Mark Llewellin

Daisy Nook

2012-01-29T07:50:00.000-08:00

If you've been wondering why there've been no posts for a while it's because I've bought a share of a local business which has been taking up quite a bit of my time.

Daisy Nook Garden Centre is the business and it's situated on the border of Oldham and Tameside boroughs in Greater Manchester, right next to the M60. We've got some great plans for redevelopment throughout 2012, which is the company's 40th birthday, and we look forward to welcoming you there!

http://www.daisynook.com/

New Studios

2012-01-29T07:46:00.000-08:00

The view from the BBC copyright Mark Llewellin

The builders are now hard at work on the new ITV studios, which will include a brand new Corrie studio compex. This (left) is the view from the bridge crossing the Manchester Ship Canal of the site. Before long the back of the Corrie terraces will be facing us from here, although passers-by won't see much from the outside.

Next to the site is the Imperial War Museum of the North where they have a viewing tower. If you visit Salford go and have a look (it's £1.20 to go to the top). The picture (below) was taken from there this week and you can see them marking out the line of the pavement and houses. The viaduct will be at the bottom of the picture eventually with the health centre at the top.

The view from the Imperial War Museum
Copyright: Mark Llewellin

Corrie tours this year

2012-01-29T07:35:00.000-08:00

You might be interested in the following:

Wed 14 March - I'll be looking after a tour by Elite Coaches of Sale, Manchester, which will be visiting several Corrie locations. If you want to join us - you can google them, they still have seats available.

Sun 29 April - I'll be showing a group from Canada around some Corrie locations. It's part of a great UK holiday run by coronationtravel.com

Mon 11 June - I'm conducting a tour of Corrie locations as part of a visit to Liverpool by the Carribean Princess cruise ship. If you want further details drop me an email and I'll put you in touch with the tour operator.

Fri 27 July: The annual World of Coronation Street tour arrives from Canada. You'll get details from kemptvilletravel.com

Last year I offered walking tours of Manchester city centre which include the full Corrie story, a walk past the studios (not in them!) and some Corrie locations. This year I'm unable to fit many in - but if you want to check out a date please drop me an email, but do let me know what date(s) you can make.

Oldham's bumper Christmas!

2012-01-29T07:28:00.000-08:00

The figures are just in .... a record-breaking 6,000+ people turned out to watch the annual Oldham Christmas parade, over 8,000 came to see the town's Christmas lights switch-on and several thousand more attended the Christmas market, which ran for 16 days.

For the 14th year we provided many of the facilities including entertainers (marching bands, bears, Santa himself and much more). I also acted as Artistic Director for the events programme.

So now it's time to get planning this year - yes, we've already had a meeting - which will be my 15th year. It's been a great pleasure to work with an amazing team of people on the programme but I've decided that this year will be my last. I'll miss it greatly - well, maybe not standing in the snow all day - but it's been a tough decision. However, the time comes to stand aside and let someone else have a go.

Here comes Christmas!

2011-11-07T11:04:00.000-08:00

We've just finished all our Halloween events and now Santa's on his way ...
If you're in the Manchester area over the next few weeks join me at the following events:

Sat 12 Nov: Santa's Reindeer Parade, Oldham town centre at 12.45
Yes, real reindeers bring Santa to Oldham amid a sparking Christmas parade with three bands, pantomime characters and much more!
Sat 19 and Sun 20 Nov: Daisy Nook Garden Centre, Failsworth 11am - 4pm
A range of free family entertainments daily.
Sun 20 Nov: Oldham's Christmas Lights Show from 4.20pm
Wallace and Gromit start a huge fireworks display as the lights come on. Santa arrives in unusual style and it's all hosted by Mark and Jane.
Fri 25 Nov: Murder By The Book - an outrageous murder mystery evening at Oldham Library. Sold out!
Sat 26 and Sun 27 Nov: Daisy Nook Garden Centre, Failsworth.
Harry Potter Weekend with look-a-likes, real owls and lots more!
Sat 3 - 18 Dec: Mrs Claus's Festive Village on Oldham High Street daily.
Attractive fairytale cabins host a range of hot food and drink outlets with a daily entertainments programme for all the family.
Sat 3 and Sun 4 Dec: Daisy Nook Garden Centre, Failsworth.
Another daily selection of clowns, face painters and much more in store.
Sat 10 and Sun 11 Dec: Daisy Nook Garden Centre, Failsworth.
Meet Mrs Claus and her entertainers each day.

For more information go to http://www.visitoldham.com/ or http://www.daisynook.com/

You'll also find me playing a dancing polar bear and Santa in Oldham's Christmas TV commercial on Granada all this week.

The incomparable Betty Driver

2011-10-22T09:46:00.000-07:00

Today I attended Betty's funeral, held in St Ann's Church in Manchester city centre. Betty, who was 91, was universally loved by everyone who worked on Coronation Street and the church was packed with both cast, production and crew past and present. Betty had chosen the music and decided on the details herself, choosing Saturday as a day on which, with no Corrie being filmed, everyone who wished to could attend.

The service began with Granada staff and family friends carrying her coffin into the beautiful church as sunlight streamed through the stained glass windows. The church itself, full of white and pink roses as she had requested. The first piece of music was 'Lord of the Dance' after which Helen Worth spoke of working alongside Betty and of her skill for making something out of nothing - with Betty a look could say it all.

This was followed by a recording of 'Swan Lake' before theatre producer Bill Kenwright, who played her screen son Gordon, spoke of her being a 'juggernaut of love'. Next came Brittan's 'Jubilate Deo', a reading from Matthew and two ecclesiastical addresses before the Lord's Prayer and Verdi's 'Requiem'.

Betty's personal assistant Charles Orr then introduced a recording of Betty singing - something he had insisted on (Betty never liked hearing her recordings). She received a standing ovation from those gathered in the church as the sound of applause from the hundreds of fans waiting in the square outside was heard through the ancient walls. The congregation left and the coffin was borne out of the church to 'Nun Danket'.

A beautiful blue sky awaited us as we emerged into St Ann's Square. It was just as Betty had planned it - and it was truly beautiful.

Betty Driver

2011-10-15T13:31:00.000-07:00

Betty Driver at the heart of the Corrie cast
Picture: ITV

It was with great sadness that I learnt of the death of Betty Driver today.
She was a lovely person who always had time to chat and who enjoyed life.
She will be much missed both by those who knew her personally and by the thousands of fans who knew her via their TV sets.

Locations Tour by Coach

2011-09-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

I will be acting as guide on the following tour:

Tuesday 4th October 2011
CORONATION STREET DAY-£19.50
Check out http://www.elitecoachessalemoor.co.uk/ for details.

Giving you an insider’s view of the world’s most famous TV show.
Learn about its creator Tony Warren, how it made it on air, the inside
stories and secrets … and visit many of the locations of iconic scenes
out and about around Greater Manchester. See the spot where
Richard Hillman tried to kill the Platts, find out just where all the
Weatherfield weddings take place, see where the new Corrie studios
are being built, see where John Stape plunged from the hospital
roof – and much more in our fun day out!’

