Coronation Street Blog Interview: Sue Nicholls

Sue Nicholls enters the room dressed in evening attire. As she picks her way towards the table at which we wait excitedly to interview her, she 'halloes' and jokes, and her laughter rings out like bells. "I don’t normally dress like this," she says. "I thought, I’m going to show off because I’ve just been to a dinner date this morning, so I’ve kept it on for you."

Sue is beaming, and exudes everything a person could hope to encounter when meeting anyone, not least a Coronation Street legend. Indeed, next year sees the fortieth anniversary of her first appearance on the programme in 1979 as Audrey Potter, now Roberts.

Her joie de vivre is abundant, and given that such opportunities to chat with her are a rarity, my fellow Coronation Street blogger Martin Leay and I felt extra privileged to be in her company. We’re in Manchester to chat about what lies ahead for Audrey over Christmas, and so those not wishing to know what's in this particular present, should leave it wrapped and under the tree for now.

If you’re still reading, pour yourself a smooth Burgundy, and imagine you’re in Grasmere Drive, where our story begins with the return of that most splendidly shameless of cads, Lewis Archer. Yes, Nigel Havers’ sublime character arrived back into Audrey’s life again earlier this year, sweeping her off her feet, on to a fictional cruise, and into Gail’s bad books. I absolutely adored that storyline, and wrote all about it here. The pair have remained afloat since, but the Christmas previews indicate there may be choppy waters ahead.

We now know that Audrey is set to inherit £80,000 from poor Archie Shuttleworth, as the undertaker himself finally goes under. I couldn’t help but wonder at the news if Ken’s salacious tales of his anonymised escapades with Audrey in the Weatherfield Gazette had proven too much for him.

We have also learned that Lewis will be seen wining and dining a mystery woman with whom he heads to a hotel room. Oh dear. And how do we know this? Gail, of course, who reprises her role as a spy.

Also in the previews is that Gail breaks this news to Audrey, Lewis stands her up on a date, and her inheritance is wiped from her account. We’re then told Audrey sits alone on Maxine’s bench, and breaks down in tears. It certainly doesn’t sound a very Merry Christmas for poor Aud.

So, is it possible that Lewis is just a bad guy after all? Sue says of her character, "There’s a bit of me where the doubts have actually started to make me worry. But you see, what you don’t realise is, that I really love Lewis." She observes how true to life Audrey’s situation is, when an old flame that has treated you poorly returns and your desire to send them packing vies with the undisputable spark between you, and the desire for companionship.

Asked if she would personally like for this relationship to be a success, Sue says "When Audrey first arrived, she was a goer, she went with anybody that bought her a G&T, basically... But then she was very happy with Alf because she was maturing in a nice way, and she got a bit grand being mayoress, and all that palaver." Remarking on life’s different stages, Sue says, "I don’t think the same now as I did when I was in my thirties even, but you can still remember them, so that’s how Audrey is now." She says it would be nice for the relationship to last, even if she feels Lewis is out of Audrey’s league. "He’s very proper and very well spoken and all that," she notes, "so it’s not like Alf, who was adorable, totally the opposite; or any of the other blokes she has lingered with."

As to whether another possible break up would spell the end of romance for her character, Sue says "If that should happen, be it Lewis or anyone else, how can we judge? I don’t know how I would be. You say at the time, ‘I’m never going to do that again, ever. I feel such a fool, I look a fool,’ and then something happens, literally out of the blue, and you think gosh, you know? You don’t know."

Asked if there would be any hope for Audrey and Ken perhaps, Sue replies, "Aw, how lovely. I’m not giving anything away, I’m about to go and do a scene, literally after I’ve spoken with you, and I’m desperately rude to Ken." We audibly gasp. "I know!" Sue says. "And then, in a few days time," she continues, "he comes back and tells me off. But it doesn’t matter, it’ll be fine." She adds, "I’ll tell him that, if I may, when I’ve stopped being rude to him." Sue smiles. "No, Claudia’s in there," she acknowledges, shifting in her chair, her face falling, "well in there." It’s the only glimmer of disgruntled Audrey we see today, and it’s hilarious.

