Away from the Street . . .

"Weatherfield, douze points!"

Other than Corrie, the other great slice of joy in my life is the annual festival of horror that is the Eurovision Song Contest. I've racked my brains and can't really come up with any decent links between the two, apart from Keith Duffy (Ciaran) having performed during the interval at the 1997 contest in Dublin.

Maybe I'm missing something obvious. Perhaps Sandie Shaw once worked in the Corner Shop. Or Katie Boyle pulled pints in the Rovers. Agnetha from ABBA sewed knickers in the factory. If you are able to link Weatherfield and Eurovision, please let me know!

Shobna legs it!



The new corner shop uniform was interesting . . .

 A bit of fun for a Friday! I found this picture tucked away in a folder. It shows the lovely Shobna Gulati at last year's Manchester Pride parade. I reckon if you have a pair of pins like that, then why not show 'em off?

In praise of Mikey North . . .

Gary Windass is fast becoming one of my favourite Corrie characters. Thanks to the excellent Mikey North, Gary has evolved from being a one dimensional thug into a young man plunged into self-doubt. North's performance in the 20 January episode of the Street was emotional and riveting. Here's hoping the storyliners have much more in store for Gary.

It has to be said that North's performance was in marked contrast to that of Ben Price, playing the latest elderly incarnation of Nick Tilsley. Price gave us several of his frequent pained facial expressions, grimaces and standard arm-folding routine. For me, this characterisation just does not work and maybe it's time that the character of Nick was sent on another long vacation to Canada.

John Stape kills Mrs Warboys!

Mrs Warboys - both feet in the grave

It was with a little grim satisfaction that I bore witness to the murder of One Foot in the Grave's Mrs Warboys this week. Victor Meldrew's erstwhile neighbour breathed her last, accompanied by a bowl of Freshco soup, an inhaler plus a rather dodgy photo of her 'son' which was either a thirty year old picture of John Duttine or a doctored snap of John Stape with a stick-on moustache.

However, the episode got me thinking. After disposing of Mrs Warboys, maybe John could also re-visit some other old sitcoms and bump off a selection of supporting characters. How about ...

Nora Batty - John arrives in Holmfirth and mistakenly strangles Nora with her own stockings . . .

"John Stape played havoc with my . . ."

Mrs Slocombe - there's trouble for John when he comes face to face with the blue-rinsed one's pussy and traps it in the lift doors of Grace Brothers . . .

Thelma Ferris - Bob's wife from The Likely Lads comes a cropper when John, slipping out from the bookies for 'five minutes', turns up on Tyneside . . .

Olive - like the back-end of a bus . . .

Olive - more like under the buses than On the Buses as John takes to the wheel of a London routemaster - with devestating consequences.

John's Murderous Adventures in Sitcom Land could just be the ratings winner that ITV1 is looking for. Then again . . .

Food glorious food!

The joy of a Weatherfield fish supper

Let's face it - Corrie is not exactly known for its cuisine. Down the years we have been presented with some, frankly, horrific meals. The Ogdens were forever emptying portions of flabby fish and chips on to dinner plates. Early 1980s Gail was often 'treating' Our Brian to some hideous leftover from the café. The Rovers always sported that cabinet full of insipid pies and you could always pop over to the corner shop were someone would be blowing fag smoke over the freshly prepared ham barms.

Deirdre dusts off her recipe for faggots in rum sauce

Jackson's chippy, Prima Doner, Wong's chippy, Liane's cheerless Italian restaurant - they have all provided comfort and, probably, botulism for the fair folk of Weatherfield. You can understand why eating out is so popular given Deirdre's recipe for success this week. No, I'm not speaking of her legendary smoked ham. In fairness it's not smoked when she takes it out of the packet but after Deirdre's exhaled on it . . . No, I speak of her offer of providing Ciaran with his tea on Monday - chicken pie with peas and ready salted crisps. I kid you not! Deirdre - a woman so idle that she can't even be bothered to peel a potato. We salute you Deirdre Barlow, domestic goddess of Weatherfield!

Sean Egan - 50 Years of Coronation Street

Like many Corrie fans I was fascinated by the prospect of a warts-and-all stroll through the history of the show, courtesy of journalist and author Sean Egan. He billed this as a 'very unofficial history' which is a fair comment, as it includes selected opinions of some of the people responsible for the programme since 1960.

Some of the stories are well-known. There were attempts at various times to reign in the excesses of Pat Phoenix, especially in light of the somewhat harsh treatment she meted out to any other actors who crossed her. However, of more interest is the tittle tattle that receives little exposure. Back in 1968 there were plans for several Corrie spin-offs, one of which would have seen Jack and Annie Walker running a country pub with Ena Sharples as their housekeeper. Or how about the lengthy three day conference on how to keep the character of Curly Watts in the programme.

Egan also lists, perhaps with a little venom, the many inconsistencies that have sprung up over the years. He particularly disliked the emerging back story of Mike Baldwin, as history was re-written in order to provide him with a family. Egan also flags up one of the current moans of many Corrie fans regarding the bizarre personality change of Tracy Barlow from forthright young woman into a murderous hussy.

