State of the Street - May 2012

I'm enjoying the domestic abuse storyline. Well, not enjoying as such but I think it's a good issue to do a story about and it's being very well crafted I think. It's heartbreaking to see that Tyrone, who wanted nothing more than a family of his own, and seemed to have got it, and ends up in a situation like this. We discover a bit more about Kirsty's past, too and the attitude of her parents towards her and the revelation that she'd cut them off says a lot. Kirsty even admitted that she can't handle pressure well and it seems her childhood is a strong part of it. We also met her parents, including a father who was also a police officer and he seems to have pretty high standards. I have a feeling Kirsty always struggled to meet them and probably has pretty low self esteem because she probably figured she was never good enough.

It doesn't excuse her actions but it does go some way to explaining them. I am looking forward to finding out more about her background to figure out her demons. Tyrone's childhood was similarly rough and violent at times. Natalie Gumede is an excellent actor and she and Alan Halsall have made this storyline imminently watchable. I also like how they're unfolding it little by little and not rushing it.

I'm also glad that Sally won't have Kevin back because of the baby. I"m glad they aren't magicking her feelings away and having her fall in love with the baby after all. It is a bit weird seeing Fiz being Sally's confidant, being a good friend and giving her tea and sympathy after the horrible way Sally's treated her over the past couple of years. Kevin, of course, isn't going to give up.


Terrible Terry Duckworth was back and in top form. His plans for the club fell through, he managed to deplete Tommy's bank account and Tyrone's for good measure in order to make a dent in the money he owed the loan sharks. He scarpered off with Ty's cash, leaving Tommy heartbroken, betrayed and facing a real hitman who really ought to know better. Rick the thug already got into trouble once for trying to extort money from a relative and he's doing it again! Did Terry really have a regret or two? Possibly but I doubt he'll lose any sleep over it either. And Tommy, bless his dumb little cotton socks, didn't make matters any better by lying to Tina and saying he saw Terry pay Rick the dosh when he didn't and now he's a drugs mule? I loved the Terry part of the storyline but the heavy side is just dull, tedious and boring. Why, Why, Why do these people just not go to the police???? Because it would all get dragged up again? Isn't that the point? So they can be rid once and for all? Sheesh!


Weatherfield is in bloom and Norris is leading the neighbours to floral battle but Sally's snobbery knows no bounds, seeing as Cheshire is her spiritual home! Norris vs. Gail has been amusing. Julie has had a cancer scare and her chances of having children are dashed. Brian's vasectomy seems to have disappeared but i guess it's not going to be an issue now. Again, stunning performance from Katy Cavanagh.

It had an unexpected offshoot too. Brian and Marcus had a chat about being a parent and it seems to have struck a chord deep inside Marcus. He does want a child and Sean doesn't want any more. Marcus has gravitated to Maria and little Liam as some sort of compensation and Maria seems to adore Marcus. I have a feeling that Maria is developing a crush on Marcus. Leave it to Maria, falling for yet another unsuitable fella. The thing is, will Marcus want a family so bad that he'll consider it?

Lesley managed to walk away from a secured facility and showed up at her old house. Why didn't Paul just call the home to go get her? Because it wouldn't work for the storyline so Lesley is back in Eileen's house in spite of Paul having a perfectly good house of his own where Lesley is more familiar in her lucid moments. I can sympathise with Paul's position but watching them have relationship discussions right there in front of Paul's wife? Could it get any worse? Lesley then did herself a fatal mischief making cheese on toast, and Eileen is condemned for leaving Lesley alone.

Now Lesley is dead and Eileen is being watched suspiciously but it seems to have been dropped. Not a year goes by that a woman on the street (never a man, you notice?) isn't falsely accused of murder. It's getting tedious and predictable.

Where does that leave Paul and Eileen? Some hard things were said. Have we seen the end of Paul and Eileen? Unfortunately not. He's come begging to her to go to the funeral with him but at least Eileen said a few home truths to Lesley's sister. I always wondered why Paul couldn't ask family to help with his wife. Now they're going to be back together and he says he's moving in with Eileen. I guess it would be too crass for her to move into that nice big house where he and Lesley used to live. Let's hope he can sell it and maybe pay off Eileen's house. Though likely they won't end up going the distance anyway. I really don't think Eileen is destined for Happy Ever After.

Kylie did a runner, feeling betrayed by David. I can see where she's coming from, in her eyes at least but I'm also glad she's back. But aside from a little moment or two of brotherhood, David's still got daggers on for Nick after it looked like Nick and Kylie were having it on as did Eva who caused a near riot over a misunderstanding. As always, scream and leap first, ask questions after. All Nick was doing was trying to help. Paula Lane amazes me over and over. Gail and Audrey are inclined to think the worst but their faces sure hit the floor when David and Kylie returned, happy as Larry. Eva deserved to be dumped over this one.


