Kym Marsh speaks to the Blog about her Corrie "break"

When Kym Marsh arrived on the Corrie cobbles, bosses were taking a bit of gamble. Kym was best known for being 'the one with the personality' in TV talent show pop band Hear'Say but the band's fortunes were short-lived and the various members went on to various media careers with mixed success.

Kym definitely made the most successful journey and before long, became a firm and popular fixture on Coronation Street. Over recent years however, the character's failed relationships and numerous tragedies have made the character seem a bit lost and out of place. Michelle had become a bit Marmite for viewers. And after so long in the same job it was only a matter of time before Kym decided to move on.

And so this week Kym Marsh confirmed that she is taking a “break” from Coronation Street to work on other projects. So how were her final days filming?

“It was really emotional, and very weird. The week leading up to it was the worse, but it was good because I had to film quite a lot of emotional stuff so crying was not a problem!

"My last day was really emotional, my final scenes were with Connors which was lovely – and in the Rovers which was nice.”

Kym leaving Corrie is often described as her taking a “break” from work, however she’s keen to reassure fans that just because Michelle will no longer be seen on the cobbles, that doesn’t mean Kym will be disappearing from our screens altogether saying, “I literally haven’t stopped!”

Asked whether she took any momentoes from the set, Kim admitted to stealing a couple of bit of costume but revealingly adding “I didn’t take too much because at some point I think she (Michelle) will go back!”

Back in't'day

On her favourite storyline, Kym spoke about working closely with Simon Gregson:

“Over the years I’ve had some really funny stories with Simon, and that’s not easy! You just can’t do anything without laughing at him, it’s ridiculous!

“I guess the storyline I’m most proud of is Michelle’s baby loss storyline. I was proud of myself for being able to through it in the first place. It’s obviously quite tricky to put yourself back in a place you didn’t really want to be. But it was absolutely the right thing to do because the reasons we wanted to do it were absolutely valid.

“I ended up sitting in front of Jeremy Hunt (then Health Secretary) having a meeting with him about trying to change the law. All because we chose to do that story.”

Kym explains how difficult it was to film the storyline having gone through a similar tragedy herself but she felt it was important to do it, and make it as real as possible:

“It would have been so easy to tell that story and take away some of the really harrowing bits because it might upset someone, and actually we told the story in its entirety and I was really pleased with it.”

We then move on to the future and Kym’s “break” from Corrie. 

After this interview she’s off filming for new independent film ‘The Loss Adjuster’ and is very excited to be working with Luke Goss and Martin Kemp on the project, as well as Joan Collins, who actually doesn’t share any of the same scenes.

“I don’t get to work with Joan which is a shame. It’s an independent movie which we’re taking to Cannes, ready for Christmas release 2020.”

Kim gets very giddy when explaining that she play’s Luke Goss’s wife Angie in the film, much to the annoyance and jealousy of some of the journalists in the room.

I then ask her about which character or actor she didn’t get to work with much during her time on Corrie, that she would have liked more storylines with.

"I was very lucky in that being in the pub means that you're always in scenes with most people. It would have been nice if Maria and Michelle had had more time together, we dipped in and out of that really."

Samia Longchambon chips in from the other side of the room, "Sometimes it's overlooked that they are related...so when you come back...!"

It seems very likely Kim WILL be back.

So for Michelle Connor, the end is nigh. She's selling up and getting away. But not before a few more dramas play out to see her on her way. 

I'm on Twitter: @StevieDawson

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Simon Gregson interview: Steve's secret fling

How has Steve been feeling in the build up to the wedding?
You know what Steve is like! Anything for a quiet life, he has got swept along with it all and he never really thinks much further ahead than that evening’s tea! He doesn’t think much about consequences, he lives in the moment as long as it is not causing him any hassle. He is happy it has scaled down a bit but he is just going along with everything Tracy says.

Does he care about Tracy?
He does have feelings for Tracy, Steve isn’t very good at being on his own and he always seems to gravitate towards very strong opinionated women. I think he finds them sexy and whilst they are doing all the thinking he doesn’t really need to! Him and Tracy go way back and there is genuine affection there, but that doesn’t stop it being a volatile relationship.

