State of the Street - November 2012

Lewis got sucked in by Gloria and Gail's scheme and Audrey half-believed them. She was very sorry she didn't trust him but he's well and truly ticked off and is intent on revenge on Gail. It's been interesting to watch the old Oily Lewis slowly suck Gail in to exact his revenge. He manipulated her into buying back a watch he didn't pawn, splitting the money with the man he was conniving with. He works on her a little here, a little there. I wonder if he expects to get Audrey back in the end or if it's purely revenge and nothing more?  Maybe he's going to try to get Gail to fall for him and then dump her soundly as part of it all? Ya think?

Leanne is getting backed into a corner with Nick. She's now divorced from Peter but we all know she still has feelings for him in spite of everything he's put her through. Peter really hurt her and Nick picked up the pieces but it's not Nick she really wants. Down deep, Nick probably knows that too and when she pushed him back after he proposed he nearly got it. But she persuaded him she'd marry him and loves him because what else is she going to do after all? But just as it's all going to look like happy families, you know darn well Peter will turn up and everything will go to hell in a handbasket again.  Whether this wedding goes forward or not remains to be seen. If, like I believe, she's only with Nick as a consolation prize, will Leanne wake up and smell the coffee before she signs on the marraige license line? For Nick's sake, I hope so. Either way, his heart is in dire jeopardy.

Sophie started off the month flat on her back facing a life in a wheelchair. Unsurprisingly, the surgery worked and she's got a long rehab ahead of her but she *will* walk again. It's soap law, nobody is ever permanently disabled after an accident. This time, we have a ready made therapist in Jenna. Sally is worried that Jenna's pushing Sophie too hard and then she's worried she's not being pushed hard enough. I'm a bit surprised we weren't subjected to therapy sessions with Sophie dragging her legs while holding on to parallel bars and lifting weights etc. Naturally the good Christian Sophie forgave Ryan and made him  promise to kick drugs to the curb so he will and will never be bothered again by the urge.

By the end of the month, Sophie is home and working hard to walk again. I do wish Sally and Kevin would let go of her arms, though, because I'm sure manipulating the crutches would be a bit easier. Sophie looks to have developed a crush on Jenna as well, but I wonder why Jenna seems to be finding excuses to visit Coronation Street.  Could it be mutual?

Mandy says Jenna is "married to her job" and to me, that screams of a cliche. Kevin obviously fancies Jenna but finding another twentysomething woman to shag him and fall for him is not going to happen. Bored housewife Molly was a one off so that plus Mandy's naive statement tells me that Jenna will be gay. Shocking. And since Sophie has conveniently turned 18, a legal adult, there's nowt to stop them being together. Scandal! Sophie's still a patient! Of course she is, you have to have *some* drama on a soap, don't you!?

 Steve spent most of the month fighting his insecurities and making a right tit of himself with his jealousy over Rob. Rob did try it on with Michelle and was knocked back sharply. It didn't seem to bother him much, he wasted no time consoling himself with the nearest waitress. But didn't he and Eva split up some time ago? The Continuity Fairy seems to have fallen off the wagon there. Steve made a mess of the pub rivalry football match and then locked Rob in the van so he'd miss a meeting. I think Steve is regressing and is now the mental age of 12. Steve and Michelle never struck me as a good couple anyway and I don't know why she puts up with him.

Tina's pregnant, Tommy's brooding, Gary and Izzy can hardly contain themselves and have to restrain themselves from moving in with Tina, I bet. All very predictable, all very boring really. David wants a baby and Kylie doesn't. Kylie's definitely feeling put upon. She agreed to do it but you know she'll find a way to get round it for now. How many times do I need to bang on about how many babies there are on the street! They're going to outnumber the adults soon! It's unfathomable how many children and babies there are on the Street.

But the big story of the month is the ramping up of Kirsty's campaign to get to Fiz. She's punishing Tyrone for what she perceives as unfinished business between the two and she definitely knows Fiz is a threat to her little family because Fiz is intent on getting Tyrone away from Kirsty's control. That causes  Kirsty to lash back, causing Fiz an injury at the factory. She admitted it too, within earshot of Tyrone so he has no choice now. He can't escape what Kirsty is.

He finally realized that Kirsty has killed any love he had for her but the pull of that baby is very strong. He tried to get away but we all knew that wouldn't happen because the actor isn't leaving the show. Fiz reckons if he marries Kirsty he'll have more legal say over Ruby but how much longer will he put up with the abuse and control? Each incident is getting more violent and Kirsty is less and less remorseful. Sadly, I really fear we'll lose Natalie Gumede because Kirsty is perilously close to crossing the line to unredemption unless Kirsty has a total breakdown and gets help.

After all that business with the Cafe theme nights, then Nick hired Mary to do it at the Bistro, we haven't seen any evidence of any Bistro theme nights at all. It's all been brushed under the viaduct. Pity, that. I actually enjoyed Mary who was rapidly becoming more bully than quirky prior to that. We didn't see anything of her and very little of Roy who is still holding a grudge against her at month's end.

State of the Street - October 2012

Maria went through hell thinking she might have breast cancer. I know that we went through this with Sally 2 years ago and people complain about repeat storylines. But breast cancer is more and more common. It isn't out of the ordinary that another resident in the same Street would either get it or have a lump and have to go through this. Luckily, Maria was clear and the main reason for the storyline was to be the catalyst to put Maria and Marcus in each other's radar. That's another really good storyline. It really can happen, a gay man can sometimes find he's attracted to a woman, especially in this case.

Marcus and Maria are best friends and very close. He adores her and the little one and that's a strong pull too since he wants a family so much. This isn't a case of him not being gay anymore, it's a case of him finding he's attracted to someone he never expected to be. He's not on the other team now, Maria is likely the exception to the rule. Will it last? Will it go the distance? Probably not but I think between these two friends, it will be handled really well.

