When Ken Barlow heckled Bob Dylan

I enjoyed the recent inference (Friday 26 July 2019, episode one) that Ken Barlow was the man responsible for the legendary “Judas!” heckle during Bob Dylan’s gig at the Free Trade Hall in Manchester on 17 May 1966.

Maria told Kirk – Weatherfield’s answer to Bob Dylan – that Audrey was always going on about it:

And this was not the first time we have heard of Ken’s claim. In 2015 (Monday 11 May, episode one), Liz McDonald told the same story:

The Judas heckle is probably the most famous in musical history. It is not known for sure who shouted it, though many have claimed the honour. There are some good articles about it, for example here and here.

It is brilliant scriptwriting to throw Ken Barlow in the mix. He was an Angry Young Man back then and I reckon he would have been narked that Dylan had betrayed his folk roots by going electric.

I also love the fact this has been mentioned more than once. Both eps were written by Simon Crowther (episode guides here and here). Maybe he’s a big Bob Dylan fan.

The heckler did sound a bit like Ken, to be fair:

Still, like Steve, I just can’t see Ken heckling. Could it be that Ken is simply another in a long line who claim to have heckled Bob Dylan in Manchester in 1966? 

To paraphrase Dylan’s response, I don’t believe you Ken. You’re a liar. You were probably down the library or something.

By Martin Leay

Twitter @mpleay

Corrie Blogs @ bit.ly/corriemartin

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Corrie weekly update: Don’t spit in the hotpot

Corrie weekly updates from 1995
All the wit and warmth of Weatherfield
None of the waffle
Available from http://www.corrie.net/updates/weekly/

The Connors go to war over baby Susie after mediation (or meditation as the continuity announcer had it) failed. Maybe meditation was the way to go, who knows? Anyway, Johnny does a runner with the baby, leaving Eva in a right state and making a tearful plea on national telly to get her baby back. Johnny hides in a hotel room with his granddaughter, he’s in a bad way as he’s not taking his MS medication. He calls Liz and she goes to him, he tells her he loves her and they share a kiss on the bed. But then Liz calls the police, unbeknown to Johnny, who’s busy declaring undying love for Mrs Mc and planning their getaway on the run. When the police arrive, Johnny scarpers, leaving Liz with the baby. He’s later found by the canal, unconscious and is rushed to hospital. When he wakes, it’s not Liz he declares his love to, it’s Jenny - and he gives Liz the cold shoulder for turning him into the cops.

Gemma’s upset this week when she reads in the Weatherfield Gazette that Henry Newton has got engaged. But when he turns up on the Street confessing undying love for Gemma, he tells her that the engagement is something his parents wanted, not him. He says he wants Gemma and no one else and even offers to buy the Rovers Return for her. So serious is he that he puts in an offer on the pub. Rita tells Gemma she’ll have to go on a food hygiene course. “Food hygiene? Don’t spit in the hotpot!” Gemma replies.

Eileen returns this week to find Abi living in her house but she’s less livid about that than she is about finding out Steve’s engaged to Tracy. She and Dev try to stage an intervention with Steve to stop him from marrying Tracy, but he’s too far gone, he tells them, and he can’t disappoint Amy, after all. But is it really Amy that he’s getting married for or does he really love Tracy after all?

Daniel and Sinead go after an unused building on Victoria Street so that Sinead can set up her vintage clothes shop. Brian and Cathy are after the same building to set up a hardware store, but it’s the younger couple who get the building after Cathy tells them they can have it. Too late though, for Brian has already handed in his notice at work!

At the hair salon, Audrey touts for business to get back at Maria. She delivers leaflets around the street offering half price haircuts for anyone who wants one.

And that’s just about that for this week. 

Remember, you can sign up to get these Corrie weekly updates by email at http://www.corrie.net/updates/weekly/subscribe.htm

This week’s writers were Simon Crowther and Cameron McAllister (Monday); Debbie Oates (Wednesday); Chris Fewtrell and Julie Jones (Friday). Find out all about the Coronation Street writing team at Coronation Street Blog: Exclusive: All Current Corrie writers online

Fancy going on a tour of the Coronation Street set this summer? Here’s all you need to know > https://coronationstreetupdates.blogspot.com/2018/06/our-visit-to-coronation-street-tour.html

Glenda Young
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Blogging away merrily at Flaming Nora
Website: glendayoungbooks.com

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Home from Home: New BBC Sitcom by Chris Fewtrell and Simon Crowther

Chris Fewtrell (left) and Simon Crowther (right) are two names with which Coronation Street fans will no doubt be well familiar, both having written for the soap for fourteen and twelve years respectively. In that time, they have brought a myriad of storylines to life through their carefully crafted scripts.