When it is suggested to Sue that showing older characters falling in love gives a good message to viewers, she wholeheartedly agrees and notes that it’s true to life. Speaking of a story pitched to her years ago which involved a lonely Audrey going home and drinking a lot, Sue explains how she didn’t agree with it and asked at the time, "Why do you think somebody of – whatever age I was – because they just work in the salon and then go home, that they’re lonely and they’re going to drink? Not necessarily." She adds, "To be honest, I can’t wait to get home, plonk on the sofa and pour the Rosé, but it’s not because I’m depressed. And I tried to pitch it back to them to say I don’t really want to play that I’m a drunk forlorn little thing because, again, it’s the age." Sue was then happy that the storyline didn’t come to fruition.

One story she did love was Lewis’s initial return with fake psychic Rosemary, and her eyes light up at the mention of the wonderful Sophie Thompson who played her. "I just adore that woman, she was so funny," she says. When told about our interview with Sophie in March in which she expressed her awe at Sue, she replies, "Well we’d gone to heaven with her. She was such fun and she was so bloody marvellous. I loved her. When she did this huge speech in front of us all in the village hall, I just adored it."

I asked Sue if it was enjoyable to film her recent scenes at the North West Regional Stylists' Awards in which Audrey threw a bouquet at Claudia Colby during her lifetime achievement speech. "It was," she replies. "I’ve had a lot of feedback, and it’s jolly sweet of people. It was lovely, but I wanted to get it right," she explains. "I did want it to be real more than just a kind of farce, as we all did. So if it worked it worked. And it was fun." Sue adds, "When I saw it back, I had to smile, but was delighted - did you see Rula as Claudia when she was hit? She was so good, it looked like, and I actually thought, she had had a seizure. And then I looked at it again and I saw lovely Bill Roache, Ken, going to help her, just very briefly, but he looked like he was trying to throttle her. But yes, I liked that bit a lot. And the writing - I have to thank Damon [Alexis-Rochefort] very much for that."

Asked what the secret is to playing drunk, Sue cites her husband, Mark Eden who played Alan Bradley. "He always says the secret is you don’t play drunk, you play trying not to be drunk," she says.

It sounds as if we might be treated to more comedy scenes as Sue tells us of Audrey’s plans to treat the family to a holiday with her inheritance, and the mixed reaction at the campsite-style vacation she proposes. "I give them a little ticket each. We have a family meal and I say, ‘there’s your Christmas present.’" However, we’re told neither the big private balcony with views of the ducks, the hot tub or the watersports on offer do much to sell it. "Can you imagine the family?" she asks, laughing. Yes, and I’d want to see it for David’s face alone.

Sue is asked if Gail will be insufferable at suspecting the worst of Lewis. "If I see it from her point of view, she was really hurt, however many years ago it was," Sue replies, adding, "She tends to forget that I was hurt too." We’re told Gail is full on with this storyline. "She doesn’t come in the door without saying, she’s seen him cross a road with a woman, and then seen him doing something else," says Sue. "But I don’t think she’s doing it through spite, she actually genuinely believes it, and cares." We’re told Audrey doesn’t take this well, and Gail gets on her nerves a lot.

In terms of where Audrey is at in her life generally, in addition to still loving the salon, Sue says, "I think she is a family person…I’m happier now being the grandma, I think again it’s the age thing, you transcend up to that, and you can be more family orientated and speak to the kids more. The only person I never get through to is Gail. But long may that be really." Hear, hear!