Lewis did a runner after seeing a woman he conned in the past. Of course Audrey found out all about it and paid the woman off. Now Gail is intent on proving that he's scamming Audrey. Is she right? Can a leopard change his spots or not? Well it looks very much like Gloria is scamming Lewis and judging from some of the looks i've seen Gail give, she's in on it too. 

Lloyd and Jenna are getting to know each other and they quite like each other but Jenna spent most of the month angry at her mother. Well no wonder! Lloyd really feels caught in the middle and again, no wonder. It's all turned out ok in the end, you knew it would. Jenna has forgiven her mother and Mandy and Lloyd look like they'll be a couple again. After all, she was the love of his life (this week). For Jenna, it must really have felt like a betrayal but without being in her mother's shoes, how would she know how she herself would handle such a situation?

You think you would know but would you really raise a child with a man who loves you and the baby and tell the child from the start that she's the result of an affair? I don't think so. Adoption is different but even some kids who find out they're adopted don't take it very well. I really like this storyline, because I really like all three characters and the actors are very good. I've always liked Lloyd and this is the best storyline he's haver had! The Cheryl business is best forgotten. It did us no favours.

Tyrone is not legally Ruby's father on paper. Now he's going to have to stay with Kirsty to keep the baby and that's exactly what Kirsty planned. Even though she didn't know for sure that he wanted to end it, she did the deed as insurance and she can really be calculating, we've already seen that. In order to get a DNA test to prove it in court, he'd have to get her permission. If he tried to get the sample by subterfuge like Kevin did, Kirsty's solicitor would make mincemeat out of him but he'd still have the proof. She wanted to go live a life so she's got what she asked for. Tyrone's going to be the stay at home dad and make her go back to work. Things have gone quiet but you know they'll heat up again and even while things are ok, Tyrone is still guarded and watching Kirsty with a shadow of fear in his eyes. You can't sustain love with that hanging over it.

Meanwhile Fiz, who knows the truth, is giving Tyrone knowing looks, watching Kirsty like a hawk and can't stop herself sometimes from winding Kirsty up. Anyone that's watched soaps as long as I have can see where this is going. If Ty and Fiz don't actually get back together, they'll have a snog at some point. Kirsty will go ballistic, she will also find out that Tyrone has confided in Fiz and it will be game on. Maybe that will be the point where she hits the wall and finally gets help. I hope she does because I don't want to lose Natalie Gumede. She's too good!

One of the bigger stories of the month is the return of Wendy Crozier into Deirdre and Ken's lives. I don't blame Deirdre for being upset. Ken has a long history of affairs and even at 73 he's not likely changed his spots yet. It wasn't that long ago he was ready to sail away on the canal. I think the more suspicion that Deirdre lays on Ken over Wendy, the more he's going to end up feeling pushed into it. It would be really nice for it *not* to end in an affair this time! But then you know what will happen. He won't have the affair but Deirdre won't believe him, after his habit of a lifetime.

I can't say I am enjoying the Rovers' entry into the pub of the year contest. It was all right, Gloria was good in it but it's been a bit flat and non-funny even though I think it's meant to be. Except it was quite funny watching Dennis get legless on free drinks that one day. Dennis Tanner, the traditional cheeky scammer!

I don't understand why David and Kylie are so broke. I adore Kylie and now she's trying to make something more of herself and David isn't being very helpful. I can see his point, that the salon will be overstaffed but that's no reason why he can't at least start training her and encourage her to go to college to get qualified. She's working for Nick now and I really hope that they don't have her making a play for him as the more ambitious brother. Nick won't take her up on it, I'm pretty sure, even if, when Peter gets back, he and Leanne end up together. (no spoiler, I have no idea what's going to happen when Peter and Carla return, I'm only guessing)

Tracy's plans to wind up Steve and Michelle as revenge did a lot of damage. Little by little, we discover what we already figured out that not only was Tracy using Ryan, but she pretended to be pregnant, then, conveniently, wasn't after all, just "late" in spite of that trip to the doctor to confirm the pregnancy, and Ryan's world came crashing down when he realized it all.

Michelle's too, when Steve stupidly decided to break up with her as a ruse to push Tracy away from Ryan and not tell Michelle about the plan. Granted, her reaction was much more genuine that way but it isn't going to serve him well in the long run. Michelle might have taken him back but  Old mate Rob is all too willing to pick up the pieces when he messes up again and he will because he's Steve. Steve really is a plonker. How many of his Really Good Ideas have ever been that? I never liked Steve and Michelle together and I still don't.

Horrible storyline all around. Maybe not the worst ever but anything that features Tracy, Ryan and Michelle is never going to be anything I enjoy. The actor playing Ryan can't act and can't speak properly, Kym Lomas and Kate Ford are marginally better than they used to be but still not on the list of best performers in the cast.

What I have enjoyed, much to my surprise is the Cafe's international nights. Mary has gone over the top as usual but this Mary is back to the original concept of the character. Daft, over-enthusiastic, with a competitive edge rather than the shrewish, mean, almost-stalker she'd become for awhile. A night every few weeks shouldn't make that much of a dent in the Bistro's pockets, considering most of the punters after the first night were the usual crowd who don't usually eat in the Bistro anyway but the Bistro serving cheap breakfast every day definitely hurt the cafe and that wasn't fair at all.

You could see the theme nights getting more and more boozy and out of hand and sure enough Roy arrived home in the middle of a Greek fiasco. Was he right in banning Mary from the cafe, even as a customer? Well she's done a lot of iffy things in the past and I think she's well and truly burned her bridges. He accused her of living out her fantasies and that's exactly right. Yes, she was doing it to bring extra business in for Roy but had she been content to keep it to one or two theme nights, he might have been ok with it. But as per usual, Mary goes way too far. Ah, but now Nick has hired her to do theme nights once a week at the Bistro. Can you see Gail and Kylie putting up with her bullying? Perhaps Nick has the strength to put his foot down if she's going too far out.