Do you think they make a good team?
When they are pulling together they are very strong, with all the stuff about his dad returning he and Tracy were the ones who were not believing it was true and they joined forces. They nearly exposed Hannah but were outwitted. They also really fancy each other so I think that is what is at the rot of it. I also think it is good that is trying to have a relationship with one of the mothers of his children!

Is he surprised when she offers his a free pass?
Surprised - he is absolutely gobsmacked. Because he has been disappearing a bit to the secret dance lessons Tracy is worried he is going off her so she is really spoiling him trying to prove she carse for him, she even runs him a bath and gives him a massage. Steve is enjoying it but a bit wary of what is going on but then he finds a note giving him a free pass and his mind is blown.

How has he managed to misunderstand when what she actually means the free pass for the spa where they are having the wedding?
She has written the note about the free pass on the back of the actual free pass for the spa but he doesn’t turn it over and then when she asks him if he is going to take her up on it he genuinely thinks she means he can sleep with someone before the wedding!

Why does Steve always make such stupid mistakes?
He does doesn’t he! He just goes through life cocking things up and he never learns. Even Tim says to him it might be a trap, it isn't actually that it is a genuine misunderstanding but Steve hasn’t thought it through. If he did he would realise that there is no way Tracy would allow him anywhere near another woman.

Who has he got his eye on?
He has been spending a lot of time with Abi and they have been getting on well and they have a dance class so he thinks this could be his opportunity!

Has he started to wonder if he is doing the right thing marrying Tracy?
This whole thing with the free pass has made him doubt if he is ready to settle down with Tracy. He loves women they are his downfall and whilst he is talking about how he feels about Tracy to another woman one thing leads to another!

He’s caught out once more isn’t he? What happens?
It’s the worst possible person who discovers him up to no good - Peter who is Tracy’s brother! He is desperate for Peter to keep quiet and he wants to get to the wedding day without Tracy finding out. It is going to be a stressful time for Steve again.

What do you think would happen if Tracy found out?
It doesn’t bear thinking about!

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Coronation Street Blog interview: Kym Marsh & Tristan Gemmill

It’s been a turbulent time for Michelle and Robert in the last year where they have been seen to lurch from one disaster to the next. As Phelan storms the Bistro, will Michelle and Robert get to say "I do"? And when Michelle is caught in the crossfire and injured, will she survive?

As soap weddings go, it’s not bound to be all plain sailing for the couple as their day goes from bad to worse. The big day doesn’t begin without a hitch, as Steve makes an ill-judged move on Michelle. “He’s always going to be a plonker isn’t he?” says Kym Marsh, who plays the troubled bride. “[Steve] overhears bits of conversations which he then thinks that she’s having doubts about marrying Robert.” Upon Ali letting slip to Steve about Robert’s health scares recently, Steve is concerned about Michelle and as he leans in for a kiss, Robert walks into the Bistro and “misreads the whole thing”, according to Tristan Gemmill, who plays Robert Preston.  “He overreacts massively”, laughed Kym, where Tristan agreed.

With Steve’s attempt to kiss Michelle, Kym was asked if fans believe that Michelle and Steve should be together. “There’s always going to be misguided people!” joked Tristan. Kym went on to discuss whether Steve is the love of Michelle’s life. “Simon (Steve) and I always say they’re the Ross and Rachel of Coronation Street”, she said. “They always do that ‘will they, won’t they, are they going to get back together?’ and then they do get back together, and then he messes it up again, and ‘we were on a break!’ which we were laughing at because actually that did happen with Leanne.” Kym suggested that Corrie may follow the Steve and Michelle route again as they have an “emotional attachment”, but went on to say “that doesn’t necessarily mean that’s going to go anywhere.”

In the midst of everything happening to Robert in the last year, Tristan spoke about how much he has enjoyed Robert’s shift in character. “It’s been great for me. I think it always takes a bit of time to bed in… it takes a while for the audience to get used to you, for the writers to get a feel for where they want to place you. I think what’s really been interesting for me as an actor in the last year, year and a half, a part from obviously working with Kym Marsh, is this side of his addictive personality that he’s been addicted to steroids and addicted to exercise – he hasn’t got an off button and I think that’s an interesting place sort of psychologically to explore. So yeah, I’ve really loved it.”

