Where are they now? Corrie Icons of the 70s - Cheryl Murray

Here we go with a look back at some of the Coronation Street icons from the 1970s. Let's find out what they've been up to since they left the show.

Cheryl Murray who played Suzie Birchall

Cheryl Murray is best known for her role as flighty Suzie Birchall on Coronation Street from 1977 to 1979, with a return stint in 1983.

Since leaving Corrie, she appeared on television in Supernatual, Hi De Hi, Sorry, Some You Win, Zigger Zagger, Our Young Mr Wignell, The Eleventh Hour, Brookside, Midnight at the Starlight, Rich Deceiver, Live at the Liverdrone and Blue Haven.

She also made guest appearances on This Morning, Classic Coronation Street, Wire TV's Soap Show, GMTV and This Is Your Life.

 In 1998 she took the role of vets wife Mrs Parker in Emmerdale but found the strain of work too hard so she was replaced by actress Lottie Ward.

A multiple sclerosis sufferer, she has now retired from acting.

In 2014 Cheryl made a guest appearance on the ITV documentary "Gail and Me: 40 years of Gail on Coronation Street".

See also: Who was Suzie Birchall?

Read more Corrie news, interviews and spoilers

---

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

Getting it right when a Rover Returns

Ah, the perils of a returning character. It either works or it doesn't. For me at the moment, Coronation Street is all about the return of that legendary ginger minx, Jenny Bradley. 

This is a joy for me as it brings back memories of one of Corrie's best ever sagas from what I still see as a golden era for the show. So far Sally Ann Matthews has been on fine form, performing the difficult task of bringing life to Jenny over twenty years after her last appearance. 

I think it is working a treat. It is stirring up drama for some of the more established, long standing members of the Corrie cast and that can only be a good thing. The return story is plausible and Sally Ann is clearly relishing being back. I can't wait to see what happens next.

Bringing back former characters is a risky business. It's a gamble that can pay off, rewarding long-time viewers with references to the past, although sometimes they can just get it wrong. I think the main principles for bringing an old character back to Corrie are quite simple. Firstly, the character concerned must still be relevant. They must have current, ongoing links and often unfinished business with regular cast members. Secondly, the actor must be returning to play a character that is still recognisable to enough of the regular, loyal Corrie viewers. Finally, the writers must be able to write authentically for the character and understand both them and their motivations.

Sometimes I do sympathise with the powers that be. They can't do right for doing wrong. Either they are bringing in too many new faces which fans think do not gel or are not right for Corrie or they are bringing back too many old hat characters that have long since past their sell by dates.

Some recent returns have been surprisingly good. Jenny aside, I found myself enjoying CIlla's brief visit to Weatherfield last year. I was never much of a fan of Cilla during her original stint, she was always too extreme and too pantomime for my tastes. However the toned down, vulnerable CIlla we saw more recently worked well and felt a lot more believable. One of my favourite returning characters of recent years has to be Wendy flamin' Crozier. Coming from the same period as Jenny Bradley, the Ken-Deirdre-Wendy triangle of the late 1980s was superb. Roberta Kerr just seemed to pick up where she left off and it was great to see her back to upset the Barlow applecart.

Sometimes though, we are left scratching our heads and wondering where it all went wrong. Step forward Julie Goodyear, former queen of the Rovers Return as the iconic Bet Lynch. I loved our Bet - the comedy, the drama, the frocks, she had it all. The ill-advised come back in 2002 left a sour taste in the mouth as both Ms Goodyear and the viewing public quickly realised too much water had flowed down the Irwell since her last appearance in 1995. Some things are best left in the past as glorious, camp memories. 


At least the character of Bet remained true to herself on her much heralded return. The same cannot be said for others. I loved Sunita when she first appeared in 2001. She was sweet, kind and easy to love. Her come back in 2009 proved otherwise. She returned to Dev, they did a crazy, Nazir-like move into the street and the writers morphed her into a vamp, a seductress with the morals of something you'd find up the ginnel late at night. The same can be said of Dev's errant daughter Amber. She was the funny, sharp kid for a while, then left only to return solely to ruin Sawphie's relationship with Sian. It didn't work at all. Of the current cast, we have returnee Todd, another previously mainly decent character who has now inherited the warped mind of the tricyle riding child from The Omen. I think we are finally due an explanation of what the devil has happened to him.


