Mad Mary

We all know that Mary is obsessed with Norris. We all know the reality of their little sojourn in the Dales. She very definitely sabotaged the motor home and she very definitely ripped out the phone from the wall so it wouldn't work. She broke his glasses which made him vulnerable and she brought a wedding dress with her. I don't know if she thought he'd run away with her. In her fantasies, she certainly did. She is an expert at twisting words to her own ends.

We didn't see her interviews with the police after Norris had her arrested for kidnapping him. It seems her mother is still alive and therein lies a big clue to Mary's state of mind. It sounds very much like Mary's mother is a very dominating woman and has spent years destroying Mary's self confidence. As much as she often does seem confident, in spite of her mother, it also seems evident that her mother is like a thorn in her side, a rock in her shoe, and she is a damaged woman.

I absolutely love the character, though. She was just odd at first and now we're getting more layers and seeing that she really is a bit bonkers. Patti Clare plays her with just the right touch. She's not putting the "crazy" in, she's playing it straight, a woman with vulnerabilities and years of trying to shed the millstone that is her dependent, dominant mother and whose hobby has turned into an obsession, a way of escaping her dreary life.

It was wonderful when Mary got to go on the road in the motorhome. She probably felt the free-est she's ever felt with no responsibilities and could go where she wanted when she wanted. I wonder if it was her responsibilities to her mother that finally brought her back or was it the call of Cupid? She seemed edgier and more "stalkerish" when she got back. Maybe having all that freedom gave her a sense of determination which, she hoped, would come to fruition on the moors of Yorkshire. Yet we still saw that her mother continued to harangue her by phone while she was away.

Now that she's off the hook, legally, she's coming around again, hanging out trying to insinuate herself into Norris' life, most recently attending Gail's trial with him. Norris is horrified and terrified and is sure that she won't leave him alone. And you know that? I think he's right. I think there's going to be more to this story, don't you?

State of the Street: May 2010

The main storylines in May were Gail's legal troubles, the death of Blanche Hunt which was very sad because actress Maggie Jones died back in December. This kicked off the return of Tracy Barlow who is determined to get out of jail, or at least to an open prison. She's also determined to cause trouble for Steve and Becky's adoption process by keeping her hand firmly on her daughter as a weapon.

Well, actually, even though we know Tracy is using Amy, I can't help sympathising with Tracy who sees her daughter being brought up by another woman. Of course she doesn't want her daughter to forget her and changing Amy's name to McDonald is another step in that direction. But of course, Amy should be the priority and if it makes her feel more like part of the family, then Tracy should allow it all. Nobody would try to make Amy forget her mother but Tracy doesn't see it that way. After all, if Steve and Tracy had married, her name would have been McDonald anyway!

Tracy manages to get her backside in Gail's cell, quite the trick considering Tracy's convicted and Gail's only being held on remand. Suspending disbelief here. Tracy always was a good liar. You'd think they would have checked her background, wouldn't you, before they decided to trust her to get Gail to "confess". She got lucky with the rolling pin being where she guessed it might be and that's all they needed. Gail has a huge amount of circumstantial evidence mounting up. If they bring in witnesses to her history with Joe, all his financial and drug troubles aren't going to make her look like a saint. It's going to make her look like a saint that reached the end of her rope!. So Tracy's lies could very well get Gail a cell on the convict side of the prison. Her lies are also causing friction between the Barlows and the Platts. David nearly heaved Ken's window out and Nick and Peter have been nose to nose as well.

I know they're planning on having Tracy out of jail by the end of the year but I can't see how that's going to work. I think it would have been better off seeing her in prison causing trouble and that be the end of it. I guess it will depend on audience reaction and if they can plausibly do it. I know it's a soap and you sometimes have to suspend your disbelief. I think that's what's going to have to happen this time.

So May also seems to have brought the disappearance of Stape who's pretending to be Colin. Fiz hasn't been wringing her hands and we've been spared her sighing at him every time he goes off to his ill-gotten job. You just know it's going to blow up in his face at some point. I hate how everyone keeps saying Stape is a good man really, just makes bad decisions. The man is a prize plonker! He lies, he's passive aggressive and manipulating, he's weak, he's selfish and he's utterly destroyed the sparky Fiz we know and love.

Gail in Jail has been interesting. She got sucked in by Tracy Barlow who is using her in her devious plans and it looks like she could be hung out to dry at the trial that starts in June. I don't know about you, but as we've not been told that Helen Worth is leaving Corrie, and add to that the fact that Gail really is innocent, it's probably a no brainer. Gail should be found not guilty, in my opinion as a lifetime soap watcher. The guilty get convicted, the innocent go free. That's the rule. I just hope Tracy gets what's coming to her for lying in court!

Underworld seems to be going ... er... under. And i'm not so sure it's not down to that smarmy prat Nick Tilsley. My God he's annoying. The factory roof is giving way with gushers of water streaming through. Never mind it's hardly rained in weeks. Nick's mind is on his mother's trial and he's off running around bribing witnesses with Underworld money and missing meetings. He keeps banging on about Trevor the binman messing up a deal but it's his own damn fault for missing the meeting isn't it? And he didn't keep his eye on the job and for the want of a little bow, the order was lost. I got news for him. It's only going to get worse!

