Thursday 31 July 2014

Coronation Street Chit-Chat: news catch-up, July 2014

Here we go with Coronation Street chit-chat, a catch-up of some of the shorter news stories that haven't made it into their own blog post. 

And so, here we go.

Current Corrie cast 
Michael Le Vell (Kevin Webster) grows a beard. See it here.
Charlie Condou (Marcus Dent) says the door has been left open for Marcus to return. Read it here.
Kym Marsh (Michelle Connor) divorces Jamie Lomas. The only link I can find is to the Daily Mail which I refuse to link to.
Samia Ghadie (Maria Connor) talks about having to snog Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs). Read it here.
Craig Charles (Llody Mullaney) celebrates his 50th birthday at Birmingham jazz bash.  Read it here.
Pregnant Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Stape) shows off baby bump.  Read it here.

Ex Corrie cast
Sean Wilson (Martin Platt) wins a deal to get his cheeses on sale in B&M Bargains. Read it here.
Roy Barraclough (Alec Gilroy) says Corrie has changed too much since he was in it.  Read it here.



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Wednesday 30 July 2014

40 years of Corrie's Gail

Another Corrie star reaches a significant milestone today.

Yes, Gail Potter-Tilsley-Tilsley-Platt-Hillman-McIntyre made her first appearance in Coronation Street exactly 40 years ago today! 


Have a look at her five husbands here.

Gail's life has been one long misery, although Helen Worth always seems so chirpy and cheerful. I don't know how she does it! I love Gail, a true Corrie stalwart. I hope she is around for many more years to come. 

So while many of us think of the catastrophes that litter Gail's life in Weatherfield, whether it Brian Tilsley and his mother Ivy, Richard Hillman trying to bump off half the street or Joe McIntyre accidentally bumping off himself, I'd rather capture Gail in lighter mood with this tribute. 

First of all, the wonderful onscreen relationship between Gail and her mam, Audrey: 




And now, one of my favourite Corrie funny moments of recent years. Oh yes, I give you Gail, Deirdre and a Manchester Tart....



"Oh Ken, do something!"

And if that wasn't enough, possibly the best of all. Gail and Eileen scrapping on the cobbles!




However long Gail stays in Weatherfield, we know one thing for sure: it will always be eventful! 

Happy anniversary to both Gail and Helen! 

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Inside Soap Awards 2014 - vote for Coronation Street


Hey Corrie fans, from ITV.com, the annual Inside Soap Awards nominations are out and here for your consideration are the categories and the Corrie actors up for gongs:

Best Actor

Marc Baylis (Rob Donovan)
Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow)
David Neilson (Roy Cropper)

Best Actress

Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper)
Alison King (Carla Connor)
Paula Lane (Kylie Platt)

Best Bad Boy

Marc Baylis (Rob Donovan)
Bruno Langley (Todd Grimshaw)

Best Bitch

Kate Ford (Tracy Barlow)
Samia Ghadie (Maria Connor)

Funniest Male

Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald)
Malcom Hebden (Norris Cole)

Funniest Female

Patti Clare (Mary Taylor)
Anne Kirkbride (Deirdre Barlow)

Best Newcomer

Dean Fagan (Luke Britton)
Tisha Merry (Steph Britton)

Best Young Actor

Alex Bain (Simon Barlow)
Ellie Leach (Faye Windass)

Sexiest Male

Marc Baylis (Rob Donovan)
Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw)

Sexiest Female

Georgia May Foote (Katy Armstrong)
Samia Ghadie (Maria Connor)

Best Family

The Platts
The Windass-Armstrongs

Best Storyline

Goodbye Hayley
Tina’s murder and Rob’s killer cover-up

I'm tickled that a few of my favourites are nominated. Not sure I'd put Samia Ghadie as Maria in the Best Bitch category since her bad girl spell was a one off due to a breakdown so that's a bit odd. I'm also really pleased to see Anne Kirkbride get a nomination for comedy since she's been absolutely brilliant!

Get over there and Vote Now!



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Coronation Street tour to stay open for another year?

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog July 2014, reposted to this blog with permission.)

In an interview with The Yorkshire Post today, the Director of Continuum, the group behind the Coronation Street tours, reveals a little surprise.

She talks about how popular the Coronation Street tour is with fans and says:

“Initially, we were only running the tour until the end of September or beginning of October. Watch this space. We had a budget of 150,000 visitors. We have currently sold over 263,000 tickets and we’ve still got July, August and September to go.

“I think we will probably surpass 300,000 visitors in just six months. It would be foolish of us not to respond to popular demand, and popular pressure to keep it open. However attractive it might be financially to keep it open, it has to be led by what people want. The people in Manchester are saying, ‘What a shame. Why can’t it stay open for a little longer at least?’

“So my secret mission is to try and keep it open for another year.”



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Why I'm looking forward to the Coronation Street tour

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog July 2014, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Guest blog post from excited Coronation Street fan Jimmy Parker Taylor. Follow on twitter @jimmy_the1st

I have finally booked to go on the Corrie Tour 2014. I am so happy and excited. I remember as a child my Grandmother going to do the Granada tour and coming home with a VHS recording of her reading a script superimposed onto a scene in The Rovers with Betty. I watched it a few times, each time becoming more and more jealous. I was so desperate to go and walk down the famous cobbles.

Even as a child, I think I understood the enormity of Corrie and what it stood for. I remember being on a car journey with my Mum to do a big shop and hearing on the radio that a big storyline was coming to a climax that evening.  I asked my Mum if I could stay up late to watch it.  My first episode of Coronation Street. I'd heard about it so many times now it was my chance to see it. That night I stayed up later than I ever remember and watched Rita being chased through Blackpool and Len Fairclough meeting his end under and tram.

I was hooked. I've watched it ever since. 

I have dabbled in the other soaps but Corrie always prevails. It's the one thing in life which is constant. It's been on in every house I've lived in, during every relationship, and the break ups, and everything else life throws at you.  Corrie for its viewers is like The Rovers for the characters,  somewhere with a friendly face at the end of a bad or good day.