Overall a mixed bag of a month. I've enjoyed a lot of the storylines, big and small. We're ramping up to Christmas and Sophie's recovery from her accident. I expect Ryan's addiction will be miraculously cured now he's promised her he won't do drugs again. It's a soap, of course Sophie will walk again with hard work and you realize, we do have a physical therapist in the cast now so it will be Jenna that pushes her along. I expect a Christmas miracle. 

A new twist on the standard love story

Soaps are all about love stories, affairs, triangles. Star crossed lovers who are destined to be together no matter who they are with in the meantime. People fall in love with a bad'un who hurts them emotionally, or worse. Some people have a long history of losing in love. Sometimes love is found in unexpected places.

We've had all that on Coronation Street and are about to explore a new twist on the "unexpected places" type of love story. We have a pretty hairdresser, a single mother in her late 20s. She's not had much luck with men and seems to choose the wrong one over and over. We have a kind, gentle gay man in his early 30s, recently split from a partner and longing for a family of his own. The two of them have become close, best friends, and are sharing a flat. He gets on really well with her brother who also lives in the flat and her little boy, a mutual admiration thing going on there.

He was her rock when she thought she had breast cancer. He was terrified to lose his friend and was overjoyed when she was given the all clear. They had champagne, she kissed him, and... what? He kissed her back? And he really did kiss her back, properly. They were then, in the tradition of soaps, interrupted by her boyfriend, local builder who has also not had a lot of luck with women over the years.

Thus we have Maria, Marcus and Jason. In comments from blog readers, there has been dismay and even outrage. There is concern that the powers that be are sending the wrong message, that a gay man could be "turned" by the right woman. That this never could happen in real life. They're wrong, at least about that second statement. It could and has happened in real life. People can't always control where they find love. Sometimes it's with the least expected person. Sometimes it's still not Forever After but even so, it does happen.

Poor Marcus was stunned, shocked and confused that he reacted the way he did. He had the biggest WTF look on his face I've ever seen! Marcus had never even tried to kiss a girl or woman ever, he protested, where has this come from? They've decided to write it off as a one -off, a reaction to the stress, relief and alcohol. But it isn't going to go away. It's going to be the elephant in the room even while Maria tries to make a go of things with Jason and Marcus tries to keep his relationship going with Aiden.

I don't know where it's going and I don't know how long it will last. I am, however, confident that the producers are not going to send the wrong message out. I believe that Marcus and Maria will not be Love's Young Dream in the end. I do hope their friendship will not disintegrate because of it but that they will agree that it isn't working. Marcus will know down deep that this isn't right for him and it's not who he is.

Marcus has always known and been confident in himself as long as we've known him. We also know Marcus would dearly love to have a family and has fallen in love with Maria's little family as much as anything. She offers him a son, and he loves her as his best friend. I really think this whole situation is going to be handled sensitively and realistically, as much as television ever can be. This doesn't feel to me to be played for sensation. Charlie Condou who plays Marcus has supported the storyline and I think that he would object strenuously if it was not played honestly.

Marcus and Maria truly seem to be an Odd Couple at the moment but that's not new for Corrie. Roy and Hayley were truly one of life's Odd Couples and they fit together like a scissors, working perfectly together and are one of the show's most and probably only stable couple.  Anyone with Kirk makes an Odd Couple but, oddly, it usually works. Could there have been an odder couple at first glance than Alf and Audrey?

I think that the early objecters and worriers should sit back and see where it goes and how it's handled first. We've only just cracked the seal on the storyline, it's far too soon to decide it's been a really bad idea. I don't always have faith in the producers because they certainly have come up with clunkers in the past, but I'm willing to wait and see on this one and am optimistic that it will be an interesting take on love stories. Marcus and Maria will probably not be the next Roy and Hayley, but I will find their journey interesting.

An old mystery solved and a potted history of Irma Ogden

In early 1964, Sandra Gough began playing Irma Ogden. She stayed in Corrie until 1968 when David Rothwell, who played her husband on screen, David Barlow, wanted to leave. He'd delayed his departure because he knew the producers would also write out Sandra if he left but she agreed and went.

In 1970, the producers wanted to bring the couple back but only Sandra said she'd return. They had David along with their little boy die in a car crash in Australia where the characters had emigrated and brought Irma back to Coronation Street. It was up and down for the character and in 1971, the character just disappeared off screen, apparently claiming illness. She returned briefly and left again later that same year and the publicity hit the newspapers that Sandra Gough was fired though she was quoted as saying "I was taking more and more time off, hoping that they would sack me. I was sick of being Irma. It was driving me mad."

Recently, during the new seasons of The Corrie Years featuring ex-Corrie actors and what happened to them after they left the show, Sandra Gough admitted she'd left Granada high and dry, walking out after she'd asked repeatedly to be written out of the show to no avail. She felt bad for doing it but was apparently dealing with her mother who had a serious illness. She admitted she did call her bosses and said she wasn't coming back but the media didn't get that message and it was all a bit mystery at the time.

Now that the mystery is solved, here's a bit of a history of Irma Ogden Barlow:

Irma was one of four Ogden children. Her name was originally Freda but she changed it, thinking Irma was more glamourous. She left home at 15 due to her father's tendency to violence. She arrived in the Street early in 1964. Her family's rough reputation preceded their arrival a few months later.

Irma was cheeky and lively, with shocking red hair and a lot of it. Her hair seemed to have a life of its own later in the 60s and into the 70s! Come to think of it, flame haired Elsie Tanner's locks were much the same. She worked for Florrie Lindley in the corner shop, and later for Lionel Petty when he bought it from Florrie. She fell for local footballer David Barlow. They got engaged during a Street day trip to the Blue John mines in the Peak District and they married after a short engagement in 1965. They eloped but their secret was discovered and they returned home to a surprise reception in the pub.