In looking back at episodes they've written which have resonated with me, some in particular stand out. With Simon, I count the one in which Jack Duckworth passed away as one of the best I've seen in my time watching the show. In it, we were witnessing the death of a legendary Corrie character in more ways than one, as we saw a man experiencing an encroaching distance between himself and the world around him before he became reunited with wife Vera in death, and it was intensely moving. He also wrote a key episode as part of the 'Who Killed Tina?' storyline, where Rob Donovan pushed her from the builders yard balcony.

When it comes to Chris, regular readers of the blog will be accustomed to me writing about his work over the years. We recently asked viewers to choose their single favourite episode of Corrie. A tall order! But, mine was one by Chris which directly followed Deirdre’s funeral in 2015. Slow paced, dialogue-heavy and covering just two locations, as friends reminisced in the Rovers, and the Barlows thrashed it out next door, it was sublime. Other key episodes for me which were written by him include the deaths of Michael Rodwell and Kylie Platt, and a beautiful episode from December 2013 in which terminally ill Hayley’s Christmas wish is simply to see the daffodils in spring.

The Hackett family (Little Neil (HARVEY CHAISTY), Neil (JOHNNY VEGAS), Fiona (NIKY WARDLEY), Garth (OSCAR KENNEDY)(Image Credit: BBC/James Stack)

Given the calibre of both writers, I was very excited to learn that they had created and written a new sitcom together which is currently airing on BBC One. Home from Home is a six-part series telling the story of the Hackett family who have fulfilled their dream of buying a lodge in the Lake District where dad, Neil (Johnny Vegas), is determined to have the perfect time for his family of four. 

Reining in Neil’s enthusiasm for a flawless adventure for his clan mightn’t be such a challenge were he not neighboured by the infuriatingly accomplished Robert, played to perfection by Adam James. On encountering this perceived challenge to his manhood, Neil's resolve becomes less about making decisions that please himself and the family than being better than Robert, often at the impossible. Buoyed by the enthusiasm of youngest son Little Neil (Harvey Chaisty), his resolve persists despite doubtful, yet benevolent, looks from wife Fiona (Niky Wardley) who is reluctantly supportive of his efforts, and the pained stoicism of older son Garth (Oscar Kennedy) who is every bit the awkward, yet endearing teenager.

The Dillons (Robert (ADAM JAMES), Penny (EMILIA FOX)(Image credit: BBC/James Stack)

What’s wonderful is that Neil's battle against this male embodiment of everything he perceives he isn't is one-sided. Rival Robert has no interest in one-upmanship which makes it impossible not to like him. In fact, every character is endearing and relatable, which is quite a feat when they engage in conflict at various points as things develop, and the main protagonist experiences jealousy, envy, disappointment and anger throughout. I think the key to this is that Neil's suffering is at the hands of himself rather than the person he’s pitting himself against, and this makes him sympathetic while absolving the other characters of blame for his self-inflicted victimhood. Johnny Vegas succeeds in silently conveying what's really at the heart of Neil's actions in those quiet moments between his disastrous attempts at achievement. The rest of the cast have no choice but to be on the journey with him, and in turn evoke empathy and sympathy by their very situation. Their ability to make the most of it is another contributory factor to ensuring their likeability.

Robert’s wife Penny (Emilia Fox) is also a disdainful joy to behold, whether smoking on a climb or musing loftily over how she thought her life would end, and their adopted daughter Petra (Olive Gray) is an intelligent, good humoured teenager who reacts with respect and kindness, not cruelty, when Garth’s crush is exposed by his little brother. Indeed, Harvey Chaisty's authentic performance in the role of Little Neil is a consistent source of humour.

Mercy (ELAINE PAIGE)(Image Credit: BBC)

Elaine Paige is a very welcome surprise in episode two, and marvellous as Neil’s confident, flirty, mother, Mercy. Even though she clearly riles Fiona (would anyone want to see their mother-in-law arrive at the Acropolis on their honeymoon to Greece?) she is an absolute delight. Nor do we like Fiona any less for her frustration. Again, all characters prove relatable at some point. The pairing of Mercy with Paul Barber in the part of Fieldhouse is a joy, and I hope we haven’t seen the last of either of them. In fact, while Paul has already had a couple of stints on Coronation Street, I could imagine this pair treading the cobbles, and would happily see Mercy dragging her leopard print cases out of a taxi and up to The Rovers' door.