But I digress. The Tour.

In 4 weeks I will have walked down the cobbles on my own two feet and stood at every doorway for a photo or selfie,  and even posed inside The Rovers Return set itself. My friends and family (apart from who I'm going with) have called me sad, but for me it's like visiting a friend. It's even more of an occasion for me as it's the first time I will have been away from my adopted son for more than a few hours. So with the anxiety of leaving him (with my husband!) the only possible place I could go is the place where daily life has been played out in front of my eyes for a couple of decades.

The thought of walking down Coronation Street, a place where not only the characters I know and love have walked, but where Hollywood stars, musicians and even royalty have walked too makes me more excited than Sally Webster at the thought of being Carla's PA. 

I'm sure for a lot of fans, this is a dream come true, and in my excitement I wanted to tell the world that me, the kid who asked to stay up late to see Alan Bradley killed by the tram all those years ago is finally going to be stood outside the most famous newsagents in the world looking at the row of terraces in a backstreet of Weatherfield remembering all the arguments, kisses, back of cab waves, and hurses turning onto Rosamund Street with my own two eyes.

Jimmy Parker Taylor



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Tuesday 29 July 2014

Y Viva Corrie!

(This post was originally posted by Clinkers (David) on the Coronation Street Blog in July 2014.)

It's almost the height of summer and as usual, very few of our Corrie favourites are taking a break. True, Lloyd has shuffled off to the Med with his sad sack of a daughter but other than that, there's no sound of bucket on spade clanging on the ginnels of Weatherfield. Sun tan lotion, big novels and swimsuits are not being packed for a fortnight in the sun.

Forty years ago though, in the summer of 1974, a bunch of Rovers' regulars headed for Spain and a break from all things cobble-related. The anniversary gives us a chance to peer with interest at this rarity - Corrie in foreign climes. It was certainly an ambitious move for the time and was championed by incoming producer Susi Hush.

With the majority of the main female players in Majorca, there was a very different feel to the Street. For a start, Blanche Hunt was running the Rovers, shuffling around in a dressing gown with a fag hanging out of her mouth and commenting "ooh, I'm a lazy slut at heart". She also flirted quite opening with a twinkly-eyed Len Fairclough.

Elsewhere, the rather unappealing Hopkins family were ruling the roost at the Corner Shop. A dithering Nora Batty bantered on with Minnie Caldwell about chicken soup and the latter was soon handed a tin with the Heinz label blacked out. Those were the days!

The menfolk seem to be lost, embattled and forlorn. Hapless Jerry Booth struggled with an early start at the Kabin. Ernie Bishop found himself bullied into having dinner with the mad, bellowing Welsh granny at the shop, look you.


Over in Majorca events were being recorded for posterity on weak and watery film. There was a plethora of summer frocks on show, courtesy of Annie, Betty and Emily. A skinny Deirdre bounced around in a bikini and at one point, Mavis drifted into a scene dressed like a downmarket Pierrot doll. Best of all though was Rita who segued nicely from horrific green swimming cap to massive wig to rollers and then back to the wig. Someone was having a laugh.

The balcony scenes were pure gold. Hilda, at her demented best, screeched "Y viva Espana" to little applause. Annie banged on about her skin tone and 'exotic ancestry' in light of Rita's blistered bosom. Bet, as usual, headed for oblivion with an unsavoury man but in comparison with Rita's squeeze, he was Steve McQueen. Yes, it took Rita all of eight seconds to jump at the chance of a romp with possibly the sleaziest creature ever to stalk a beach. The sight of her, the wig and Cro-magnon man lolloping across the sand was enough to regurgitate your paella.

Back in Weatherfield there was a somewhat useless sub-story involving two young blokes with bad hair. Planning a robbery of the warehouse, they got horribly caught up in some Acorn Antiques production values which saw one of them holding a key to the camera until someone shouted 'action!'

Overall, it's an odd little episode. Characters like Stan Ogden and Minnie Caldwell seem a bit lost and the shop seems strange with Nora Batty, the bloke from Please Sir! and that human foghorn blethering on about evening meals. At a time when many Brits were taking advantage of the burgeoning package holiday market though, the Majorca scenes were majestic in their simplicity. The hotel was not too over-the-top and the holiday experience was believable enough. It was fun to see such well-known faces in new surroundings, away from the day-to-day realities of back street life. From a 2014 viewpoint though, it seems unlikely that we would ever see Liz, Carla, Fiz and Leanne all sharing a villa in Marbella. The sense of community that cut through the social strata of 1970s life allowed the likes of Hilda to holiday with Annie. Twenty first century Corrie would never dare go there.




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Jean Alexander leaves hospital, thanks fans for concern

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog June 2014, reposted to this blog with permission.)

In late June, it was reported that Coronation Street's Hilda Ogden actress Jean Alexander had been taken into hospital. A few days later, the Mirror reports that she is back home, and they have some quotes from Jean's brother.

Jean's brother, Kenneth Hodgkinson, 90, tells the Mirror: “She is very grateful for all the interest shown by the public in her. It is very kind of people to still be interested in her.” But Kenneth said his sister does not want any fuss.

Mr Hodgkinson said Jean was taken into hospital after feeling ill last week. “She still has a bit of difficulty with walking. She has managed to walk with a frame. She seems to be doing well and is being well cared for. But she is very tired and does not want to do any interviews yet. She will need a little bit of time to be looked after where she is being cared for.”


“She seems reasonably chirpy and not in danger. From what I hear she is pottering about and so on. It seems to have passed over.”



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Monday 28 July 2014

Charlie Condou reveals why he's leaving Coronation Street

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog February 2013, reposted to this blog with permission.)

There's a long interview in today's Mirror with Charlie Condou, who talks about leaving his role as Marcus Dent in Coronation Street.

Charlie says he decided to leave Corrie to spend more time with his family.  Charlie says: “It was just getting too difficult. Georgia is at an age now where she was saying, ‘How long are you away for this week?’ and ‘When are you going to be back Daddy?’ At my busiest I was getting home late on a Friday night and going back to Manchester on Sunday afternoon. I just wasn’t getting that time with my kids.”