Lloyd is running after a pole dancer and worried about what shirt he's wearing. She seems like a nice girl which probably means she's got secrets beyond having a little boy she didn't tell Lloyd about. Tony's back, and he's sent his newly released cellmate to go sniffing around Coronation Street. Informer perhaps? We'll know very soon.

State of the Street: April 2010

A tad early this month as i'm off on my holidays tomorrow night!

Poor Becky suffered a second miscarraige. I understand why Steve did't call an ambulance because sometimes it's faster taking her straight to hospital himself. What I don't understand is why he asked Liz to get Amy from the Barlows when that's exactly the best place for her during a crisis like this. Now of course, she can't carry a baby and thinks it's all her fault for her rough past and she thinks she'll lose Steve. But what I thought seems to be in the works, it looks like they are going to look into adoption and it will probably be an older kid that needs a good home. If Becky can talk Steve into it. Oddly enough, Becky was all for it once she saw the photo of a little girl very like herself.

So They decided to adopt and Becky worried that she'd not have a chance. Then she saw that Anna and Eddie are interested in adopting too. If the choice came down to it, I'm not entirely sure i'd know who to pick!

Sophie has realized that she loves her best mate in more than a friend kind of way and was cruelly rejected. Or was she? Rosie had Sophie all tarted up just like her. Talk about lamb dressed as mutton. If Sophie thinks dating boys doesn't fit, surely dressed in spike heels and a leather mini skirt doens't either. But we all know our Sophie will end up being true to herself. Some people are wondering why there has to be a lesbian story featuring two beautiful teenagers, why not women in their 30s or 40s? But why not? A young girl trying to figure out who she is is very relevant, especially one that's already going against the tide of her family by incorporating religion in to her life. Will she have further confusion juggling the tenets of her religion with her emotions? What about her chastity vow? And I'm very much afraid that, for Sian, this is just an experiment and Sophie is going to get her heart broken. It's only a hunch but stay tuned!

That's the end of Jason and Tina. He tried re-proposing after his divorce was final. He might have succeeded if he hadn't suggested a wedding in a few weeks. She blows up and finishes with him after telling him she kissed Nick. Jason goes after Nick and then David does too. I gotta say, i don't like Nick. Never did. Before, it was the crap actor. Now i realize the character is arrogant and smarmy and he's way up his own backside. Then again, so was his father, Brian Tilsley, a lot of the time so the apple didn't fall far from the tree (trunk). Mostly, since Nick's been back, David has been the one making shots and sarky remarks at his expense but he goaded David about Tina and got his own back, and a smack on the face for it.

Do you know, as much as Tall Trev is cute and all that, I'm not sure i like him. No matter what Janice's motives are for dieting, that's what she wants and he keeps tempting her and putting food in her way and that's very passive aggressive. He's also not very clever is he? Making a fish and chip date with Janice but as soon as Carla beckons, thoughts of Janice go out the window, not even the courtesy of telling her.



So Lewis is obviously a bit more dodgey than I thought. He's charging both Audrey and Rita for theatre tickets that he's getting for free! And Audrey got royally pissed off that Rita decided to hire him too. Audrey is really coming across as jealous and it's clear she's got a crush on him herself. Lewis seems to be very good at twisting things too. I've really enjoyed all this so far. Not only does it finally give Rita and Audrey a great story of their own, it shows their acting talents off!

Mary seemed to get more and more unhinged. Her laugh, more and more maniacal. She seemed more nervy and on edge and we saw the end result. Replay of Misery, with Norris in that cabin, she trying to play Cathy and wanting him to be her Heathcliff. He must have seen it coming but he went anyway. She scuppers the van, breaks his specs and chases him across the moors to proposes to him, figuratively speaking. She'll end up twisting it all so she seems innocent and poor Norris will be left swinging in the wind. Figuratively speaking. :)

Stape bores the pants of me. And him trying to get back into teaching and then thieving someone's identity to do it? Add paying a professional forger for the rest of the necessary ID and they should put him back before bars and out of my misery. And Fiz's. She's married to a selfish liar. He continued to wear her down over and over until she felt so guilty she said he could go for it. My biggest fear is she'll be left high, dry and pregnant and he'll be banged up in jail for years, with Chesney on the sidelines, shaking his red head sorrowfully and vowing to get revenge on Stape. She should have stayed with Kirkey!

You notice, Kevin might not want Molly but he still can't seem to stay away, can he? And where does he get off suggesting she abort the baby when she's so far along? 20 weeks? If she went into early labour, that baby might even survive on it's own. I doubt any doctor would even do it, for that matter. Well the car accident just might take care of it for him but it didn't. Instead, Molly thinks Kevin tried to kill her. Kevin has more to thank Tyrone than he realizes after Tyrone talked Molly out of stitching up Kevin to the police. I never thought she'd actually tell the police because it would mean Tyrone would find out and chuck her out and probably kill Kevin. So on we go. Still don't know who's the daddy and I really hope it's Tyrone's even though I'm sure the secret will get out eventually. It's also very unlikely they'll move away too.