The programme is a lovely watch which aptly captures the joys and fond frustrations of the family holiday. The comedy is as airy and warm as the beautiful Lake District cutaways that have me vowing to visit for the umpteenth time, but there is also enough spice in there to ensure it’s in no way saccharine.

From a writing perspective, you can hear both their voices in the script, which is interesting to observe if you’re a fan of seeing how collaborations are borne out. Aside from the show being a very enjoyable watch, knowing the work of both Chris and Simon on Corrie, it’s intriguing from the point of view of seeing how writers we know well in one arena bring their ideas and work together to create something new in another. If this does interest you, I’d recommend taking a look at their brilliant interview for BBC Writers Room in which they talk about their paths to writing for Corrie,  how they approached writing this programme, and who inspires them.

Home from Home airs Fridays on BBC One at 9.30pm, and I highly recommend tuning in. If you’ve missed the first two episodes, you can watch them on the BBC iPlayer. This week's third episode, with added Susan Calman in the role of Lorraine Sykes, sees Neil throw a party in an attempt to rectify his lack of popularity, but we're told his plan backfires when Robert proves to be the life and soul of the party.

I'm looking forward to it already!

By Emma Hynes
www.emmahynes.net

Twitter: @ELHynes
Facebook: @EmmaHynesWrites
Instagram: emmalouhynes

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Corrie weekly update – Funeral, Phelan and a Fly Swatter

Corrie weekly updates from 1995

All the wit and warmth of Weatherfield
None of the waffle
Available from amazon.co.uk or amazon.com 

This week was Luke’s funeral and his sister Steph returned in tears. But distraught as she was, she let Phelan know that she’s keeping her beady eye on him because she knows he had something to do with Andy’s disappearance. The vultures are circling around Phelen.  Eileen’s suspicious of her husband but defends him to the hilt, so much so that Tim sacks her from Streetcars because he can’t trust her. Tim’s afraid of Phelan for what he’s done to Luke and he moves away from the Street, taking Faye with him. Sally’s at her wit’s end with Tim gone, and he’s not answering his phone either. Sally refuses to believe what Tim says, that there’s that much evil in Phelan. Ah, how little she does know.   In an effort to further bring Phelan down, Nicola tells Gary to suck up to Phelan to get a job working with him at the mill. That way, Gary gets access to the mill where they all know Phelan is hiding something. What they don’t know is that there are two dead bodies (Andy and Vinny) that Phelan is protecting there.

While Alya continues to mourn Luke for longer than she ever dated him, Zeedan comforts Rana who has a few tears at home after the funeral. But it’s not Luke she’s crying for, it’s for her feelings for Kate and she tells Zeedan she’s in love with someone else. It’s left to Kate in the Bistro to tell Zeedan that she’s the one that Rana has fallen for, not Robert, as Zeedan suspected.  Zeedan, who has never touched a drop of alcohol in his life, buys a bottle of Scotch and gets hammered to down his sorrows. Now, the first time I touched a drop of alcohol when I was younger I bought a bottle of Martini when my mam and dad were away on holiday. I had two glasses, danced around the living room then collapsed in a heap and threw up. I have never touched Martini since. Zeedan, however, is made of harder stuff for he swigs almost the whole bottle of scotch and he’s still coherent and able to walk himself up the stairs. I don’t think so, mate.

In order to remember Luke as the gentle, kind fella he was, a fight night is arranged. Ah well. Newcomer Josh is taken on at the garage by Tyrone and sets to arranging the boxing match between all on the Street. Shona is paired up to fight Maria and there’s a wonderful scene where Maria tries to hide her fear, and can’t.

Eva goes to the clinic to have her abortion but Toyah turns up at the last minute saying “I’m not here to tell you what to do with your body…” and then goes on to tell Eva what to do with her body.  And that is to have her baby and give it to Toyah and Peter so they can live happily ever after.  In order to do this Eva knows she’ll have to leave the Street and have the baby somewhere private so that no-one knows the baby’s hers. 

