Spin offs have been discussed for years on the Coronation Street Blog. For me, if ever there was a perfect Coronation Street spin-off idea, Hayley and Roy Cropper would be it. Julie Hesmondhalgh and David Nielson have shown us what’s best about Corrie over recent weeks – heart breaking drama, heart warming examples of the best of human nature, side-splitting comedy and the very serious message of cancer diagnosis and treatment. With the welcome end of the Killer Karl storyline we’ve been treated to an unusually large number of scenes featuring the ‘odd couple’ and Corrie has been all the better for it. The unconventional pair are now cemented into soap legend, giving viewers everything they could have asked for over the past 15 years.
ITV has now released Hayley’s Diary on their website which gives us an unusual and unique take on Hayley’s storyline and is a real treat for Corrie fans. It’s a first for Corrie but it’s not the first time we’ve seen characters from a different perspective.
I recently watched the feature length Coronation Street: Viva Las Vegas for the first time, having obviously been hiding under a rock since 1997. It was far from Bafta worthy, in many ways it reminded me of a Carry On film. Liz Dawn was completely brilliant in it with a comedy performance that was worthy of an award. We’ve also been treated to Corrie in Spain, on safari, on board the QE2 – which is a particular favourite of mine as Rita sings in it – and we’ve also seen some of the cast go out to Kenya to help raise awareness of HIV with the charity S.A.F.E. They also created ‘Just Rosie’ for ITV2 but it’s probably best to try and forget that ever happened...
But my ideal spin off would revolve around Roy, Hayley and Sylvia, a delightful trio that will soon become one. Sylvia, played by Stephanie Cole who left over the summer, was fast becoming a fitting replacement for Blanche. In a short space of time she became unmissable viewing. Hayley is living out her final months with Roy and it goes without saying she’ll be missed. So my fantasy of a farcical sitcom featuring these three soap icons is not meant to be. But you can imagine it, the three of them bickering in the flat above the café, Roy playing with his trains of an evening, Sylvia fingering a Maeve Binchy and Hayley watching Cash in the Attic and planning Roy’s next driving lesson. Babysitting for the ever increasing child population in Weatherfield, or discussing the pros and cons of having a kebab shop next door. They might even have a pet rat - a dog would be too conventional - although Roy would probably argue the ethics of having rodents in a two bedroom flat, especially above a cafe. They might have a Facebook to be able to keep up with Becky's travels. Oh and a bit more sleepwalking for good measure. The trials and tribulations of a small, dysfunctional family, loving the simple things in life but getting into the odd drama nonetheless. It sounds too simple, but when written well, these otherwise mundane situations make it all worth tuning in.
If you’re interested in seeing what other spin-offs, musical projects and feature lengths Coronation Street have made, Corriepedia is the best source of information.
Stevie
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