With Audrey seemingly in no hurry to hand over the reins of her business to anyone else, our blogger Martin notes that she hasn’t always had that work ethic, as the classic episodes currently showing on ITV3 demonstrate. "No," agrees Sue, "what a tart she was then!" Asked if she watches it, Sue says "I do, and I love it because you see, without decrying anything we’re doing now, it’s just so wonderful to see Percy, to see Julie Goodyear, to see all of them – Betty! Is that because I was in it then?" she wonders, at the same time noting "But, people stop me in the street and say they’re watching it and they love it because they remember it. I can’t say I was much in love with myself when I watched that," she says, "[Audrey] was a bit mouthy."

Finally, asked if she thinks Lewis loves Audrey, Sue replies, "I’m going to answer you definitely yes, I do." Casting her mind back to his flit when they were last together, she says "I went home to Grasmere Drive" adding, with a little wry boast “I live at Grasmere Drive - and there were some flowers with a message on saying ‘I did love you, you’re the one that I loved’ or something, I can’t remember. And I think that was lovely." She continues, "You keep that in your heart, don’t you. She probably kept the note, actually, if she’s like me. And then of course he arrives back so many years later. So my answer is definitely yes, I may be proved wrong…"

While I've no idea where this is headed, I'm going to choose to keep the faith on this one, and really hope they stay together, as they make a great couple. But alas, Lewis has form, and there’s no denying that he’s up to something behind her back. Only time will tell how it all plays out.

I would have talked to Sue all day, but sadly it had to come to an end. As she moved to leave, she exited as she arrived, laughing and joking with a twinkle in her eye, and that mischievous grin. Press days don’t usually conclude with cheers and a round of applause, but this one most deservedly did. Sue is a genuine delight to spend time with. She has a fantastic sense of humour, and shines with a gorgeous energy that is as infectious as it is lovely to witness.

No matter which way it goes for Audrey this Christmas, we know that it will be a gift to watch with Sue at the centre of it all.

By Emma Hynes

www.emmahynes.net

Twitter: @ELHynes
Instagram: emmalouhynes
Facebook: @EmmaHynesWrites

Read more Corrie Christmas and New Year spoilers, including our interviews with Sally Ann Matthews, Chris Gascoyne, Joe Duttine and Connie Hyde.

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Audrey and the Pursuit of Happiness

If there’s one thing I relish as much as Lewis Archer loves a smooth Burgundy, it’s a glorious storyline written and performed with all the imagination of Audrey Roberts' “palace on water”. Yes, neither of them exist in reality, but Audrey took to regaling Gail with such gusto about her fictional fjord cruise that it seemed she began to believe herself to be aboard the Valley of the Stars, while I have most certainly been “piped on board” the Audrey-Lewis-Gail saga, lifeboats David and Claudia firmly appended, with no intention of docking. Yes, it’s the ship I’ve been waiting for. The captain’s oven has served up a divine dish, and it’s a joy to behold.

When I read that Nigel Havers and Rula Lenska were returning to Coronation Street, I was sufficiently buoyed by the news. Aside from the fact that they were both an utter delight the first time round, it indicated the possibility of a leading story for Sue Nicholls, which was a very welcome proposition. With precisely that transpiring, the resulting storyline has been a sublime watch.

When Audrey accepts Lewis’s invitation to visit him in prison, she hears the words she is hoping for from the cut-price Milk Tray man, to invoke Rita’s iconic slight. Professing himself reformed on foot of his love for her, and no longer wishing to be the person he was, he asks her to consider taking him back on his imminent release. To prove himself, he has had handed himself in for his role in Rosemary’s scam, and transferred £40,000 to Gail. But what is Audrey to do?

Enter some sparkling Aud and Claud action as the pair consider the possibilities. Claudia is chock full of charisma, wit and confidence, and it’s a delight to have her floating about the cobbles again. It’s great for Audrey that she has such a friend to confide in, as given Lewis’s treatment of Gail, she is full sure of her daughter’s reaction in advance. This leads her to pretend she has won a Norwegian cruise so she can spend some time alone with Lewis when he’s released from prison.