Includes coach travel and morning and afternoon tea at Daisy Nook Garden Centre, Oldham.
Departs 9.000am; home by approx 5.30pm

World of Coronation Street Tour - Last Day in Manchester

2011-09-14T01:05:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 14 September

This morning the guests had another surprise when, during breakfast, Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) called in to see them. They then had time to visit the city centre before, after lunch, Rob and I took them to the airport and their flight to Dublin. The next few days will be spent touring Ireland – but without us so that’s the end of this year’s report. Why don’t you join us next year? We always have a great time and the tour always varies so, apart from the studios and the classic Corrie locations, there’s always something different! Bookings are taken by www.kemptvilletravel.com If you are visiting Manchester and want a Corrie walking tour visiting some Corrie locations and also hearing some of the city’s history then visit http://markllewellin.blogspot.com where you’ll find information (note that this tour doesn’t enter the studios) or email us for more details - but please note that we are now largely fully booked for 2011.

World of Coronation Street Tour - Day Five

2011-09-14T01:02:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 13 September

An early start but worth it. We travelled around Salford, the city next to Manchester, which inspired Tony Warren. We called at the Red Rec park, passed Bessie Street School, Weatherfield Comprehensive, Audrey’s house, the spot where Tony Gordon escaped from the ambulance, the houses featured in the opening credits and much more. Then we had some free time at Salford Quays, saw where Steve proposed to Karen, where Don tried to kill Alma, where Danny lived and much more. Next we visited the area where the new Corrie set is being built, where Ken was arrested and the community centre where the infamous Alcoholics Anonymous meeting was held.

Next stop was Granada Studios where we were given the VIP treatment and toured the Corrie set, all the indoor sets and we watched filming (can’t tell you what we saw though!). We also met, amongst others, Chesney, Kirk, Roy, Hayley and Katy.
The rest of the afternoon was free.

In the evening we met at the swish Midland Hotel for a dinner with the odd compettion prize thrown in! Each guest also got a lovely limited edition print of Coronation Street as a momento of their visit. However, the shocks and surprises weren’t over as Graeme Hawley (John Stape) also came to dinner with us and shared insider gossip! A really nice man .... and no one died!

World of Coronation Street Tour - Day Four

2011-09-14T00:58:00.000-07:00

Monday 12 September

People coming to Manchester often assume we have a lovely Corrie shop where you can get souvenirs. Sadly, it’s not the case. So we work with internet shops who sell Corrie items to get hold of a range of products which we put on sale in the hotel. This morning the sale took place before we set off to Worsley. This is where Martha lured Ken onto her barge!

Today was less Corrie and more countryside so our next call was the lovely town of Clitheroe where we looked around the shops and some walked up to the Norman Castle. We also passed locations used in Born and Bred, Calendar Girls and Great Creatures Great and Small before arriving at Skipton, whre we enjoyed the quaint shops and cafes.
Next we drove over the picturesque moors and through Colne, where we paused to see the monument to Wallace Hartley, the bandleader on the Titanic. Then we had shopping time at the Boundary Mills store before a lovely fish and chip supper.

World of Coronation Street Tour - Day Three

2011-09-11T11:28:00.000-07:00

Sunday 11 September

This morning we drove to the city of Chester with its historic black and white Tudor-style buildings, interesting shops and beautiful cathedral. We had some free time to look around - and we also saw the military parade marking the anniversary of 9/11, before boarding the coach for a drive through the Cheshire countryside. Next stop was Tatton Hall, a palatial stately home set in huge grounds. This was in fact the first outside filming location Corrie had back in 1962. It’s also where Graeme took Tina on his rickshaw, where Deirdre’s solicitor was based and where Annie’s Rover ended up in the lake. Most recently it’s where Roy and Hayley married. We had plenty of time to look around – and enjoy a bite of lunch.

Shelley's wedding dress

Next stop was the church where Joe was buried, where Betty married Billy and where baby Jack Dobbs was christened. We got chance to look around and to see, on exhibition, Shelley's wedding dress! Then, continuing the wedding theme, we called at the location of Ken and Deirdre’s second wedding (a friendly policeman also posed for pictures with everyone!) before heading back to the hotel.

Tonight was a free evening.

World of Coronation Street Tour - Day Two

2011-09-11T11:22:00.000-07:00

My latest report:

Saturday 10 September

We had a special breakfast treat when actor Jim Whelan, who plays Rev Mike Todd, Weatherfield’s main vicar, called in to say hello and to read from his autobiography. What a lovely man! Then we set off for a locations day. We started by visiting the outside of the Granada Studios so that I could tell the story of how Granada came into being, how Tony Warren got them to make Corrie and how the studios have developed. Throughout the day we will pass lots of Corrie filming locations – we started with the Weatherfield Hospital building (where someone fell recently in the UK - or were they pushed?), the hotel where Molly and Kevin spent a night of passion, the original outdoor Corrie street lot and so on. Then we took a walk through the canal district and learnt about Manchester’s history (there are Corrie locations here too – Roy Cropper almost drowned here for example). We also spotted Izzy across the street!
Then Rob drove us through the city and out to the Corrie church. Here we explored the church, some got to climb the bell tower (remember granny Brenda holding Bethany from the top?), we visited Liam’s grave, the old folk’s home that Cilla worked in, and saw where Fred’s ashes were scattered. Thanks to the team at the church for making lots of special things happen!

Then we went to Ashton under Lyne where we had some free time to shop and eat before we saw Weatherfield Town Hall and then passed the church where Roy and Hayley almost married first time and the original Weatherfield Registry Office. Next stop was the dockside where Richard Hillman tried to kill the Platts and then we called at the location of Gail and Joe’s wedding (it was also where Vernon and Liz, Joe and Gail and Steve and Becky all wed ... and if you don't mind spoilers read at the bottom and you'l find out who also tied the knot there in the UK episodes recently). Then it was back to the hotel for a break.

Introducing our special guest

We met up at the Briton’s Protection, one of the oldest pubs in Manchester, for a Corrie dinner. There was a surprise or two there – I took along some props I own such as the statue Tracy killed Charlie with and so on. And all our guests were amazed when Fiz (actress Jennie McAlpine) walked through the door. What a treat for everyone as she joined us for dinner.

SPOLIER FOR NON-UK VIEWERS:Others who've married there are Graeme and Xin and David and Kylie.

And we're off - the annual tour has begun!

2011-09-09T08:08:00.000-07:00

THE WORLD OF CORONATION STREET

An Exclusive experience brought to you each year by Kemptville Travel, Toronto
In association with Mark Llewellin, Manchester
http://www.kemptvilletravel.com/ and http://markllewellin.blogspot.com

For all those who couldn’t join us on this year’s Corrie holiday then here’s my first diary entry.

Friday 9 September
I’m a little tired having spent yesterday at the celebrations for the maiden visit of Cunard’s Queen Elizabeth cruise ship to Liverpool. There was a special concert at the Anglican Cathedral (amazing – I’ve never been inside before!) featuring Lesley Garratt, the Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and the Band of the Welsh Guards. In the audience were the passengers plus VIPs including Liz Dawn, who I caught up with afterwards - and who looked great. I was asked if I could stay on board but I had to be at Manchester Airport this morning to greet my Corrie guests.

So the plane landed at 11.30am and Rob, my wonderful coach driver, and I were there to meet them. I have 35 guests this year (from the UK, Canada, Ireland and New Zealand). We whisked them to their city centre hotel and left them to unpack and settle in.

For their escort Peter and I it was time to run through a few last minute arrangements before we start properly tomorrow.