Daniel tries (and fails) to make up with Sinead with his offer of a platic venus fly-trap and then he chats to Carla in the Bistro. Carla’s bored, she wants a plaything and she finds it in Daniel who entertains her under his duvet in the flat. As they leave the flat, they snog and Sinead sees them at it. Later in the Rovers, Daniel and Carla have a drink together, under the watchful eye and jealous mind of Peter Barlow, who’s wonderful in this scene. He snips and snipes at Carla, clearly rattled by her having a fling with anyone, not least his half-brother.  And as Peter’s having a go at her, in walks Beth who, protective of Sinead, also has a go at Carla and Daniel together. It’s wonderful scene, really funny and biting too.

Speaking of Carla, she finally tells Aidan and Kate about needing a kidney donor.  Johnny Connor has been absent from Corrie for a while now and I’m not sure where he is. But Aidan and Kate get tested and one of them will become Carla’s kidney donor. 

THIS WEEK’S HOSPITAL SCENE:  Carla and her kidney when Roy tells her he’s been tested but has proved not to be a match.

Amy and Steve’s digital detox ends badly when Amy says she’s going to the pictures. Steve tells her he’ll pick her up, but Amy’s really at a house party where everyone’s on their phones texting each other, or whatever they do. Steve and Tracy finally find out where Amy is and barge into the party only to find Amy in full snog with some boy from school.  

And finally this week, Gina’s not taking her medication properly and her bipolar condition gets the better of her. She takes on the mantle of chief mechanic at the garage after Sally needs a tyre changed and while they’re there at the garage, offers to do an MOT on a customer’s care. It’s left to Sally to call the woman back and tell her she’ll have to take her car elsewhere as Gina’s not qualified to do it. 

And that’s just about that for this week.
  
Remember, you can sign up to get these Corrie weekly updates by email at http://www.corrie.net/updates/weekly/subscribe.htm

This week’s writers were Chrie Fewtrell (Monday); Ella Greenhill and John Kerr (Wednesday); Simon Crowther (Friday).  

Glenda Young
--
Blogging away merrily at Flaming Nora
Website: glendayoungbooks.com

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Corrie weekly update - Wedding woes and ambient jazz

Corrie weekly updates from 1995

All the wit and warmth of Weatherfield
None of the waffle
Available from amazon.co.uk or amazon.com 

This was the week of Chesney and Sinead’s wedding but in true soap style, nothing went to plan and everything went to hell in a handcart. Chesney clocks the look that flies across the cobbles between Sinead and Daniel before the wedding. And he feels that Sinead isn’t the right person to be mum to Joseph. But he waits until the last moment when he has to say his vows and slip the ring on Sinead’s finger, before he blurts out: “I don’t.”  Sinead’s in tears but Daniel’s perked up by the news when he finds out from Carla what’s to do.

Gemma takes Henry to the wedding as her plus-one but he makes sarcastic comments all the way through. Gemma’s fed up with him and dumps him but he soon comes crawling back. In the Rovers later Gemma is at the bar and Henry’s phone buzzes with a call from his mate and from the conversation they have it’s clear that Henry is only dating Gemma for a bet. Oh dear.

Elsewhere this week, a vigil is held for Luke on the Street with some bizarre ambient jazz and a lot of candles. Most odd. Seb does a runner after figuring out that Phelan shot Luke. Meanwhile, Anna gets a prison visit from Eileen who’s started to put two and two together about her murdering husband too.
Kate leaves Weatherfield for Devon this week after she snogs Sophie on the Street and says she can’t deal with the aftermath of Luke’s death. Rana’s confused and upset to hear about Kate kissing Sophie and wonders why Kate has really gone away.

Sean moves in with Tyrone this week after he’s chucked out of Norris’ house by Angie and Jude for deleting all of their photos of baby George from their laptop.

Best scenes of the week for me were Toyah, Leanne and Eva in the Rovers all being fleeced for school dinner money from Simon. The three sisters in the pub is one of the highlights of Corrie for me, even if Toyah still has zero chemistry with Peter and no idea how to run a pub.

And finally this week, Bethany and Craig grow close and he thinks he’s onto a winner when he spies sexy lingerie in her shopping bag from town. But the lingerie is for Bethany’s new job as a lap dancer, only Craig doesn’t know that yet.

And that’s just about that for this week.

