Corrie’s Theme Tune has Changed!
Okay, nobody panic. That old familiar music featuring a cornet, brass band, clarinet and double bass is not about to be replaced with a new hip-hop version. That is actually a pleasant surprise though. After all, the show’s storyline seems more geared toward the young’uns now. The original theme tune was chosen to appeal to the people who liked northern brass band music. That includes me actually.
After a hard week in the cotton mills that surround the Manchester area, folk would like to dress up smart and participate in band competitions. For two weeks every summer the mills in each town would all shut down at the same time and the workers would enjoy their annual vacation. Northern towns would hold “wakes” parades in which marching bands would feature prominently.
But times have changed. The mills are all closed down, the “wakes” parades are just a memory and, although brass band music is as popular as ever, the original theme tune of our Coronation Street has been subtly altered. The melody is almost identical to the original theme tune, but it has a distinctly modernized feel to it.
Check out this YouTube video of the original theme tune with some scenes from the original show announcing “From the North Granada presents …”.
How Old is Betty?
Rumours have been circulating that Betty Driver (Betty Turpin/Williams in the show) is 90 years old. Well Blighty’s Corrie Fan Newsletter is pleased to announce that it just ain’t so. Our Betty is just a sprightly 89 years young until the 20th May this year. Does she look 90? We don’t think so. We don’t think she even looks 89.
Betty has enjoyed a very long and busy career. She has been performing for over 80 years! No, that is neither an error nor an exaggeration. Betty was thrust onto the stage at just 8 years old where she performed in theatre and as a singer – as a professional. Actually, she wasn’t too thrilled about it either.
Betty’s father was a former soldier turned policeman. Her mother encouraged Betty to perform despite Betty’s reluctance and later resentment that she had missed out on her childhood. During the Second World War Betty entertained the troops with her magical singing voice. Some footage of her early singing career has survived and been preserved on YouTube. Here is an example from 1939.
Did you recognize our Betty’s face in that video? Take away a few lines and wrinkles and she is still the same attractive gal that she was all those years ago.
Betty’s Hotpot
I’ll bet that most of our readers didn’t know about Betty’s singing career. I am also willing to bet that most of our readers associate her name with something else – Betty’s Hotpot! Hotpot is a very tasty meal that is very popular in the UK – especially in the north where Coronation Street is filmed. Betty (the character) invented “Betty’s Hotpot” as a dish that is served behind the bar at the Rovers Return.
If you would like the secret recipe for Betty’s Hotpot you can find it on Blighty’s Britfood Tips blog, where you can also find a recipe for the Canadianized version that I made this week. Believe me, you haven’t lived until you have eaten a really, really good hotpot!
Out of Africa DVD
We have received many inquiries from fans about where to get a copy of the “Out of Africa” DVD. Well, now it is with great pleasure that we can announce you can order it simply by clicking on the carousel image below (in the web version of this newsletter). The best source we have found is Amazon, so Blighty’s has teamed up with them as an associate. There are lots of other Coronation Street DVDs available from Amazon too. Why not give the carousel a spin and see for yourself.
Out of Africa is absolutely hilarious. Our old friend Cilla is her usual devious self. Will her scheming succeed? You’ll have to watch the movie to find out. The end of the movie is really funny.
The Three Ducks
As we reported in
the last newsletter, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall visited the Coronation Street set this week. The Duchess, wife of Prince Charles, was presented to the cast who lined up on the cobbles to exchange personal greetings with the royal visitor. The visit included a visit to the Rovers Return where Camilla pulled a pint.
Well actually, she didn’t quite manage to pull a full pint. It takes some skill to pull a full 20oz measure from an English beer engine. The royal guest pulled half a glass of ale and handed it to a smiling young Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw).
Prior to leaving the set the Duchess of Cornwall was presented with a silver brooch depicting three ducks. The brooch has special significance to the show. The three ducks were made famous in early episodes of Coronation Street in the 1960s. Blighty’s Corrie Fan Newsletter will send a Corrie tote bag to the first three fans who can tell us what the significance of the three ducks is and with which former character on the Street they are associated.
To enter this fun trivia contest use the “Leave a Reply” box at the bottom of the web version of this newsletter.
But Where Was Prince Charles?
While wife Camilla was pumping pints of beer at the Rovers, hubby Prince Charles (who is presumably not a Coronation Street fan) was in the City of Manchester visiting the Museum of Science and Industry. The couple later visited firefighters who had recently returned from quake-devasted Haiti.
Bruce is Back on his Feet
Former Corrie star Bruce Jones (ex-Les Battersby) has been down and out lately. He has been in trouble with the law; accused of drink-driving offences and of assaulting his wife . But Bruce has bounced back from his almost destitute lifestyle to star in a new British comedy show. He plays the manager of a band in a raunchy new series called “That Band”.