At 6.30pm we all gathered together for a sherry before dinner. The first night is always informal and gives the guests a chance to meet together for the first time. Some come back year after year (we must be doing something right) and some are here for the first time and, I guess, aren’t quite sure what to expect. Many people have saved for this, dreamed of it, or have come for a special anniversary or birthday treat so we put a great deal of effort into making each trip extra special.

There was a Corrie episode on TV at 9pm so everyone rushed off to their rooms after dinner. There are some people who would walk over hot coals rather than find out some Corrie spoilers but with guests from across the globe, all at different points in the story, it’s impossible not to find out some upcoming secrets.

Check back for my next diary entry.

Murder by the Book

2011-08-26T05:42:00.000-07:00

If you fancy a laugh - come and see my new play Murder By The Book, which is being performed by a team of amateur actors (including myself I must confess!) at Oldham Library on Friday 25 November at 7pm. Tickets cost just £4 (incl wine and buffet). It'll all be over by about 8.30pm.

It's an evening of over-the-top acting where you'll be asked to assist in solving the crime. Oldham-born actress Brenda Le Grande returns to her home town to launch her autobiography 'I Did It My Way - So Get Over it!' after 28 years as queen of the daytime soaps. However, she hasn't counted on a few surprise guests, too much vino and a murder! Can PC Lawton solve the crime in time? Do we really care? Come along and find out.

Call 0161 770 8000 to book your tickets!

Weatherfield opens its doors

2011-08-04T03:47:00.000-07:00

Jack Walker listening in to a conversation
in the snug. Picture: ITV

Each September Heritage Open Days are held across the UK - buildings which are not normally open to the public are opened up, others open free of charge. It's a great way to see behind closed doors - and this year there are several buildings partcipating in the North west which have Corrie connections. You can check out all participating buildings at http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/ but here are some Corrie ones:

Portland Basin, Tameside: Location of Richard Hillman driving Platts into the water.
St James Church, Didsbury: Location of Betty's wedding to Billy and Joe's funeral.
Grand Theatre, Blackpool: Lots of Corrie stars have appeared there.
North Pier, Blackpool: Used as filming location many times.
St Stephen on the Cliffs, Blackpool: Has a rare Actor's Chapel and Arthur Leslie, who played Jack Walker, is buried in the grounds.
East Lancashire Railway, Bury: Used for location filming of the train heading off to Roy and Hayley's wedding.
Dukinfield Old Chapel, Dukinfield: Where Roy and Hayley tried for a blessing many years ago.
Manchester Town Hall: Used as a location for the show's 40th birthday celebrations (it's also been in First Amongst Equals, Sherlock Holmes etc)
Oldham Parish Church, Oldham: Pretty interior and also where actor Bill Waddington (Percy Sugden) was a choirboy.
St Mary's, Prestwich: Used for the majority of Corrie weddings, funerals and baptisms.
St Clement's, Ordsall: Used for the very first weddings. Archie St (used for the odd bit of filming and as the inspiration for the street set design) used to run up to the church.

Events take place over the period 8-11 September so check the website before setting off as some open on only certain days.
I'll be calling in at St Mary's, Prestwich on Saturday and St James, Didsbury on Sunday!

Corrie Vicar's Book

2011-08-02T08:56:00.000-07:00

Coronation Street's vicar (actor Jim Whelan) has put pen to paper and come up with an autobiography entitled 'What a Life!'. Jim recounts many stories of his years on Corrie (he's not just been the vicar you know!) plus behind-the-scenes tales of his other acting roles.

The book, which is availbale as an e-book only, is due to be published on 20th August at £5.99. Check out http://www.apexpublishing.co.uk/ for more details.

Below is an interview with Jim written by my late writing partner Peter Riley back in 2010:

HOLY JIM!

Actor Jim Whelan on his Corrie parish

Jim Whelan is a face known to millions of Coronation Street fans. Whether he’s marrying, burying or counseling the residents of Weatherfield, he has become a familiar feature.
Jim, who has been a professional actor and entertainer for more than 40 years, has been the Vicar of Weatherfield for several years now, and his most recent appearances have seen him officiating at the cremation of Vera Duckworth, following the exit of Liz Dawn from the show, and prior to that as the man who finally married Jason Grimshaw and Sarah Platt, played by Ryan Thomas and Tina O’Brien.
His character, Vicar Mike, was also officiant (or should that be referee?) at the wedding of Steve and Karen McDonald, after first attempting to deal with the fisticuffs between the bride (Suranne Jones) and her rival Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) who were trying to tear each other apart under the watchful eye of the church congregation.
“It has become a way of life playing the Corrie vicar and I love it!” Jim said as we chatted at his house in Bury, just a few miles from the Prestwich church which plays his fictitious home. “I am semi-retired now but if I get the call from the Coronation Street office to preside over a wedding or funeral then I am more than happy to do it. I have played the vicar for several years now and I think I should be the ‘official’ Vicar of Weatherfield, with my own vicarage!
“Seriously, I have enjoyed playing the part, though many people don’t realize that I have been in the Street before. In fact I have played six different characters in all but over the past few years the vicar role has been quite frequent and goes back a long way.
“Some viewers may remember the plot years ago when Terry Duckworth, (the wayward son of Jack and Vera) married his girlfriend Lisa while he was handcuffed to prison guards. Well when Lisa was eventually killed by being run over by a car I was the vicar who officiated at her funeral.”
For Jim acting has been a long process which started with a teenage desire to take to the stage. In 1971 he made his first Street appearance when he was a customer in the corner shop. In 1973 he appeared in the lunchtime drama series Crown Court, made at the Corrie studios, as a jury foreman and in the same year appeared in the BBC comedy series Last of the Summer Wine, in which he has now appeared four times. He returned to the famous cobbles as a postman delivering the good news to Jack and Vera Duckworth that they had inherited £30,000 following the death of Jack’s brother Cliff before donning his dog collar again.
His Corrie roles have given him the chance to catch up with old friends. Jim said: “I first met Bill Tarmey many years ago. I had been fixing a table lamp at home when I was electrocuted because it was faulty. I ended up going to hospital and I came out with my hand and arm bandaged. In order to make a living I was singing in clubs in those days, between acting jobs, and one night I was at a club waiting to go on and sing, along with the bandaged arm, when I hears this gruff voice asking ‘what have you done to your arm then?’ I turned around and saw this chap standing there smoking a cigarette. It was Bill Tarmey.
“Bill had turned up to sing too, because he wasn’t famous then, he also had to make a living and he told me he’d had a heart attack not long before. So like two invalids we started talking and became friendly. So it has been nice to be able to meet him now and then whenever we have both appeared in Corrie at the same time, and it was particularly poignant when we met up to film Vera’s cremation service at Manchester Crematorium.
“It was the same with Barbara Knox and Anne Kirkbride. We worked together more than 30 years ago to the early days at Oldham Rep. It’s always nice to talk about the old days on a long day’s filming.”
During periods when he wasn’t acting Jim spent his days helping out by driving children to and from school for a local firm. But Jim, now 66, has now called it a day from full time work, unless he gets offered a full time role as Corrie’s vicar, of course. “That would be nice – they might give me a vicarage to live in!” he laughs.

Thinking ahead to panto time

2011-07-08T08:20:00.000-07:00

Did you know that the following ex-Corrie cast members are donning tights, slapping on the make-up and over-acting (no comments please!) this Christmas ...