If this amount of drama wasn’t enough for Robert and Michelle’s wedding day, Phelan arrives in true Corrie style and stages a siege in the Bistro. Taking Michelle as a hostage, she is caught in the crossfire and injured. When asked about how they feel about being a part of such a major storyline, Kym said “It’s absolutely brilliant, isn’t it? To be so involved in such a huge week for the show.” Kym went on to express her pride over Coronation Street. “I think we are touching on some really big issue based storylines, really important subject matter and we’re being talked about all the time.”

Tristan said “That’s a testament to the producers and the writers because they take that sort of things very seriously and they want to do it right and to send the right messages across, but at the same time, you know, dressing it up as a dramatic story and I think they’ve done that really well, and the response to the Aidan storyline certainly has been really positive.”

Despite Michelle and Robert’s wedding day not going quite to plan, they both agreed that it was good fun to film. “It was quite tiring but also really quite fun because it’s something I’ve not done before and it’s always great to add something else to your CV!” said Kym. She also said “It was quite physical. You’ve got to put everything into it to make it look good. I was a little bit kind of bruised and battered – emotionally quite draining as well.”

After filming scenes like this, Tristan said “some people can just switch off and just go home and carry on their normal day and some people need a bit of wind-down time.” When asked which one he was, Tristan admitted that he was the latter, but doesn’t “take that much wind-down time.”

Talking about the public’s reaction to these thrilling upcoming episodes and the Phelan storyline, Tristan said “I think they’ll be blown away by it.” He went on to say “They’ve (the writers) made him so slippery, they’ve made him get out of situations that you time and time again think, ‘right, bang, you’ve him, this time we’ve got him’, and he manages to wriggle out of it.”

Away from the dark drama, Tristan and Kym had a laugh about what it’s like working with each other. “We have a lot of fun filming it, and it can be tiring sometimes, but then whose job isn’t?” Kym said. Tristan continued “And sometimes when it is really dark, it’s good to just have a bit of a giggle about it, and that’s what Kym certainly is very good at doing.” “Making you laugh?” joked Kym. “Yeah, he does have to rein me in sometimes as I do get a little bit giddy. As soon as I start messing about he’s like, ‘have you had coffee?’"

As well as Michelle and Robert’s wedding day going awry, Michelle has also had to deal with the return of Ali (James Burrows) and Ryan (Ryan Prescott). I asked Kym if she’s been enjoying the dynamic of Michelle with both of her sons. “It’s great” she said. “They’re both such brilliant actors. Their characters are chalk and cheese and they really don’t like each other. It makes me laugh because there’s always a shot of James scowling at Ryan all the time!”

It was a pleasure to interview Kym and Tristan, and Michelle and Robert's future remains to be seen...

Sophie Williams

Read some more of my general natterings on Twitter @sophie_jw26.

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Listen: Simon Gregson rare interview on Corrie comedy - and ghosts

Simon Gregson, who plays Steve McDonald in Coronation Street, recently won Celebrity Haunted Mansion.  He was interviewed today on BBC West Midlands by Alison Hammond, who starred in the haunting show with Simon.

Simon says he had previously been on the TV show 'Most Haunted' where he had to walk around the old Coronation Street set on Stage One. He says it was all built on a burial ground and it was really spooky. He had to do it all on his own with a night vision camera but thought that Celebrity Haunted Mansion would be a lot easier on him.

Anyway, Simon ended up winning Celebrity Haunted Mansion and he won the prize of a chocolate gargoyle! 

Simon's been on Corrie as Steve McDonald since 1989. Speaking about how he learns his lines he says that he "just looks at it and learns it," and he says this comes from not getting to work on time in his early years and being told to buckle down and learn lines as quickly as possible. Now, in some days they film more than 12 scenes so there's no time to stop and learn on the job.

Asked if he goes home and watches Corrie he says he likes to tune in if they've done something funny something on set. He says that they often give him dares to do on set and the character of Steve often comes into a set saying "Ah!" for a very... long... time. He says in the past that Steve got away with murder: "It was Carry on Steve!" for a while he said.