One idiot after another

I'm at a loss, I really am. This week on Corrie, it's been idiot after prize idiot. Some were fairly harmless and some were almost fatally dangerous. Watching this week was an exercise in frustration for me. I'm not even sure where to start, there are so many in all directions!

Ok, the minor idiots:

There was Graeme chasing after Rosie and Natasha, using the same lines on each of them. Did he think they wouldn't find out? They might not have been mates before now but they do occupy near distances on the same street. He got a beer shampoo for free for it. I guess that means he won't be dating either one any time soon. It *was* funny though.

That brings me to Natasha. Desperation isn't pretty, honey. Salivating over Nick, babbling in the street, throwing yourself at him... it might all get you a date or a shag but it's not going to get you any respect or a relationship. Especially not with Nick Tilsley who is also an idiot. So much of one that his mother has been in prison for weeks and he's *still* not actually gone to see her.

Rosie is an idiot too but that's just par for the course. Believing that her new fella is a footballer? WAGs actually do go to a match now and then to admire the prowess of their beloved on the field. The fact that he's been putting her off from attending would be a red flag for most women but obviously not for Rosie who probably hates football anyway. I'd say it turned out he couldn't cut the mustard but in this case, that's exactly what he can do. And the ketchup and the brown sauce! :)

Let's look around and see who's next.

Audrey's an idiot for falling for the charms of a slimy escort who's blatantly ripping her off (making her pay for theatre tickets he gets for free) and who has come between her and her oldest friend, Rita, and because she's making a fool of herself falling for his charms.

Kirk, of course, is a bit of an idiot on a good day but posting a photo of Jason instead of himself was bound to get him an ear bashing from Izzy who now seems to fancy Gary.

Let's move up the idiot scale a few steps to Kevin Webster. Tyrone posted the baby scan on the internet and then told everyone when he wasn't supposed to but Molly should know better than to even suggest he keep the pregnancy to himself when she's popped out like a balloon and he's so excited. Enter Kevin who could be the baby daddy. He's all choked up but then has the utter temerity to suggest she abort the baby. Where does he get off? At 20 weeks into a pregnancy, I doubt there's a clinic that would do it.  He was out of order suggesting it just because he is having a hard time living with the possibility that it's his kid and it would be evidence of his infidelity.

Kevin would lose everything, his family, his friends, his reputation. He's betrayed his best friend and business partner.  He tried to force her to get rid of the baby. I don't think he could show his face in Weatherfield again if all that came out and I wouldn't feel the least bit sympathetic for him. I'm not any happier with Molly rubbing her bump in his face daily either. It's an all around bad situation which is bound to come out sooner or later because in soaps, it always does. Kevin should have had his ass kicked last year when he got that middle aged crush on her in the first place.


Prize idiot of the week, though, as you might expect, is John "Stapid" Stape. Stapid is a term a fellow blogger coined this week and it fits, oh it fits! Stupid + Vapid +Stape and you've got that in a handbag. Another fellow blogger has diagnosed him as a classic Aggressive Narcissistic and I fully agree with that too. Sociopath also comes to mind. Clear sense of right and wrong but not when it comes to himself. What could go wrong? How about your new boss visiting to return your mobile and you sharing 2 bottles of wine with him. He's clearly drunk and you usher him out the door and let him drive home. Idiot! And I think you can be prosecuted just for that these days. I know bar and pub owners have been.

Then there is the whole identity theft issue which is obviously not as well thought out as Stapid thinks. There are more holes in his scheme than swiss cheese. Did his new boss even match the signatures between the forms he signed and the driver's license? Did John spend hours practicing his forgery skills when we weren't looking? And from the look of it, the real Colin must be at least 15 years older than Stape. Did they not check his birth date and his CV dates against his face? Come to that, where did John get hold of Colin's CV? He only had his certificates and ID, did he make it all up from stuff Colin had told him in the past? Surely he wouldn't know all the hire/leave dates exactly and the new school should be checking that, shouldn't they? If the real Colin hasn't stepped on a plane to emmigrate yet, won't he miss his driving license? Emmigrating doesn't happen overnight and there's a lot of checks and balances. Surely the tax people would wonder why he's getting a paycheque from a school while he's trying to leave the country?

On top of all those plot holes, he's coercing Fiz into the plot. Fiz, dear, you already know he's a good liar and now he's at it again. Doesn't this tell you something? It tells me you're an idiot, too. I really, really hope when he gets caught, and he will, that he goes down for it. I really, really can't stand the character and how he's totally ruined Fiz. If he goes down, I want Fiz to get really, really angry, not spend weeks and months moaning and whinging and whining and feeling sorry for herself. I don't want him trying and trying to get her back because he's not really a bad man, is he? He just had a bit of bad luck. And if she won't take him back, he'll just get all depressed, get himself beaten up in prison and pretend to be suicidal and give away another load of money to a bimbo. Sheesh!