Nigel Havers - Peter Pan - Hawth Theatre, Crawley
Julia Howarth - Cinderella - Billingham Forum
Vicky Entwistle - Snow White - Grand Theatre, Blackpool
Debra Stephenson - Jack and the Beanstalk - Pavillion, Bournemouth
Sue Devaney - Cinderella - Marlowe, Canterbury
Marshall Lancaster - Aladdin - Palace Theatre, Newark
Tupele Dorgu - Snow White - Pavillion, Rhyl
Bev Callard - Sleeping Beauty - Lyceum, Sheffield
Eric Potts - Dick Whittington - New Theatre, Wimbledon
Amanda Barrie - Cinderella - Connaught, Worthing

More will no doubt be announced!

It's panto time!

The Bernstein Legacy

2011-07-06T05:33:00.000-07:00

Almost cathedral-like!

Granada TV was founded by the Bernstein brothers - Sydney and Cecil. Before they went into TV they ran a successful cinema chain by the same name - the picture shown here is the Granada Tooting Bec and as you can see, they certainly went for some impressive architecture.

It's said that the brothers actually designed the main building at Granada Manchester themselves to save on architect's fees. It may not be the prettiest structure by today's standards but it will be very sad to see it all demolished when the TV company moves to its new base in Salford in a couple of years.

Last call for the Kemptville Travel tour!

2011-07-06T05:27:00.000-07:00

Last year's tour outside the bookies

Fancy visiting the Coronation Street set? Seeing some of the filming locations? Travelling around Ireland?
Kemptville Travel of Toronto offer just that with their annual World of Coronation Street tour - and this is the last call for bookings!

You'll find all the information you need at http://www.kemptvilletravel.com/

I'm Visiting Manchester ....

2011-06-10T05:57:00.000-07:00

One of the most frequent email enquiries I get is 'I'm visiting Manchester and I'm a Corrie fan - what is there to see?' Sadly, the answer - at least on your own - is 'not much' ... but here are a few suggestions:

Manchester Town Hall -
used as a filming locations in
countless TV shows and films. Find
out more on a walking tour - see below.

Manchester City Centre:
Granada Studios: Many people think the studios are still open to the public - they are not. They used to be open as part of the Granada Studios Tour attraction but it all closed down in 1999. You can walk around the outside of the studios and if you know where to look you can just about see the original viaduct at the end of what was the first outdoor Corrie set and you can just about see the viaduct and side of Dev's shop on the current set. There are also some blue plaques commemorating some of the original cast members, but that's about that. There is also no gift shop or anything like that.
Science and Industry Museum: This museum - which is very interesting and free to enter - is next to the studios. You used to be able to see through a window onto the Corrie set but not anymore. There is a small - and I mean small - exhibit (a script and a few bits of memorabilia) plus the chance to watch some old episodes on a small TV. There will be a larger exhibit in due course (I understand they've got the replica tram used for the 50th episodes to show off eventually).
Castlefield: The area to the east of the studios has been used for location filming a lot down the years - a walk around there (it's lovely) will evoke memories I'm sure. Again, if you know where to look you'll find the place where Tony Gordon tried to drown Roy Cropper, where Les Battersby almost committed suicide, where Zoe ran off with Fiona's baby, where Jamie bid farewell to his dad Danny and so on.
The Old Grapes: The pub which used to be owned by Liz Dawn (Vera Duckworth) still has some of her pictures and memorabilia on the walls.

Further afield:
Bury: The East Lancashire Railway was where they filmed the train scenes for Roy and Hayley's wedding. The station is opposite the Drill Hall which doubled as the prison housing John Stape.
Arley Hall: This lovely stately home is where Liam and Maria, Mike Baldwin and Linda, and Steve and Karen married - it's also where Joy Fishwick's funeral was held.
Tatton Hall: Has appeared many times - Annie Walker's car went into the lake here, Deidre's solicitor was based here during the John the Pilot story and more recently, Roy and Hayley's wedding reception (well, some of it) was shot here.
Worsley: Martha's barge was moored here when she had her dalliance with Ken.
Bradford: Both Tracy and Gail's court cases where filmed here and in the National Media Museum you can watch old episodes.
Ashton-under-Lyne: The town is the home of Portland Basin, where Richard Hillman drove the Platts into the canal, Ryecroft Hall which doubles as the registry office and Ashton Town Hall which is where Alf Roberts used to be Mayor.

Guided Tours:
I offer a guided tour (it's just for your group so does not operate on set days or at set times) which takes you around the city centre for about 1.5 hours (you'll hear some of Manchester's history, visit Castlefield, the Roman ruins, go round the outside of the studios, hear how Corrie is made, hear about Granada and Tony Warren etc) then we call at the Old Grapes (see above) for 20 minutes or so before boarding a Manchester tram to Salford Quays where we walk for another 30 minutes (you'll see where Steve proposed to Karen, where Don tried to kill Alma, where Mike, Dev, Danny and Carla have all lived, and where the new Corrie studios are being built). We then finish at a shopping mall where there's a food court and a discounted Cadbury's chocolate store. I, of course, point out where the tram stop is to get you back into town after you've eaten and shopped. We normally start in the city centre at 10.30am and finish about 2.15pm.
Everyone gets a free book as a memento and of course, you can ask all the Corrie questions you like - and I'll bring along lots of pictures, a Corrie script and other items to illustrate the talk!
If you would like more details, my availability for a particular date or a quote please email theagency@btinternet.com with the number in your party (it's ideal for ones, twos and upwards).

Corrie! play - last few weeks

2011-06-09T03:47:00.000-07:00

The Corrie! stage play (which I heartily recommend) comes to the end of its tour in a few weeks. If you haven't already seen it (or even if you have) you might want to catch it at the following venues:
This week: The Regent, Stoke
Next week: Theatre Royal, Brighton
Following week: New Theatre, Hull
End of June: Festival Theatre, Malvern
Rumour has it that that will be the end of the play - though personally I hope they make a DVD of it.
There are offers out there for discounted tickets on selected nights - for example at Brighton there's a great 2 for 1 offer for the first couple of nights at http://theatreroyalbrightonvouchers.com/corrie/
Gaynor Faye is narrator at all venues except Malvern where it's Roy Barraclough.
Check each theatre's websites for performance times and prices.

The criminal side of Manchester

2011-06-08T09:04:00.000-07:00

A CITY OF VICE, CON-MEN AND SWINDLERS

Some years ago I co-wrote a book called The World of Crime (you can still find it on ebay). Today I was giving a Corrie walking tour (if you require more information on those please look at previous postings) around Manchester and Salford and in the pouring rain, sheltering under a viaduct we got talking about Manchester's Victorian crimes - and I remembered this article I did years back for a crime magazine promoting the book. Hope you enjoy it.

Dukinfield Police. Picture copyright
Tameside Council.

‘The World of Crime’ brings together a unique collection of true criminal tales from the Victorian and Edwardian periods. These stories come from across the globe – from America, Canada, France and of course, from the British Isles. But of most interest to Lancashire readers will be two chapters based in the north – one telling the tale of a policeman’s lot and the other, the fiendish story of master criminal Charles Peace.

Peace was born in Sheffield, the son of a very resourceful man indeed. His father, originally from Staffordshire, worked as a collier until he lost a leg in a freak accident and was thrown onto the occupational scrap heap. He re-trained – as a lion tamer would you believe – and joined the famous ‘Wombwell’s Wild Beast Show’. The family eventually ended up in Sheffield and little Charlie Peace was educated in the city until he was fourteen when he was sent to work in a rolling mill.