So Charlie, who plays Corrie midwife Marcus Dent, will leave the show this summer.  The Mirror says that Marcus' departure will see him embroiled in a love triangle with Maria and Todd.

“It just gets darker and darker and I imagine Marcus and Todd will end up together,” says Charlie “This is soap and Marcus and Maria was never going to end well. There was going to be no happy ever after.”

Charlie reveals: “The producer said the door would be left open, so Marcus isn’t going to be killed off. That’s always a really nice thing to hear. I’m not under any illusions and saying I’m off to Hollywood. Obviously I want to do other things, but it’s nice to know that I could go back in the future.”

Read the full interview here.



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Why Corrie still needs a b*tch and a busybody


(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in July 2014, reposted with permission.)

I think we all agree that these days the Corrie cast is pretty big. While I have commented elsewhere that this has both positive and negative effects on Corrie's output, I can't help but think there are two main classic Corrie "types" that are still missing from the 2014 line up.

Yes, I think there is still room for two more characters. Firstly, i think Coronation Street needs a wonderful old busybody (I'm not counting Norris Cole here, who for some reason or another only appears fleetingly these days). We need a good old gossip, someone who embroils themselves with the latest goings on and scandals, but also has a heart of gold and a touch of vulnerability. 

We haven't seen the likes of this characterisation really since we lost the superb Maggie Jones who of course played Deirdre's mum Blanche Hunt so wonderfully on and off for more than thirty years. One of my all time favourite battle-axes, although I hesitate to use that term for her, was the glorious Phyllis Pearce played by the redoubtable Jill Summers between 1982 and 1996. Most of her time onscreen was spent chasing poor old Percy Sugden but looking back on it, it was amazing just how much Jill crammed into those performances. Phyllis, with her blue rinse, throaty delivery and canny observations was salt of the earth.

I always remember a scene in the cafe with Amanda Barrie (Alma). Phyllis was bemoaning the ageing process and had the wonderful line "I'm not sure who that old woman is staring back when I look in the mirror, but it isn't me". God bless her. While we'll never have another Phyllis or Blanche, there is room for someone of their ilk.

I also think Corrie needs a right good old-fashioned b*tch to liven things up. Yes we have Tracy Barlow but that act is growing more than a little tired. Carla can be bitchy when she wants to be as can both Leanne and Kylie but what I think we need is someone who comes in like a whirlwind, creates endless amounts of havoc and then takes off leaving the Rovers regulars wondering what's hit 'em. 

My own personal favourite was the incredible force of nature - Tanya Pooley. Tanya was the Cruella Deville of the Rovers Return back in the early 1990s. She may not have stayed for long, but by gum she left her mark. She became romantically entangled with both Des Barnes and his boss, made the lovely Raquel's life a misery and got on the wrong side of Bet Gilroy. Tanya famously fled Weatherfield with Bet's trucker boyfriend Charlie after burning one too many bridges. I'll always remember Bet sitting in the Rovers back room, clutching her framed photo of Annie Walker and desperately trying to hold it together.

So there we go, two very different kinds of classic Corrie women. The strength of character, the vim and the sass has lingered on long after their departures. I say it's time for a bit more of that kind of class down Weatherfield way. 


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Corrie Canada weekly awards July 21 - 25


Best Reaction Ever: Loved Eileen's expression when she found out how Gail and Michael met!

Hypocrite award: Tracy slagging Carla off about "picking up teenagers". Ryan Connor, anyone?

Passive Aggressive award: Todd wouldn't actually break up with Marcus, he cheated on him and let Sean spill the beans so Marcus would do the deed for him and Todd could play victim.

Foot in mouth award: Alya thought Izzy and Gary's split was due to Izzy finding out about Gary's night with her. It wasn't. But she knows now.

Fashionista award: Loved Julie's red polkadot dress.

Pants on Fire award: Todd pretended his "friend" slept on the sofa and he was only comforting him because his dad had died. Why didn't Sean point out the comfort of having someone's tongue down your throat on the way out the door in the morning? Tracy lied about where she got the bracelet.

More Fool You award: Marcus thought wrecking things with Maria was worth it for Todd's affections. He was played the whole time.

Keep Cool award: Rob was bricking it when the police got involved but Peter has more reason to be worried. Rob just needs to keep his cool.

Drinking game award: Alya is turning up everywhere Gary is, even in the background of shots. It's getting to be a joke.

Musical ambiance: "I would die for you" playing when Steph, Luke and Katy were talking about Tina and Peter.

Neighbourhood Nosey award: Norris of course, Nothing to do with being a neighbourhood watch coordinator. He just wants all the goss.

Jackass award: The cross eyed donkey in the snowglobe looks surprised. Steve reckons it's surprised because it's never seen snow before. (HA!)

Lines of the week:
Carla to Tracy "I don't get what he (Rob) gets out of being with an old embittered jailbird like you!"
David "Mom, are you genuinely stupid or is it just an act?"
Gail about Michael's evidence "Why didn't you show me this before?" (Because it's not something you carry around with you, is it?)
Norris to Carla "So you think that a cursory knowledge of triathalons will win you a new order?" (Can't hurt)
Carla to nosy Norris "I know something that's pretty crucial to the murder investigation" Norris "What's that!!!???" Carla "I didn't do it!" (That's told him!)
Marcus to Maria "I wouldn't have wrecked what we had if it wasn't worth it" (Idiot. It wasn't, was it?)
Norris "You can't lip read can you?" Luke "You really got nothing better to do than poke your nose into someone else's business?" (You're new here, right?)
Todd "Looks like I've been saved by my own mother" (Are you new here? She'll crucify you once she gets you inside!)
Todd "Whenever I get what I want I don't want it anymore"
Tracy "My neck's as stiff as a board" Carla "Well it would be, being solid brass"
Tony to Todd "You didn't just kiss the Blarney Stone, you swallowed it whole" (you got that right, at least)
Deirdre to Tracy "I always hoped you'd be musical" Tracy "I played the recorder at school" Deirdre "Not so's anyone wanted to listen" Tracy "You had tears in your eyes when I played 'Hot Cross Buns' in assembly" Deirdre "Yeah. Me and everyone else" (hahahaha)
Lloyd "...as I was relaxing in the Infinity pool" Steve "Infinity pool? Fancy doing a lap in one of them!"
Rita about Dennis "He's being supportive" Norris "A noose is supportive, Doesn't mean to say it's good for you!"