Character Study: Blanche Hunt

With the onscreen death of Blanche Hunt forthcoming, it put me in mind of a character study I had written about her. I've done a number of these when I used to write for Corrieblog.tv and this is probably an appropriate time to reproduce it here with a little updating.

When I wrote for Corrieblog.tv, there was a suggestion from a fan who wondered how Blanche came to be a bitter old battleaxe when she used to be so light hearted. Interesting question! Blanche was always one of Corrie's strong women and she had to be, widowed fairly young with a young daughter to bring up. Her husband, Donald, was hit by a car which was witnessed by Deirdre herself though you rarely heard her mention it. Blanche was a corset maker by trade, something which has long gone by the wayside though we did see her adjusting a corset that Violet bought to wear clubbing. I think Blanche's profession could find a new niche in today's society!

Blanche, when we first knew her in the mid 1970s, always had an eye for the fellas though wasn't quite as "fur coat and no knickers" about it as Elsie Tanner was. Now and then she'd help out at the Rovers and I remember seeing her a few times giving one or other the glad eye over the bar. I personally kind of think she had a thing for Len Fairclough who didn't really have much time for her when Rita was around.

We met Blanche when Deirdre came to the street and got engaged to Billy Walker. The Hunts didn't have a lot of money but cheerfully made do. Deirdre was a hard grafter and very independent-minded, probably taught to be by her mother. But even then, Blanche was not backward in coming forward with an opinion or two and clashed more than once with the formidable Annie Walker who breathed a sigh of relief when Deirdre and Billy split up. Deirdre soon took up with Ray Langton and married him in short order and decided to wear a suit out of her closet for her wedding outfit. Blanche couldn't understand that but took over things anyway by arranging a photographer and a small reception in the pub in spite of Deirdre's wishes to have a small do. Blanche has always accused Deirdre of being headstrong but I think Deirdre comes by that quite honestly as well.

When most of the ladies of the Street headed to Majorca, Annie Walker actually conceded to Blanche helping out in the pub while she was away and Blanche did a great job of it. She also helped out in the corner shop now and then and even in her later years has done stints in the Kabin, the betting shop and the cafe as well, though she did more "supervising" than work!

Blanche lived away from Weatherfield for a number of years, returning on occasion to see her new granddaughter, Tracy Lynette and later to see Deirdre marry Ken and Tracey marry Robert Preston. Deirdre would visit her now and then and we'd hear that Blanche was running a hotel or a bar here or there.

When Tracy got pregnant, Blanche was very upset that Tracy planned to give the Croppers her baby and she did everything she could to entice her to keep the child. She even bought Number 7, thinking that it would be a home for Tracy and the baby and it was for awhile but Tracy took full advantage and then took off to visit Peter for an indefinite period of time so Blanche rented it out to Danny Baldwin and eventually sold up.

With fellas, we've seen her have a fling with bookie Dave Smith and another with a man called Steve Basset. Even in her advancing years, she was still keen when the opportunity arose, having kept company with Archie Shuttleworth, the local undertaker, and Wally Bannister who she thought was rich but was only a gardener. Tracey was fooled as well and tried to get her gran's fella away from her. Blanche lost Archie due to her jealousy and negativity. So where did that attitude come from?

It's possible that it started with her ill health which can really change a person. In 1993, Deirdre went to her mother when her mother became ill after a stroke and that seems to be the start of Blanche's health problems. She's not always been that well since her return to Coronation Street in 1999, including having to have her hip replaced which she did cheaply in Poland. The wait times were far too long on the NHS.

I think she was always somewhat critical of Deirdre and saw her daughter make one bad choice after another. In spite of her criticism of her daughter (and of pretty much anyone else!) she does love her daughter and family and that saves her from being completely distasteful as a character. She can be nasty and hateful but also kind. As often as she would insult Peter for his drinking, you could see it hurt her deeply and she did a lot to help when she could. She and great-grandson Simon have a tender and loving relationship (even if she does use Simon to clean her room or help her tell fortunes to scam a pound or two!)

I think life has let Blanche down more than a few times. I think Blanche has not taken to old age gracefully and resents every year, ache and pain that has plagued her and i think she takes it out on those around her. Blanche always said what she thought but in her advancing years, definitely took advantage of it. A couple of years ago, she decided she would have a wake to find out what people really thought of her and was shocked when it was unflattering. She tried to mend her ways but in the end, decided that if people didn't like her the way she was, that was too bad for them.

I also think that the producers knew that Maggie Jones had impeccable curmudgeonly timing and saw her as the "new" Ena Sharples and expanded on that. Ena, of course, came from a much more moral point of view where Blanche is not above a bit of devious scheming. Ena once told Elsie Tanner that she would never write an anonymous letter. She'd sign her name in big black letters and stand behind it. I could very easily see Blanche writing an anonymous letter if a situation called for it. She certainly has gone behind Deirdre's back to try to interfere and manipulate Ken and Deirdre back together more than once.

