I think it's ridiculous how Coronation Street and Emmerdale have been written within the last 25 years since 2000+, had it been times before then back in the 20th century when the soaps format/structure and writing was different and more traditional, some of the long serving characters of the last 25 years would NEVER have lasted as long as they have done and would've been written out normally after a few years or almost a decade in the programme(s). Modern day writers are clueless when it comes to writing well for the older characters, and why old classic characters mostly fails at times for the simple reason being that the writers get the characterisation wrong in the first place instead of taking characters back to their origins and what made them great in the first place. Examples of ruined soap characters have been Bet Lynch, Jim McDonald, Den Watts, BOTH The Mitchell Brothers in EastEnders, although Grant's 2016 and 2025 returns reunited with Kathy and even Nigel, were far better than those 2005 and 2006 stints and Grant redeemed somewhat, and how Phil on the other hand has turned into an evil, vile rotten bastard and MUCH worse and nasty than Nick Cotton ever was, honestly, even Nick Cotton would never have done some of the nasty things Phil has done.
- Awards
- 39
RIP Philip Lowrie aka Dennis Tanner from Corrie (plus a lot more inc Victoria Wood)
Philip Lowrie (20 June 1936 – 25 April 2025)
Philip Lowrie (20 June 1936 – 25 April 2025)
Sad to see Charlotte Jordan leave Weatherfield, although pleased she will be turning up in Ambridge.
We saw the Kabin tonight 
Best part of the episode watching Todd and George eating their ham barmes with piccalilli. I did smile at Lou when referring to David when she said "And don't even get me started on you."
If there are any Coronation Street fans on YouTube, I would be grateful if they could upload a Jim McDonald vs Everyone clip which involved the following fights:-
Steve (1990), Mike Baldwin (1990), Willmore (early 1990s), beaten up person in security guard job (early 1990s), Steve (1993), Mike Baldwin (1995), Liz (1996), Steve (mid 1990s), Alan McKenna (1997), vs a Gunman with a shotgun (1997), Steve on the scaffolding (1998), Roy and Hayley's bully in the cafe (late 1990s), Jez (2000), Vernon (2007), Bank Robbery (2011), Peter Barlow (2014), Steve (2014).
Steve (1990), Mike Baldwin (1990), Willmore (early 1990s), beaten up person in security guard job (early 1990s), Steve (1993), Mike Baldwin (1995), Liz (1996), Steve (mid 1990s), Alan McKenna (1997), vs a Gunman with a shotgun (1997), Steve on the scaffolding (1998), Roy and Hayley's bully in the cafe (late 1990s), Jez (2000), Vernon (2007), Bank Robbery (2011), Peter Barlow (2014), Steve (2014).
On a positive note for the beleaguered soap Jane Hazlegrove and Sue Devaney shine brightly and are certainly the crème da la crème in Corrie and in soap land.
When I think back to the 50th anniversary DVD box set thing for Coronation Street (1960-2010) that got brought out on Amazon, in terms of characters that interacted with characters from the current show, no more than 35 from having read about it would have made up the cast in no particular order:-
- Alan Bradley (could have been brought in earlier during 1960-1986 and 1990-2020s from when Coronation Street first began in 1960, it WOULD'VE been epic to see Alan Bradley interact with Jim McDonald, the feud may have been similar to The Mitchell Brothers and Den Watts in EastEnders, in particular Grant/Den.)
- Liam Connor
- Paul Connor
- Tony Gordon
- Tara Mandal
- Kelly Crabtree
- Frankie Baldwin
- Tom Kerrigan
- Leon (Andrew Langtree)
- Amy Goskirk
- Geena Gregory
- Andy McDonald
- Karen McDonald
- Joe Carter
- Maya Sharma
- Charlotte Hoyle
- Vernon Tomlin
- Prem Mandal
- Nina Mandal
- Jerry Morton
- Umed Alahan
- Molly Crompton
- Luke Strong
- Colin Fishwick
- Poppy Morales
- Curly Watts
- Minnie Chandra
- Zoe Tattersall
- John Arnley
- Shelley Unwin
- Sam Kingston.
- Awards
- 12
Jane Hazelgrove is a fantastically gifted actress and the writers really have struck gold with the character of Bernie who
i regard as a Corrie legend.
Do you remember that Jane first appeared on the cobbles going all the way back to 1985 when she was a member of the ill fated Clayton clan (with her father being played by the late Johnny Leeze who became Ned Glover in Emmerdale).
Interestingly, I can remember going to see Jane in a production of “to kill a mockingbird” on a school trip to a Manchester theatre in the late 1980s.