It's a great interview and well worth listening to.  Simon rarely gives interviews and this one is funny, he's doing the interview live and has a household full of interruptions going on behind him. Good stuff!

You can listen to the interview here.  Simon's bit starts at 1 hour 48 mins.

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Tonight: Simon Gregson on Celebrity Haunted Mansion

Tonight on Channel W at 9pm is a new programme called Celebrity Haunted Mansion. And if you watch it you'll see Simon Gregson, who plays Coronation Street's Steve McDonald, on the programme too.

Simon says that he does believe in ghosts. He says that he once lived in a flat where he could hear breathing beside his bed at night and he also says that his current house is haunted too.

In Celebrity Haunted Mansion, stars will compete against each other for five nights as they head to a brand new hotbed of paranormal activity in a deserted mansion.

And you can watch a little video of Simon below:

"I'm gonna channel Bill Murray from #Ghostbusters for this..." Corrie's @simongregson123 chats all things #CelebHaunted before entering the Mansion tomorrow... pic.twitter.com/kCoT8LVSnM

— W (@wchannel) February 20, 2018

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Simon Gregson and wife Emma talk openly about their 12 miscarriages

Simon Gregson, who plays Steve McDonald on Coronation Street, rarely gives personal interviews. But he's on the front over of this week's OK magazine along with his wife Emma and their three sons. 

Simon reveals that Emma tragically suffered 12 miscarriages, including an ectopic pregnancy that left her needing emergency surgery to save her life.

In the exclusive interview with OK! Magazine, Simon and Emma have opened up about their experiences and about how Emma feared she might not see her sons again.

Emma revealed that she had been suffering from severe stomach pains and feeling ill for a couple of weeks, but she thought it was constipation.

After the pains got so bad that Emma 'couldn’t stand up', husband Simon rushed her to hospital where it was discovered she was suffering from a ruptured ectopic pregnancy.

Emma said: "Up to that point we didn’t know I was pregnant so it came as a double blow to us. It was hard to get our heads around what was happening. I was petrified. I thought I was never going to see my sons ever again. As they were taking me down to theatre I just kept thinking, I’m going to die – this is it, I’m not going to make it. As they were prepping me for surgery I had to keep signing lots of forms. I just felt devastated and so overwhelmed. It was the most frightening time I’ve ever had."

Simon said: "They told me Emma would’ve died if it had been left for a few more hours. She was literally two hours away from death."

Emma continued: "The stigma has been removed from having miscarriages, but ectopic pregnancy isn’t discussed enough – I didn’t really know anything about it. The more you talk, the more you can help other people and spot the signs. It’s such a dangerous condition."

The pair have now resigned to the fact that they will not have any more children, with Simon saying: "I think as Emma has come so close to death, that’s it for us.

"We originally thought Emma couldn’t carry girls, but she so desperately wanted a little girl. I would love her to have one – but now, after nearly losing her, I’m going in and having the snip."

And Emma said: "Every time I found out I was pregnant,I never felt joyous. I would just fear the worst. I don’t think my mind or body could do it any more."

You can read the full story at OK.

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Simon Gregson and Cookie star in Britain's Favourite Dogs

Tonight on ITV, Simon Gregson and his little dog Cookie feature in Britain’s Favourite Dogs: Top 100.  As we know, Simon plays Steve McDonald in Coronation Street and Cookie plays, er, Rover.

It's a one-off special hosted by Ben Fogle and Sara Cox that reveals the nation’s favourite dog breeds, and features a host of famous faces sharing their ‘tails’ of living with man’s best friend.

“Cookie is not like any Jack Russell you’ll ever meet,” says Simon. “She’s very soft and gentle, and lets the kids do anything to her. She’s my shadow around the house, to the point that I’ve nearly broken my neck several times, tripping over her.

“Lucy (Simon's other dog) on the other hand, is true to form for a Yorkie. She’s loud, yappy and very protective. She also has smelly breath, and sleeps all day – unless a horse, person, bird, plane, car or fly comes within a hundred yards of the house, in which case she wants to kill!”

“Lucy and Cookie give unconditional love,” says Simon. “Sleeping on the settee with them under each arm is a very nice way to spend a Sunday afternoon…and Monday to Saturday as well!”

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