Maggie Jones ably played Blanche for almost the entire life of the character though Patricia Cutts played her for the first three appearances. That actress died suddenly and Maggie was brought in and really went the distance. Her comic timing was impeccable and I'm sure the writers felt she was a gift! Nobody could pull off some of the things Blanche got to do, say and wear like Maggie! Grace Dent of the Guardian agreed in a wonderful article. Even Maggie Jones herself said that she never played Blanche for laughs, she played Blanche as completely serious about her beliefs, insults and it wouldn't have worked any other way.

Sadly, Maggie Jones passed away last December and Blanche was sent off to Portugal with a friend. Her death will be written into the storyline next month. As acerbic as Blanche could be, you just know there will be some 3 or 4 hankie scenes coming up. It's always sadder when an on screen death happens because the actor has passed away. Good night, Maggie, you will be missed.

Thanks to Corrie.net for some biography details.

State of the Street: March 2010

The main story this month was Joe's death and Gail's arrest.

Gail keeps getting herself in deeper and deeper and finally, she got arrested. Lying about sending the texts and getting caught with the fact that Joe was already dead. There was the insurance policy. Did she tell them about that? She said she never saw the document, and she didn't, but Joe did say there was life insurance she could claim in 7 years so she must have realized there was some. And why didn't the police try to confirm her signature was indeed a forgery? Joe hadn't been practicing it for that long, surely an expert could have figured that out.

There was that couple in the Lakes that saw them rowing. More circumstantial evidence. And yet, she still can't help herself. She still continued to lie to keep David out of trouble too regarding the mobile phone he tossed in the water. Gail feels so guilty that i thought she was going to take the blame even though it was an accident. There's nothing she could have done. Thinking if she didn't cover for Joe, he might not be dead but he died probably less than an hour after he sailed away. And thus starts the replay of Deirdre Raschid's I Didn't Do It stretch in prison only this will be more than two weeks and her roomie to start with isn't another Jackie Dobbs. Thank God!

This incarnation of Nick isn't bad at all though he's a smug bastard. But then the last incarnation was as well but only because he couldn't act anything else. At least Ben Price can act! So can Michelle Keegan who's really been playing a blinder as a grieving and angry Tina. And you know, I don't even blame Tina for hurling all that circumstantial evidence at the police which caused Gail to be arrested. She was honest, she told it as she saw it even though we know it to be incorrect.

Jack P. Shepherd is the real acting star in this storyline. He's just gone from strength to strength and he's really enjoyable to watch. Did you ever think you would see David defending his mother? He's gone from hating her guts to being her staunchest defender. I can't get my head around that. All is not lost though, he spends the rest of his time sniping at Golden Boy Nick and trying to coerce witnesses. The old David is still in there but he's doing it for the *gulp* right reasons!

And just a word about that appalling funeral. I know Joe didn't have a lot of mates on the Street but Gail certainly did. Where was Emily? Jack? Sally and Kevin? You'd think they'd have gone for Gail's sake. As usual, staffing for major events like this always seems to be lacking. At least Deirdre said she'd have gone if the Simon crisis hadn't been ongoing. And don't the police usually show up at funerals on soaps when there's a suspect involved?

Was it me or was it a very strange type of eulogy for Gail to talk about Joe's depression. Makes it sound like he killed himself when he didn't. Tina couldn't hold herself and her grief and anger back and it all kicked off. Gail and Tina arguing and everyone else got into it, Jason and David scuffling, Audrey hollering. As Dev said to Norris, and Audrey also said, decorum, people. Decorum.

Becky miscarried and Steve didn't know why she didn't just go to him straight away. But remember, this is Becky, what other reaction did you expect? She shuts down and self destructs. She doesn't think she's good enough and doesn't think she's worthy. But absolutely brilliant scene with Liz and Becky where Liz told her about baby Katy. See? Your mother-in-law isn't so awful after all? And indeed, the advice was good, don't let it split you and Steve apart, hang onto each other. I did have a problem with Becky jumping into the sack with Steve a day or two after losing the baby, medically, I mean.

From a baby unexpected and lost to another one that seems to be here for the long haul (and will they show some scenes with Becky emotionally congratulating Ty and Molly?)

Molly finds out she's four month's gone. That's a long time to have skipped a period and not realized. You're usually even past the morning sickness phase by then so she must not have had any other than that one morning where she almost fainted. Probably, she just put it all down to stress.

But Kevin burning the scan photo and telling her to get rid of the baby was pretty brutal. Molly still thought that a baby would bring him back to her. When she realized it wouldn't, that seems to have turned the corner on her emotions. Even if he backed off a bit, he still doesn't want the baby and after all, it might not be his. Doesn't stop him from obsessing about it and Tyrone talking about it 24/7 isn't helping. She might think odds are in Kevin's favour for Daddy status, and frequency wise, they are, but it doesn't always work that way. After all, how many times have you heard "But we only did it once!"

