knows she has not done anything wrong, she is an upstanding member of the community, she’s been the Mayor, she knows she feels confident enough that she can represent herself and that she’s not done anything wrong. She believes it’s all going to be absolutely fine she’ll be able to cope with it and deal with it.

Has she been embarrassed by it how has she is viewed in the community?

She’s really proud and she’s got where she wanted to be, she was the Mayor she was doing really well so for the street and all these people to see her now everything come crashing down on her is awful. There is some people who will want to see Sally embarrassed and who will be sniggering behind her back saying going well she had it coming because Sally is the definition of ‘pride coming before a fall’.

She must feel foolish about being taken in by Duncan?

Yes she was in this position to help someone, she was charmed by him, he’s very handsome and charming, he put his point across very well and he’s very eloquent. She was naive she should have looked into his business who he was. What is actually really interesting that she’s fallen flat on her face when she was just trying to help someone opposed to thinking about herself.

What happens when she finds the list of witnesses?

So she finds out that Judith Fisher, who she worked with, has given a statement saying she has overheard a conversation where Sally and Duncan were talking about going somewhere together.  Sally very innocently thinks that is ridiculous because that never happened so she doesn’t see anything wrong in just ringing her up and speaking to her as she is a friend. Sally doesn’t know anything about crime or how to cover things or procedures she just knows that she’s innocent. But the call ends in an argument and of course then Judith puts the phone down on her and obviously says to her lawyers that Sally was harassing her.

How does she feel when she walks in and sees that there’s something going on with Sophie and Paula?

She’s really angry on lots of different levels, one she feels Paula hasn’t been truthful to her, two that she hasn’t really being pulling her weight on the case she’s not got in to contact with witness, because she’s  obviously been secretly going out with Sophie. Sally feels she has been duped again by someone, this woman is her age and she believes she has seduced her daughter. Sally had even tried to set Sophie up with Paula’s daughter, and she thought Paula was interested in Kevin!

What happens when she walks in on them?

There’s this wild scene in Kevin's where they have this huge argument. Sally is livid and just sacks her there and then on the spot and says she is going to represent herself.

And this is the day of her pre trial hearing?

It is the worst possible day but Sally’s convinced she’s innocent and she doesn’t need Paula, in her opinion Paula doesn’t know what she’s doing anyway, shes got her mind on something else, on her daughter. This is the two people that she trusted more than anything at this point in her life, Sophie is there for her all the time and Paula is her lawyer, the two people she could rely on. She says she is going to represent herself and that there’s no point in Sophie coming to court. She just wants to get through the day and come home tonight and it all be over.

Does she manage to represent herself successfully?

No of course not! Things go from bad to worse, Imran is very good at what he does and he’s far better than someones who not a trained solicitor so she finds herself in the worse possible predicament because she messes up completely by getting very personal about Imran.

Are you enjoying doing this storyline?

I’ve really really enjoyed this story so much. It’s very different because it’s not a romance it’s not an affair, it’s different to anything else I’ve done, I’ve loved working with new people too such as Nick who plays Duncan, Charlie and Stirling, they are all wonderful and of course Brooke, Connie and Joe. I just feel surrounded by just gorgeous people and it’s a great story. This might be up with there with one of my favourite storylines in my time here.

How are you feeling about the chance that she might go to prison?

Well actually I’m really excited about seeing her out of her comfort zone and how it will affect her. She will no doubt make some enemies and even on remand she is wanting to make a difference, Sally is never going to sit back and do nothing! She will try and make something good come out of the worst possible scenario.

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Sally Dynevor at Altrincham Alt.Harfest, Sep 22nd

Sally Dynevor, who plays Sally Metcalfe in Coronation Street, witll be at Altrincham Market on Saturday 22nd September as part of Alt.Harfest festival.

Sally will be reading from children's book I like myself written by Karen Beaumont and the session will be followed by a Q&A with Sally too.

