Coronation Street Episode Review; Wednesday 30th of June 7.30 & 8.30 pm

As football fever continues to grip the nation, I'm proud as punch that Corrie took advantage of Pride Month, and the superb writing of Damon Rochefort, for Weathy County star striker James Bailey to finally and publically come out.  I cannot feign any enthusiasm for blokes kicking a ball around for 90 minutes, but 60 minutes of mid-week Corrie waving the rainbow flag - I'm here for that! 

Tonight, and with his career on the rise, Danny’s return seems to have spurred James on in his coming-out story. A black footballer coming out is brave territory (although it shouldn't be) and statistically speaking, you know there must be a few amongst the international players. But with misogyny and homophobia rife in that so-called sacred of sports, I can only commend Corrie for doing this. It's just a pity the real world hasn't caught up yet. Anyway, I did envisage this being terrace hooliganism and James being outed pitch-side but covid put paid to that, so the social media angle and the press conference worked better, I thought. 

It is good to see the Bailey squad all back together! Tim and Steve in matching shirts livened it up a bit, and of course, James got a kiss from Danny. Back of the net!

Gail and Natasha are the duo that Corrie really needs, amirite? I must admit, although I love Leanne, I think Nick has got his priorities all wrong in this drugs debacle storyline, and selling his factory shares can only be further undoing too? Tonight, the family stress caused predictable trouble for Gail. What with Sarah's shrieks about the factory development, and David’s persistent pestering, it wasn't a surprise when Gail succumbed to a heart attack. I noticed Sam on the sidelines there too, when Gail took a funny turn. Is he Damian from The Omen? Seemingly poindexter ish, all innocent, but if you think about it since he arrived on the street,  it's been utter carnage! I mean he is a Platt (ish) and David is his Uncle, after all. Just putting it out there... 

Recovering in hospital, Gail relayed the news via Audrey that she has decided to leave Weatherfield for good! Surely Gail can have a season (or a few episodes) away to recuperate! We need more scenes of Gail and Natasha chewing the fat over a few glasses of prosecco! A Corrie star striker the show can't do without I think. 

Tyrone and his mid-life crisis have surpassed any estimations I had about this storyline. Alina’s pregnancy and Kirsty’s death (R.I.P, I had a minor crush on that character) have really taken it up a notch! With his ex accompanying him to Kirsty's funeral, tempers between these two have now cooled. Could a reconciliation be on the cards? The only stumbling block is the pregnancy, and a vengeful Evelyn would be only too happy to stir the pot by telling Fiz. Surely it can't be too long before she finds out?  

Elsewhere in tonight's episodes; Jenny and Johnny toast a drink to old times when it's revealed he's moving to Mawdsley Street. Meanwhile, Ryan wants to resurrect his DJ career and is egged on by a flirty Daisy. Does Alya agree with her boyfriend's reignited love of loud techno? I'd be interested to see where this goes, to be honest!... 

                                                                             ***

In a Corrie game of two halves (half-hour episodes) there were one or two highlights tonight. Surprise return appearances from Audrey and Agie, Ty substituted Alina for Fiz, Sam assists an injured Gail, and James scored a winner! What did you think?  

@rybazoxo

---

---

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

Coronation Street Episode Review; Weds 13th Nov 8.30 pm

At Richard's bedside (a lot of bedside's tonight) Roy admits that he's his half-brother and they share the same Mother in Sylia. Shocked, Richard (Malcolm from WATCHING) reveals to Roy that he'd known since childhood, but didn't know his Father as he was sadly adopted. If I'm honest, I think its a pity Wayne isn't here to see this, but some superb acting, and it's awesome to see David Neilson tackling something gritty.

Confiding in Nina, Carla is quick to sing Roy's praises to his new niece. Like I said in tonight's first review, she's 100% Carla again, with added vulnerability-I love it.

Family ties are also on Steve's mind, he's taking the girls out of the flat, with Tim, to a Weatherfield County game. After the game, Amy decides its time Steve took her to see 'Little Mix' in concert. It's great to see the girls annoying Steve, isn't it? I wonder where this is heading.

Banishing Vicky to her maternity appointment, Robert is quick to cover his tracks, with Michelle heading back to bedside base. Using Ali as a ruse, Robert tells Michelle that her Doctor son is harbouring a drug addiction. How low with this guy go? Michelle is shocked and swiftly leaves the hospital. Back at the Bistro, Ali tells his Mum the truth but also airs his suspicion about Robert's timing of this announcement. Michelle agrees and seeks confrontation with her fiance.

With Michelle soon heading back to the hospital, Vicky leaves, and Robert has the same idea, deciding to discharge himself and hoping to avoid a Michelle / Vicky clash. Too little too late though, as out of his earshot, a nurse tells Michelle that Robert has had another female visitor. Back home, Michelle announces she's heading out to a meeting, and Robert is soon on the phone to Vicky. Searching 'paternity rights' on his laptop, has Robert had a change of heart... again?