Prior to his unfortunate departure from Corrie, Bruce’s character Les was well-known for his affection for 1960s rockers Status Quo. Les Battersby’s sudden departure (the actor was abruptly fired for bad behaviour while on a drinking spree) was covered in the storyline by sending Les on tour with the band.
Manchester’s Statue of Liberty?
New York City has the Statue of Liberty; Manchester has … a cobbled street. But that doesn’t faze American rap music star Snoop Dogg. Snoop frequently finds himself in Manchester and likes nothing better than to “chill” in his hotel room and … watch Corrie!
Snoop, who has declared a strong interest in appearing on the show, says “Coronation Street is to Manchester what the Statue of Liberty is to New York.” The hotly contested world of British TV soaps may be shaken by news that Snoop Dogg only likes Coronation Street. He does not have time for the BBC’s popular competing show EastEnders. Well doggone!
What A Girl
Coronation Street’s young hottie Helen Flanagan (Rosie Webster) has become a member of the exclusive WAG group. “Okay” you ask, “what’s a WAG?” Young male admirers might interpret the acronym as “What A Girl”. But “what a girl” could apply to millions of eligible young females. If you really want to be a member of the WAG community you have to have a certain commodity to drape over your arm.
And what is that commodity? As a member of the exclusive “Wives and Girlfriends” community, you need a professional soccer player for an escort. Remember Warren Baldwin? Youngest son of Danny and Frankie Baldwin? He won the attention of elegant young Candice Stowe who courted him largely for his prowess as a soccer player.
When Warren’s soccer career turned out to be less than spectacular his attractiveness to Candice took a nosedive. Candice was a screen member of the WAG community.
So young Helen has dated a string of young English soccer players. In so doing she has been labelled by the British press, not as an up and coming starlet from the hit TV soap Coronation Street, but as a member of the WAG community. WAy to Go Helen!
Dancing on Thin Ice?
The part of Warren Baldwin was played by actor Danny Young. On screen girlfriend [WAG] Candice Stowe was played by Nikki Sanderson. Young Danny left the show -permanently – due to the young actors wayward behaviour. In protest, young Nikki left the show too (to join another ITV show – Heartbeat). But why?
Warren and Candice were an item on screen. Danny and Nikki were an item off-screen. Danny is now a star of the British TV show Dancing on Ice and is based in London. Nikki wanted to stay near her mother in north-west England. The two young actors tried to maintain a long-distance relationship but it was not be.
Danny still misses his “Nik Nak” and they are still good friends. He would like to get back together with Nikki but for the moment they are still apart. Perhaps Danny should exchange his skates for a pair of soccer shoes.
Our Mystery Picture Contest
Boy, oh boy! We thou
ght this one was going to be so so easy – but most of you got it wrong! The problem was that aging temptress Liz McDonald has had so many male admirers. That empty space could have been any one of them. If you want to take a look at what our readers thought was the answer just read the comments on Issue #0022.
As you can see from the unedited picture, the answer we were looking for was Lloyd!
And the bonus question also confused a lot of readers. The answer we were looking for was Elsie Tanner. Elsie Tanner (nee Grimshaw) aka “the tart with a heart” was the resident of #11 Coronation Street in the early 1960s. Actress Pat Phoenix who played Elsie Tanner appeared in the very first episode on 9th December 1960. She left the show in early 1984 and died of lung cancer in 1986.
Our winner is: Tammy Durston. Congratulations Tammy; please contact us to claim your prize.
Blighty’s Corrie Fan Newsletter Trivia Contest
We are going to take a break from our mystery picture competitions. Instead we are going to try something different. In this issue of Blighty’s Corrie Fan Newsletter we are going to return to our trivia question contest. This week we are asking: Whose name is carved on the lintel outside number 11 Coronation Street? [Hint; it is NOT Elsie Tanner]. We are offering a prize of a hamper of British food and candy worth $25 to the winner. It sounds hard but the answer can be found quite easily if you know where to look. Entries must be sent using the “Leave a Reply” box at the end of the web version of this newsletter.
The contest closes on 18th February 2010. One winner will be chosen by random draw on the closing date. Good luck Corrie fans!
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The Street Fever
Hi John, Thanks for another fabulous newsletter!!
The answer to the trivia is Dennis Tanner and he did it in 1951. I have a photo of it on my webpage.
http://photosbydeborah.photos.cn.com/p56625953.html
We’re off to England on March 11th and will be in Manchester on March 15th to 21st. Our tour date is March 18th. We are very excited. We’ll have lots of photos and stories when we get back.