Kevin has no intention of leaving Sally. He knows where his heart is and it's not guilt, like Molly thinks...he never stopped loving Sally. It was infatuation with Molly. Full stop. In the end, Molly goes back to Tyrone because it's safe and she doesn't want to be alone with a baby and maybe it's a little bit for revenge having Kevin watching them bring up a baby that might be his. You just know the secret will come out at some point and Tyrone's heart will crack in two. I hope the baby is his and he kicks out Molly and raises the baby himself.



From there, we go to another "baby" lost but found again.

All along, i didn't trust George. I really wondered if he had plans to take Simon away from Peter. For a short while there, i thought it was just concern when Peter went back to booze but that didn't last long and George was back to getting temporary custody orders and whisking Simon away, not just to Spain but to Blackpool, too, but that backfired when Simon ran off, every parent's nightmare.

But before that, when George wasn't letting Peter have Simon back, they kept talking about getting Social Services involved, but where were they? Once the police had been called, surely the Social would have been alerted that there was a child custody issue brewing. George had valid concerns but only once Peter started drinking again and he had no right to handle it the way he did, not with a responsible Leanne also in the picture to look after Simon and certainly not without consulting his wife. I don't know if we're going to see any more of George and Eve now they've been banished but I'd be interested to find out if Eve makes George's life hell for what he did behind her back.

And in summary...

John Stape...lying always comes back to bite you in the ass. Binman Trevor. Carla's got him but Janice wants him. Lucky Carla. He *is* very good looking and so nice and tall! Rita's back, yay! Mary's starting to show (even more) cracks in her veneer. Kelly's gone after a blatant set up. Carla was a bit harsh calling her a self deluded slapper, even if that's the truth. She wasn't a nice person but I liked her for being all high heels, cheap plastic jewelry, short skirts. Highly inappropriate for a factory and always amusing to see what she was going to turn up in.

Dev and Sunita are back together. Love them or hate them, i do like them as a couple. He's really been at loose ends since they split up before, he's getting too old to play the playboy and it made him look like a buffoon. He's at his best with Sunita. Jesse and Eileen are not back together even though she made the attempt. But all those longing looks at Julie's backside finally spurred him to try it on with her and she couldn't keep it quiet, not in all good conscience and rightly so! Jesse was run out of Dodge City, plastic props being flung at his back.

Here's to the young and the not so young cast members!

First of all, I'm posting an excerpt from a comment made by "John" to a post on this post in Glenda's Corrie Blog:

"According to one article I read yesterday, the new producer, Phil Collinson, thinks that Corrie has gone too far the way of Hollyoaks with so many young actors, and would prefer to concentrate on more of the older characters. Personally I am all for that, albeit mindful that the older characters just aren't willing to work quite as hard as they used to."

First of all, I wonder if he was referring to "older" with regards to age or "older" with regards to seniority. The two are not necessarily the same thing. I would certainly consider characters with a history going back 15 years or more "older" characters. Those characters have been around a long time, long enough for us to "know" who they are and become part of the fabric of the Street. I would count in that number characters like Leanne, Tyrone, Janice, Ashley and Eileen in addition to age-wise older characters like Emily, Rita, Norris and Ken. Even David and the Webster girls fit in there as their characters have been on the show since birth even if not played by the current actors.

I have found over the past year or two that the older characters, age-wise, are actually being featured more often. With a cast this large, it's a juggling act but we've seen a lot more actual storylines with these cast members. There was several storylines, some still ongoing, with Norris, Emily, and Rita, regarding the arrival in Norris' life of both Mary Taylor and his half-brother, Ramsay Clegg who also had a blooming friendship, and possible romance with Emily. In fact, Norris seems to have been featured in major and minor stories for well over a year or more. In addition to the aforementioned, there's also his mini-feud with Graeme, his attempts to find a replacement for Rita in the shop and upcoming stalking storyline with a returned Mary.

We saw Rita find a late-in-life romance only to have it dashed on the rocks of scandal and death (Colin Grimshaw). Ken seems to get a proper storyline every year. Last year, he had an affair and is now embroiled in his son Peter's alcoholism storyline as well as in the recent involvement with George Wilson, Simon's other grandfather. Deirdre has featured in this as well albeit as a supporting character though i think she's due to have her own storyline again rather than be the reactor to one of Ken's. Maybe the upcoming death of her mother may spur on a storyline about dealing with grief though the return of her daughter, Tracey, will probably take her attention away from that in the long run. Even Betty has had a couple of small storylines (Panto, and Oldest Barmaid)!

Gail Platt, though not as senior in age, is a very long standing member of the cast and has been in a front burner storyline pretty much ever since the Hillman storyline with one thing or another and the closet doesn't beckon yet either. Sally and Kevin, "middling senior characters" have also been in major storylines though some, like Roy and Hayley are sadly underused. I also like that there's lots of focus on long standing members/character even if they aren't over 45 or 50, such as Steve, Ashley, Janice, Leanne, Lloyd, Peter and Dev who now has Sunita back.