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Sunday 27 July 2014

Sunday Comments July 27

A. Why did Rob tell Tracy about Luke and Carla? B. Why didn't Carla throw Ryan Connor back at her? I would have. She did, at least, call Tracy a jailbird, old and embittered. Rob certainly respected Carla for that one and Roy gave her a free cup of tea! And boy, for something that was an embarassing situation, Carla spilled to Rob who spilled to Gob Almighty and Luke spilled to Tyrone who's going to tell Fiz, of course. At least Luke pretended it was Carla that did the rejecting, but Who needs Norris?

I know that Todd likely is still upset about losing baby Billy but trust him to use it against Marcus. Sean overheard Todd making plans with someone named Johnny then lie to Marcus that he was feeling ill. Marcus should have recognized Todd's fake ill symptoms. He's used them often enough to beg off work in front of Marcus. Todd went out on the pull and pull he did, much to Sean's horror and Todd wasn't even bothered if Sean told Marcus as threatened. He did, and Todd pretended he was comforting a friend. Sean forgot to say "With your tongue down his throat?" Oh i wish Sean had called Todd's bluff and called the guy. Todd has been bored with Marcus, why didn't he just let Sean do the dirty work? It was the perfect excuse.

Maria was probably right, Marcus was avoiding Todd seeing him talking to Maria but then all hell broke loose anyway. (see above) Adding insult to injury, Marcus got told off for skiving and suspended! All Todd does is try to tempt him to another late night, which is what got him in trouble in the first place. That didn't work. Get Marcus out of the way to see Liam instead so he can see the new fella. But he's starting as he means to go on, by getting the new fella to pay for lunch. Pattern?

Todd got busted and Marcus is heartbroken and feels as foolish as he ought to. So much so that he's going to leave town. All Todd can do is whine to his mother that he doesn't want what he wants when he gets it and doesn't want to be hurt anymore. Then lied that Marcus beat him though did admit that. He's a pathological liar and a manipulator and has absolutely no redeeming qualities at this point. Perfect for working with Tony who knew exactly which ego buttons to push to convince Todd to work for him and Jason. Somehow I think he was talking about more than just paperwork and drumming up business but to start with, Todd has proved himself and Tony's faith though Jason's not too happy, not trusting Todd an inch.

In the meantime, Marcus had a nice good bye scene with Liam, Maria and Julie and it looks like he's made peace with Maria at least but I have a feeling Marcus will be filled with regret for a long time. Even Todd looked slightly bothered when Marcus got in the cab.

Say what you will about Rob, though, he's a good brother to Carla too, these days. Did you see Rob's face when he saw that bracelet on Tracy's arm? He went even whiter when Steph recognized it as the one stolen from the flat. The police believed Steph and she can identify it to the last charm. Rob has no receipt. Busted. The police are doing a full search of Number 1 and Rob is crapping himself. Peter is mystified but suspicions are hanging more over his head than Rob's. As Carla pointed out, the bracelet proves she didn't do it and even Tracy reminded the police that if she'd done the deed, she'd hardly be flashing the stolen bracelet around.

It doesn't prove Peter did kill Tina, not due to the fingerprints, at least, because Deirdre told the police she cleaned it off. Any prints will not be relevant but the location of where it was found is relevant and Peter was the only previous suspect living there with any motivation that the cops know of. The missing charm off it was found inside the toilet which is not kept locked but it means that it's unlikely someone kicked the bracelet in from the ginnel, under the gate, into the outside loo. The dog scratching at it could have loosened the charm. Rob still manages to turn the police's attention to Peter and away from himself. I don't know, Rob's actions, and how jumpy and tetchy he's been really seem suspicious to me but because there's no obvious motivation, they don't seem to be looking at him.

I like that Steph is still having a lot of trouble dealing with Tina's murder. In so many cases, the aftermath isn't about how it affects friends and family and right now, she seems to be the only one that's giving Tina a second thought at all. Aside from the murder investigation, nobody seems to be bothered until Rita, all of a sudden, gets asks to help Steph pack up Tina's things then it's all running mascara again and Dennis is there to help support her. Not that Norris is happy about it and it sounds like he's been making it his business to undermine Dennis as much as possible.

I think Anna and Owen are starting to suspect that there's a problem between Anna and Izzy too. They don't really seem to have much to talk about. Certainly quite a contrast to Jason and Eva all loved up behind the bar. Finally, Izzy puts it on the table. Everything is changed. I think she also realizes how she feels about him has changed as well. He resisted it, but he seems to realize they're over, too. It's quite a civil split. Or it was until Alya spilled the beans about Gary spending the night. That ticks off Izzy's self esteem on top of the fact that he lied to her and it looks like a pattern to her.

Surprisingly enough, Owen admitted he was wrong and wants Gary and Izzy back together. But Alya, again this week, seems to be stalking Gary as she's always showing up wherever he is. Everywhere! It's almost a drinking game now. There's Gary. There's Alya. Drink!

Anna and Owen still love each other too. Looks like they're making their way back to each other. I'm still waiting for him to apologize to her for the way he treated her. She certainly paid the price for her decision. Anyway, they're going to rebuild things slowly.

Gonna be interesting seeing Michael in the cab office with Gail's enemy Eileen. Michael really shouldn't have told Eileen that he was Gail's burglar. Eileen could hardly keep the glee from her face! But Michael will defend Gail to the end. But when he turns up with a new television, Gail's worried he picked it up off the back of a lorry, suspicions aided by David's constant nagging about it. Michael showed them the truth, though, he had the receipt and he did understand why Gail doubted him. There's definitely a spark there.