Here he too was victim to a tragic accident when a piece of red-hot steel entered his leg and he was left a cripple. In 1851, aged just nineteen, he took the first steps on his path of crime. He broke into a house but was caught and sentenced to one month’s detention. After his release he took up the violin and toured the area playing at fairs and in public houses. One contemporary account describes him as “the modern Paganini.”

Violin playing was just a cover however, and he was arrested again in 1854 when he served a further four years. Upon his release he took up both violin playing and burglary once more and on August 11th 1859 a house in Manchester was broken into and a large quantity of goods stolen. The following day the police discovered the stolen goods hidden in a hole in a field, they left the items there and kept watch. Soon after, Peace arrived to retrieve his bounty and he was arrested following a violent struggle. This time he got six years.

Charles Peace’s story continues in the same vein – further crimes, further arrests, further sentences. By 1876 he had a wife, a daughter and a mistress. At about midnight on August 1st of that year he entered the grounds of a house belonging to a Samuel Greatorex on the boundary of Whalley Range and Chorlton, about four miles south of Manchester city centre. Unfortunately he had been seen by two constables and one of them, twenty-three-year-old PC Nicholas Cock went to challenge him. Peace drew a revolver, the young PC held his truncheon out shouting, “Put the gun down and don’t be foolish!” Peace fatally shot him in the chest and made off.

Near the scene of the killing lived two brothers, William and John Habron, who were well known to the police. It was they who were arrested for the crime having been overheard some days before threatening the young constable. John Habron was found guilty and sentenced to hang – Peace sat in the public gallery and watched the case, no doubt with some glee. Habron was not actually hung but, following some petitioning of the Home Secretary by influential local businesspeople uneasy with the evidence offered against him, the innocent man was sentenced to a period of penal servitude.

Peace continued to commit his crimes and prospered so much that he ended up living in a large villa in London with two mistresses. It all came to an end when he was arrested during a robbery and, having threatened to shoot the arresting constable, he was sentenced to life for attempted murder. One of the mistresses collected a £100 reward for revealing his true identity and the police realised that they had caught one of Britain’s most wanted. He was hung on February 25th 1879 and shortly after, William Habron was freed with £800 compensation.

Another section of the book recounts the career of Jerome Caminada who rose from constable to superintendent in Victorian Manchester. He’s gone down in the history books because of the colourful, detailed diaries he kept and this book uses many of these recollections to great effect. Caminada’s beat included Spinning Field just off the busy thoroughfare of Deansgate which is described as being, “One of the worst dens for prostitution and theft – it was a very brave police officer who entered these premises without fearing for his safety.”

In Caminada’s time public houses were allowed to stay open from 4am until 1am and were popular haunts for the under-classes. Many of the beer-houses laid on ‘entertainment’ such as dog fights, rat-baiting and badger draws and it was here that gangs met to discuss and plan their next crimes. The police officer draws the distinction between the different types of criminal and their punishments, chronicling that a poor man who stole goods worth twelve shillings was sentenced to ten years whereas a middle-class criminal got just twelve months for stealing £4000.

“I have often stood by when men have been sentenced to terms of penal servitude which have filled me with sorrow, because I have been convinced that in many cases the sentence meant either a criminal death of insanity; for astonishing as the statement may appear, I have never yet known a man or a woman return from a long sentence of penal servitude in their rational mind; and yet in all probability the criminal had never in the course of his or her life a single chance of getting out of the circumstances in which he or she was born, breathing through poverty an air of temptation.” he records expressing an incredibly liberal attitude for the times.

Caminada served with the Manchester Police from 1868 until his retirement in 1899 by which time he had become the most honoured man in a force that totalled 1,037 officers. It is only right that this new book pays tribute to such a man and gives a unique insight into life in Manchester during the latter half of the nineteenth century. Criminal and police are well represented in this collection of twenty-eight stories – some murders, some cons such as the man who ‘sold’ Buckingham Palace and some famous names such as the disappearance of Agatha Christie or the real crimes investigated by Sherlock Holmes creator Sir Arthur Conan Doyle. A great read full of intriguing yarns and illustrated with over ninety pictures.

If you live in Greater Manchester and you like true crime, you'll find more stories like these in Crime Files Oldham, which will be out via the Oldham Chronicle newspaper in September.

Say It With ... Flowers

2011-06-05T05:58:00.000-07:00

Daisy Nook Garden Centre, on the outskirts of Manchester, is launching a new event's programme - and I am delighted to be working with them on a number of promotions.

This coming weekend (June 11/12) there are lots of offers and entertainment by Barry McQueen, the delightfully eccentric Town Crier of Blackpool to mark the Queen's official 85th birthday.

http://www.daisynook.com/

Now you can sail to Weatherfield!

2011-05-14T04:41:00.000-07:00

I think this is a first! And you could be part of it! The first cruise to Weatherfield!
Alec Gilroy used to work on the cruise liners, Rita's been known to take a cruise - and if you remember way back Hilda once worked as a cleaner on a cruise ship so Corrie has lots of cruise connections.

The Caribbean Princess

A Canadian-based company is offering a great way of seeing the UK - and visiting lots of Corrie filming locations in my company. Laurel Dougherty is the lady behind this unique trip and it's all aboard the Caribbean Princess ship for a 12 night British Isles Cruise departing from Southampton on June 7, 2012.
The itineray of calls is: Southampton, St. Peter Port, Cobh, Dublin, Liverpool (when you'll join me for a day in and around Manchester calling at lots of Corrie filming locations, hearing all about the show and how it's made, and passing the Corrie studios too of course!), Belfast, Glasgow, Invergordon, Edinburgh, Le Havre, Southampton.
Prices range from $2,365.00 to $3,615.00/person CAD - depending on the cabin category (includes taxes, fees and tour). I'm also told that if you book between June 6-20th, 2011, thanks to the Princess Cruise Line sale you'll find extra incentives! There are also many other perks such as an onboard coupon booklet valued at $650.00 USD (per stateroom) etc.

Anyone booking this particular cruise (Coronation Street) will also receive an onboard credit of $50.00, a bottle of wine, chocolate covered strawberries and a 6 x 8 photo (all of these are per stateroom).

If you fancy it, want to ask questions, or want to get it booked then you can contact Laurel as shown below:
Expedia CruiseShipCenters,
215 Centennial Rd., Unit 12
Orangeville, ON, L9W5K9
(519) 941-3200 or toll free 1-877-941-3201

Fax: (519) 941-4788
ldougherty@cruiseshipcenters.com
www.cruiseshipcenters.ca/LaurelDougherty

10 Corrie Wedding Trivia Facts

2011-05-03T02:22:00.000-07:00

As we all calm down after the royal wedding here are 10 Corrie wedding facts to amuse you all:

1. When Ken married Deirdre first time round the press speculated on whether the actors had really become hitched - it turned out that the actor playing the vicar was really ordained.
2. When the 'Burton and Taylor of Weatherfield' married second time round the wedding was filmed at Manchester's costume museum.