I don't really see the problem focusing storylines on the "younger" aged actors as they will carry the story into the future, many of them. Once upon a time it was Terry, Martin, Kevin and Sally. Then it was Steve, Andy, Tracy, Leanne, Toyah, Fiz, Tyrone and Jason. Now it's Sophie, Rosie, David, Graeme and Ryan. With luck, we may see some of the small ones grow up and be the next generation of tearaways. (Simon, Josh, Freddie, Amy and the Alahan twins, Aadi and Asha). I never really mind the younger set providing the acting is decent. Sometimes it is, but sometimes it really isn't much more than gurning, screeching and posing.

Given that, I hope the new producer doesn't take all the focus away from the younger characters as some of them are really good actors and can carry a storyline very well. And as John says, some of the more senior actors don't really want major focus, as they are at that stage of "not quite ready to retire" and still like a bit of pin money.

Historically, Corrie has always managed to balance things out fairly well. Sometimes, these days, they do seem to focus too much on the "flavours of the month" until the audience get sick of seeing the face on their screen constantly, even if they're good actors, while leaving other, equally good or better actors in the closet. It might not be a matter of paring down the younger vs. the older cast, but paring out the dead weight, which can come in all ages, and redistributing the balance a bit more.

By George, I think he's got it

Little Simon's missing in Blackpool and Peter's frantic. George is feeling pretty guilty and so he should be. He reckoned Peter wasn't fit enough to look after a 6 year old and here that very same 6 year old slipped away while he was rowing with his wife about not letting Simon go back to his dad. Simon's not stupid, he knew George's lies were just that.

We've already seen Peter nearly drink again, with all the upheaval over George taking Simon but Leanne made him see that he can't backslide if he ever wants to have Simon back. Thankfully, he agreed and this scare of nearly losing Simon again might be the trick that keeps him off the booze this time.

So now, every parent's nightmare. Simon is alone in Blackpool and the search is on. Deirdre voiced a very scary concern that someone could have snatched Simon. It could have happened because it does happen all the time. Going by the spoilers that all had headlines about Simon missing and possibly kidnapped, if I hadn't seen Eve and George, I'd almost have bet money that Eve had taken Simon in order to give him back to Peter, but it doesn't look like that's what happened. Simon, of course, will be found because this is a soap.

George is trying to get full custody of Simon and there's to be a court hearing. Will his quest succeed? Of course not! As I said, this is a soap and the viewers wouldn't stand for nasty George taking little Simon away from his daddy. I wondered how George could have got a temporary order through the courts without Peter being involved at all or without Social Services being involved. It might have been legal, even if a hugely speeded up process. Admittedly, stretching it a bit, George was right to be concerned when Peter started drinking again, and when he checked out of rehab early, but George has been plotting this all along to make up for being estranged from Lucy all those years.

Next week's spoilers say nothing about a court hearing so I'm guessing that George backs down. I would imagine his wife tore a strip off him for it as well and if he wants to save his marraige, that's another incentive. I know if I was Eve, I'd have not only taken a strip off George but torn him a new one as well. All that conniving behind her back and deciding they would have permanent custody of an active 6 year old without consulting her at all? Them's fightin' words/actions, them is!

Great location shoot, I always like it when Coronation Street goes on the road like that. Blackpool, of course, is a favourite and we've seen storylines there many times over the 50 years.

Graeme Proctor, an old soul in a young body

When Graeme Proctor first appeared on our screens, he was a cell mate of David Platt's in the juvenile detention centre. He was clearly a pyromaniac and most definitely way off the wall. He provided a quirky, nonsensical mirror to poor David's angst. Lucky for us, he must have struck a chord with the viewers and the producer because his character was returned to the canvas of Coronation Street.

We know Graeme is not a sweet and innocent boy, but he does have that childlike quality. He comes across as naive but does have "street smarts" and often it seems like he "didn't get the joke". Then you see a twinkle in his eye and a sly near-wink and you know he's actually taking the piss. Nobody can tell me his dressing up as a near-replica of Liz for Teresa's Slapper and Vicar party wasn't a mistaken understanding of the concept of the party. He knew that was Teresa's intent, for people to imitate Liz, but I think he didn't realize that Liz wasn't in on the joke.

He seems a bit thick, yet he has a keen sense of observation for what's going on around him. He's pragmatic, earnest, optimistic and kind. He's basically honest and working on turning his life around yet isn't adverse to a bit of dodgey dealing now and then. I like to think of him as the Greek Chorus, always watching human nature around him and he's often spot on in his observations. Most people in his world think he's weird but he is only eccentric. He is helpful to his neighbours and willing to lend a hand or a shoulder.

Recently, there was a scene where he and Kirk had been out together. I thought, wait, isn't Kirk a good 10 years older than Graeme? Graeme can only be David's age (David just turned 19 at Christmas past) since he was in juvvy with David who was under 18 at the time. Kirk never hangs out with David, after all. He's more of an age with Jason and Tyrone, his usual buddies. Kirk is older than Maria who is about 26 or 27 by now. (She was about 17 when she first appeared in 2000.) Mind you, Kirk is probably only about 15 emotionally, most of the time, though can surprise you sometimes in his maturity.