After David sustained an injury, Irma talked him into buying the corner shop. But shop work was boring for Irma and she got a job in the new PVC factory on the Street, leaving David to struggle on without her until she got fed up with that, and came back to the shelves of the corner shop.

Irma had a miscarriage and decided it was a sign she couldn't have children, a huge disappointment for David. They fostered for awhile and then David returned to the world of footie, albeit as a coach for an all-women's team. This led to David's re-entry into the sport as a player when he had the chance to play for a team in Australia. They made the decision to emigrate and sold the shop to Maggy Clegg and moved.

Two years later, David and Irma had a little boy but Ken got a phone call, saying David and their son were killed in a car crash. Irma was persuaded to return to Weatherfield with the financial assistance of bookie Dave Smith. Stan wangled a 30% share in the shop for Irma by using money that Dave Smith helped raise for Irma's return. Irma went back to the shop and worked to pay Dave back. She battled depression, both hers and Maggy's. She was even at the centre of a hostage plot when former boyfriend Joe Donnelli confessed that he'd murdered Elsie Tanner's ex-husband Steve Tanner. Joe held Irma hostage at one point and later holed up in Minnie Caldwell's house. Stan managed to get Joe to let Minnie go but when Stan entered the house, a shot rang out. Joe killed himself.

Months later, Irma left Weatherfield suddenly, contacting Maggy afterwards to sell back her share of the shop. We never saw Irma again though she did send a telegram to her mother when Stan died.

Irma was always up for a laugh, loved to have a good time. Her family, the Ogdens, were the Battersbys of their day. Rough and ready, common as muck, loud and obnoxious at times. Stan was a heavy drinker in his day and tended to violence. Irma hated that her mother put up with it. Two of the Ogden children had been taken into care and never did appear on the Street. The youngest, Trevor, was a real tearaway. She knew she didn't want the life her mother had and thought being a football wife was her ticket up and out. It didn't work out as she thought it would but she made the best of it anyway.

Losing David and her son devastated her but she tended to keep her troubles to herself.

After leaving Corrie, Sandra Gough made a name for herself with a well known part in Emmerdale.

Here's a You Tube video with the episode where Stan and Hilda first appeared. You can see Irma from 2:39 in as she tells Elsie a bit of background about her family and later, Ena tells Irma the history of the house that the Ogdens are thinking of buying.

Thanks to the Coronation Street Wiki entry on Irma.

State of the Street - September

Ever notice that when Ryan is caught out in a lie, which is often because he's not very good at it, he immediately takes it out on Michelle and accuses her of being a rubbish mother, and a loose woman, to boot. I'm surprised he didn't thrown the baby switch thing at her. You're Not My Real Mother would have hurt more than anything but see, we're supposed to have forgotten that. I think the powers that be realized it was a big stupid mistake, that baby switch storyline, and they would rather it all be swept under the rug. I suppose that's a good thing.

Meanwhile, we have to suffer Ryan and Tracy sucking face all over the screen so that Tracy can get her revenge on Steve and Michelle. I can believe that of Tracy but I am still not feeling that Ryan is completely infatuated with her. Possibly the inability of the actor? Most of the time, he speaks too fast and mumbles and I can't make out what he's saying. Why is Tracy such a one note character? They can't seem to do anything else with her. Push her at Steve, he gives mixed signals, then she get revenge. Wash and repeat. It's really really REALLY getting old.

Gloria! Love her! She's acid. She's arrogant, she acts like she owns the place, even 2 days after she moved in! In spite of her smacking Karl around, she seems to have a soft spot for him and seems to want to get him back together with Stella. She clashes a lot with most people she meets too. Well, she clashes with all the women, at least. She flirts the pants off the men, or tries to. She sticks her nose in and she schemes.

We saw a glimpse of the excellent Cliff character, the man who blew all her lies out of the water to a very smug Gail. I think Gail and Gloria could actually be good friends if the writers catch that chemistry the two women had together. Now she's got a Jones on for this pub of the year competition and is coming over all Annie Walker. Brilliant!

The surrogacy storyline is one that i'm enjoying. Yes i know it's got some silly leaps and bounds but I'm still enjoying it anyway. I like Gary and Izzy a lot even though Gary seems to be the pushiest one of them all, first being defensive with the councillor and sticking his nose in to Katy's habits. Gary really does have blinders on, to the point of being selfish about being a dad by any means possible, never mind how it affects anyone else.

Then when Izzy shot down Katy's offer, he was crying and moaning and it was all about him once again. Even now, he won't hear one negative doubt about it. La, La, La, I can't hear you! I'm gonna be a dad and to hell with anything and anyone else.

Now Tina seems set to be the surrogate but if it doesn't take the first time, can Owen really afford to fire off all that cash month after month? I can see how Tina might be a good candidate, she's young and healthy and obviously finances are her main motivation. I didn't think Katy would end up carrying the baby but then I'm not so sure Tina will either, or it won't work and Owen will run out of money. Or maybe Tina will turn out to be already pregnant by Tommy by the time they get down to the actual tests and things. I just think there's too many babies on the street and one more is just overpopulating things far too much. Sadly, it does seem like it's heading in that direction. ITV must have paid a lot for the fake pregnancy bump and want to get their money's worth out of it.

She's doing it for the money. It's not as if Izzy is her best friend. But she did admit to Rita that some of it has to do with righting the wrong impression people have of her after the whole Kirsty thing, and she told Owen she is still haunted by Joe's death because of debt and doesn't want Tommy to feel that desperate.
Would he? I think he has the potential. He's often seen sniveling and wants to give up and run at the drop of a hat. Nah. Actually I think he'd just run away if the pressure got too much. He has already done some of that though is always talked back from the bus stop by one person or another. Come to think of it, his situation is similar to Joe's isn't it? Good man, bad things happen, sudden debt made worse by circumstances. Loan sharks threatening. Poor Tina, it must feel like she's living the same thing over and over. No wonder she's scared he'll end up at the bottom of the lake, too!

