Preview of tonight's double Corrie - Mon 29 Dec

Monday 29th December
STEVE’S AWFUL SECRET IS DISCOVERED. When Michelle reminds Steve they’re taking Amy to the panto this afternoon, he does his best to appear enthusiastic, but Liz can see his heart isn’t in it and whilst nobody’s looking Steve slinks off back to bed. Meanwhile Eileen and Michael are concerned to discover they’ve not been paid. When they can’t get hold of Steve, Andrea phones Lloyd in Spain who assures her it must be a bank glitch and gives her the account details. But as Andrea accesses the Street Cars bank account online, she’s horrified to see that the business is £10k overdrawn!
ANNA NEEDS ANSWERS FROM GARY AND ROY. Roy is interviewed by the police. Full of self-loathing, he describes how he thought Gary was one of the teenagers who’s been hounding him. He admits that he hit Gary repeatedly with a cricket bat and deserves to be punished. In the hospital, Anna’s shocked by the extent of Gary’s bruises and further appalled when he confesses to trying to steal from the café till. In an attempt to protect Roy, Gary lies to the police, telling them that Roy only hit him once. The police officer is sceptical. Will Roy pay the price for his unreasonable force?
GAVIN FEARS LEANNE MIGHT EXPOSE HIM. Leanne returns to the bistro as manager. When Gavin suggests they should put some modern art on the walls, Leanne’s impressed and Gavin’s pleased to have won her over. But when Leanne demands a reference from Gavin’s previous employer and his national insurance number, inwardly Gavin panics.
ELSEWHERE Norris shows Ken, Rita and Emily his new satellite map on his tablet. As he zooms in on Coronation Street, they notice a cloud of strange white smoke outside No.1. Having checked the date the photo was taken, the day Blanche died, Norris wonders if the white apparition is Blanche’s ghost! Nick treats Erica to a Spanish lunch in the bistro followed by a Spanish siesta in his flat.

Monday 29th December
STEVE IS FORCED TO FACE THE MUSIC. Eileen, Michael and Andrea study the Street Cars bank account, flabbergasted by Steve’s apparent spending spree with the firm’s money. In his bedroom, Steve listens to his messages, knowing he’s let Amy down over the panto and that his financial mess has finally caught up with him. Liz finds Steve hiding in his bedroom and demands to know what’s going on. Steve drags himself downstairs and tries to bluff his way out, telling Eileen and Andrea it’s just a cock-up at the bank and he’ll sort it out. But when Eileen and Andrea start listing all the transactions Steve’s made on the account, Steve feels the pressure building. How will he respond?
THE TIDE TURNS AGAINST ROY. Roy admits to Anna how he repeatedly hit Gary with the cricket bat, even as he tried to escape. Shocked, can Anna forgive Roy? Meanwhile Kal breaks the news to Alya that Gary’s in hospital after trying to break into the café. He warns her that Gary’s nothing but trouble. Will Alya heed her family’s warning to stay away from Gary or are her feelings too strong?
GAVIN’S IDENTITY REMAINS A SECRET. Gavin steals the real Gavin’s national insurance details and hands them to Leanne. Will he get away with his deception?
ELSEWHERE Erica explains to Nick that she’ll no longer be returning to Spain as she has to stay and look after her mother. How will Nick react to her news?

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 look pictures: Beth and Kirk's Coronation Street wedding

As the New year gets underway in Weatherfield wedding bells are ringing for Corrie’s Kirk as he and bride-to-be Beth Tinker prepare to walk down the aisle - 80s style!

As these fantastic pictures show the couple decide on an 80s theme for their big day with the bride and groom leading the way with their outrageous outfits.

The decade that gave us neon, leg warmers and big hair doesn’t disappoint. Beth styles herself on Madonna from her Like A Virgin years, while Kirky chooses Adam Ant as his inspiration.

The wedding party are given the 80s treatment too with bridesmaids Maria, Sinead and Tracy styled as pop group Bananarama, best man and usher Chesney and Craig dress as the Blues Brothers.

The guests are also invited to dress up and viewers will be given the following visual treats; Sally & Tim styled as pop duo Dollar, Sean as George Michael, Dev from Ghostbusters, Julie as Molly Ringwald, and Sophie and Maddie as Vogue style Madonna tributes, much to Beth’s annoyance!