Remember, you can sign up to get these Corrie weekly updates by email at http://www.corrie.net/updates/weekly/subscribe.htm

This week’s writers were Debbie Oates (Monday); Perrie Balthazar and Martin Allen (Wednesday); Simon Crowther (Friday). Find out all about the Coronation Street writing team at Coronation Street Blog: Exclusive: All Current Corrie writers online

Glenda Young
--
Blogging away merrily at Flaming Nora
Website: glendayoungbooks.com

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Corrie Weekly Update - High Dudgeon and a Beautiful Finger

At Weatherfield hospital, Shona’s in a bad way after the attack from Nathan’s thugs. Gail and David visit and find out from the nurse that Shona’s got a c-section scar from when she gave birth to her son. This is news to David, who’s started falling for Shona and she’s never mentioned a son. He kisses her as she lies in her hospital bed and Gail looks on, unseen by them both. Gail already knows that Shona’s son is Clayton, the boy who murdered Kylie, but David doesn’t yet know. However, in soap land secrets don’t stay safe for long.

David takes Max and Lily to visit Kylie’s grave and is shocked to find Shona there too. She finally reveals the truth about his son, David explodes and Shona walks off. I do hope she’ll be back and once David calms down, I think he will too.

At the Platts, Sarah tries and fails to understand that Bethany’s been brainwashed by Nathan. When Sarah finds Bethany looking for her passport, she cuts it into pieces so her daughter can’t escape. Audrey does her best to look after Bethany. It’s her 17th birthday and Audrey gives her a cut and pamper in the salon. But then she spies the cigarette burn on her granddaughter’s arm. Bethany tries to self-harm with another burn to her arm but Sarah stops her in the nick of time. And there was a horrible scene where Bethany flirted with Peter Barlow, who later shared his concern with Sarah.
Meanwhile, Nathan has been released by the cops and picks Bethany up in his car from the Street. He tells her to pretend to her family that he’s dumped her so they won’t give her a hard time. And he sends PC Neil to visit Bethany at home, keeping up the pretence that the cops are working for her, not against her and with Nathan. It’s a horrible mess that is going to continue a while before the scales finally drop from Bethany’s eyes.

There were strong scenes between Daniel and mum Denise this week and Rob Mallard who plays Daniel is excellent in this role. Far too late, Denise tries to play mum after abandoning her son years ago. Daniel tells her he can’t trust her and demands that she leave. As she gets into the cab to drive off, she tells Ken that she’s not going far and she’ll be on hand should Daniel need her. I hope it’s not the last that we see of Denise, I’ve enjoyed seeing her back on the Street.

Crikey, it’s all been a bit doom and gloom so far, hasn’t it?  Lighter scenes this week took place at the factory when Kirk got confused between High Wycombe and high dudgeon and the factory girls had a Bob Marley sing-off. A nice little comedy touch in another dramatic week. Also at the factory, Gina gets promoted to machinist when she accidentally slices through some underwear with scissors and impresses Johnny Connor after running up replacement undies on a machine.

Screen grab from @merseystart on twitte

Another story that made me chuckle this week was Jenny choosing her engagement ring from Phil the jeweler who visited her in the factory with his wares. Phil had his head turned by Eva and accepted her offer of a lunchtime drink. In the Rovers, Eva was hoping to rope Aidan into looking at engagement rings, but he had other things to look at in Maria’s flat. When Maria had her security tag removed from her ankle this week, Aidan bought her an anklet from Phil the jeweler (wonderfully played by Irish actor Simon Delaney). “You’re my prisoner now,” Aidan told Maria as he slipped the chain around her ankle. The whole nation cringed.  After Aidan’s afternoon with Maria he arrived home to find Eva dolled up in stockings and suspenders and black PVC, desperate to get him to propose.

And finally, at the Barlows this week, Ken calls a family meeting and tells them he wants them all to forgive and forget what Daniel has done. But Tracy, Peter and Adam aren’t the forgiving and forgetting kind.  And in the back yard of the Barlows, Ken burns the blood-stained book that Daniel hit him with, destroying the evidence of Daniel’s assault, as Adam looks on from the ginnel.

And that’s just about that for this week.

Remember, you can sign up to get these Corrie weekly updates by email at http://www.corrie.net/updates/weekly/subscribe.htm

This week’s writers were Simon Crowther (Monday double); John Kerr (Wednesday); Chris Fewtrell (Friday double). Find out all about the Coronation Street writing team at Coronation Street Blog: Exclusive: All Current Corrie writers online

Glenda Young
--
Blogging away merrily at Flaming Nora
Website: glendayoungbooks.com

Read more Corrie news, interviews and spoilers here.

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