Gail instantly worries about Audrey getting seasick and chilly which nicely sets up the dynamic of an older mother and daughter, the latter fretting and the former wishing to be treated as an adult and desiring her own independence. While Gail’s disgust concerning Lewis is one element to the story which unfolds, the other sees her and Audrey’s relationship under the microscope, and it’s all beautifully done.

As Audrey manages to keep the pretense afloat while she and Lewis have very much dropped anchor at Grasmere Drive, the story is a great source of organic, genuine humour, whether it’s David acting as a foil to Gail’s anxiety, or Audrey on the phone to her daughter pretending to be dining in the captain’s quarters with Abba while Lewis takes time out from his charm offensive to sit, engrossed, in some nautical millinery.

Gail fretting about her mother being alone and the captain taking advantage only adds fuel to the fire of Audrey’s joie de vivre, to adopt Lewis’s parlance. It also offers a contrast between Gail’s perception of Audrey as weak, and the strong woman we know could cope in any circumstances.

As they sip champagne and dine together, Audrey tells Lewis she needs space from her family to make the right decision, and she rather symbolically hangs up on Gail as he declares, “The last thing I want to do is jeopardise any liaison entre nous.”

Lewis’s language and delivery are consistent sources of amusement and he must be a delight to write for. The fact that he's so at odds with his surrounds offers great opportunities for humour, and Audrey’s increasingly girlish reaction to each delectable syllable as her caution begins to fall away is a joy to watch.

With all calls now being ignored over at the good ship Grasmere, it’s a genuine delight to behold Audrey thoroughly enjoying herself and opening up like a flower through the magnificent Sue Nicholls.

Establishing if Lewis is being sincere is actually not as important as what else we’re witnessing; Audrey discovering what she wants and needs to bring her happiness at this time in her life, and asserting her independence and right to make her own decisions and choose the way she wants to live for herself.

Waters become choppy, however when Gail learns of the scrappage of the very cruise liner Audrey is supposed to be on, and goes to Grasmere Drive to investigate only to behold the pair through the window.

Once inside, Audrey is again seen by Gail as a helpless victim rather than someone with the ability to make her own choices. This gives her the opportunity to assert herself in what is a brilliant scene between the pair. “I just wanted some time alone to make up my mind” she says. “What if it’s my last chance for a bit of happiness, Gail. What about that?” Gail replies, “He’ll break your heart Mam,” but a determined Audrey says, “I’m willing to take that risk Gail. Life is all about risks.”

In another exceptional scene, Audrey points out that she’s 78 years old and sees this as possibly her last chance to find happiness. On being told that Lewis is not good for her, she responds with some powerful dialogue. “Oh for goodness sake, what is good for me? I mean, deny myself a bit of happiness with a man who I believe truly, truly loves me? Pushing him away, for what? For a few minutes feeling virtuous and strong which will fade into oblivion every time I sit sipping me G&T in front of the telly, all alone?”

Sadly, Gail’s inability to forgive and refusal to accept Lewis, or actually listen to her mother, sees her give a ‘me or him’ ultimatum. Audrey chooses Lewis, and it has all been played such that we can understand why rather than judging her choice. Further, we’re encouraged to rejoice with her in making a decision for herself. I loved her declaring of her pending nail appointment, “Hollywood Red is the order of the day”.

The humour, which has worked consistently well throughout, reflects Audrey’s desire for lightness in her life, and we’re spoiled with a delectable apology from Lewis in Roy’s where a bemused Claudia looks on as he’s threatened with the wooden spoon by Carla and Mary sits, rapt.

Meanwhile, desperate Gail’s final attempt to make her Mam see sense, as she sees it, is via an intervention at the salon. This is also a source of great comedy with David asking “How long do interventions take? Because I want to get over to the Rovers to see how Jenny’s ruined it”, and Emma hopping out midway through from her hiding place in the back.