Meeting with Carla, Michelle asks Carla to cover a few more  Bistro shifts and confides in her about Roberts recent (months!!) suspicious activity and shows concern.

Can Carla help Michelle, and finally get her comeuppance on Robert?. If you remember, the night before the factory roof collapse, he gave Carla a serious threat-so let's hope so. I wouldn't want to cross Carla, Michelle, AND Vicky, Would you?

What did you think to this Wednesday's Corrie? let us know in the comments section.

If you enjoyed this review give us a follow @rybazoxo over on twitter, your self-styled 'Cobbles Connoisseur'.

---

---

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

The other David Platt

After a tough few days on the cobbles, we get a rest tonight because of the football: England’s first Euro 2020 qualifier at home to the Czech Republic.

With next year's European Championship coming 30 years after the 1990 World Cup (the first major tournament I can remember), I’ve been getting nostalgic about football recently. It’s been a welcome distraction from the British political system collapsing in on itself like the roof of a Weatherfield knicker factory.

My reminiscing has also been driven by this week’s brilliant ITV two-parter, ‘Harry's Heroes: The Full English’ which featured some absolute football legends from the ’90s, but unfortunately no David Platt (62 caps, 1989–1996).

Nevertheless, I have often wondered if Weatherfield’s hipster hairdresser and/or England’s magic midfielder have ever stopped to think about ‘the other David Platt’. 

Here are both David Platts in their England kits, back in the day:

Corrie’s David was born in December 1990, a few months after England’s heroic performance in Italia ’90. David was initially registered a Tilsley (I still don’t get that) but Martin Platt may have been playing the long game. In hospital, Martin joked to Gail that they should call him Gazza, so football was clearly on his mind.

Anyway, I enjoyed this scene on ITV3 the other week. It was originally broadcast on 1 November 1991, when Nicky was mad on football and Martin had arranged a trial with Ferndale Street under-11s. There is a nice David Platt reference:

Nicky was right – it wasn’t a header that the other David Platt scored in extra time against Belgium to clinch England’s place in the quarter-finals. It was a volley and what a fantastic goal it was:

David Platt (the footballer) was as clinical in front of goal as David Platt (the stylist) is with a pair of scissors. Happy memories and all thanks to Classic Coronation Street! 

We don’t get many real life footy references in Corrie these days but it is nice to see some Weatherfield County supporters on the street and Kirk as the club mascot, Buzzer the Bee.

And perhaps it was Nick’s playing career at Ferndale Street that secured Tommy Orpington's attendance at the ‘Trim Up North’ launch earlier this month.

The launch went OK in the end. But now that the roof has caved in, I can’t see Tommy O agreeing to be Brand Ambassador for that new range of Underworld pants. I reckon it’ll be a ‘Tommy NO!’ for Nick.

I hope England are better on the pitch tonight than Nick Tilsley is at table football. When will Tommy Orpington be called up to the squad? All together now... “He's fast! He's mean! He likes a fruit machine! He's Tommy O! He's Tommy O!”

By Martin Leay

Twitter @mpleay

Corrie Blogs @ bit.ly/corriemartin

---

---

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

Match report: Weatherfield County vs South Wigan Rovers

Want the t-shirt? It's here!

Sports journalist Nathan Spafford gives us a very special report from today's Weatherfield County game.  

Find out more about Weatherfield County FC here.

Weatherfield County’s inconsistent start to the season continued with a credible 1-1 draw at the home of South Wigan Rovers.

Despite star player Tommy Orpington opening the scoring in County’s first away game of the season after just six minutes, most of the action took place off the pitch as Weatherfield’s new mascot Buzzy Bee settled himself into his new surroundings pitch side.

With Buzzy’s predecessor having run off in his eight foot rooster costumer following last week’s disappointing 3-1 home defeat, the new character, portrayed by lifelong fan Kirk Sutherland, was graciously welcomed to the fold by the travelling 26 County supporters.

Their cheers however would not last the full 90 minutes as after Orpington’s early opener – which sparked a full team celebration between the players, manager and oversized bee – was not a sign of things to come.

The rest of the first half was played at a pace akin to Norris Cole ‘leaving’ the site of some juicy gossip while brushing up outside The Kabin.

What the match lacked in entertainment was being made up for by Buzzy, who was leading chants alongside a particularly boisterous and bubbly blonde woman who screamed at the top of her voice and urged fellow supporters to take pictures of Buzzy ‘stinging’ her whenever the ball was out of play.

With the game nearing its conclusion and Weatherfield looking good for a second win of the campaign, South Wigan had other ideas as Rodrigo Estario – not a local lad – struck a stinging volley from the edge of the area as usually hapless goal keeper Tom Hastings saw a rare deserved clean sheet cruelly snatched away as the two sides had to settle for a point apiece.

Nathan Spafford

Twitter

LinkedIn

Nathan Spafford - Journalist

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