Funny watching Eileen and Gail battle over Michael, spilling lots of cats out of bags. Not sure a reset button works with Gail's past mistakes, she keeps making more of them.

Kylie did what she wanted to do and booked the tickets to Barbados and sod what David wanted. That and a mountain of luggage when all they're really going to need is a few tshirts and shorts and bathing suits. I suppose most of it is stuff for the baby, though. David's not happy leaving Gail to her own and Michael's devices but off they go anyway.

So yeah. Faye decided it was time to wear makeup to school. She'd be late if she took it off! So Owen just orders her to take off the lippy. Really? I'd have gone for the eyes, myself. Out the door she does, and you know darn well that lippy would have stayed on. Turns out she has a crush on an older lad. That's why the makeup.

There have been some changes to the way they film. I notice we're seeing other sides of the rooms that we have not seen before. We saw Gail's wall, the one opposite the sofa a week or so ago and this week we saw the side wall of the cafe which we've never ever seen!

Maddie's back from seeing Ben in Cornwall but she's in a miserable mood. Is it just because she is missing Ben who's happy as Larry living with the new family in a nice new place? Or is there more to it. I guess we'll find out soon enough.

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Corrie cast in superhero fancy dress for Simon Gregson's charity ball

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog July 2014, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Simon Gregson, who plays Coronation Street's Steve McDonald, hosted his annual charity bash recently in Manchester.  The theme was Superheros and Simon's pictured above with his wife Emma Gleave.  The Manchester Evening News has a full photo gallery here.

The event was held in the Palace Hotel and organised by Entertainment Today.

It helped to raise thousands of pounds for the Caudwell Children charity, as well as to help Simon and Emma's brave friend Damien Platt who is battling terminal cancer.




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Glorious Gail

(This post was originally posted by Clinkers (David) on the Coronation Street Blog in June 2014.)

She's been 40 years in the making and bless her, what a creation Gail Pot-Til-Pla-Hil-intyre is. Back in July 1974, she arrived as bezzie mate to the lovely Tricia Hopkins who said to her friend, "I sometimes think your mouth'd make a good bus stop."

Since that momentous evening, we've followed Gail through the ups and downs . . . well, mainly downs, of her life in the cobbled area. We are all familiar with her progress from peppy teenager, to young housewife to middle-aged loon. What images and memories are conjured up when you think of all things Gail? Maybe you recall . . .

The hideous sheepskin coat she lived in for many years . . .

Her gift for almost running the Corner Shop into the ground during her reign of terror with the lovely Tricia . . .

Her vain attempts to get faktry demi-boss Steve Fisher interested in her . . .

The worryingly small micro-bijou box she inhabited with Our Brian . . .

The cavalier manner in which she managed to forget her father, brother and daughter plus failing to notice that her son had morphed from paper lad to muscled gay icon to pensioner . . .

That she survived several years eating and drinking from Ivy's vile brown dinner service . . .

That she failed to exchange a sentence with Deirdre for thirty years . . .

Her nascent 1980s friendship with Liz MacDonald, masquerading under the name June Dewhurst . . .

Her affair with the odd Australian cousin of Our Brian who was never mentioned again . .
.

For being part of one of the best-loved households of the Street in the 1970s. Fag-ash on the table cloth, an ever-present tea pot and the trio of Elsie, Gail and Suzie trading comments on fellers.

Gail Many Surnames - we salute you!



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Saturday 26 July 2014

Ofcom investigates Coronation Street subtitle blunders

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog July 2014, reposted to this blog with permission.)

From The Mirror this week there was a story that Coronation Street has come under fire over blunders in its subtitles. Ofcom has received complaints about recent wrongly spelled and sloppy subtitling on the soap.

Recent mistakes, according to reports, have seen the famous Rovers Return called the 'Ravers Return', while Betty's hotpot was misspelled a 'bowel of hot pit'.

Businessman Dev Alahan was spelled 'Div', while when another character was talking about a woman named Nancy, it was replaced with 'Nazi'.

Meanwhile, during a scene when Tracy Barlow appeared to be talking quickly, the subtitling simply read: “Tracy yaps on about her hair.”

Ofcom had previously received complaints about the subtitles last year, and had pledged to crack down on mistakes.



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What do we think of Corrie's Yasmeen so far?


(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in July 2014, reposted with permission.)

What do we think of Corrie's latest arrival - Kal's mum Yasmeen? From her brief appearances so far I'm rather taken with her.

She strikes me as the kind of no nonsense matriarch Corrie could use right now. She's obviously very family oriented, strong, intelligent and tough but from what I can see, fair-minded. She certainly has more life about her than the rest of her family...so far.

I've also enjoyed her interactions with Leanne. I think the pair could come to understand each other as the storyline progresses. Although I must say Nick's involvement is laughable. That scene the other night when he called Leanne all the names under the sun to create the maximum amount of embarrassment was just awful! I haven't really minded Nick in the past but he doesn't *do* anger very well. I understand the fallout from his brain trauma needs to be ongoing but the direction it's taking is wearing very thin. Why has nobody made him see a   counsellor?

Anyway, I think Yasmeen may yet be the saviour of the Nazir family. I understand she is to become involved in a storyline with Roy Cropper. As she touched on the other night she works as a librarian so I can see this as a possibility. It will be interesting to see how this unusual friendship develops.

So what do you think of Yasmeen Nazir so far? How would you like to see the character develop and who should she interact with among the Corrie regulars?


Follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82


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What's your favourite Hilda Ogden moment?

(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in July 2014, reposted with permission.)


Today marks the 50th anniversary of Hilda Ogden's first appearance on Coronation Street, which was the 8th of July 1964. As well as axing the likes of Martha Longhurst, Frank Barlow, Florrie Lindley and Harry and Concepta Hewitt, the then-producer Tim Aspinall also introduced us to a couple that would become Corrie icons - Stan and Hilda Ogden.