Gail remains consistent while David bears witness with a more balanced outlook. Accusing Gail of resenting her having a life apart from being a mother, Audrey asks, “Let me be happy and make my own decisions, my own mistakes. All I ask is that you let me decide who are my friends when I’m not with you, and don’t lock me up if you don’t like the people I’ve chosen.” With David considering that fair, the intervention is over.

The final confrontation happens in the Rovers following the delightful counterpoint of Lewis’s solo entrance. With Gail announcing, “So this is it. Your choice. You choose a conman over your own daughter.” it gives Audrey the chance to point out publicly that Gail created the ultimatum, not her, and that she’d rather have both of them in her life. Also, while Gail’s understandable, yet superficial, view of the situation might easily be shared by others, by making it Audrey's story, we know that her real choice is happiness and that whatever the outcome, her victory lies in having the strength to take a risk for it, accept the consequences, and be her own person. The crucial thing is that it’s a decision she has made for herself.

This storyline could not be better in my eyes, and is very much one I have been waiting for. We have been treated to top quality performances, scripts, comedy, pathos and heart with sublime pace and timing, and I’ve loved every minute of it. Encore, Corrie! Encore!

By Emma Hynes

www.emmahynes.net

Twitter: @ELHynes
Instagram: emmalouhynes
Facebook: @EmmaHynesWrites

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Sue Nicholls interview: Audrey and Lewis reunite

How has Audrey been feeling since she saw Lewis again when he was exposed as the person helping Rosemary?

It was one of those realisations that happens sometimes, although a good few years have passed and even though she may have been thinking she was well out of it, when the person is suddenly there you realise that the feelings have not gone away. This is the way for Audrey, it is unfinished business for her.

What happens when he gets back in touch this time?

She gets a visiting order and I guess most people would think ‘oh rip it up and don’t give him another thought’ but she does just the opposite, she cancels a lunch with her family and heads off to see him. She is curious and she wants to see face to face what he wants to say and if there is anything still there.

What does he say to her? 

Well he does tell her that he has paid Gail the money back, he is trying to prove to her that he has turned over a new leaf and is paying for what he did. 

Does she say anything to Gail?

No I don’t think she was planning to tell Gail she had been to see him but even if she had been going to Gail out maneuvers her tells her about the money going back in her account and is very outspoken against Lewis, even though he has done that Audrey knows she can’t tell her.

Can you see why Audrey is believing what he is saying?

Audrey never really lost out money wise and once she had seen in him prison and reignited the flame she does want to believe him.

Do you think Audrey feels like she needs a man or is it just this particular man?

I think it is this particular man, I hope it comes over that way. Once she realises there are feelings still there, and not a silly kind of crush, then it is something she can’t do anything about. It may be the wrong person for her and she has probably had a little talk with herself but she thinks she has to take chance.

Does she feel as though she has always been there for her family and now she wants something for herself?

Yes she thinks that she will always wonder if she doesn’t do this. She is 78 and she might not get another chance at love so she can’t think about their opinion. She also thinks that yes it might go wrong but if it does she is no worse off and actually it might all work out.

She goes to great lengths to keep the secret, what does she do?

She goes as far as concocting the fact that she is going on a cruise when actually she and Lewis are holed up at Grasmere Drive and Claudia is the only one that knows the truth.

What does Claudia think?

They actually have a lovely heart to heart and Claudia tells her to go for it, I think this comes from a genuine feeling on Claudia’s part that she wants her friend to have this chance at happiness.

What happens when Gail finds out?

Gail has discovered that the cruise is a lie and she is worried about Audrey so she heads over to Grasmere Drive. Audrey and Lewis have music playing, they have been having a lovely evening and they are about to have a dance together when Audrey sees Gail’s horrified face peering through the window. It was very funny to film.

She must have known that at some point she would have to tell the family was she wanting to wait and see if it worked out?

She knew it wasn’t going to be easy, she knows how Gail feels and she wasn’t brave enough to tell her. She did probably want to see how it was going herself before she told the family but now the genie is out of the bottle.