But that had me thinking. Given Graeme's nature, it feels like he really is an old soul in a young body. He certainly is wise beyond his years. We don't know a lot about his past but a few remarks have led me to guess that his childhood family life was probably not all that pleasant. It led him to a habit of setting fires and he still swoons when he gets a whiff of charred wood. He's determined to stay on the straight and narrow, however.

Craig Gazey plays Graeme Proctor which skill and finesse. I'm sure he must have a lot of fun with it and he has superb comic timing. He keeps Graeme reined in just enough so he's eccentric and yes, sometimes, weird but not over the top psycho. He gives Graeme self confidence with a dose of yearning to be accepted. He's already winning awards and I foresee many more in his future. He's a perfect, classic Coronation Street character and I really hope he's around for a long time.

You can read a great interview with Craig over here.

State of the Street: February 2010

So Becky was officially pregnant (but spoilers say she's going to lose it in early March). First of all, after everything she went through with Steve, I can understand how she wants to be cautious. Second of all, she made a remark about what she dared to want. See, she wants a baby but she's scared. She knows things might fall apart like they usually do in her life. At least she has enough respect for Steve, no matter how bad things got with him, she didn't take any action before she told him about the baby. Rumours say that eventually it'll be known that she can't carry a baby. More fodder for her low self esteem, poor kid. If that's the way it goes, i'm glad. I can't see Becky as a settled down mother figure on the show. She's better off as a step mum, I think. I thought, oh maybe they can adopt a child that has had a similar rough upbringing as Becky, someone who's life she can help turn around like Roy and Hayley did for her. I think that would work. Then after i thought that, spoilers came out with the exact same thing. Psychic, me.

Jesse and Eileen are all but finished i think. He didn't like it when Jason and Tina moved back in and he had to shift his stuff outside. Why didn't he put it in the van or at his mother's house where he kept it before he moved in? A bit petulant really. He always was a mama's boy but they're making him very dislikeable which is the entrance to his exit. Too bad they wasted John Thompson, he can be so good and there was loads of potential. If you ask me, i kind of think that Trev, Janice's lodger, might make a good bloke for Eileen, but it's early days yet. He could have no spine just like Jesse though he does seem to have a bit more about him. Time will tell.

Ciaran is back and wasted no time chatting up both Michelle and Carla straight away with all the Irish patter. But Peter, who had found staying dry not too much trouble, wasted no time dipping into the booze minutes after hanging out with his old mucker, missing the cameraderie no doubt. You didn't think Peter wouldn't have at least one backslide? And it's going to lead to worse things. I'm glad they went this route. It's realistic and very much in line with Peter's personality and character that he would start hanging out with his old drinking buddy and fool himself into thinking he could handle a few drinks. It's heartbreaking to see the effect on poor little Simon especially but that's realistic too.

I really thought George was going to be the bad guy, someone with ulterior motives but it seems he really is just trying to be a good granddad and look out for Simon after all. Maybe. Someone has to, for Peter's sake. Ken questioned whether George cares about Peter. Good point.

Joe's dead! While i'm not happy to see anyone die, when it's on a tv program, that's different. And don't get me wrong, i'm not happy Gail has to go through losing a spouse YET AGAIN, and have reason to be miserable YET AGAIN, i am glad to see the back of Joe "Mr. Miserable" McIntyre. It's so wearying to have to watch his face whinging and whining and crying and self pitying. He could have been a better character but they made him a loser. That's 3 out of four husbands of Gail's that are dead. Martin should count himself a very lucky man. And i know, in real life, people get into desperate situations but this isn't real life, it's a soap so i am allowed to belittle the late Joe. I never liked him.

I don't know why Gail thought lying was such a good idea. You'd think she'd have learned that protecting people just digs you in deeper and you get found out in the end. By that time, it goes harder for you for covering it all up! Now she's changed her story to the police and it made her look more guilty. Including lying about the text and flowers.... to protect David. Well she's made her bed now. It's going to be lie upon lie. First mistake was bringing that boat back home. It's all going to fall apart from there. Poor Tina, though, she's the victim of all of this. Where's her mother? I wonder if we'll see Tina's mother come to the funeral?

Molly continues to make desperate puppy dog eyes at Kevin, hoping to lure him away but she can't be blatant about it. Kevin remains loyal to his wife and family. But the secret has to come out, it always does on soaps sooner or later. In the meantime, Jackie's back! She was the one bright pink spot in the sadness and misery of Gail and Tina finding out Joe was dead. Gail and Tina sobbing and miserable and cut over to Jackie and Molly chucking flowerpots at each other on the cobbles! Brilliant! I know people really detest Jackie Dobbs and she really is awful, Gobzilla we used to call her, but she's fun to watch because she's just so out there and audacious! More nerve than Dick Tracy, me dad used to say! With Jackie, short doses are best and this was a great one!