Did the actors marry as well as
their characters?
Picture: ITV

3. When Steve married Vicky Arden (actually the wedding didn't go through but the couple married abroad later) filming was disrupted by a huge turnout of press photographers. Outside scenes had to be hastily rewritten so they could be filmed indoors.
4. When Ashley and Claire Peacock married a huge amount of fake snow was used to create the perfect Christmas scenes. However, when the producer saw the 'rushes' from filming on the street set he demanded more snow and all the scenes of Claire leaving her home had to be re-shot.
5. When Elsie Tanner married Steve Tanner although scenes were not actually filmed in a real church, still photos were taken on location in the Whalley Range part of the city and used in magazines.
6. The first Corrie wedding was that of Joan Walker, daughter of Jack and Annie, but we never saw it on screen.
7. When Harry Hewitt married Concepta Riley scenes of the cars leaving the church were filmed at Archie St in Ordsall with St Clements church in the background. This is the street on which the Corrie set was modelled. Sadly, the street iteslf was demolished but the church still stands.
8. When Dev married Sunita a fake street was built across the Corrie car park so that he could ride along it on a horse. The wedding ceremony was filmed in an old studio opposite the Corrie set.
9. When Bet and Alec Gilroy married her wedding dress was so big that she had trouble walking through the front door of the Rovers.
10. Gail and Brian Tilsley were one of the few Corrie couples to have married in a Catholic church. This wedding introduced the character of Jack Duckworth into the show.

Manchester and Salford Tours for Groups

2011-04-30T07:15:00.000-07:00

Are you a group organiser or a coach operator in the UK?

A hidden corner of Greater Manchester -
visited on our Hidden Manchester
and lowry tours.

We now offer day tours of Manchester and Salford with an experienced, insured guide. You just provide the coach and driver and we'll provide the itinerary.
Themes include: Film and TV (this includes some Corrie locations, Last of the Summer Wine, film locations and much more!), Coronation Street (this includes lots of exterior locations, a trip around the outside of the studios and much more!), Manchester's Hidden History (we visit some of the out of the way places including an 18th century village, the roman ruins, a former home to cowboys and indians and much more!) and In The Footsteps of Lowry (which includes visits to places he painted, the gallery named after him and some of the areas he lived in over the years).
We can also provide a meeting point near the M60 for your group to leave their cars or to take morning coffee (weekdays only).
Email us at theagency@btinternet.com for more details.

Coming to Manchester?

2011-04-30T07:05:00.000-07:00

Book a walking tour and ride the tram!

I get a lot of emails asking what there is to see in Manchester for Corrie fans. The truth is that there's very little sadly. You can walk around the outside of the Granada Studios and catch the tiniest glimpse of the back of the Corrie set but that's about it. Of course the crew go out and about on locations to film weddings and funerals, cars going into canals etc but these locations are spread across a wide area and without a guide they are very hard to find. That's why I started acting as guide for travel agents (http://www.kemptvilletravel.com/ http://www.square1travel.com/ and http://www.coronationtravel.com/ all offer trips from Canada) and group organisers. I've expanded this to include a walking tour which is ideal for smaller groups. Obviously it's not just about Corrie but the four hour jaunt includes a two-hour walk around the city centre when you'll hear about Manchester and some of its quirky past, we walk around the studios and I'll point out where the first outdoor Corrie set was, show you the Corrie blue plaques, tell you about Tony Warren, how the show is made etc and we pass several locations used for key stories over the years. We then take a short break in the pub owned by Liz Dawn (Vera) which has lots of Corrie pictures on the walls. Then we see the Town Hall and climb on a tram to travel to the docks area of Salford (it's about 15 mins on the tram) and we walk around there, again with me telling you some history and pointing out some Corrie filming locations. You'll also see where they are currently building the new Corrie studios (yes, Corrie will move within the next two years) before I bid you farewell outside the Cadbury chocolate shop, food court and tram stop.
These tours are exclusive to your party (mostly it's twosomes) and can be booked for any day I'm available. We normally start at 10.30am and meet at the Midland Hotel in the city centre.
Just email me at theagency@btinternet.com with a day or dates and we'll email you back with availability and cost. It's up to you whether you then book!

Here are some of the comments we've had back from bookers: "Something I will always remember - and I'll watch Corrie much more attentively in future knowing all the work that goes into it!" "Thank you - my mum loved her day with you!" "Wow! I can now say I stood where Tony tried to drown Roy Cropper!" "We thoroughly enjoyed our walk - bumping into Fiz and David like that was the icing on the cake." "Steve is my favourite so to see where he proposed to Karen was lovely. The whole thing was a treat." "I'm so glad I booked the tour - I feel I've been to Weatherfield."

Please note that it is not possible to enter the Corrie studios unless on an organised large group trip (check out www.kemptvilletravel.com for details)

Filming in Manchester

2011-04-30T06:47:00.000-07:00

The Bonded Warehouse (you see it behind the medical
centre in Corrie) used to stand on one side of Grape St
with Granada Studios on the other. Now the street is gone
and the studios occupy the whole site.

It's been a busy few weeks with quite a few days spent filming for a couple of overseas projects. I was asked to talk about Granada in the 60s for a programme, which is to be aired on RTE in Ireland later in the year, about the late actor Ray MacAnally (My Left Foot, A Very British Coup etc). Ray worked at Granada in 1967/8 when he starred in 'Spindoe'. I had to tell his son, Aongus, what the studios would have been like in those days and about the series. Aongus is a TV star in Ireland. We filmed in Granada and I got the crew permission to film on what's known as Grape Street where they have a replica of the Rovers Return (it's not used for filming but is left over from when the studios used to be open to the public). Aongus turned out to be a big Corrie fan so he was delighted when I showed him Gail Force, the infamous boat, some Streetcar cars and other bits and pieces that were lying about the place. He wasn't allowed to see the street set though.
I've also been filming for a Canadian project which I'm not allowed to say too much about right now. It's something Corrie fans will be interested in and if all goes well Canadians will get to see it next spring.

Tours to the UK for Canadian fans

2011-04-14T05:51:00.000-07:00

On both tours you'll see where Richard Hillman died -
and lots more!

There are two tours coming up in September. The first is run by Kemptville Travel (out of Toronto) and includes the full Corrie experience (studio visit, Corrie locations and 2 special guest events) and several days in Ireland.

The other is run by Square 1 Travel in Vancouver and includes London, Manchester (including a day of Corrie locations and a guest for dinner).

Check their websites out for all the details! http://www.kemptvilletravel.com/ and http://www.square1travel.com/

Don't forget - if you visit Manchester on your own, I do run walking tours. You'll find details in previous posts.

Another tour from Canada

2011-03-26T12:03:00.000-07:00

Live on the west coast of Canada? You might want to visit the website http://www.square1travel.com/ where you will find details of their trip to the UK at the end of September. It includes two days in Manchester visiting Corrie locations with me as guide ... and it ends with a gala dinner (and special guest!).
Please note that this tour does not visit the Granada Studios.

About Elsie Tanner

2011-03-15T06:13:00.000-07:00

With the upcoming return of Dennis Tanner to the cobbles - here's a little about his mother Elsie:

Elsie Tanner marries Steve Tanner

One of the original cast of Corrie residents, Elsie had lived at number 11 from the day she married, aged just 16, local thug and enforcer Arnold Tanner. Just days after moving in together he announced that he was joining the Royal Navy and he would visit her just once during the war years – this resulted in the birth (in the Rovers living room) of Linda and then Dennis. At the age of 19 attractive Elsie found herself a mother of two, sewing army uniforms by day and hanging about with American servicemen by night. She fell in love with handsome GI Steve Tanner but fearing Arnold’s reaction, gave him the push.