There are always characters I would still love to see make a return to Weatherfield, whether for a special one off appearance or for a longer stint. Everyone has their own wish list of those they'd love to come back, so here is mine:

1. Mavis WIlton. Oh for one final glimpse of our Mave. I want this so badly I was over the moon just to hear her name mentioned recently when Rita went to stay with her. Seeing Barbara Knox and Thelma Barlow reunited for that special documentary at Christmas was an absolute joy. It would be wonderful to see RIta and Emily visit Mavis at her guest house for a special episode. Go on, Corrie, make it happen.

2. Eddie Windass. Why Corrie ever got rid of the fantastic Eddie Windass I'll never know. He was a classic Coronation Street character in the making. He was lazy, work shy and needed a good going over with a damp flannel yet he still managed to turn out beautiful cakes for any occasion. Now that we are seeing the back of Owen, isn't it time Gary went to look for old Eddie, bringing him back to Weatherfield and reuniting him with Anna?

3. Suzie Birchall. One of my all time favourite Corrie women, Suzie epitomised the golden Corrie era of the late 1970s. Indeed, Suzie really brought Corrie into that decade with a bang. I loved the set up of Gail, Suzie and Elsie, it really was cracking stuff. Gail rarely mentions Suzie these days, perhaps not surprising considering she tried to pinch her husband Brian back in 1983. In fact, with hindsight, it might have been better for Gail if she'd succeeded. I understand Cheryl Murray has suffered some ill health in recent years but I think it would be terrific to see Suzie turn up on Gail's doorstep one more time. We've had Gail the overpowering mother from hell and we've had Gail the simpering lovestruck bride to be, so why not have Gail having some fun and turning some heads with her old pal?

4. Janice Battersby. Perhaps a bit of a Marmite choice here, but for me her relationship with Leanne was always much more truthful and believable than anything the writers cooked up with Stella. Janice has all but been wiped from our memories which I think is a shame as Vicky Entwistle brought a lot of verve to the role. She wasn't always nice, but she was fiercely protective of her own. I'd like to see Janice back for a visit.

5. Finally, please powers that be, tempt Suranne Jones back for a stint as the wonderful Karen McDonald. Karen has been the only real match for Steve as far as I'm concerned. I loved their fiery relationship and Suranne is a brilliant actress. There are plenty of reasons for her to make a return with the likes of Steve, Liz and Tracy all still in the show. And I for one would love to see her take on Michelle.

So there we have it, my take on the pros and cons of bringing back classic characters to Corrie. The next cab off the rank will be Gail's darling Sarah Lou. We shall have to wait and see how that one goes. 

Follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82 

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

Cheryl Murray back on our screens

The forthcoming ITV special celebrating Helen Worth's portrayal of Gail Potter/Tilsley/Tilsley/Platt/Hillman/McIntyre on Coronation Street for the past 40 years will also feature Cheryl Murray who played the wonderful Suzie Birchall. She'll be talking about the impact that 'It Girls' Gail and Suzie had on the Street in the 70s. 

I'm not sure what impact Suzie had on the Street but she was pretty much the only reason to watch Corrie for a teenaged boy in the late 70s . She was very much in the mould of her landlady, Elsie Tanner: feisty; forthright and fun-loving. She liked men who would show her a good time and even had a fling with Mike Baldwin. 

Suzie left the Street under a cloud after she tried it on with Brian Tilsley and unfortunately we've not seen much of Cheryl on TV since as she's been bringing up her daughter and dealing with Multiple Sclerosis.  She was briefly in Emmerdale and also appeared in the video for Morrissey's "Everyday is Like Sunday". It'll be good to see her on our screens again, this coming Monday 9th June at 8pm on ITV.

Other faces from the past will include Amanda Barrie (Alma Baldwin) and Brian Capron (Richard Hillman). Let's hope they can get the history right this time.

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

My Corrie suggestions for the months ahead

I can be quite negative about Corrie, but it's only because I care about my favourite telly programme and I want it to be the best it can be. So rather than moaning on about what I don't like, here are some suggestions on what I'd like to see in the months ahead.

1. More references to the past. I know Corrie has such a long, vibrant history that not everything can be mentioned, but I really do think that while we still have characters like Ken, Deirdre, Audrey and Emily around it would be natural for them to talk about Alf, Elsie, Suzie, Annie and Hilda. Yes that's right Mr Blackburn, Suzie Birchall.

2. While i love comedy Steve, I don't like weak, stupid Steve. Instead of Michelle always ruling the roost and having the last word I'd like to see a return to the Steve we used to know. So let's have him dumping her and not the other way round. She really doesn't deserve the moral high ground. And let's have less relationship strife and more scenes of Steve and Lloyd having a laugh over nothing in particular.