Is she angry when the stage an intervention in the salon? 

I think she was past being angry by that time, she had talked to Gail and then David had also found out when he returned from his holiday. She had already told Gail that she wants her on her side and that she wants her to approve of her choice and that it might be her last chance of happiness which forces her to choose. It is after that when they ‘kidnap’ her. So she is just fed up with them treating her like she is daft and doesn’t know what she is doing.

Is Audrey concerned about what other people might think if her and Lewis?

No she isn’t really someone who is too worried about people gossiping about her she has grown up and lived a fairly eventful life and she can give as good as she gets really. There comes a time in life when you no longer care about other people’s opinions.

Does it upset Audrey that Gail is so judgemental over it all?

Gail always harps on about what Lewis did to her and I have thought about it and really nobody else has ever appreciated that when the kerfuffle happened years ago Gail knew that Audrey was having a relationship with him and they were together and it was actually quite a serious affair. He might have done wrong to Gail but Audrey was wronged by both of them and hurt most so Gail shouldn’t really have the moral high ground on this one. Maybe Audrey should tell her one day, that might come.

Are you pleased that Corrie is showing that romance is not just for the younger generations?

Yes I am, it is important, not everyone wants romance later in life but it happens and it is a lovely thing. I am very lucky to have the opportunity to play this storyline. It is never too late to find love.

Are you enjoying working with Nigel?

Yes he is lovely to work with I find it very easy to do the scenes with him, I want it to look truthful and he helps. Audrey really cares for him and it will be interesting to see how this develops.

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Five Things we Learned from Classic Coronation Street this week

Fear of Fanny

Carby that is. Nothing against the late actress Fanny Carby, I'm sure she was a lovely lady who enjoyed a great career elsewhere, but what the hell is Amy Burton? Obviously preparing for the departure of Weatherfield grandee Dame Hilda of the Muriel, Vera's adenoidal ma was quickly shoehorned in this past week without any previous mention. Apparently she had visited several times before, however until now she'd obviously never popped over on a Monday or a Wednesday. This irritating foghorn of an old crone has made Vera seem almost reasonable and underplayed while her constant skriking has had me actually feeling sorry for Jack Duckegg. 

And it's going to get worse before it gets better. She set upon Alec up his back entry (Stop it) at the end of last week and was soon installed as the new Rovers cleaner. Good luck Gilroys as Amy looks more spit'n'chammy than bleach and elbow grease. Fortunately old Ma Burton would be gone by the following Spring, the Coronation Street production team suddenly coming to their senses and realising she was certainly no replacement for Terry crawling about under the breakfast table in his grundies.

Trouble at Dr Lowther's

Most of this past week has focussed on the violent (for 1987 Corrie) attack on poor old Hilda and Mrs Lowther. The Lowthers' were packing up their house and set to move away to Derbyshire and this, hard as it is for me to type, marked the beginning of Hilda's exit storyline after 23 years in the show. Even though these are repeats and we know it's coming, I've gotten so used to Jean Alexander's beautiful performances that I'm just not ready to say goodbye. The attack storyline, a bungled robbery, was actually quite shocking and featured much more location filming than normal at the time. The use of a real, rather grim looking hospital added to the drama. And back in those pre-multi channel days, with only two episodes going out each week, the cheeky cliffhanger which left viewers guessing which character had passed away would keep viewers hooked for five whole days, not the thirty minutes we're used to nowadays. 

One of the joys of this rather sad story, which also shone a light on Hilda's loneliness, was the brief return of the glorious Geoffrey Hughes as Eddie Yeats. Geoffrey came back for two episodes as he wanted one last chance to act with Jean before she left the show. Lovely stuff. Of course the drama of the situation was lessened slightly by the fact one of the violent thugs was played by Heartbeat's P.C Bellamy, Joan Lowther's sister by the actress who played tarty Marina in Last of the Summer Wine and the hospital consultant by the guy who played the husband of Sonia in the Julia McKenzie 80s sitcom Fresh Fields. And yes, I am that sad.