Arnold returned for a short while only to leave for the merchant navy. Later Dennis was sent to borstal and Linda married Polish Ivan Cheveski and left for Canada. Eventually Arnold returned once more, this time demanding a divorce so that he could marry his new love. At first Elsie refused but then he produced letters written to him by Ena Sharples which revealed Elsie’s other relationships and graphic details of her life. Elsie and Ena would always have a tempestuous relationship as a result.

Then she met and fell for Chief Petty Officer Bill Gregory but he proved to be already married. Elsie drifted from one job to the next – she worked for a while at Weatherfield’s department store Miami Modes (in the better dressed department) then at Ellison’s raincoat factory opposite her house. Dennis came and went, working as a theatrical agent then a hairstylist and she rarely heard from daughter Linda. Elsie lacked the roots, family and love that she so needed.

In 1966 Linda and her son Paul returned from their new life in Canada and Elsie found herself playing mother all over again – albeit temporarily. In 1967 the Americans returned to nearby Burtonwood and Elsie was thrilled to be reunited with old flame Steve Tanner whom she married and moved to Boston with. But things didn’t work out and she sold her engagement ring to buy an air ticket back to Manchester. Dennis had moved a commune of hippies into the house but Elsie quickly had them moved on and Dennis married one, Jenny, and left. Steve followed Elsie back but he fell down number 11’s stairs and fatally broke his neck. There was always much conjecture over who killed him with Elsie believing Len Fairclough had done it to protect her. However, it later transpired that fellow serviceman Joe Donnelli was the guilty party.

Elsie took a job at a hairdressing salon and fell for the owner Alan Howard whom she wed in 1970 but his business failed and he took to drink. Elsie left Weatherfield for Newcastle, trying to escape Alan and she only returned after her marriage had failed. She landed a job running a lingerie shop and employed young Gail Potter as her assistant and also took her in as a lodger. Mike Baldwin then offered Elsie a job as supervisor at his new denim factory but her meddling (or offering of advice) towards the factory girls and her lodgers Gail and Suzie Birchall didn’t win her any friends and she soon found herself alone once more.

She was forced to take a job in the café, which she felt was beneath her, and one night she almost died when she fell asleep on the sofa, a glass in one hand and a smouldering cigarette in the other.

In 1983 Elsie left Weatherfield for the last time having been reunited with Bill Gregory who was now alone and the proud owner of a bar in Portugal – they agreed on a ‘no strings’ deal to give life together one last shot. Daughter Linda, who was newly divorced, returned to sell the house. New owner Bill Webster turned down her advances and Linda left the Street.

Forthcoming Corrie Tours

2011-03-15T06:01:00.000-07:00

Visiting Liam's grave with a past tour

Want to visit the Coronation St set? Then you need to book onto one of these forthcoming tours -

http://www.coronationtravel.com/ is visiting the UK between 9-19 May from Canada. The tour, hosted by personality Neville MacKay visits London, Hampton Court, Salisbury, Bath, Cardiff, Chester, Liverpool and Manchester ... and visits Corrie locations and the studios with me.

http://www.kemptvilletravel.com/ is the grand-daddy of them all. This is their 22nd year and they are in the UK between 8-20 Sept. This includes Manchester, Clitheroe, Chester, Skipton plus the studios, dinner with guest and lots of locations. I will be tour guide for all the English days. They then go off to Ireland to visit Dublin, Blarney Castle, Killkenny, Kerry, Bunratty, Galway and Connemara.

I also hear there's another group making arrangements out of Vancouver for the end of September and one from New Zealand in early September. As soon as I have confirmed information I'll let you know.

Corrie Walking Tours

2011-02-22T08:44:00.000-08:00

Since I announced the Corrie Walking Tours I've taken several couples and groups of friends on the Corrie heritage trail - so here's a little more about them.

These walks are exclusive to you (I don't do them on set days or at set times and it's just you and me) and include a history of Corrie, Tony Warren, Granada, a bit about how the show is produced and a bit of Manchester history too. Here's a bit more about what we see:

Part 1: The city centre. We meet in a city centre hotel and do a two-hour walk around the city centre. You'll see the building that Hitler wanted to own, the Town Hall, the site where the Suffragette movement was born, the concert hall, trams, the tallest building, the Roman remains, Liz McDonald's pub, the site where Steve and Michelle broke up, where Tony tried to drown Roy Cropper, the studios, site of the original outdoor street set, where the Rovers fire took place, the cast entrance, the oldest passenger station in the world, and much more. We finish in the Old Grapes, the pub owned by Liz Dawn (Vera Duckworth).
You can either end the tour there or go the whole hog and, after a short rest, head off on ...
Part 2: Weatherfield Quays. We board a tram and cross a few viaducts and arrive after about 10 minutes in the Quays area of Salford - you'll hear about the American star who brought his huge entourage here, see where Leanne plied her wares as a prostitute, where Steve proposed to Karen, where Don Brennan tried to kill Alma, where the first outside filming took place, where the real Coronation St stood. You'll find out why Canada is so linked to this area, you'll see where Mike Baldwin, Danny and Dev all lived and where the Coronation St studios are moving to. This takes about another hour or so and I then leave you there to take some lunch, look at the shops, visit the gallery or take the tram back into Manchester.

Bring your cameras too! This week my party bumped into Mikey North (Gary Windass), last week we met Johnny Briggs (Mike Baldwin). You never know who you might see en route!

Everyone in your party receives a free guide book as a souvenir at the end.

The beautiful Castlefield area which
you will see on the tour.
Picture: Copyright Mark Llewellin

Please note that we do not enter the studios - it is not possible to visit the street set anymore.
This tour is not authorised by Granada TV or ITV.

Some answers to popular questions:
Can you get me into the studios? No, sorry. The studios are not open to the public.
Can you guarantee we see a cast member? No. Sometimes we are lucky enough to just see someone in the street, sometimes we see no cast members in town at all.
Should I bring a camera? Yes - the city is very picturesque.
Where can I buy Corrie souvenirs? Individual shops may stock items such as calendars, books etc but there is not a particular souvenir shop.
I'm bringing a large group - can you give us a tour? The walking tour is aimed at groups of up to 6 people. I am able to book minibuses or coaches for larger groups and put together an itinerary of outer Manchester locations.
What dates are your tours on? As explained these walking tours are for your party only so please let me know when you're in town and I'll see if I'm available. We normally set out at 10.30am and finish at around 2pm. Email me with possible dates and I'll then advise you of the cost.
Do you give talks on Corrie? Yes. I am happy to travel anywhere in the UK.
Is the walking tour very easy? Yes, it's almost all on the flat. At one point there are some steps but these can be avoided if necessary.
Is it all outside on the walking tour? Yes, we only go inside at the Old Grapes Pub (as described). If it's wet just bring a brolly.
I've only watched Corrie for a few years, is the walking tour for me? Yes. It doesn't matter how long you've watched it for, you'll enjoy it.
My partner doesn't watch Corrie, will they be bored? I include quite a bit on Manchester and the buildings we pass so it's not all Corrie.
I'm not sure about the walking tour - what else can I do that's Corrie related? Not a lot! There's the Corrie! play touring UK until July (visit www.corrietheplay.com for more information and a tour date list) which you will enjoy. You used to be able to see the Corrie set from the Manchester Science and Industry Museum next door but you can't anymore. They have a very small Corrie exhibit, which will be enlarged to include 'the tram' in due course but that hasn't happened yet. You might find an ex-Corrie cast member appearing in something at the theatre (google Manchester Theatres for listings info). That's about it!