Take care,
Deborah
Hi – I sent my reply on another form so I’ll try again here. Hilda’s 3 plaster ducks on her “murial” were her pride and joy
The three ducks represent the ducks on Stan and Hilda Ogden’s “muriel” on the wall of their living rooom!
The three ducks were part of a “muriel” on Hilda and Stan Ogden’s living/dining room wall
Hilda was very proud of the “muriel” and thought it was very distinguished.
The three ducks were significant in that they were on the wall mural in Hilda Ogden’s house on Coronation Street. That wall mural became very famous.
The three ducks were signifcant in that they were on the wall mural in Hilda Ogden’s house on Coronation Street. We all loved Hilda and still do on Summer Wine.
The three ducks were significant in that they were on the wall mural in Hilda Ogden’s house on Coronation Street. We all loved Hilda and still do on Summer Wine episodes.
The significance of the three ducks is that Hilda Ogden had three ducks on the wall of her house on Coronation Street.
The three ducks were significant in that they were on the wall mural in Hilda Ogden’s house on Coronation Street. We all loved Hilda and still enjoy the actress on Summer Wine.
The three ducks were significant as they were part of the infamous wall mural in Hilda Ogden’s house on Coronation Street. We loved Hilda and her “curlers”!
The ducks were on Stan and Hilda Ogden’s livingroom wall for many moons. They were Hilda’s prized possessions.
TRIVIA CONTEST: Carved into the lintel is Dennis Tanner 1951 (I think, I can’t quite make out the date in the photo I have of it).
OTHER TRIVIA CONTEST: Regarding the gift of the ducks pin to the Duchess of Cornwall (which she incidentally wore the wrong way round!). These fowl were made famous by the wonderful Hilda Ogden from No. 13. She proudly displayed them on her Muriel, and she once confessed they gave her great comfort when she was feeling low.
However, did you know that the said ducks originally graced the wall of Elsie Tanner in No. 11? How they came to be in Hilda’s possession was never explained. Did Elsie give them to her? I doubt it, as there was no love lost there. Did Hilda steal them? Surely not! However, I wouldn’t have put it past Stan!
Best regards,
Christine Warren
The three ducks were on the murial of Hilda & Stan Ogdens wall.
Hilda was always straightening them.
Hilda Ogden had 3 ducks on her “muriel” wall.
The 3 ducks were originally Elsie Tanner’s @ # 11. They are associated mostly with Hilda Ogden @ # 13.
Is think it is Dennis Tanner’s name carved in the lentil outside of # 11.
Hi John. Thanks for your Corrie Fan Newletter. Regarding whether Prince Charles has ever visited Corrie St. He did some years ago.Not sure of the date. Caryy on with the good work !. Pam.
Hi Again. t
The 3 ducks were on the wall of one of Hilda’s rooms in her house. Pam.
The trivia question answer is Dennis Tanner.
The three ducks answer is Hilda Ogden. These ducks are siginficant because they were on her wall as seen on TV and one of the ducks is “skew-whiff” as she used to refer to it.
Of course you are right Pam. Prince Charles did visit the Coronation Street set for Corrie’s 40th anniversary in 2000. Maybe he didn’t want to upstage his wife this time around.
John.
it was the 3 ducks hilda ogden had on her wall for year .
the three ducks were on the wall of Hilda Ogdens house for years
the 3 ducks hung in Hilda Ogdens house for years .
the three ducks hung in Hilda Ogdens house for years . to her it was a status symbol
i will try this once more then give up.
The 3 ducks were a status symbol on the wall of Hilda Ogdens house.
the answer to the trivia quiz is: Jack Duckworth.
In answer to the “3 ducks” question, Hilda Ogden had 3 plaster flying ducks in a mural at #13 Corontation Street. She called her “mural” a “murial.”
The three ducks graced the wall in Stan and Hilda Ogdens living room.
Dennis Tanner is carved in the lintel of 11 Coronation Street
1.Dennis Tanner’s name is carved on the lintel ..I’ve seen it in person.
2. Three ducks are famous as they were wallornaments on Hilda Ogden’s wall “muriel”
The Three ducks represent the 3 ducks that were on Hilda Ogden;s wall. in the early shows.
dennis tanner
I can’t believe I won the Mystery Photo Contest and the bonus question!! It said to contact you to claim my prize. What did I win?
The brooch is reminiscent of the 3 ducks that hung on the wall at
Stan and Hilda Ogden’s place.
The 3 ducks where on Stan and Hilda Ogden’s wall “muriel” as Hilda called it.
[...] Well, there is no point trying to defeat Canada’s Corrie fans in a trivia contest. Lots of entries were received and they were all correct! You can read all the entries we received in the comments following Issue #0023 in the web version of that issue. [...]