Their daughter Irma had been introduced in January and had secured a job at the Corner Shop and the Ogdens moved in a few months later into 13 Coronation Street, recently vacated after Jerry and Myra Booth moved away. They would become the first street residents to own their own house. Hilda was soon appointed cleaner at the Rovers, succeeding the late Martha Longhurst. Over the next 20 years they would develop into a golden partnership, reaching their peak during the 1970s. We laughed and cried with them.

You can see the episode where Hilda first appeared here, here and here. You can read a comprehensive synopsis of the episode here.

Hilda became an iconic character with her trademark curlers and pinny and her favourite hobby was gossiping. As well as cleaning the Rovers, she later became cleaner to Mike Baldwin and Doctor Lowther. By 1984, Hilda as a character had softened with the death of Stan and the fact that the characters that she was associated with weren't there any more like Annie Walker, Elsie Tanner, Eddie Yeats and Len Fairclough. In 1987, Doctor Lowther offered her a job as his housekeeper in Derbyshire which she accepted and she got a wonderful send-off. Over 25 years later, Hilda, and her portrayer Jean Alexander are still much loved as recent news has shown.

There is also a wonderful character profile of Hilda on Corriepedia, a great source information of all things Corrie!

While I love all Hilda's moments, from her catfights with Elsie Tanner and Bet Lynch; or weeping over Stan, mine has to be when she told the Corrie residents what she thought of them after they falsely accused Stan of being a Peeping Tom. This isn't the Hilda we remember - the funny, gossipy type. This was the Hilda who defended her family. She embodied the classic Corrie woman. Let me take you back to 1972.


So to mark this anniversary I would like to know what is your favourite Hilda moment? Leave your comments below!




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Friday 25 July 2014

The View from the Other Side


In addition to little differences between the old and new studios including extra windows and doors, I've noticed lately that there's other additional changes. They've ported over the old sets and/or recreated them but they've added on to some of them. Of course, the walls on all the sets are moveable to make way for the camera but some of the interior sets we always see from at most maybe two different angles. That "third" wall or... in this case, the "fourth" wall is never or rarely shown.

We do occasionally see the front wall of the Kabin but not very often  the wall with the magazine racks. We also occasionally see the Rosamund Street side interior wall of the pub though I don't think we've ever seen the wall in the back room in front of the table. We almost never see the wall opposite the sofas in most of the living rooms of the houses or the angle in the corner shop that faces the cash register counter. Most of the sets that I've ever seen are erected with three walls, the fourth free for the camera and crew and that's, of course, most logical.

But, in the past couple of weeks, we've seen some new walls. Not long ago we saw the one opposite the Platts' sofa when Gail was working on her letter to Michael and this week we saw the fourth wall of the cafe behind Maria. They've obviously built some new moveable pieces to those sets to vary the camera angle.

The cafe wall, in particular,  is interesting. It always looked like the cafe was fairly spacious, more than the exterior space would allow. There is a few tables to the left of Roy's counter as you face it and the camera was usually beyond that. When we saw Maria talking to Marcus on Friday night's episode, we saw the wall and the fact that the tables are right up against it. I loved seeing that and it made the cafe interior feel a lot more realistic.

It's a small caff and there would be tables placed that way, against the wall. I've been on the set and the rest of the cafe really is small. I've seen takeaway shops bigger! It amazed me how the actors can move around the furniture without knocking chairs over or bumping into each other all the time.

I'm all for seeing what we've been missing all these years. From the days when Number 5 was owned by Ivy, we know there's a fireplace against the unseen wall there. I'm going to be watching closely to see if they've given us any other new walls and angles! 




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Hilda Ogden gets a golden bucket at Madame Tussauds

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog July 2014, reposted to this blog with permission.)

In honour of the 50th anniversary since Hilda Ogden first appeared on Coronation Street, Madame Tussauds Blackpool has given their waxwork of Hilda a golden bucket.

The wax figure is one of many Corrie characters in the fully-licensed Rovers Return set, which already includes fellow legends Ken and Deirdre Barlow, Jack and Vera Duckworth and Bet Lynch.

A spokeswoman for Corrie said: “It’s amazing to think that it is 50 years since Hilda Ogden first walked down the cobbles of Coronation Street. Despite the fact that it is almost 30 years since Hilda said farewell to Weatherfield, she is still seen as one of the most iconic characters in the soap’s history.

“We send warm wishes to Jean Alexander and hope she continues to recover well following her recent health scare.”



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Corrie Canada sneak preview for July 28 - Aug. 1


Without further ado here is a brief sneak preview of what you'll see on  next week's Corrie in Canada.

Peter's arrested and sacks his solicitor. Maddie makes a decision about Ben and connects with Simon. Andrea cracks under the pressure and confesses. Lloyd finds out about Neil. It's war between Norris and Dennis and Dennis plan backfires. Has Roy found a new crusade? Owen's bankrupt. Deirdre's still keeping a secret from Ken.


For more details and photos, visit the Moosejaw Mercury at Corrie.net




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Thursday 24 July 2014

Corrie Catchup and Corrie Week on CBC

This just in from CBC. Previously, if you wanted to catch up on Coronation Street, you would have to wait until Sunday for CBC to upload the week's episodes to their video site.

Now, they're going to do it every day! According to their website, Corrie's episode for each day will be uploaded to the CBC Player at 6:30 p.m. ET (adjust for your time zone). That's great news!

Even better, the week of July 28 - Aug. 2 is Corrie week on CBC via social media. The hashtag is #CorrieWeek and they want to hear from you about how much Corrie means to you. They'll also have behind the scenes video on the site as well.

CBC's Corrie site
@CBC  on Twitter
CBC  on Facebook
CBC  on Instagram

And don't forget us here, on Bluenose Corrieblog. We often live-tweet the show from Atlantic Canada with #corriecanada as the hashtag.


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Corrie writer Jonathan Harvey's new novel - out in July

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog June 2014, reposted to this blog with permission.)

Coronation Street writer Jonathan Harvey is the author of two previously published novels. His third book - The Girl Who Just Appeared - will be launched on July 17th.

What's it about?