3. Let's have a big, tacky wedding for Kirk and Beth. They are terrific together and deserve much more screen time. Kirk can be a great character when given the chance and it's high time Andrew Whyment's loyalty was paid off with a decent storyline. Beth is his perfect partner and I love his friendship with Craig.

4. Less affairs and bed-hopping please! I know they are the cornerstone of soaps but everyone in Weatherfield seems to be going mad with it all. Why can't a character like Leanne just be single for a while. Why rush from Peter to Nick to Kal? I love Leanne sharing a flat with Eva and I think there is room for some great storylines there without too many romantic entanglements. 

5. I loved the scene a few weeks back which saw Rita, Emily, Deirdre and Audrey having a drink in the Rovers. It was of no real importance to the narrative of the episode but it did feature four wonderful actresses and the dialogue sparkled. Proof that Corrie can still do it. I loved the spikey chat between Deirdre and Audrey and Emily and Rita's reactions were priceless. Just shows you don't need to fling characters off buildings for the show to be entertaining...

Just a few thoughts for the powers that be to consider...

Follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82 

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

Suzie Birchall - why I'm happy to be a die-hard Corrie fan

Last night on the British Soap Awards, we saw Helen Worth presented with an award for Outstanding Achievement, which was richly deserved.  You can watch her speech here.

Corrie producer Stuart Blackburn said in his bit to camera that Gail had been brought into Corrie as a friend for Suzie Birchall.   

(Actually he was wrong.  As our blogger Graeme points out on twitter, Gail was brought in to Corrie as a friend for Tricia Hopkins, played by Kathy Jones.  Kathy, via twitter, thanked Graeme for this reminder).

And then Stuart Blackburn said: "And who, but die-hard Corrie fans, remembers Suzie Birchall?"

Well, if that's his definition of being a hard-core Corrie fan, then I'm proud to be one. Proud.  Suzie Birchall is something of a goddess in our house, fondly remembered. She was feisty in the proper meaning of the word, assertive and forthright, of a type that has rarely been seen on Corrie since, and there's few characters that can hold a candle to her.

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

Gail the victim

I'm feeling quite sorry for our Gail at the moment. She's obviously struggling with the fact that the bloke who used to present Family Fortunes has been in her house uninvited. I think it will make for an interesting storyline as it progresses but it's made me wonder - when did Gail become the downtrodden victim?

Flashback now to August 1977, courtesy of Youtube. Gail Potter and Suzie Birchall, all glossy hair, cheeky grins and short shorts, peddling off under the viaduct on Stan and Hilda's tandem. I know 1977 is some time ago now but the Gail of today is almost unrecognisable. 

Was it Ivy Tilsley's fault? Or her Brian's? It seemed that as soon as Gail moved from under Elsie's roof to Tilsley Towers, her youth evaporated. Within months she was pregnant, boasting the very best in hideous late 1970s maternity wear. Suzie Birchall was long gone and Brian's acting talents were soon to be phoned in from Qatar. 

Life was very soon one long drudge for Gail. She spent her days running after Nicholas, and between dishing out unappetising dinners in the cafe and ditto at home for macho mummy's boy Brian. It didn't leave enough time for so much as a bitter lemon in the Rovers under Ivy's watchful, disapproving gaze. Gail didn't even pick up any tricks from her flighty mam Audrey, more's the pity.

So the victim seeds were sown back in 1979. Look what followed. Gail and Brian get divorced. Gail and Brian remarry "for the sake of the kids": more doom and gloom. Brian gets stabbed. Gail's mother in law from hell becomes a martyr, then an alcoholic, then runs off to a convent with a new face and dies off screen. 

Then along comes Martin, whos major achievement was giving the nation David Platt. Throw in a crazy Irish Cusack nanny and an affair with a Geordie nurse and Martin scarpers to Liverpool never to be mentioned again, despite the fact motorways have been invented.

We then enter more modern times which can be summed up as a cycle of never-ending doom and trauma, both for Gail and the viewers. As an aside, how can Helen Worth always appear to be so cheerful? Richard Hillman. Joe McIntyre. David, on countless occasions. Sharing a prison cell with Tracy-luv Barlow. Being conned by that posh bloke from Don't Wait Up...

Kylie summed up Gail's life in Monday night's episode to a fairly stunned Police Support Officer. I love it when Corrie references the plainly ludicrous tragedies that have plagued its characters. Where would Emily be without moist-eyed memories of Ernest? Up a tree probably, with Spider. 