But while the guests gather for the ceremony will the wedding go without a hitch? As Beth waits at the registry office her Prince Charming is nowhere in sight. Kirk is suffering from a classic case of pre wedding nerves, brought on by the arrival of Beth’s family, who clearly think Kirk isn’t good enough to join the Tinker clan.

Kirk’s left doubting whether he’s worthy of his beloved Beth. Can Chesney talk sense into his pal or is Kirk about to let the love of his life slip through his fingers?

Viewers will find out if the pair tie the knot when the wedding episodes air on Friday 9th January.

See also: Beth's family arrive for her wedding to Kirk.

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

Review: Rita and Me

Rita and Me is a documentary produced to celebrate 50 years since Barbara Mullaney Knox first appeared on Coronation Street as Rita Littlewood Fairclough Sullivan Tanner. We've already told you that it's scheduled to air on ITV at New Year's but in Canada, fans were lucky to see it on Boxing Day night and it was aired again after the Sunday morning Corrie omnibus this weekend, which is when I caught it.

It's a wonderful celebration of all things Barbara and Rita with some of Barbara's background from her origins in Oldham. There are views of the Tower ballroom in Blackpool where her parents danced and views of the Oldham theatre where Barbara got her start.

There are lots of clips from her years on Coronation Street, plus interviews with cast members old and current including both Sue Nicholls and her husband, Mark Eden who played Alan Bradley. He had lots to say regarding their filming of some memorable scenes. Other really interesting details included recollections on how Barbara/Rita fared against the legendary Pat Phoenix/Elsie Tanner. There is a surprise guest near the beginning and they show a group of Canadian tourists that were there in September while the filming was happening.

There was a segment on Rita's fellas and her stormy relationships with many of them. We see Rita in the aftermath of Len's death and relive her relationship with Alan Bradley as well.

One of the best segments, though, was a reunion between Barbara and Thelma Barlow who played long time Kabin-ette, Mavis Riley Wilton. The two women sit together and watch footage of themselves from the beginning of their on screen partnership to the last scene when Mavis left Weatherfield. Wonderful stuff!

All in all, the documentary was one of the best ones they have done on long-term characters. Canadians can watch the documentary online at CBC.ca. Rita and Me airs on ITV on New Year's Eve at 8 p.m. It truly is wonderful!

I've reposted this on State of the Street with lots more screen captures from the documentary. Click here to see them. 
 

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

Something To Talk About

My Grandma Margaret is not very well. She’s been stuck in a hospital bed for weeks and I visited her over Christmas. She’s in a private room with a small window which looks out onto a brick wall. Not the nicest place to spend the festive season.

We chatted about Grandma’s recovery, what I’d been up to down in London and what my sister’s kids got for Christmas. In particular the drum kit that Santa so kindly delivered to my nephew Joshua, to the delight of the neighbours. Grandma appreciated the company, and we talked for a while but sometimes you just run out of stories to tell and things to talk about. So I chirped up:

“David’s finally thrown Kylie out.”

Grandma already knew. Perched high on a wall in the corner of my Grandma’s hospital room is a small TV and her only real window to the outside world. That window is firmly fixed on Weatherfield. Coronation Street has been a firm fixture in so many people’s living rooms for generations. A constant look at other people’s imaginary lives which provides a talking point, an escape from real life for half an hour – or an hour sometimes if we’re lucky. My first memory of Coronation Street must have been in the late 1980’s when I was a toddler. My Aunty Jean would always announce “Mother, the Street’s on!” and her tiny, white haired old mum would shuffle in and take her seat. Since then, for some reason, Coronation Street has been a constant in my life. It seemed like EVERYBODY watched it.

Grandma has also been a constant in our lives. My sister and I used to get so excited on a Wednesday afternoon as school finished, as it was the day we went to Grandma and Grandad’s for tea. I remember watching Blue Peter, Newsround and, of course, Corrie. I’m, ahem, 30 years old now, and me and my Grandma still have this shared interest. And my safety net for when I run out of things to talk about.

Oh, and look what I discovered right outside the door of her hospital room…

Perfect.

@steviedawson 

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