Worst of Corrie waxworks

Yesterday, we blogged about the unveiling of Kym Marsh's waxwork at Madam Tussauds Blackpool, where they have a specialist Coronation Street exhibit. They have the frontage of the Rovers, followed by a number of houses (each containing items relating to Corrie's history in the windows), followed by a loosely based interior of the pub. Apparently, they've also just opened up a replica of the beer garden. Kym's waxwork is one of seven Corrie related models already at the world famous museum, joining Jack and Vera, Hilda Ogden, Bet Lynch, Ken and Deirdre.

Violet Carson's waxwork appeared at Louis Tussauds Blackpool for fifty
years. It was horrific.

Now don't get me wrong, whilst the current models are pretty much identical to their human counterparts, I can't help but notice that there is something not quite right. And then I cast my mind back to models that featured in the house of wax that occupied the building prior to 2011, Louis Tussauds, because they were truly hideous. Digging through the old photo albums, I could find countless photographs of me and my family posed around figures that didn't look remotely similar to the celebrities they were in likeness of. But I couldn't find any of the Coronation Street exhibit which has been at the museum since the early 1960s.

Alec Gilroy's waxwork was appalling.
Just not quite right, and very plastic
 in appearance.

Research I did on the waxworks showed that Violet Carson was the first to be immortalised in wax as Ena Sharples, and she unveiled it when switching on the Blackpool illuminations in Summer 1961. It just shows how popular her character must have been after just eight months on screen. Julie Goodyear and Roy Barraclough both added to the museum in 1990 as characters Bet and Alec, once again following the illuminations switch on. The three remained alone,
alongside a frontage of the Rovers, until 1998 when a to-scale replica of Jim's Cafe opened on site at the museum, complete with Roy and Hayley models. I'm not sure, but judging by the photographs, I believe that either Gail or Alma had a waxwork too, seen stood at the counter.
Thank goodness some order was in place from 2011, when Madam Tussauds bought the Louis Tussauds building and removed all of the old models. The only thing they kept was the frontage of the Rovers Return. Out of all of the current waxworks, I believe that Hilda Ogden's is possibly the worst. She looks so childlike for some reason. As for the future of waxworks in Blackpool, I'd love to see some more iconic characters returning to the museum, such as Ena Sharples. Surely someone still has that poor Violet Carson model kicking about in their attic?

The rather good Jim's Cafe recreation,
much better than the waxwork of
 Roy. Note the waxwork in
the background. I'm not quite sure who
it's supposed to be.

I hope you enjoyed this rather random post from myself. But hopefully it sparked some nostalgia for some readers. I can be found on Twitter @MichaelAdamsUk, and @CStCollection.

---

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

Ken and Deirdre Barlow waxworks now at Madame Tussauds

Ken and Deirdre Barlow have today been immortalised in wax at Madame Tussauds in Blackpool. Ken is propping up the bar in the specially recreated Rovers Return set while Deirdre is sitting at one of the tables, they join other well-loved Coronation Street characters, Hilda Ogden and Bet Lynch.

Their wax figures took four months to create and will take pride of place at the new Blackpool attraction alongside other figures from the world of TV, music and sport.   Find out more about Madame Tussauds.

See also these two very scary Corrie characters in wax.

Coronation Street waxwork gets makeover

Coronation Street’s legendary blonde barmaid Bet Lynch has had a makeover – and up to 2,000 people a day are turning up to see her. 

The Daily Express says that the ever-popular Rovers Return landlady looked like her ugly sister or somebody’s granny in dowdy silver wig and dull clothes at the old Louis Tussauds ­Waxworks in Blackpool. Now after a five-month shutdown and a £100,000 revamp by London-based Madame Tussauds Bet, who was played by Julie Goodyear, is back to her best in trademark blonde ­beehive and red lipstick. 

It's also said that there'll be Ken and Deirdre Barlow waxworks and let's hope these two favourite Corrie characters have had their waxworks made over too.

Ken and Deirdre to have their own waxworks

Coronation Street's Ken and Deirdre Barlow are going to be immortalised in wax at Madame Tussaud's, says Inside Soap magazine.  The figures will go on display later this year.

 Let's just hope they're not as scary as these other Corrie waxworks.