They even did a Question and Answer session at the end.
Unfortunately, all the questions had to be relevant to the production we had just seen.
I would have loved to have been able to ask her about her time on Corrie.
- Awards
- 39
Jack Shepherd got married at the weekend at Manchester Cathedral
Nice to see pics of old cast members attending - like Gail
www.mirror.co.uk
Nice to see pics of old cast members attending - like Gail
Jack P Shepherd's best man Colson Smith makes awkward wedding blunder
Coronation Street and Celebrity Big Brother winner Jack P Shepherd has married Hanni Treweek in a romantic ceremony on Saturday, just over a year after the soap star proposed
- Awards
- 12
Corrie clanger alert
In last night’s episode when they were discussing Tyrone in the pub Asha inadvertently referred to Lauren as “Cait” which is the actress’s name (Cait Fitton).
In last night’s episode when they were discussing Tyrone in the pub Asha inadvertently referred to Lauren as “Cait” which is the actress’s name (Cait Fitton).
CORONATION STREET CHARACTERS FROM THE FIRST 20/25 YEARS:-
If we're going to summarise basic Coronation Street characters from the 20/25 years, they include Leonard Swindley, Albert Tatlock, Len Fairclough, Alf Roberts, Jack Walker, Stan Ogden, Ray Langton, Billy Walker, as well as Dennis Tanner himself.
If we're going to summarise basic Coronation Street characters from the 20/25 years, they include Leonard Swindley, Albert Tatlock, Len Fairclough, Alf Roberts, Jack Walker, Stan Ogden, Ray Langton, Billy Walker, as well as Dennis Tanner himself.
Coronation Street's BEST ever writers were Sue Ashby and Tony Perrin up until 1991, along with Tony Williamson and any writers who were writing on the programme from 1960-1991, and the rest of the writers ever since all want sacking as they're awful and how and the reason characters like Jim McDonald etc were ruined eventually with the silly add-ons "so it is/should/would....etc".
Tony Williamson was also one of the best writers too along with the other old writers from 1960-1991, where the cast/characters aren't really the ones to blame for the show performing poorly, actors/actresses are working from a script a lot of the time and it depends on how they're written, so really the writers who joined from the last 34 years since have done the old writers and programme an ultimate disservice, I mean it's one thing Charles Lawson stating that about writers such as John Stevenson and Charles is right in what he was saying in his interviews on GB News.
Tony Williamson was also one of the best writers too along with the other old writers from 1960-1991, where the cast/characters aren't really the ones to blame for the show performing poorly, actors/actresses are working from a script a lot of the time and it depends on how they're written, so really the writers who joined from the last 34 years since have done the old writers and programme an ultimate disservice, I mean it's one thing Charles Lawson stating that about writers such as John Stevenson and Charles is right in what he was saying in his interviews on GB News.
- Awards
- 39
I dropped a birthday present off for a friend the other week and Corrie was on in the background. I plonked myself down on her settee as she was getting me a cup of tea and i noted 2 things
1. What was Miss "This is the best camp" Hassan from Tenko doing there?
2. What on earth has Abi done to her face? Botoxed to the hilt and lips that look like she has been stung by a bee!?
1. What was Miss "This is the best camp" Hassan from Tenko doing there?
2. What on earth has Abi done to her face? Botoxed to the hilt and lips that look like she has been stung by a bee!?
John Savident/Fred Elliott was a good character actor at times, and also, whilst EastEnders can be up its own arse at times even more so than Coronation Street if not just as much, all these years later actors such as Phil McDermott/Trevor Short would be good returns, and the comedy characters from 1989-1990, Mark Thrippleton/Paul Priestly doesn't do acting anymore, so Trevor would be on his own, a lot older and wiser, and as for the actress Louise Plowright/Julie Cooper, she was interesting also.
- Awards
- 12
That was a very odd episode of Corrie last night.
Little wonder it is only managing a meagre 3.5 million viewers an episode
Little wonder it is only managing a meagre 3.5 million viewers an episode
Louise Plowright has sadly passed away, so if Julie Cooper was to ever return to EastEnders, it would have to be a recast.
Last edited:
- Awards
- 12
Are you talking about the episode which viewers got to see from the perspective of the cctv cameras in the hospital and police station, the body cam footage from the police officers’ uniforms and also the secret cameras which Todd had hidden in the flat?
I don’t know what possessed the producers and director to do such a thing or what they were trying to achieve with it.
I thought it was downright weird.
Good to see Evelyn back in the soap again.
It was outstanding, I hope it gets some awards.