Kirsty's face was a treat when Tina threw 3000 quid at her. No more excuses to act all threatening and bitchy and she's lost some of the hold she's had over them. She'll have to turn her attentions to someone else. It's not as if there's a shortage. Kirsty's jealousy and rage are easily sparked. But I still do wonder if Tina will get pregnant to gain the rest of Owen's cash and I wonder what would happen if it takes more than one treatment. The man isn't made of money.

Lloyd has found out about a grown daughter from an affair years ago. Too bad he turned out to do the dirty on his best friend. Why do men on soaps always seem to do that? Well, ok, women do as well. I know it happens but surely not as often as it seems to on screen. I imagine Lloyd and Jenna will travel a somewhat tentative and rocky road but will become friends and a lovely father/daughter relationship will bloom after a fashion. There's a bit more about that over here.

Lloyd pursued and pushed and practically stalked Mandy until he found out about Jenna and then he persued and haunted Jenna until she'd talk to him, too. We know Lloyd's harmless but those two women don't. Not at that point. Even though Mandy knew Lloyd 29 years ago, how does she know he'd have grown up into a decent man and not a nutter? He couldn't have been more than 19 or 20 when they had their affair, I don't think he's 50 yet.

Wendy Crozier is back! It couldn't have any greater effect on Ken than if it had been Martha from the Barge that sailed back into her life. She's got a Papadopolous name now so she must have married. And long time watchers will recall that the always-unseen owner of Gamma Garments back in the 60s was Mr. Papadopoulous. The spelling may have been different but even so, I wonder if she married Mr. P's son? Wouldn't that be a lovely little nod to the past? This has the makings of a good Ken and Deirdre storyline because you know that's really going to bring back all that bad stuff for her. It certainly would for me in her shoes. She'd better up her game and learn to cook something fancier than stuffed marrow!

For Ken, will it turn into an affair? Well it could, but I think his feelings are more of past regret and closure. Was he ever in love with Wendy? He certainly turned tail and ran easily enough back in the day once he actually got thrown out of Number 1 and had nowhere else to go.

Tyrone is now a dad officially but Kirsty's volatility didn't go away with the pregnancy and Ty is scared silly that she'll hurt the baby. Kirsty's mother finally left her husband and showed up on their doorstep but she left when he was not there. Confronted by him and his forceful way, she ended up going back to him, even knowing there would be consequences. Unfortunately this happens all to often and it's heartbreaking to watch. And Kirsty is still striking out at Tyrone, later on blaming him for her mother's upcoming abuse when she went back home with her husband and it all kicks off again.

Cheering for a Lloyd Storyline

I've always liked Lloyd Mullaney. He's always been a cheerful sort, most of the time,  unless life hurls a zinger at him. He's funny, he's loves music, he is kind, he's a good friend. He's also not had a lot of storylines of his own over the years but always seems to shine in the ones he does get.

Craig Charles really has grown on me as an actor since he started. I never watched Red Dwarf so I really had no previous knowledge of him but as far as I know, that's the main thing he's been known as and nobody really thought he'd work as a Corrie character. I think he's proved them all wrong. He's also shown he can do drama in addition to comedy.

Some of my favourite of those types of scenes/storylines were first when he and Liz broke up and later when he and Cheryl broke up. You don't often see men being reduced to tears over heartbreak. They usually get angry, get drunk, shag someone else. Lloyd barely kept it together, especially after Cheryl left and it was a refreshing take on the situation, for a soap. I don't think he was "wimpy" in the least for showing his emotions though I've heard that accusation from other quarters, usually from men. Lloyd was also wonderful when he was interacting with children, such as Finley Morton and Russ Gray. He's got such a big heart and has always wanted to be a dad and now he's finally got that wish.

Lloyd has discovered that he's got an adult daughter, a result from an affair he had 29  years ago. While I am rather disappointed that he did the dirty on his best friend, it has brought Lloyd to the forefront again. So far, he's only just discovered that Jenna is his daughter. Her mother, Mandy, is enraged that Lloyd pushed and pushed and found out the truth and is upset that Jenna overheard it as well. Jenna, naturally, is horrified and feels she has lived a lie all her life. She wants nothing to do with Lloyd.

We know that will change. It's a soap, come on! There are rumours that Mandy will remain in the show and be the new Rovers' cook and I do hope that's true because in spite of her being a bit mardy and prickly so far.  I think she'll be a great character and I love her wardrobe! Maybe she and Lloyd can rekindle their romance though at the moment she's still grieving for her late husband.

I also really love that Eileen is back in the cab office and is back in Lloyd and Steve's lives as all three were such good  friends and support for each other. They were missing that element while she was elsewhere and she barely had any contact with them at all which isn't realistic.  Even while working elsewhere, you'd think they would have interacted at the pub and helped each other through crises when needed. When Cheryl broke Lloyd's heart, it was mostly Steve that was there for him, as well as Becky but Eileen barely gave him a glance most of the time.

I think Lloyd's character has been well developed over the years and he remains one of my favourite characters.

Character Study: Royston Cropper

The character of Roy Cropper was only introduced as and expected to be a short term character in 1995. His character caught on and was kept in the show and has turned into one of the most-loved characters, half of one of the favourite couples in the show.

Roy did not have a very auspicious beginning, however. He lived alone in the top flat of a house conversion, bought by Mike Baldwin. He appeared to be somewhat creepy, drinking booze out of a paper bag and bothering Deirdre Raschid who was newly moved in to the flats as building supervisor. Roy quickly became more sympathetic, harmless, eccentric but a bit of a nutter, who was awkward, shy, socially inept but basically kind.


Over the years, Roy's background has been filled in a bit. His parents were divorced after his father had abandoned the family. The young Roy took this very hard but seems to have formed a bond with his granddad. He was a loner at school but very intelligent. He developed a love for trains and busses and could very well be called a trainspotter.