London 2014. Holly Smith has never fitted in. Adopted when just a few months old, she's always felt she was someone with no history, the girl who just appeared. All she has is the address of where she was born - 32B Gambier Terrace, Liverpool. By a bizarre twist of fate Holly discovers that the flat is available to rent. She travels north and moves in. When she finds a biscuit tin full of yellowing papers under the floorboards, she wonders if this might hold the secret to her past.

Liverpool 1981. Fifteen-year-old Darren negotiates life with his errant mother and the younger brother he is bringing up. When the Toxteth Riots explode around him Darren finds himself with a moral dilemma that will have consequences for the rest of his life.

Flitting between the present and the past, we discover how Darren and Holly's lives become intertwined. Will Holly uncover the secrets of her past? Or will she always feel like the girl who just appeared?

Find out more at Pan Macmillan



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Wednesday 23 July 2014

Come back Rita Littlewood!


(This post was originally posted by Graeme N on the Coronation Street Blog in June 2014.)

I love our Rita. Always have and always will. However, I've been watching a lot of cracking old 1970s episodes of late and it's made me wonder whether the Rita Tanner of 2014 needs to give it a bit more welly.

Yes I know she is no longer in the first flush of youth and one of the joys of Corrie is watching long term characters progress and mature over the years, but I do love the sassy, quick tempered, quick-witted Rita Littlewood as was.

Her scenes with Len Fairclough were often fiery, her interactions with Elsie Tanner often bitchy and camp and her Kabin scenes with wittering Mavis are stuff of Coronation Street legend. I vividly recall one scene where Mavis kept stuttering on some recent bit of news and Rita's reply was "Watch it love, your needle's stuck". Brilliant!

I love Rita's continuing presence in Corrie as it provides some much needed continuity with the past. What I don't like so much are some of the recent directions the character has been taken in.

I thought it was a wonderful decision to bring Dennis Tanner back after more than forty years. Philip Lowrie is a terrific actor, Dennis a super character and another cherished link to the Coronation Street of 1960. Doing nothing with the character other than ruining him and turning Rita shrewish was not only a bad move but almost unforgivable. I thought I would like Rita married again but I don't. It now just seems like a shallow attempt at a wallow in the past without actually exploring the rich history involved.

Also, Rita's closeness to Tina did her no favours. The writers would have done better by the character to focus on her relationships with not only Dennis but Norris too. They are a brilliant double act, not quite Rita and Mavis, but wonderful all the same. It's also been ages since Rita has interacted properly with other characters of her generation like Audrey, Deirdre or Gail. They are always a delight when sharing scenes.


I know people get older and mellow over time and Corrie should reflect this. I just yearn for the Rita of old - knocking out bolshy hecklers in t'Gatsby; battling with Len for a few home comforts; taking Elsie on, shoulder pad to shoulder pad; tearing across the Blackpool seafront, gold lame mac flying...that's the Rita I know and love.


Follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82


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Tuesday 22 July 2014

Why Gary and Izzy have got to get back together

(This post was originally posted by Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog July 2014, reposted to this blog with permission.)


Mikey North as Gary Windass and Cherylee Houston as Izzy Armstrong are two fantastic actors playing two wonderful characters. 

In short, Gary and Izzy are one of my favourite Coronation Street couples, ever.

Please, Coronation Street, put them back together and make them whole and happy again. 



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Eva Almighty

(This post was originally posted by Scott Willison on the Coronation Street Blog in July 2014, reposted with permission.)


A few months ago, when it was announced that first Sue Johnstone, then Michelle Collins were leaving the Street, an odd thought occurred to me.  It came spontaneously into my head, completely out of the blue.  It was, "I hope that doesn't mean Eva's leaving as well."

How did that happen?  How did Eva, of all people, end up as my favourite Price?  She came into the show as such a cliche - blonde, recently wronged by an unseen fiance, spoilt.  Now she's a wonderful character and an asset to the show.

Part of it came from knocking the edges off her.  For her first year or so Eva's selfishness manifested itself through manipulation - leading Nick, or Rob, or Leanne around, conniving behind their back.  She's nicer now.  That's what happens when you hook up with Jason Grimshaw - his inherent pleasantness rubs off on you.

She now reminds me of another classic barmaid, Raquel.  Both were bombshells whose sexy exterior gave way to a sweet funny interior.  I didn't like the way she left Underworld - far too sudden - but putting her behind the bar of the Rovers means she finally fits.  Eva was always wasted stitching knickers, and her departure from clipboard clutching duties at the factory means that we get more of Sally Webster being a domineering shrew, which is always joyous.

Eva's also overcome her issues with Leanne - with no Stella to fight over, they've bonded as proper sisters.  It was lovely to see her in this week's episodes having a glass of wine with Leanne, giving her birthday gifts, gently ribbing her about her age.  I especially liked the scene in the cafe, where another great new character, Steph, was chatting with the sisters; I like the idea of the three of them getting plastered on tequila slammers next time they have a disastrous relationship meltdown.  It'd be good to see her friendship with Kylie reignited, too.


The Street always needs a sweet sexpot, and I hope that Eva will continue to totter down the cobbles with her expensive handbags for many years.  Perhaps she can be the girl to finally make an honest man of Jason?



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Monday 21 July 2014

Could you ever call time on Coronation Street?

(This post was originally posted by Nathan Richardson via Flaming Nora on the Coronation Street Blog in June 2014.)

Corrie fan Nathan Richardson emailed me this wonderful guest blog post a few days ago. I loved it so much it almost made me cry.  Comments are turned off on this blog post here on the Coronation Street Blog because I know Nathan's beautiful words will hit a soft spot with so many die-hard, long-term Coronation Street fans, just as it did with me.  If you'd like to comment on Nathan's work, please visit his website to leave your thoughts there. 