Is Gail's natural doom-laden state an accurate depiction then? Should we be rejoicing in the fact that Corrie still boasts characters with such a history behind them? Or do you, like me, yearn for a bit of lighthearted excitement for our Gail? No dodgy fellas, bonkers family members or Bistro tabards anymore...or at least not for a bit. 


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

The faces of Corrie in 1979

If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.

With thanks to Corriepedia for the information.

In 1979, 83 episodes were broadcast.

1. Len Fairclough (59 episodes)

2. Ivy Tilsley (58 episodes)

3. Gail Potter/Tilsley (58 episodes)

4. Elsie Tanner (57 episodes)

5. Suzie Birchall (55 episodes)

6. Hilda Ogden (55 episodes)

7. Rita Fairclough (54 episodes)

8. Deirdre Langton (50 episodes)

9. Betty Turpin (50 episodes)

10. Ken Barlow (49 episodes)

11. Stan Ogden (49 episodes)

12. Brian Tilsley (49 episodes)

Due to lack of space, Annie Walker fails to make the top 12 but also appeared in 49 episodes

Average age: 42

Note: This is the last time Stan appears in the top 12 and the only time Suzie (to date) and Brian appear. This is also the first time that a Rovers licensee doesn’t appear in the top 12

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

First Dennis Tanner. Who next?

Well, I have to admit to being one of many Corrie fans who is looking forward to the re-appearance of Elsie's lad on t'cobbles later this year. Whether he is now a dodgy pensioner or a pillar of society remains to be seen. Is Dennis likely to annoy the likes of Norris Cole? Will he resume his sneering jealousy of Ken? Will Gail marry him?

Anyway, this got me thinking about which former character I'd like to catch up with. It has to be the delectable Suzie Birchall. Back in the day she was feisty, often hasty but definitely fun. Well, until she came back in 1983 and tried to wreck Gail's marriage. Elsie kicked her out of number 11 and that was that. Or was it? Where did she go and what did she do? Has life turned out to be a success for Suzie?

Whose story would you like to catch up with? Maybe not one of the 'big names' such as Hilda or Bet. Perhaps you have a burning desire to find out what happened to Ida Clough or Sheila Crossley. Over to you . . .

50 Years Of Corrie In 50 Days – 1977

Day 17 of our 50 day countdown of Coronation Street - written by blogger Sunny Jim.

In 1977, Ken Barlow’s estranged wife, Janet, returned to the Street. Kicked out by her lover, she turned up on Ken’s doorstep and begged him to take her back. He refused her advances but said that she could stay the night. Upstairs alone and frightened, she opened a bottle of pills and took the lot. Ken found her dead in the morning and initially the police suspected him of murdering her. Ken felt that death was stalking him, having lost his mother, father, brother and two wives. He turned to Rita Littlewood for comfort: ‘We’ve all had our nightmares Ken. We’re all the walking wounded, love. It’s just that some of us get more wounded than others.’

Suzie Birchall arrived on the Street fleeing her violent, abusive father. She talked Mike Baldwin into employing her in his boutique, ‘The Western Front’ and Elsie Tanner into letting her share a room with Gail Potter at no. 11. Elsie was amused by Suzie as she saw a lot of her younger self in her, which is probably why she let her get away with so much. She was an assertive, bubbly, forthright and fun-loving woman who liked men like Mike Baldwin who could show her a good time and had numerous flings during her time on the Street.

Convinced that she could be a big success as a model, she decided to try her luck in the bright lights of London. Instead she ended up working in pubs and burger bars. While there she met and fell in love with Terry Goodwin and got married. His true colours soon showed however as he became abusive so she returned to the safety of Weatherfield where Elsie took her in again. Terry came after her but Elsie protected her and made him see that there was no future in their marriage.

Suzie took a job as barmaid at the Rovers and threw herself at Mike again but he wasn’t interested. While she’d been away, her best friend Gail had settled down to married life with Brian and had had a son, Nicky. Jealous of her happiness, Suzie tried to seduce Gail’s husband but her plan backfired when he resisted her and told Gail. Elsie was disgusted and threw her out but Suzie thought her a hypocrite: ‘Come on Elsie, maybe I did go over the top but it’s not like you to take this high moral tone. I mean, Elsie Tanner, she used to be the biggest slag of the lot!’ She stormed away from the Street and, unfortunately, has not been seen again.

Also in 1977: Tracy Langton is born, Len Fairclough and Rita Littlewood tie the knot; Doris Speed receives the MBE; the residents hold a Silver Jubilee carnival; no. 13 becomes no. 12A; Annie Walker celebrates 40 years in the Rovers.