Issue #0019

Who’s Up for the Golden Anniversary

… And Who’s Not?

A Really Big Name!

Speculation about which special people will feature in Coronation Street’s 50th Anniversary is driving the media crazy. Will he, won’t he? Will she, won’t she? And who is the really huge name VIP invited to cameo on the show in its anniversary year?

That last question is the really big surprise in store for fans next year. The big name VIP is called Elizabeth; she lives in London but visits Canada from time to time. She is a fan of the show – perhaps after seeing her eldest son appear on Corrie about ten years ago. She has even been one of the lucky few to visit the set.

The formal invitation hasn’t been sent yet but news sources in the UK say she will be keen to accept when she does receive it. She probably won’t be popping into the Rovers for a pint and won’t have any complicated lines to learn but Her Majesty the Queen is almost certain to make a cameo appearance on the humble cobbles during the big 50th year.

So Who Else Will Be Raising a Glass?

Liam’s Brother

He isn’t exactly royalty but he may have almost as many fans. Former Oasis guitarist Noel Gallagher is being slated to appear on the show during the big year. Gallagher and brother Liam (no not THAT Liam) were the core of the band until they had a big disagreement while in Paris, France for a gig. Noel left the band and pursued a solo career. Noel was born and brought up in Manchester. He learned to play the guitar at age 13 while on probation. He has recently been quoted as wondering why he has never been asked to join the show before.

Miss Crabtree

Miss Crabtree? Yes. Do you remember Miss Crabtree? She married a fella called Stan Ogden and became Mrs Hilda Ogden. Her character left the show on Christmas Day 1987 in what may still be the highest rated episode in the entire history of the Street. That episode was described as the most moving departure from the show that didn’t involve a death.

Hilda was an icon. Her character epitomized the middle-aged, working class personality that was the focus of the show in its early days. Her departure stimulated mass protests, but it was actress Jean Alexander who precipitated her character’s end. Jean did not like the direction in which the show was heading.

Jean Alexander joined another long-running British sitcom: “Last of the Summer Wine” vowing never to tread on the famous Weatherfield cobbles again. But time apparently heals all wounds. Will Hilda come back or won’t she? Blighty’s Corrie Fan Newsletter baits with weighted breath.

Michelle, My Belle

Actress Kym Marsh (Michelle Connor) has a contract with Granada that falls six months short of the big day. Kym wants to be a big part of the big party, but will she still be around for the big day (9th December 2010)? Only time will tell – Granada bosses aren’t letting anything out of the bag.

In fact, one spokesperson: producer Kim Crowther will be stepping down prior to the big build-up to the big party. Stepping into her shoes will be Dr Who producer Phil Collinson. Clearly, Granada will be gagging Kim to prevent any premature leakage of the show’s secrets. The big switchover in the producers chair takes place in March 2010 – a full nine months before the big day.

Head in the Sand!

Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw) meanwhile is being coy about the whole affair. Sue is far too busy with current filming schedules to look as far ahead as next year. Speaking to the local press she said: “I don’t think any of us really know what to expect or how big it’s going to be. There isn’t ever time here to think beyond the next six months, so it just creeps up on you and is there.”

Karen’s Out!

Feisty Steve MacDonald ex, Karen MacDonald, was mentioned as a potential returning character. Actress Suranne Jones has now quashed that idea by completely ruling out any possibility of a return for the big anniversary year. Telling the British media: “I wouldn’t go back to Corrie. I think you should move on. I’m even reluctant to say ‘never say never’ because I definitely don’t want to.” Suranne added that she still likes Corrie and the people involved in the show but she wants the freedom to perform a variety of roles.

Curtains for Curly?

Actor Kevin Kennedy (Curly Watts) – as has been previously reported in this newsletter – has definitely been in negotiations about a return with Granada bosses. However, those talks have not led to any announcements yet so it looks increasingly certain that the unlucky lover won’t be back on the Street. Shame.

Who Do You Want Back On the Show?

Who would you like to see back on the show? Blighty’s Corrie Fan Newsletter would like to hear what you have to say. Use the comment form at the bottom of the web version of this newsletter to send us your opinion.

But wait! There is a prize for the best suggestion we receive before 15th December 2009. You will have to convince us why the character you suggest should be brought back into the story.

The best suggestion will win either a copy of the book “Coronation Street The Complete Saga” or a Corrie coffee mug (the winner gets to choose which prize to accept). No purchase necessary and shipping costs are included. Go ahead, give it your best shot!

There could be two winners from this newsletter. Take a look at the “Mystery Character Contest” at the end of this newsletter.

Slum Dog Actress

Corrie actress Katherine Kelly (Becky … ahem … Grainger – sorry, there’s a potential spoiler there) made a brief visit to India recently. She reported “Been to 1 of biggest slums in Delhi today. The people are fantastic! Never seen so many smiling faces – or a goat wearing an orange jumper!”  [Translation for non-Brits: a "jumper" in the UK is better known as a sweater here in Canada.]