Get your tickets here  

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Corrie Press Day (PART 7) - Sally Metcalfe arrested!!

Welcome to interview N0. 7 from my visit to the Coronation Street set, and my day caught in a flurry of exclusive summer storyline interviews.

The last of my press interviews is saved for a Corrie legend. Being in the presence of Sally Dynevor (AKA Metcalfe, Webster) is a real treat and felt like an absolute dream. Back in June when I attended this press day event, Jack Webster’s sepsis storyline was a mere tabloid rumour, and 'spoiler alerts' had only just started being printed. Fast-forward 6 weeks, and following the partial removal of Jacks' leg (how good was that CGI!!), that storyline is now running alongside Sally’s council funding fraud fracas. Its almost poetic justice then, when Sally gets arrested next week, at a charity fundraiser, for young Jacks rehabilitation!

Q: Do we need to dig out our Free the Weatherfield One t-shirt?

"You definitely do. I need all the support I can get at the moment!" enthuses Sally.

“It’s a great story, I’m really enjoying it. It’s fantastic. We’ve got Nick Gleaves who’s playing Duncan and a little bit of comedy and a sad story, when Sally desperately tries to do something good for society” Sally continues “We put on this big event and we get everyone to come along and Sally’s dressed as a clown with big red nose and red cheeks- which I’ve had to walk around the building in for the last three weeks” she laughs “Tim’s a strongman, Gina’s a bearded lady and Yasmeen is a snake charmer – and of course, that’s when she’s (Sally) arrested. All of a sudden, a policeman walks in and she’s like ‘oh, he might be coming to help’ and then he arrests her. She’s shocked, she doesn’t understand what’s going on”


Q: Do you think she’s been naive and a bit gullible, or do you feel sorry for her?

“A bit of both.  To be given this power, to give a charity £40,000, on a girl really who’s just stitched knickers for the last few years is amazing. So, she has been naïve but she has been trying to do something good. I know she says ‘I’m snooty and pretentious and nobody likes me’ but in actual fact, I think she’s trying to do her best and she’s trying to be a good person so she has been very, very naive”

Q: Does Duncan specifically target Sally? Does he have a grudge against her?

“She’s just collateral damage, he was just an opportunist”

Q: She’s so trusting. Do you ever feel like you want to shake her?

“There are times when I feel she’s quite wise. I did a scene with Joe (Duttine – Tim Metcalfe) today and it’s all about him not trusting me and she suddenly becomes incredibly strong when she really needs to be. I like the fact that she’s an innocent sometimes and I like it when she knows she’s right, she can be really strong”

Q: How do you think Sally would cope if she ended up in jail? Would she crumble?

“For Sally that would be the worst thing, not only losing the privileges, being locked away in a room without your family and all of those things but just the shame of it. I think that would be horrible for Sally. The fact that everyone on Coronation Street knows she’s gone to prison – oh my God! She wouldn’t be able to walk down Coronation Street with her head held high, that’s for sure and she’ll get really ribbed in Underworld”

Q: What’s kept you on the cobbles all this time?

“Great stories, it’s like a family. I’ve been here 32 years. I can’t imagine not being here. It’s the best job in the world in so many different ways, great writing, funny and sad and it’s just a brilliant place to work and as an actor. When you’re picking up your scripts and you can’t wait for the next one it is so thrilling and I’d never get that anywhere else” she jokingly adds “ And I live 20 minutes down the road, that’s another good reason!”

Will Sally Metcalfe end up in jail? Is Tim’s incarceration also on the cards? Will Duncan get away with the crime? What do you think? Let us know in the comments section...

Huge thanks to our editor Glenda Young for letting me loose in Weatherfield!.A surreal, privileged, and on the whole, amazing experience.


Also,big thanks to Alison and all of the ITV Corrie PR team, for looking after me on the day.


I am @rybazoxo and I write Wednesday night episode reviews for @CoroStreetBlog - your self-styled ‘cobbles connoisseur’

TARA

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