He has made a few remarks about his late stepfather, giving us the distinct impression there was no love lost between them and was the reason Roy left home as soon as he could. There have been whispers among fans and observers of the character over the years that Roy must have Asperger's syndrome, as he seems to have obsessive compulsive tendencies and takes most things at their very literal translation, missing subtleties and nuances.

When we met Roy, he was cooking breakfasts at the Imperial Hotel, which long time Corrie fans will recognize as the same place that Ida Barlow worked in the early 60s. He helped out in Jim's Cafe on occasion and when the time came that Alma wanted to sell her share of the cafe, Roy decided to buy it. Alma didn't think he'd come up with the money but it turns out he'd squirreled away cash for years, spreading it around several different banks for safe keeping. Roy was now the major shareholder in the cafe, and renamed it Roys Rolls. He moved into the flat and he and Gail chuntered along well serving behind the counter for several years. Roy once saved up enough vouchers to provide a free trip for two to Paris, but in his generosity, gave the trip to Martin and Gail.


Roy became involved in a crusade to save the Red Rec but in 1998 his life was about to change dramatically. At the age of 44, he fell in love. He met shy and awkward Hayley Patterson who was a bit of an anorak herself. They shared many things in common, including an interest in trains and bus schedules. Roy was shocked, however, when he discovered that Hayley was a transexual. He didn't know how to handle this and backed off.

Hayley went to Amsterdam for gender reassignment surgery and Roy remained in Weatherfield, clearly miserable. Alma pushed a little and Roy finally went after Hayley. The visit was awkward but Roy managed to convey his feelings. Hayley decided to return with him and they've been together ever since.

They were not allowed to marry, legally, back in 1999, but they managed to find a sympathetic vicar, Jessica, who was set to "marry" them in a blessing ceremony. Local oik, Les Battersby, alerted the press that "two blokes" were getting married and it nearly ruined the ceremony. Hayley retreated to the cafe flat but all their friends rallied and Jessica performed the ceremony in the cafe itself where Roy's full name, "Royston" was revealed.

Now... fans on the internet had taken to calling Roy this for some time and when the name was spoken on screen, many fans believed that the Powers that Be picked it up from the forums and boards and ran with it. There has never been any confirmation but fans are convinced they gave Roy his name!

Roy is loyal and once he's made up his mind to be your friend, or in Hayley's case, her partner, he stands by those he cares for, unwaveringly. He is honest, possibly to a fault, and is faithful. He is determined to do the right thing and is reliable. He has employed several of the younger crowd in the cafe over the years, including Toyah Battersby and Sarah Platt.

He and Hayley have often been at the pointed end of verbal barbs and have been the objects of ridicule but in spite of that, everyone knows that Roy is an upstanding and all around good man. Therefore, when it seemed that he had a drunken one night stand with evil Tracy Barlow, resulting in her pregnancy, the whole Street was shocked. This incident nearly destroyed Roy who felt his integrity and reputation were irreparably damaged. Hayley had left him and he felt he had nothing to live for. Luckily, Hayley returned to the flat and rescued Roy from an overdose and stood by him.


They decided to adopt Tracy's baby and paid her good money for it. Roy and Hayley had long desired to be parents. Initially, Roy was reluctant to be a parent, having had no good example and miserable memories of his own childhood but with Hayley at his side, he realized he had a lot to offer a child. They had fostered several children including Fiz Brown but got tangled up in well-meaning problems of one young lad and after running away with him, the trouble they got into as a result closed the door on any future possibility of fostering and adoption.

This could be their only chance to be parents. They knew that Tracy would be less than a stellar mother, Roy even went through with a sham marriage to Tracy so that he would have legal rights to the child but Roy and Hayley were devastated when the truth came out and the father of the baby was proven to be Steve McDonald.

When Hayley discovered that she had an adult son from a very brief attempt at normality when she was still Harold, Roy was unsure how to handle the news. Hayley had told him she'd been a virgin and when Christian came into her life, she kept it a secret. Honesty being extremely important to Roy, he couldn't seem to accept Hayley's actions and nearly lost her as a result of his misplaced sense of seeing everything in "black or white". His love for Hayley has allowed him to bend and before Hayley left to do charitable work in Africa, they reconciled their differences. Roy held down the fort at the cafe, missing his Hayley.

Roy was also intrinsic to Tony Gordon's downfall. When Tony had a heart attack, and thought he was going to die, he confessed to Liam Connor's murder to Roy. Roy didn't report him but needled Tony so much that Tony nearly killed Roy by drowning him in the canal. He saved Roy at the last minute and turned himself in but when he escaped from prison some months later, he tried to get his revenge on Roy by taking Hayley hostage. He relented and set Hayley free and after Carla freed herself from his clutches, Tony went up in smoke in the factory, leaving Roy outside, embracing Hayley.

Life is too short. And Roy realized that, financially, it would be better to be married now that he and Hayley could legally tie the knot. His unromantic proposal didn't go over well, as you can imagine, but after the factory incident, he realized how much Hayley meant to him and proposed properly with a proper wedding to celebrate their love in the fall of 2009.

Since then, they've been chuntering along together in the cafe, supporting their friends and neighbours after the tram crash and its fallout. They have faced another new obstacle in the form of Roy's recently widowed battleaxe mother. Roy wanted nothing to do with her and Hayley wants everyone to be all "happy families". Little by little, Sylvia and Roy seem to be creating a relationship though both continue to exasperate the other. I think Roy may have discovered a little more about why his mother was so distant with him and Sylvia is finally growing to appreciate her son and his eccentricities.