Cheap Shot from the Cheese Man

Sean Wilson aka Corrie’s Martin Platt hasn’t given up his acting profession. At least – not yet. Sean admits that he gets fewer calls since he stopped working in front of the Granada cameras. Sean worked on the cobbles for 21 years. As we previously reported in Blighty’s Corrie Fan Newsletter, Sean has a new passion.  He is now the proprietor of the Saddleworth Cheese Company.

But Sean weighed in with a damning condemnation of Coronation Street’s managers recently. Sean claims that the show is made “on the cheap” due to mis-spending of production funding. He may be correct. Corrie rarely films outside of the set and information leaked out of Weatherfield about actors salaries suggests that budgets are indeed tight.

Vicky Binns Booed

I meet a lot of Corrie fans who come into Blighty’s Tuck Store. We often get to chatting about the show and sometimes the conversation gets quite heated. But then I realize what is happening; I smile and say: “ok, let’s remember – it’s just a TV show!” Yes, sometimes it is all too easy to forget that everything that happens on the show is a performance by professional actors. The story is not real. It closely resembles reality – but it is a TV drama.

The people of England forget too. When actress Vicky Binns ran in the Great North Run recently she was booed for the whole thirteen mile route by fans who were upset by the antics of her character Molly Binns. Molly has been a bit of a naughty girl with another character on the show (that is a teaser – if you want to read the spoiler you will have to visit this newsletter’s spoiler page to read the details.

Fined for Recycling!

Molly Binns may have been a naughty girl on-screen but – as far as we are aware – she is good-as-gold off-screen. The same cannot be said for 24-year old Ryan Thomas. The young actor, who plays Jason Grimshaw on-screen was caught by the long arm of the law doing some recycling recently and was fined £80 (about $150) for his actions.

Ryan had been making a guest appearance at a nightclub in the south-west of England. After leaving the club he made a decision to do some recycling and it was that action that drew the ire of the local constabulary. Although recycling is usually considered to be a laudable activity, Ryan’s particular choice of recycling activity fell outside of the bounds of what is considered “good”.

Ryan was charged with being drunk and disorderly for recycling beer against a hedge outside the club.

A Bad Year for Goodyear

Former Corrie actress Julie Goodyear (Bet Lynch) is ill and has been ordered to rest by her doctor. Julie has been appearing in the London West End show “Calendar Girls” but has been suffering from a debilitating, but unnamed, virus.

An official statement released on behalf of Julie said:

“Due to a very dibilitating virus, that has been affecting both cast and production crew at the theatre, Julie has been ordered by her doctor to rest. The part of Cora will now be re-cast. We all send Julie our best wishes and wish her a speedy recovery.”

If you are a Julie Goodyear fan you can read all about her on her own website.

Watch Corrie – Learn English!

Imagine for a moment that you are a Brazilian soccer star. You have moved to the UK to play in one of that country’s top teams. Your skill with a soccer ball is legendary and your name is spoken in thousands of households and pubs; on TV and on radio stations. And yet, the only words you understand are your name: Carlos Tevez. Why? Because you don’t speak a word of English!

Carlos Tevez plays for the English Premier League side Manchester City and he is taking English language lessons. How? No, he isn’t going to night classes to learn English as a second language – he is avidly watching Corrie! Yes, this soccer superstar has become a fan of the show and is picking up the language while he watches.

And you thought Coronation Street was just a soap opera!

Mystery Character Contest

This picture of a very well known Coronation Street actor has been digitally altered to disguise the actor’s appearance. Can you guess who it is?

If you think you can identify the actor, send your entry by email to CorrieQuiz@blightys.com. We will pick one entry at random to win either a copy of the book “Coronation Street The Complete Saga” or a Corrie coffee mug (the winner gets to choose which prize to accept). No purchase necessary and shipping costs are included. Good luck!

Have You Re-subscribed Yet?

A lot of Blighty’s Corrie Fan Newsletter subscribers still haven’t re-subscribed with the new Feedburner subscription service. You will continue to receive your newsletters for a little while longer while we encourage you all to re-subscribe. Sometime early in the new year we will discontinue sending newsletters via the old subscription system so you need to act fast to keep your newsletters coming.

Here is How to Re-subscribe

First, if you aren’t reading this newsletter on the web, go to Blighty’s Corrie Fan Newsletter homepage. There you will find the email subscription form in the left column.

How to Find Out Whether You Need to Re-subscribe?

Easy. If you are already on the new Feedburner system you will receive the full newsletter by email. If you are on the old system you will receive only a summary and have to click on a link to go to the web version.

Why Are We Doing This?

We had to make this change because the newsletter has so many subscribers that we just can’t manage it manually any more. Feedburner automates sending out the newsletters for us. Remember, the newsletter is free now and always will be free whichever way you read it. Thanks for being a part of the great Corrie fan community!

Christmas Shopping

This newsletter is sponsored by Blighty’s Tuck Store. In order to maintain that sponsorship and keep this newsletter alive and free we need your support. When you are planning your Christmas gift giving this year please consider buying your gifts from the Corrie Fan gift shop or Blighty’s online shopping site for great imported British Christmas food and candies.