Alec Gilroy, Employer of the Year

One of the knock on effects of Hilda's hospitalisation this week was Bet having to don a tabard and set to cleaning the Rovers. Alec was most put out and as usual when Alec is put out, Roy Barraclough is at his funniest and most comedically inventive. Not only could he not lay his hands on a teabag, but he rather worryingly found a plentiful supply of jelly in the Rovers' kitchen. He had no idea why it was there but I have a creeping suspicion Bet does (shudder). In a brilliant line, Alec expressed his dismay at the thought of Bet going down the street in a pinny and headscarf looking like a woman who "had been driven from home". The mind boggles.

Later, Alec paid Hilda a visit, ostensibly to check in on the hardworking char but really just to chivvy her back to work. Failing to mask his shock at the sight of the infamous muriel, Alec uses that brilliant Gilroy tact to ask when Hilda will be back scrubbing the Rovers' toilets. With a toe-curling yet joyous touch of comedy, Alec carefully places a bottle of mild on the table in front of Hilda, almost like popping some cheddar on a trap. We soon found out that Mrs O was having none of it as once Alec returned to the pub, that same bottle of mild was bunged back on the bar top! 

The Rosamund Street Avengers

Derek Wilton, the John Steed of travelling salesmen, snivelled back into view this week, once again taking advantage of poor, twittery Mavis. In the hands of lesser actors this storyline may have been little more than an irritating diversion, however Peter Baldwin and Thelma Barlow are just delicious as Derek and Mavis, tying themselves in knots over the intrigue of the mysterious Angela and her alleged paramour. Derek, while sick of domineering Angela and her vile son Neville, seemed quite determined to leave his wife until he remembered his career, his company car and his pension. The scenes which saw Derek turn up on Mavis's doorstep one dark and stormy night, were beautifully played, with Mavis a little bundle of simmering sensuality at the thought of Derek sleeping on the sofa. She was deliciously coquettish in her pink winceyette, knitted toys on her candlewick. 

Rita raised more eyebrows than she sold humbugs this week as she cut through the Brief Encounter romantics with her razor sharp ginger wit. There was a lovely scene when Rita expressed her care and concern for Mavis though and it was smashing to see the genuine warmth and affection between those two chalk and cheese characters. Derek, calling on Mavis like Steed on Mrs Peel, made it clear she was needed and she was off in Rita's Fiesta to the Harvester last seen during Brian and Gail's estrangement the previous year. As Angela and her man friend enjoyed roast lamb and baked potatoes, Mavis sidled round a print of Constable's Haywain while Derek slunk even lower into the passenger seat of Reet's runaround. Belting stuff.

Audrey's Hard Labour

Poor Aud. In the days before Alma resurfaced, our Mrs Roberts was forced to divide her time between filing her nails behind the counter of Alf's Mini Market and taking never-ending tea breaks at Jim's Cafe. With young Martin the Mullet not yet back behind the Horlicks dispenser and Phyllis away having her throat re-gravelled, Audrey was frying chips for long distance lorry drivers and buttering teacakes for Percy. After a long day feeding the faces of folk, Aud exclaimed that she was too old for hard graft and insisted Alfeh took her out for tea. Little did Audrey know what was to come: serial killer son in laws, Gail scrapping in the street in her dressing gown, Demon David, a lapdancing great-granddaughter and Nicky suddenly looking twenty years older than she does. I'm sure our Aud is now sitting in her glamorous gran-pad at Grasmere Drive, looking back misty eyed at the days when all she had to do was shovel chips and submit to Alfeh's salacious desires.

Until next time...