Roy blossomed under the love of a good woman and slowly over the years, the cafe decor has become a tribute to his love of trains. He's still being an advisor for young lads, Chesney Battersby Brown being the most recent. His and Hayley's faith in Becky has helped her turn her life around. He hasn't lost his integrity, and still has moments where he seems totally flummoxed by others' emotions and actions. When Mary Taylor developped a clearly obvious crush on him over the chess board, Roy was completely oblivious. When Hayley found out, in typical Hayley style, she lashed out but then persuaded Mary to stay in Weatherfield, finding sympathy for a lonely woman in a motorhome. I think Roy was secretly flattered that someone new would find him attractive (in his own way!)

Roy Cropper has a very kind side to him. He may not be outwardly in his affections but has done and said many things that have the viewer swallowing a lump in their throat. He is steadfastly loyal when he believes in someone, even if that someone, like Becky Granger McDonald, gives him reason to doubt. He supports the younger people and has earned the respect of those such as Fiz, Chesney, Gary and Izzy and even, grudgingly, David Platt! He has fears and insecurities but his rock, Hayley, can usually put them to rest with her faith and love and support.  He's got a pretty good idea about who he is and seems content wtih his lot in life these days. He tries to find the good in any lost soul.

He may not always understand the world around him and the world doesn't always understand him but he tries his best.

Roy Cropper has touched many lives and made them better for it. He is played with impeccable, understated perfection by David Neilson and could not be more perfect for the part!

Long may Roy reign over his rolls!

Will Steve and Michelle go the distance?

It's probably a no-brainer. Very few soap couples actually go the distance and if you're Steve McDonald, he of the 6-wedding record, it's very unlikely you'll ever find Ms. Right and reach your 50th wedding anniversary with her.

I think Steve and Michelle both are rebounding.  Steve got sucked in by Tracy's lies and lost his love, Becky as a result. Michelle didn't want to leave Weatherfield with Ciaran so she's at loose ends as well.


Michelle knows Steve. He's familiar. He's a nice guy. I can't help thinking that she's settling for Steve because of that, because she's lonely after hunky Ciaran left. I mean,  how could you possibly go from Ciaran to Steve?

Ok, that's not really fair, I know. But I really never thought Michelle and Steve were suited the first time around and now they're giving another go.

Steve generally tends to go for bossy women, aggressive and stronger than him and somewhat on the trampy side. I think that's the classic case of being attracted to someone very like your mother and Michelle does have a bit of all that, though in a lower key than most of Steve's women. She's got a side of her that's not afraid to fight back, probably from having to hold her own against two brothers and growing up on a rough estate. But she's also needy and always seems to have problem after problem.

That dragged Steve down last time and it's starting already this time with her struggles over her drug addicted son. Mind you, that seems to happen to Steve with all his women. They drag him down and wear him out with their issues, crises and schemes that backfire.

Last time all the angst sent him into the arms of Becky who was a lot more fun, if also a lot more trouble but Steve always seems to thrive on the excitement until he gets overwhelmed.

Except for Tracy. That's a bit too much trouble.  But that's a subject for another blog post sometime.

I think the main reason I don't like Steve and Michelle together is that they don't seem to have that chemistry. Steve and Karen had it in spades, so did Steve and Becky.  Steve and Tracy...not so much nor did he have any chemistry with that ex-mob wife Ronnie. She really was Trouble with a capital T.

To be fair, Steve is trying to help with Ryan. He does feel a bit step-fatherly to him because of playing that role last time around and I do think Ryan likes him. Steve could be a good support if he didn't keep running around in jealous fits and lusting after Michelle. He probably should have stayed focussed on helping Ryan rather than using it in part to get closer to Michelle.

I think Steve is very like his mother in one respect. Liz couldn't stay away from Jim, with his firey temper, his volatile ways and when she did find a nice, sedate man like Vernon (if also a bit feckless), she was bored senseless. Michelle has similar qualities to Steve's other women but she's also a bit more refined and mature, less volatile and tempermental unless provoked and I think Steve will end up bored eventually, if Michelle's non-stop crises don't push him away first.

Who was your favourite of Steve's women? Who suited him the best (until it all blew up, that is)? I think I liked Steve with Karen the best.

Forget me not

With all this angst between Michelle and Ryan lately, I kept expecting him to scream at her "You're Not My Real Mother!!!". Along with everything else he hurled at her in various bust ups, that would probably hurt the most. Because it's true, isn't it?

I've blogged about this before but it bears another outing in this context. This recent situation would be the perfect time to resurrect that whole painfully awful storyline and I suppose that's exactly why they aren't doing it. The powers that be would prefer us to forget that ever happened. We celebrate Ryan's birthday with nary a mention of Alex, and Ryan never seems to have contact with Nick, his biological dad with whom he had started to build a relationship at one time. All that has been swept under the rug.

I know sometimes they come up with storylines that they think will be "gripping" and then realize that they're more of a damp squib, or even judged by the fans as the worst storyline ever. The infamous baby switch was certainly one of those as was Hayley's long lost son, lost again to the mists of time. Another storyline best forgotten.

But the fans remember, unfortunately, and it's irksome at times when it seems as if these things never happened. Are we supposed to just forget? Well, yes, in cases like this, we are.

Of course there are hundreds, nay, thousands of storylines, short and long that are never referred to again. But there are a few that were promoted as major storylines that ran over months and those are the ones I'm thinking about here. 

There was a Post Office in the Kabin and for a couple of years, we saw the little kiosk, in a space across from the cash register. That, too, became a phantom lost to memory and now that the Kabin has been rebuilt post-tram crash, there's no longer a Post Office sign on the the building. It's gone quietly into the rubble, with Rita selling the occasional stamp from a roll she probably gets at the main PO.

Another that I hope has left town with the rest of the Baldwins, never to see the light of day again, is the near-incestuous affair between Frankie Baldwin and her stepson Jamie. It was referred to in an argument between Violet and Jamie in that London special, mind you, but as long as any character involved or related to them is not seen again, we should thankfully be able to delete that from the vaults without worrying about reminders.

