Happy St. David's Day - Coronation Street's connections to Wales

It's time to repost this lovely blog from Llifon in honour of Coronation Street's connections to Wales for St. David's Day.

Hello all! As I'm from North Wales, I thought I'd delve into the Corrie archives to see the links between the soap and North Wales. 

North Wales and the cities of Manchester, Liverpool and Chester have strong links through tourism, shopping and retirement and Corrie hasn't ignored this link with characters referring to towns like Rhyl and Llandudno. As well as links through the characters, both cast and crew have links as well.

Firstly, those who were born in the region. Ian Puleston-Davies who played Owen Armstrong was born in Flint; Huw Garmon who played factory owner Phil Dunbar in 2011 was born in Penmynydd on Anglesey; Iain Rogerson who played cleaner Harry Flagg between 2002 and 2004 was born in Wrexham; Wyn Bowen Harries who played Reverend Gerald Douglas (the Les Battersby lookalike who conducted Sophie and Sian's blessing) hails from Llanllechid near Bangor; and Sue Roderick who played barmaid Megan Morgan in 1989 was born in Porthmadog.

Two individuals who had links with Corrie passed away in North Wales. H. V. Kershaw, a writer, script-editor, producer and executive producer on Corrie between 1960 and 1988 retired to Prestatyn and died there in 1992 aged 74. Jack Howarth, who played Uncle Albert for 24 years passed away in Llandudno hospital in 1984 aged 88.

Those who have or had other links with the region include the following: William Roache (our Ken) was educated in Colwyn Bay, is a patron at a hospice in Llandudno and has a holiday home in Abersoch on the Llyn peninsula; Jack Howarth worked in the theatre in Llandudno and ran a cinema in Colwyn Bay where he met William Roache for the first time - both having no idea they'd work alongside each other for nearly 25 years on Corrie; Eileen Derbyshire (Emily) used to (don't know now) have a holiday home in Rhoscolyn on Anglesey; Bruce Jones (Les Battersby) had a holiday home in Conwy; and Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow) was ironically caught drink driving in Llandudno in 2008.

Various characters have holidayed or moved to North Wales over the years. Here are some that come to mind:

Frank and Ida Barlow holidayed in Colwyn Bay in 1961, weeks before her untimely death.

Irma Barlow moved to Llandudno in 1972 before emigrating to Canada.

Albert Tatlock and Ena Sharples holidayed in Llandudno in 1973 but Ena returned home early due to suffering a heart attack.

Mavis told a bemused Rita in 1976 about how she was proposed to by Sunday school inspector Mr. Eccleston while on a trip to Rhyl. He told her that if they missed the coach, they'd marry, but sadly they caught the train instead. Rita's reaction: "British rail - spoilsport". Mavis Eccleston has a ring to it doesn't it?

Fred and Eunice Gee honeymooned in Rhyl and Llandudno in 1981.

Hilda Ogden and Sally's uncle Tom Hopwood went on a coach trip to Rhyl in 1987.

Martin and Gail Platt honeymooned in Abersoch in 1991.

Emily considered retiring to Rhos on Sea in 1991 but decided to stay put in the end

The Websters and Rita holidayed on Anglesey in 1995.

John Stape hid out in Anglesey while on the run in 2011.

Fiz Stape and Tyrone Dobbs went on the run to Anglesey in 2013. 

And last year Ken and Deirdre went on holiday to North Wales (despite filming being in rural Cheshire!). Ken proved to be a dab hand at speaking Welsh. And as a Welshman, his pronunciation was spot on! It also gave Ken and Deirdre one last chance to shine in a humorous storyline after William Roache's absence and before Anne Kirkbride's untimely death.

And to finish. In a classic scene when discussing what to do with her brother's inheritance money in 1983, Hilda said she'd like to go on holiday with Stan. "They say Lanzarote's nice" said Betty. "Oh no, we want to go somewhere further than Wales" said Hilda. Hilda thought the exotic Canary Island was in Wales and to me, that's very flattering! She probably thought it was near 'Landudno' (mispronounced as it's Llandudno).

Read more Corrie news, interviews, gossip and spoilers  

Follow us on Twitter and Like us on Facebook 

---

Please read our advice for leaving comments on the Coronation Street Blog
All original work on Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Do the little things, Corrie!