Guest blog post by Nathan Richardson


Nicholas Hytner, long-term collaborator of Alan Bennett, said of the playwright’s most recent work for the stage, People, a kind of state-of-the-nation play, “He is talking about our failure to let things decay when it is time for them to decay.” I am reminded of these words watching Coronation Street this week. I have been watching the soap for as long as I can remember – it’s always been there, and, on the whole, I have always enjoyed watching it. It has been, to use a rather hackneyed phrase, a home from home. The heroine in Barbara Pym’s novel No Fond Return of Love thinks “Life’s problems are often eased by hot milky drinks.” Life’s problems are often also eased by half an hour in Weatherfield, but recently, that half hour, for me, has become something of a chore.

When I watch it today I do not feel that warmth of the street resonating as it once did. It feels instead so lifeless. Those old episodes may have been in monochrome, filmed on cardboard sets, but the wit, the character made it all so vibrant, so colourful. I am not a look-back bore. I am not here to say: oh, once upon a time…in the more recent past Coronation Street shone too. Take this scene from 1999, which was posted on these very pages a few months back. At the bar of the Rovers, the locals reflect on the recent passing of Alf Roberts – it should be morose and mournful, but it is in fact a comic scene, but in a gentle, not offensive, way. This is a very good piece of writing that highlights a certain aspect of the northern character: it would not look out of place in an Alan Bennett play. Would you see a scene like this today? No. For today, Coronation Street seems to exist solely in competition with other soaps to cram as many murders and affairs into the narrative.

This week’s song and dance focused on the death of Tina McIntyre. I never warmed to Tina. I expect the writers were surprised the public took to her so well. She had no family, other than the father who appeared briefly before disappearing in the most ridiculous circumstance, she simply floated from man to man, from job to job. Had Michelle Keegan not been welcomed with open arms by readers of FHM (World’s Sexiest Female, six years running, I’m told) then she would be have been long axed. The acting was…so flat, so dull, so tiring; her storylines unbelievable. And now she has been pushed off a roof, and we’re expected to care?

The new set is fancy, the large cast is young and beautiful but the show is dying a horrible death, and the writers know it. This story is a ploy to bring in viewers, to bring back viewers, to keep the few surviving viewers tuned in. But viewers will not tune in if it does not improve, and one very easy way of improving it would be to reduce the hours: these double episodes, by their very form, create something of a cliff-hanger effect, which is awkward, and they should be stopped, and the week long specials should cease to be completely once this one concludes. It should be on, if at all, but twice a week, as it once was. They wouldn’t be cobbling scripts and storylines together for the sake it, and, for us viewers, watching it, all five episodes a week, wouldn’t feel so stressful.

I may be unique in this view, but I find the big story-lines very unmemorable indeed. I can’t remember much at all about Tony Gordon, or Frank Foster, but I do remember Jed Stone’s cat, and those crumbling terraced streets where he lived. In the North, the “kitchen sink drama” is an established form that shook the world of cinema and television with things like A Taste of Honey and Coronation Street in the early 1960s, but it exists still today in works like Shameless. It is the drama that was comic for every bit it was tragic, representative of the real North, and, as the great Wilfred Pickles said, “May it be forbidden that we should ever speak like BBC announcers, for our rich tapestry of voices is a thing of great beauty and incalculable value, handed down to us by our forefathers.” He was right, and the above scene is testimony to it – there is something very poetic about northern dialogue, but it raises its head only occasionally today on the street. I rarely laugh, I rarely cry, I feel nothing in fact but uncontradicting boredom. I see nothing of real life as I once did, but I still watch it because I want to like it. It feels very natural to like it, but increasingly, I think of those words by Nicholas Hytner.

Hayley’s death was beautifully done, as was Jack Duckworth’s, and, yes, occasionally, there is a scene that reminds you why you love the show, but at the moment, and we see it on a big scale this week, with fast, flashing scenes of young people behaving irrationally, there is nothing remotely appealing about the show. And so I can’t help but wonder, is it… is it time to call it a day? Was Coronation Street but half a century’s wonder? The new set cannot hide the decay, and although it may be in our English nature to keep something alive because we’re too afraid to see it go, I think the time has come. I think we do more damage by ringing it out, and love it as do, it is time the Rovers shut its doors for good.

Nathan Richardson


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Corrie Canada Weekly Awards for July 14 - 18


Gentleman Award: Luke. And he's gone way up in my rating!


Master manipulator award: Usually Todd but Nick is in the winner's circle this week as well.

Ironic award: Michael got burgled.

Excercise Slacker: Dev was just strolling along on the treadmill.

Musical ambiance award: Lloyd worrying that Andrea's going to dump him to "What I Like About You". "More than this" playing for Luke and Carla

Planet Rodwell award: Yep, Gail could be very close to being smitten given half a chance.

Clingy award: I think Neil is picking up vibes from Andrea and is trying to make things better between them. I think it's too little too late.

Hippie award: Steve bought a VW camper van instead of a limo. I can't see a wedding couple hiring that.

Mama Bear award: Yasmeen does not approve of Leanne. You can hardly blame her, looking at it from her point of view.

Instant success award: How can Carla afford to pay Peter for his half of the factory when they were shut down for no work just last week or so?

Lines of the week:
David to Nick "Everyone knows you're her favourite ickle boy"
Michael "Feel free to go 'na na na na na'"
Kal to Nick "Unlike you, I don't take me anger out on women" (1 Point to Kal)
Michelle "We need to make some sacrifices" Steve about Tracy "I'll sacrifice her. On the altar"
Gail "Actions have consequences" (she could tell Nick that as well)
Carla to Peter "When I clap eyes on you, all i see is pain and death"
Gail about Nick "How did he seem? in himself?" Leanne "Take your pick. Determined. Idiotic. With the sort of face you want to punch"
Gail "One day he's losing the plot, next he's shutting the Bistro"
Beth "Role play wears off after awhile. But then, when you're soul mates, who cares?" (awwww)
Maria "Everyone still hates me because of what i did to Tyrone and Fiz" Carla "Half my workforce probably think I'm a murderer. But stuff happens. You deal with it"
Izzy "We all think we need someone. And maybe we don't"
Gail "OH this is cozy. The Brothers Grimm settling down to hatch their next plan to scare people"

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