There are some storylines we wish we could forget. Some of them have a fallout that will echo for years, like the outcome of the awful Molvin affair. Baby Jack is a constant reminder to Sally of Kevin's betrayal and I'm glad they didn't allow her to take Kevin back and bring that baby up as her own. Now they need to find new partners for both of them, Kevin in particular, I think. Enough of him pining after Sally and begging her to forgive him yet again.

I suppose when a television program has been running as long as Coronation Street has, there's bound to be misfires. Not every storyline is going to appeal to everyone. Not every storyilne is going to work out the way they thought it would. Some couples end up having no chemistry after all. Some awful storylines have major repercussions. Some fade away, best forgotten altogether and written off as an idea that should have been corked along with the whiskey bottle that seems to have inspired it.

My most memorable storylines were the rise and fall of Richard Hillman, the rise and fall of Tony Gordon, Stape-Gate from start to finish, the complex twists with Des, Raquel, Tanya Pooley, Bet and trucker Charlie.

State of the Street - August 2012

Ryan. Drugs. Dull. I don't care. But I'm also very glad that the rumour about Sophie getting involved with it wasn't true. Ryan is a liar and a manipulator and a tosser and a toerag and what else can I think of that's unflattering on a family-oriented blog?  He sucks everyone in, even Steve who needs to keep his mother sweet. I hate, hate, hate him! I know, I know, we're not supposed to like him. Good thing, and all.




This surrogacy storyline isn't going to be as straightforward as it seems. It was a nice gesture and in a perfect world, Katy would be an ideal candidate. She's young and healthy and has had a healthy baby already. But it's very expensive and even with Owen pouring poison in Chesney's ear to get him on board on his side, it may all come down to the cash. Owen certainly isn't going to hand over money if Katy's going to be the bio-mom but maybe he might if there was someone else chosen. Hey, maybe Kylie would go for the dough! or Fiz? I bet Beth would do it in a heartbeat. It also occurred to me that there's another young woman on the show in dire need of cash input and it seems I was right. (Spoiler)


Jason and Maria, part 2? I can't see it lasting for some reason. Maybe she's settling for Jason because she can't have Marcus?

Michelle and Steve, part 2? I can't see that either. They never did suit but again, nothing else to do with Steve I guess. It *is* a good storyline having Steve trying to look out for Ryan. It's just too bad he has to be involved with Michelle at the same time. He was moaning about blowing it with Michelle but five minutes ago he was hollering at Tracy that he still loved Becky. Rebound much?

I don't even think it's all about Steve and Michelle, I think it's all about Tracy, yet another go around with Tracy lusting after Steve and Steve lusting after someone else and giving Tracy mixed signals when he KNOWS what she's like! It's pretty clear that the powers that be don't know what else to do with Tracy, as one dimensional as she is. It's old and it's boring. Get rid of her or give her something new to do. And no, making her use Ryan as revenge against Michelle isn't anything different.

The domestic violence storyline has moved along.  It's so painful watching Tyrone blame himself for Kirsty's violence and blaming her hormones. She needs to remember, he's lived with a pregnant woman before and she didn't beat on him.  But it's been done in a very realistic way. After a few more incidents and Tina finding out accidentally, Tyrone and Kirsty argued and she stumbled and got hurt and now Deirdre, at least, thinks that Tyrone is the culprit. Well, that's the usual way of it so that's what people would think by default.

Kirsty left Tyrone but was persuaded back in the end by Tommy himself and Tina finally admitted to Tommy what she knows and Tommy has admitted to Tyrone that he knows after Tyrone injured himself. Tommy, bless'im, assumes Kirsty was at him again and tried to defend his best mate. Tyrone and Tommy are now officially on the outs. It's too bad that Kirsty is managing to push all Tyrone's friends away (though that, too, is a typical move in these situations...isolation), he's going to need all the support he can get. 

This storyline is really, really well acted and thought out, I think. Although it's a grim subject, it's a rivetting storyline. Again, and I can't say this enough, major kudos to Natalie Gumede and Alan Halsall!

What's all this palaver about Karl's debt being Stella's and now it's Sunita's? Karl's debt is Karl's and isn't anyone else's responsibility. If he'd used the pub as surety against something, yes it might be Stella's. If he used a credit card with both their names on, then yes, some of it might be Stella's but the whole debt isn't and it certainly can't be transferred to Sunita but Karl is willing to bend to Stella and he signed his share over to her anyway. Eva getting Karl fired was well out of order, as well. Doesn't matter what he's done, she had no business getting him fired. She lost a boyfriend over it and she should have lost her job. 

It's really clear that Karl doesn't want to be with Sunita and he didn't have anywhere else to go. I don't even think Sunita loves him though she thinks she does. He was a way out of her marraige and it's a crush or infatuation. She's really going to hit bottom hard when it all falls apart. Playing petty games like drinking in the Rovers in front of each other and canoodling with tarts from the cash and carry is just childish. So is taking money from the joint bank account to finance a dodgey business deal. Stop it. Grow up. Get on with things. It's clear Karl and Sunita aren't going to go the distance. Should the two couples reunite? It's a soap, at least one probably will, if not both.

Roy survived Mary's infatuation. He was completely oblivious to it though Anna clocked on what was happening and Hayley went for Mary in a jealous rage. Well, I say rage, it was more like a snit but that's a emotional as Hayley gets. It was a nice storyline, though. Nobody expected that Roy would ever be unfaithful to Hayley and it showed Hayley's insecurities bubbling up. She trusts Roy and trusts their love but clearly still has a frisson of fear that Roy will prefer a "real" woman if she throws herself at him. Sometimes you just can't help yourself when those old insecurities haunt you.

There were some lovely scenes where Mary bared her soul to Hayley, admitting she knows what people think of her and was so happy that Roy didn't see her in the same way, "Scary Mary". Hayley was the one that persuaded her to stay even thought Norris was clearly upset that she might leave. I don't think Norris has any hidden "love" for Mary but I do think he considers her a very good friend.