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).

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Anglesey appears in Coronation Street tonight

Tonight in Coronation Street, we'll see Steve and Michelle scatter baby Ruari's ashes. The poignant sequence was filmed in Aberffraw on the south west coast of Anglesey earlier this year.

Kym Marsh and Simon Gregson were spotted filming a harrowing miscarriage story on Anglesey last month, reports The Daily Post.

The heartbreaking scene - where their characters head to a cliff edge to scatter their tragic baby son’s ashes - will be aired on ITV tonight.

A baby memorial service organised by the Chester and North Wales Miscarriage Support Group will be held at Chester Cathedral on April 18.  The service begins at 11.30am. For more information, call Karen Dalton at the Chester and North Wales Miscarriage Support Group on 01829 270083.

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Ken and Deirdre's camping trip to Wales - filmed in Cheshire

This coming week on Coronation Street we'll see Ken and Deirdre go off on their caravan holiday to North Wales.  Except that it's not North Wales, it's Cheshire.

An ITV Coronation Street publicist said: “They [the scenes] were filmed at Sandiway, Cheshire. There are restrictions on time. We schedule to get scenes filmed and may do a month in one week. It’s quite a big thing to go out on locations.”

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Where in North Wales should Ken and Deirdre holiday?

When it was revealed that Ken Barlow's return storyline involved a holiday in North Wales, I have to say I was over the moon at the prospect of Coronation Street coming over to film in the region. With William and Kate having lived on Anglesey; Tom Jones coming to perform in the north for the very first time; and now Corrie having a story based in North Wales really puts us on the map! 

Plus I'm so glad Deirdre accepted my offer of a holiday in North Wales when I went to visit the street last month!

Of course, it was only recently that North Wales was involved in a Corrie storyline. Tyrone and Fiz fled from the clutches of Kirsty and the police to Anglesey. Although, it was fairly clear that they hadn't filmed on Anglesey, because the houses were brick (Anglesey houses are traditionally stone) and also if they had filmed on Anglesey, they would surely have filmed a scene possibly showing the Menai Strait bridges? I have an inkling they either filmed around Manchester somewhere or maybe in Flintshire where there are brick houses.

Let's hope this time they genuinely film in north Wales, because it really is an insult to anybody, not just us Welshies, that a certain show is said to be in a particular location, yet doesn't look like anything like there!

Now, I've come up with five places that I'd like the Corrie production team to consider visiting in North Wales with Ken and Deirdre:

1. Isle of Anglesey

The idyllic Isle of Anglesey and also where I've lived for the last two months or so after moving from the Conwy Valley! With its golden sandy beaches in places like Rhosneigr and Benllech; and attractions like the Menai Suspension Bridge and Britannia Bridge; South Stack lighthouse; the romantic isle of Llanddwyn where lovers walk; the village with the longest name (Llanfair PG); Beaumaris castle; the Church in the Sea; or the Cornish-like villages of Cemaes and Moelfre, it would be a perfect place for Ken and Deirdre to rekindle their love after Ken's absence. Plus, I could make a cameo as a caravan park owner or a tourist guide! 

2. Snowdonia

Now I know Ken had an accident back in the 1970s when he went climbing in the Lake District with Peter, so I don't know if he'd be up for climbing Wales' highest mountain Snowdon, or indeed Deirdre after years of smoking! But there's always the Snowdon train that climbs up the mountain from the slate village of Llanberis. There is also the Welsh Highland Railway that goes from Caernarfon to Porthmadog, and runs through the heart of Snowdonia. It's a trip I need to do actually because I've only done halfway! Then there is the historic town of Caernarfon with its majestic castle and its statue of David Lloyd George, the only Welsh British Prime Minister.

3. Portmeirion and the Llyn Peninsula

Where better for a romantic getaway than the Italian-like village nestled in Snowdonia, which is Portmeirion. Although, it will be unlikely if Corrie films here as this was also the setting of The Prisoner, and ITV cult series back in the 1960s. But with breathtaking views of Harlech and Barmouth and Cardigan Bay, it would provide brilliant scenes. Then there's the Llyn Peninsula with places and Criccieth and Aberdaron popular with tourists. William Roache was rumoured to have a holiday home in Abersoch, so who knows maybe that would be ideal for a holiday for the Barlows!

4. Llandudno and Conwy

The tourist capitals of North Wales. There are plenty of caravan parks in the area, and Ken and Deirdre can take a stroll round the Great Orme or even the Llandudno promenade. Then there's Conwy castle and the village itself which is still medieval in its form. And then there's the smallest house in Britain in the quay of Conwy. 

5. The Conwy Valley

My original home ground. The picturesque valley with its sloping hills and woodland, and the River Conwy at its heart. Ken and Deirdre can cross over the Llanrwst Bridge and go for afternoon tea in Tu Hwnt i'r Bont, which is a riverside cottage or visit Gwydir Castle. And then a little trip to Betws y Coed, the quaint little village that is also a haven for tourists. But maybe Ken and Deirdre prefer to get away from the tourists!

So those are my choices for a Corrie visit! There are others of course, like Llangollen or St Asaph.

If you're familiar with or come from North Wales, where would you like to see Ken and Deirdre holiday?

Apologies if this post reads like a brochure for North Wales! Couldn't help myself!

Also, if you missed it, here's a blog post I did a couple of years ago about Corrie's links with North Wales. 

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