Off to the wasteland?

Friday’s double-bill saw the Alahan clan coming to the fore and the (second) departure of Amber Kalirai.

Now, I know Amber wasn’t the most popular character on the Street but I liked her and I’m going to miss her. Sure, her return was only ever going to be a plot device to split up Sophie and Sian (something that could have been done minus poor Amber getting involved) but I’ve enjoyed her return (along with her added attitude) and I’m sad to see her axed for the second time.

I think one of the reasons why she has gone is because she was never given a chance to do anything bar argue with Sunita and kiss Sophie a couple of times. Amber was cool and savvy and I think that they could have axed several characters before her (Sean and Kirk anyone?) and more importantly they could have at least given her a decent exit. It all seemed very rushed and sloppy (as did the sudden martial problems between Dev and Sunita but that's another story) and not at all realistic at least not as a permanent exit.

So what should have been done differently? Well, I would have liked for her to have integrated more with some of the other younger characters, David and Tina for example. I never really liked the pairing of Amber and deadwood Tommy Duckworth last year but at least it was something. Since then all Amber ever seemed to do was have to endure Sunita being a total cow to her or moan about Sophie and Sian. I never understood was why they paired Amber with Sophie in the first place since they were never shown to be great friends during Amber’s original stint. It felt very forced and I think Amber could have benefited from having her own storylines instead of just facilitating others.

And now we have her exit leading to the affair between Karl and Sunita. I know she wasn’t the strongest character on the show but Amber deserved better and hopefully if she does return in the future she does so as her own character because even now she’s gone she is being used as a plot device to lead to the affair.

I hate to do posts like this where I moan about something, but I felt the need to have a little grumble over Amber’s departure and how she has been wasted over the last twelve months.

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Is Corrie's Karl the new Street hunk?

The charm of John Michie as Coronation Street's Karl Munro has not gone unnoticed. And now that we're seeing more of Karl on Corrie as he spirals into debt and into Sunita's arms, it seems that Karl is building up a fan club all of his own.

Mind you, us ladies (and men) who ogle at Karl in Corrie haven't got a great deal of hunks to choose from, have we?  I suppose Dev could be classed as a hunk if you like that sort of thing, Jason Grimshaw's a bit young for me but I see his appeal, Kevin's too mucky, Kirk's too daft, Norris and Dennis too old, Steve too ordinary and this fan welcomes the return of Craig Charles as Lloyd Mullaney because that Lloydy-boy, he does have a certain charm.

And as there's no news on the horizon of the return of my favourite Corrie man, then I'm a bit stumped for a hunk.

So that leaves ladies of a certain age with little pickings for their choice of Coronation Street Hunk. And therefore, Karl Munro, we salute you!

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Exposed: The mystery of the Coronation Street chef

If, like me, you've been wondering who the chef is in Nick's Bistro, then wonder no more. The best kept secret in Coronation Street has been outed on twitter. Well, sort of. 

In a spoof tweet, Corrie photographer Rob Evans said: "Great new character enters #corrie in role of the bistro chef..." and the man he refers to is Skip Newton.  Skip appeared very briefly in Corrie in the picture below just the other day as we caught a glimpse of Nick's Bistro chef through a gap in the kitchen door.

And here he is with the actors who play Nick and Lewis.  Let's hope we see more of him, and soon!

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Coronation Street double episode review, Friday March 23

Audrey's little secret  - the floppy haired posh fancy man she sneakily moved in her house -  was unearthed by daughter Gail and grandson David, who were shocked to spot Lewis leave Audrey’s house and kiss her, after she had naughtily done a sickie from work. Feigning concern, they knocked on her door, where Audrey, who was waiting for Lewis to return with a takeaway, was forced to invite them in. They insisted on staying and feeding the supposed invalid soup until Lewis returned with his and Audrey's takeaway  - and the game was up. Gail berated Audrey for getting back together with "oily gigolo" Lewis but Audrey stood her ground  and threw David and Gail out of the house.


Amber quit Coronation Street following her night  of "babysitting" party disgrace though dad Dev wanted  her to stay but that was the least of his troubles. Sunita told him she felt their marriage was over (hasn't this all been a bit sudden?) and  let her hair down on a drunken night  out with, of all people, Stella. She ended up dancing inebriated on the roof of a car and was arrested by police. Dev refused to collect her but  Karl, hearing of her ordeal, secretly turned up to give her a lift home. He draw her in for a comforting hug in the car, but she mistook  his (on this occasion)  merely friendly  intentions and kissed him on the mouth.  Embarrassed by her mistake, she rushed out of the car. There will, as most  people know, be more to this storyline and it's good to see John Michie, who is not only a good actor but very easy on the eye (would you believe he's in his mid 50s?), get a juicier storyline.

Sally, to the  delight of  Kevin and Sophie, emerged from her coma and almost immediately was offered a job by Carla back at Underworld. Something to look forward to, eh, Sally?


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