Dydd Gwyl Dewi Hapus i chi! (Happy St. David's Day to you!)

St. David's proverb was "Gwnewch y pethau bychain" which translates to "Do the little things!". A couple of years ago I posted a blog urging the writers and producers of Corrie to include the little things that make Corrie special.

One of the things I enjoy to do after a day's work is sit down and watch old Corrie episodes on YouTube on my phone/iPad. There are some fantastic channels dedicated to Corrie that share vintage and classic episodes, clips and specials. While the production side of things has changed significantly over the years which is a positive thing, there is one thing I yearn to see return to our favourite show.

The long scenes between characters talking about 'nowt'. How I've enjoyed seeing Alf, Deirdre, Audrey and Ivy discussing the going-ons of the street in the corner shop for about 5 minutes back in 1986. Or even Ken, Deirdre and Blanche having a discussion over the breakfast table as recent as 2002. Although that is 15 years ago by now! How time flies!! 

Stuart Blackburn once promised that Corrie would return to its roots. I can't remember seeing that! Kate Oates has promised the same. One thing I do like about her reign is the surprise element which is certainly a huge feat in this world of spoilers! What has been promised with the increase in episodes is that the scenes will be longer so who knows, maybe we'll see a return to 5 minute scenes in the Kabin between Rita, Norris, Yasmeen, Brian and Mary where we'll see a return to fantastic and funny dialogue.

Many viewers don't want slapstick humour to make them laugh. An insult or remark can still make people laugh. You just have to think about Blanche, Ena Sharples, Hilda Ogden or Betty Turpin and smile.

While we have had more references to the past that I do constantly ask for, a little more would be great. I suppose we have to be grateful for small mercies.

But yet again on St. David's Day I kindly ask the powers that be to 'do the little things' - more humour and less drama and return Corrie to what makes it unique to all the other soaps.

by Llifon Jones

Like us on Facebook | Follow us on Twitter | Download our free App | Visit Corrie.net

Coronation Street Blog - the book.
A must for all Corrie fans!


Please read our advice for leaving comments on the Coronation Street Blog

All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Do the little things, Corrie

As it's St. David's Day, whose proverb was "Gwnewch y pethau bychain." ("Do the little things"), I thought I would take the opportunity to urge the writers and producers of Corrie to include more of the little things that make Corrie so special for me.

You know, those golden scenes of characters talking about nowt; sharing tender moments together; or taking a trip down memory lane. I know I've mentioned this before in a blog post but I think it's a fundamental message. 

We were treated a few weeks ago to Gail mentioning Suzie Birchall and this week we've had Rita and Norris sharing a heart to heart. It's those scenes that make Corrie supreme over other soaps. 

Producers believe we want sensationalism or we will turn off. Sensationalism is alright now and then but not all the time. Last year we were treated to great scenes between Roy and Hayley - alright, they sometimes argued but yet it was those small, tender moments we cherished - be it in Blackpool or in the cafe flat. And yet they still won awards.

I am aware that we have come far away from those 5 minute scenes of Betty, Hilda and Bet gossiping in the Rovers before opening time and I'm saddened that we probably won't get them back. But Stuart Blackburn has promised to return to Corrie's roots and maybe we are seeing glimmers of this with Steve and Lloyd but not with many others. Let's hope eh?

So come on Corrie, do the little things we all love about you! More humour and less drama please!

Thanks for reading and now, if you'll excuse me I'm going to have a panad and a teisen gri (cup of tea and Welsh cake)!

Dydd Gwyl Dewi hapus i chi gyd! (Happy St. David's Day to you all!)

Download our App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook



All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Coronation Street connection to St David’s Day

It's St David's day on Saturday March 1st and the Welsh can celebrate the fact that one of their national actresses, Maudie Edwards, had the first ever on-screen line in Coronation Street.

“Now the next thing you'll want to do is get a sign writer in. That thing above the door'll have to be changed," was spoken by Welsh actress Maudie Edwards on 9 December 1960. She played corner shop owner Elsie Lappin who was talking to the new shop owner Florence Lindley.

You can, apparently, watch the full clip on itv.com - but I've had a look and I can't find it to link to.