Perhaps most interesting are Egan's interviews with various writers and producers, many of whom seem to have barely tolerated each other. John Stevenson in particular comes across as a man who put heart and soul into his relationship with the programme. Overtures to the likes of Stan Barstow in the 1960s failed, in part, as he felt that he could not write within the restrictive nature demanded of him. As an ideas man, he provided producers with a number of potential storylines, including Jerry Booth becoming the Street's first gay character and a pregnant single mum in the shape of Emily Nugent!

There are one or two sloppy errors in the book, most notably mention of Sally Webster marrying Danny Hargreaves but overall this an engaging, thought-provoking and highly titilating romp through half a century of drama both in front of and behind the camera.

A very Corrie Christmas! The Noughties

We arrive in the twenty first century, one which began in Weatherfield with the clatter of Raquel Watts returning to the cobbles for one night only. It was a sensational decade for the Street in more ways than one but you coulod always count on Christmas to bring the residents together. Couldn't you?

Eileen? Miserable? Never!

It's Christmas 2000 and Jason Grimshaw makes his debut and is introduced to Eileen's latest squeeze, Dennis. Ken and Deirdre serve up a tense festive meal made worse by Peter's comments and Liz storming out. Kevin admits to feeling guilty about Alison's death, Andrea Clayton visits Jack and Vera and over at the café, Roy and Hayley play host to young Wayne.

"Do you think I'm sexy?" No

2001 gave us, arguably, one of the most repulsive festive spectacles (therein lies a clue) ever witnessed. Other things were afoot though. Roy and Hayley attempt to run a free food service for the homeless but no one turns up at the café. However all is not lost as, due to a gas problem, Fred, Eve, Sally, Ashley and Maxine all end up there for lunch. A drunken Peter lashes out at Deirdre. She storms out of number one and into the arms of Dev Alahan. A nation shuddered.

By 2002, Emily is front and centre of Christmas celebrations. She hosts Norris, Rita, Audrey and Archie. A later visit from Richard Hillman almost cost Emily her life. Elsewhere, Blanche deserts the Barlows and turns up at Emily's for lunch. Unhappy with the throng there, she returns home where, joy oh joy, Tracy shows up.

Poor old Norris wrecks dinner for Emily and Rita by forgetting to switch the oven on. Even worse, Betty travels to 'my Gordon' only to find him gone! She spends Christmas at the Rovers. Blanche, in generous mood, buys number 7 for mum-to-be Tracy. Father-to-be Steve threatens to kill Tracy if she ever mentions that he is the dad. Oh and Tyrone has a drunken snog with Fiz.

A rose between two thorns?

It all kicked off with Tracy, Steve and Karen at Christmas 2004. After trying to mow Karen down in a car, Tracy faces her nemesis on the factory roof. There can be only one winner and Steve eventually sends Karen packing. Ashley marries Claire, with Joshua wearing his Spiderman outfit. Kirk confuses his gifts and presents Cilla with a bone and Schmeichel with a pair of tights.

2005 was the year when Cilla and Yana attempted to deep fry a turkey. Result? One burnt-out chip shop! Mike's health gives cause for concern, especially when he fails to remember that his brother is dead. Vera buys Jack a burial plot for Christmas and Claire's present to Ashley is her announcement that she is pregnant.

There's another memorable Christmas at Gail's home in 2006. Audrery is not only tucking into turkey but also Bill Webster. However, his wife Maureen arrives and manages to destroy a table and a plum pudding within minutes. Over at the Grimshaw's, a young girl dumps a baby on Eileen claiming that it is Jason's. Molly trains Jack and Tyrone to tidy up, much to Vera's surprise. At the Rovers, Steve provides dinner for Ken, Deirdre and Blanche!

Festive punch ups for all at Christmas 2007. Kevin floors John Stape for having a relationship with the ditzy Rosie. Roy faces the festive season without Hayley and makes do with Becky instead. Sarah thinks that moving to Italy could be a new start for her, Jason and Bethany but David seethes at the injustice of it all. Over tat the Rovers Michelle pretends to be having a good time for the sake of Ryan.

Santa Claus isn't coming to town . . .

There's a new Mr Nasty in town by 2008. Tony Gordon thinks he has killed Jed Stone but the old man has survived. Gail and Joe's Christmas is invaded by the Windasses who cause mayhem. Joe eventually leaves his own party. Becky and Steve continue their secret relationship amidst the Santa's grotto that is Street Cars.

A whirl of emotions hit the Street as the decade ended. Kevin decided to make a go of things with Molly but on Christmas Day, Sally announces that she has breast cancer. This seems to act as a wake up call to Kevin but Molly is not happy. There is tension at the Barlows too thanks to the Battle of the Grandads as Ken and George square up to each other. Nick Tilsley returns, looking at least ten years older than Gail but his arrival is less than popular with Tina. At the Rovers, Steve decides that Amy needs a new brother or sister. Becky isn't so sure.

We arrive then at Christmas 2010 and a Street peopled by the bereaved and confused. Claire is a widow, Molly is dead and Kevin has become a figure of hatred. Add to this the return of the whirl of destruction that is Tracy Barlow and you have all the ingredients for another classic Corrie Christmas!