Peter is really digging his heels in and he's really being insistent. He's full of mean, unresonable, nasty and spite. Leanne really and truly does just want the best for Simon and I can see where she thinks Simon isn't better off with Peter and Carla at the moment, especially having caught Peter and Carla boozing on occasion and Simon hating Carla and acting out. Simon is making darn sure, too, by lying or at least exaggerating to the court officer and though Carla seems to be trying to be reasonable, Peter isn't and I think the cracks are starting to give way, especially since Carla offered Leanne money to move away.

It took Simon's reaction to the court officer for Peter to really realize how much this is all affecting Simon. He wouldn't listen to anyone else trying to tell him but even then, he isn't giving an inch so Carla reckons she can pay off Leanne. I suppose she had the best of intentions but it sure put her in a dim light, not only in the courts but in Peter's eye too.

I really think, and have always thought that CarPet was not meant to be a long term couple though I wonder if Peter and Leanne could ever get back together after all this. Maybe if she started seeing someone else, he might feel jealous and things would go from there. Time will tell.


Sunita and Karl? Ick. How does nobody notice the pair of them making eyes at each other all over the neighbourhood? Well, now that Sophie has guessed, even though Karl thinks he's smoothed it over, she'll be watchful. And in the poll in that earlier blog post, the Dev and Sunita affair seems to be winning in the ickiest affair ever with just over 51% of the vote. Kevin and Molly are second with almost 37% of the vote.

Looking forward to Rita's wedding and the Street Jubilee party!

Corrie Jubilee Street Party in Pictures

Welcome to the Coronation Street party to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the reign of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

The theme of the party is pop stars over the past 6 decades. Here's Kylie as Amy Winehouse. Dev is dressed as Adam Ant with Sunita as Beyonce. Beth has come as Britney Spears and it looks like Eva is a Madonna wannabe.

Here we have Jason as The King, rather appropriately ;) Anna is a voluptuous Dolly Parton while Owen is meant to be Kenny Rogers but could pass for any generic country and western singer. Faye is Sporty Spice.Tracy is meant to represent Cher.

Steve looks great as John Lennon but he looks like a young Elton John to me!!! Nick seems to be. . . well. . . Nick with MadonnEva and Stella making a very fine Dusty Springfield. Loved Maria, Marcus and Sean! Maria and Marcus are representing Donny and Marie Osmond and Sean of course is the perfect Freddie Mercury!

Meanwhile, on the street, there are games to play.

Karl (Tom Jones) is trying to be heavy handed here, looking to ring someone's bell!

Of course there's going to be a mobile bar set up outside!

And maybe, just maybe romance might re-bloom?

Speaking of romance, it's also Rita and Dennis' wedding day, but that's not going to go so smoothly. Why choose the day of the fancy dress party? Well, I can't really picture Emily, Ken, Deirdre, Rita or Norris dressed up like pop stars, can you?

Here's a full list of the costumes and characters:

Eva – Madonna

Dev – Adam Ant

Sunita – Beyonce

Karl – Tom Jones

Marcus – Donny Osmond

Maria – Marie Osmond

Liam – Jimmy Osmond

Jason – Elvis

Anna – Dolly Parton

Owen – Kenny Rogers

Faye – Sporty Spice

Sean – Freddie Mercury

Stella – Dusty Springfield

Steve – John Lennon

Tracy – Cher

Beth – Britney Spears

Craig – Meatloaf

David – Sid Vicious

Kylie – Amy Winehouse

Max – Justin Bieber

The "Icks" Factor

Sunita and Karl's affair is stomach turning. It's so bad that there isn't even really a good shortcut name for it. Sarl? Kunita? No, not nearly as snappy as Molvin (Molly and Kevin) or Pilene (Paul and Eileen).

This affair makes our skin crawl. It's tawdry and cheap.  The worst thing about it for me is that it's so out of character for her. The personality transplant fairy has a lot to answer for on this one. Sunita used to be a bit of a flirt sometimes but she was always loyal and loving and it seemed like she would never cheat on Dev. Leave him, yes, but cheat? I wouldn't have said so.

I would have guessed Dev would be more likely to cheat. He's arrogant,  he lives his life firmly by the double standard. He's got a womanizing past. He believes that whatever the man in a relationship wants, he gets, but the little woman should be traditional, a wife, a mother, a skivvy in the shop, that sort of thing.

But Sunita? Ducking and diving, cheating under Dev's nose, or over it in the shop flat. Cheating with the husband of the woman she's working for? Chasing Karl shamelessly, out for a good time, not even feeling guilty about it. Even allowing him to grope her in the middle of the bar where anyone could have seen or in the back room snogging his face off when they could have been discovered. Tina's lying in a coma and Sunita can hardly wait for her to recover and get back to work so she can get into Karl's pants.

It doesn't even seem to be about danger. It seems to be about getting her own back on Dev for taking her for granted. SO not the Sunita we knew.

It's probably the second worst affair I've ever witnessed on Corrie. Nothing could beat Molvin (Molly and Kevin) but it comes pretty damn close as does the Paul and Eileen (Pilene?) affair, both of which were also pretty Icky. So with that in mind, which of these three affairs is the most cringeworthy? I'll leave the poll open until the end of the month and post the results with the monthly State of the Street wrap up.