I'm on Twitter @GraemeN82 if you fancy a natter

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To Kate Oates from a Corrie superfan

Criticising Coronation Street can be quite cathartic when you’re a super fan. It’s good to share thoughts on the way we think Corrie is going, what we like and what we don’t like. Despite being in my early thirties I feel like I’m part of the Corrie ‘old guard’ – someone who loves the good old days, the classic and iconic characters like Bet Lynch and Hilda Ogden, and wish today’s Corrie was a bit more like back then. I took great comfort in a recent interview Corrie boss Kate Oates gave, in which she acknowledged people like me exist, and writers do try to keep us happy. Not exclusively, but we do matter to the powers that be.

Kate spoke about the recent criticism Corrie has received on the darker storylines. She also mentions her personal preference for darker comedy rather than slapstick. It’s been something we’ve talked about on the blog. The performances of cast members such as Debbie Rush and Connor McIntyre have been sublime, and Corrie for me, generally is very good at the moment. But negative comments on the darker turn Corrie has taken since Kate took over are well founded I think. In recent times we’ve seen Pat watch Michael die, then shoot three people in cold blood, setting one of them on fire in a gruesome car explosion. Billy’s been stabbed in the leg and almost bled to death. Ken was shoved down the stairs and nearly died. Rita had the brain tumour – quite what that was all about I’m still not sure, it seemed like they threw it in to give her a storyline but didn’t quite work in my opinion. Michelle’s stalker. Bethany’s sex grooming. HIV. Drug addiction. False imprisonment. Racism. Daniel and Sinead. Chesney’s brick to the face. Mary’s meltdown and the arrival of her dull but delicious long lost son. Aidan and Maria’s affair. Gary's 'death'. The fake baby. The miscarriages and still births. Quick sand(!?). Not to mention the many glaring continuity errors.  Flippin ‘eck it’s been hard going. Don’t get me wrong, as I’ve said there have been some amazing performances and as always the hilarious asides from the likes of Gemma, David Platt and Audrey have given us some much needed comic relief. But the sinister goings on in Weatherfield for many of us have been a bit much. That’s why some recent developments have given me some optimism. Before I get onto that though, one more negative. Sean Tully. What the hell. It’s like he’s been possessed by ghosts of Rovers barmaids past. I love a bit of camp, I really do. But shoehorning lines in that hark back to the good old days without the charm and likeability of that era, or of the character, just looks forced. I feel like they don’t know where to put him. How he ended up living with Norris, and now Tyrone and the kids is beyond me. I just don’t see much more longevity in that character. But who knows.

Now for the positives. Roy and Carla. I love it. I know we’ve been here before but it’s just so beautiful to watch. When she asked him to marry her, in jest, the other day I could have cried (who am I kidding - I did). So much warmth and affection between them. It really works for me.

Audrey, Gail and Sarah sipping wine in the lap dancing bar. Classic. Sue Nicholls needs more screen time. PLEASE! And I love the mature Sarah. I see glimmers of tortured, struggling Gail in her. I’ve commented on Tina O’Brien’s performances in the past, around the time of evil Callum's demise. I think she’s really blossomed since coming back.

Gemma, noisy and frantic as she is, is great. Should she and Chesney get together? I’m not sure he could cope with her, but there’s something there, and he needs to get back to his old self. Perhaps she can help.

Steve and Tracy. I didn’t want it to happen but I like it. It brings so much comedy and has all the elements of a good old fashioned Corrie relationship. Tracy wears the trousers and apprentice-battleaxe Amy adds that extra bit of stress for Steve – he plays henpecked so well. Steve’s a bit of a cartoon character with his hilarious facial expressions and body language. We need that in Corrie right now.

The extension of the set is exciting. I’m not sure how a small neighbourhood can accommodate another grocery store and coffee shop, but it opens up so many more opportunities for the show and I’m all for seeing more of Weatherfield.

I recently wrote a love letter to Corrie. And there’s so much to look forward to in 2018. Let’s hope writers get the mix right. High drama is always welcome. But Kate - don’t forget me, and many others like me, who love the charm of the good old days. And despite all the criticism, personally, I think you’re doing great.  Still a superfan.

@StevieDawson

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