Corrie! - a second review of the stage play

2011-02-22T08:12:00.000-08:00

Elsie Tanner back on the
cobbles in Corrie!

Jonathan Harvey's stage play Corrie! opened at the Lowry in Salford last summer and I gave it the thumbs up on this site. Such was the success of the fortnight's run that the play has now embarked on a national tour and the role of narrator is being played by different actors in different towns. (see below). So what's changed? Quite a bit actually. Firstly, the original version was a little too long whereas this new version comes in at just under two hours which is much better. We now have six actors playing about 55 characters and they do a great job too. They've also added the tram crash which is very spectacular and done as a silent movie.
Last night, in Liverpool, the Narrator was Ken Morley (Reg Holdsworth). Now, I have to confess that Reg wasn't one of my favourite Corrie characters but Ken did a great job in play - remember that the Narrator is the actor rather than the character so he played it as Ken rather than Reg.
The strength of this new version is that it is much pacier than the original and you move from very funny scenes to some very touching ones (Hilda coming back from the hospital with Stan's things for example) which work on two levels - the first is that the actors in the play are so good but on a second level we also remember the original on-screen versions of these classic scenes.
It is a must-see and worth travelling for!

The narrators will be: Bromley, Bath, Woking, Birmingham, Nottingham, Darlington, Northampton - Ken Morley / Sheffield, Ipswich, Stoke, Brighton and Hull - Gaynor Faye / Southampton, Cardiff, Bradford, Malvern - Roy Barraclough MBE.
For more info go to http://www.corrietheplay.com/

Corrie Quiz

2011-02-08T07:40:00.000-08:00

THE CORRIE QUIZ – how many can you get right?

1. Tony Warren’s first choice of name for the show was inspired by Sleeping Beauty – but what was it?
2. In which year did Betty make her first appearance?
3. Who did Billy Walker plan to marry in 1974?
4. How did Anne Malone die?
5. Alec Gilroy was married twice – to Bet and before her, to Joyce. Who did Joyce leave him for?
6. Alma once had a crush of Stephen Reid – who was he?
7. In 1996 Maxine had an affair with Fiona’s boyfriend – who was he?
8. What was the name of Vicky’s MacDonald’s horse?
9. Why was Vera sacked by Reg after a trolley dash?
10. In 1979 Deirdre thought Tracy was dead – why?
11. Who died pegging out the washing?
12. Her mum was knocked down by a car whilst walking a dog – name the dog..
13. Who was driving the car?
14. How long were Ted and Rita married for?
15. Where was Sally and Kevin’s daughter Rosie born?
16. Who drilled a hole in Reg’s water bed?
17. What was the name of Percy’s budgie?
18. Who did Phyllis Pearce clean for?
19. What did Rita call Mavis’ friend Victor Pendlebury?
20. Who did Maureen marry in 1997?
21. Who bought a baby which eventually died of meningitis?
22. Why did Len give the Kabin to Rita?
23. Who shaved off Kevin Webster’s moustache?
24. Jack and Annie Walker were blackmailed in 1965 – why?
25. What job did Ivy do at Baldwin’s?
26. Which of these people has not appeared in the show – Cliff Richard, Prince Charles or Tony Blair?
27. Which relative of Kens did Mike Baldwin marry?
28. Which actor plays undertaker Archie?
29. Who had a horse-drawn funeral cortege?
30. What was the first name of the Harris dad killed in the garage?
31. Who did Todd Grimshaw practise his kissing on?
32. What is the name of the actress who played Yana Lumb?
33. Which other famous British soap-opera did Ian Reddington (who played Vernon) appear in?
34. Which of these characters is to return to the show later this year? Jim McDonald, Todd Grimshaw or Alec Gilroy?
35. How many actresses have played Blanche Hunt?

Scroll down for the answers.

Answers:
1. Florizel Street – named after the prince in the story. 2. 1969. 3. Deirdre. 4. She froze to death in a freezer. 5. A footballer. 6. Audrey’s son from Canada. 7. Tony Horrocks. 8. Saracen. 9. She told everyone he’d fixed it for Rita to win because he fancied her. 10. She’d left her in her pram outside the Rovers when a lorry ploughed into it. 11. Judy Mallet. 12. Scamper. 13. Tony Horrocks. 14. Three months. 15. In the back of a taxi. 16. Derek Wilton. 17. Randy. 18. Des Barnes. 19. The Saddleworth Sage. 20. Fred Elliot. 21. The Mallets – from Zoe. 22. He was facing bankruptcy and wanted it in her name. 23. Steph Barnes. 24. They had an under-age barmaid. 25. She was the Supervisor. 26. Tony Blair
27. Daughter – Susan. 28. Roy Hudd. 29. Mike Baldwin 30. Tommy. 31. Nick Platt 32. Jayne Tunnicliffe. 33. EastEnders. 34. Jim and Todd (Alec returns to the Corrie stage show). 35. 2

This Blog Makes Top Ten

2011-01-31T08:48:00.000-08:00

I was delighted to have forwarded to me the following, which is atke from the newsletter produced by the Canadian store Blightys. They'd compiled a list of the top 10 websites (in no particular order) for Canadian Corrie fans. I'm delighted to find I'm on it - so thank you Blightys (http://www.blightys.com/).

#6 The Undisputed Expert’s Blog (Spoiler Caution)

Many of Canada’s greatest fans have had the privilege of meeting Mark Llewellin. Mark lives in the UK’s Greater Manchester area but has visited Canada several times. You may have met Mark at Toronto’s British Isles Show or, if you are very fortunate, you have accompanied Mark on one of his tours of Coronation Street’s studios and outside filming locations.

Mark knows Coronation Street almost as well as it’s creator Tony Warren. His many contacts within Granada Studios and among the cast make him a knowledge resource par excellence. He is a freelance tour guide, public speaker, event host, event planner and writer (mainly of books, magazine articles and pantomime scripts). Mark has been a contributor to some of the excellent Corrie fan magazines that have found their way across the great big pond to Canada.

Mark’s blog can be found at: http://markllewellin.blogspot.com/. Some of the information on the site could be considered as spoiler material. You might hear about characters or actors who will be joining or leaving the show. Mark’s post of 8th January is an interesting one for Canadians; he talks about the Canadian tours he will be hosting this year.

An excellent blog; every Corrie fan should read it.

Roy Barraclough interview

2011-01-24T06:09:00.000-08:00

Roy Barraclough MBE, about to
tread the famous cobbles once more.

ROY BARRACLOUGH MBE

.... Talks about his 50 year career

How did you first get the acting bug?
I was about ten years old and my parents had taken me to see a touring production of The Desert Song, which was playing the Royal Hippodrome in Preston, my home town. During the interval I went off to get an ice cream and I came across a door marked ‘private’. I was curious as to what went on behind there so I opened the door and went inside. Here was a world quite unlike the front of house. A stage manager told me to clear off, so off I went with my tail between my legs. But my imagination had been fired. When I got home I built a model theatre.

But you didn’t go onto stage school?
No. I never had any formal training. I studied as a draughtsman. Whilst I was at college I saved up and got a season ticket for the theatre. I also joined a couple of the local amateur societies and acted, played the piano, directed – and, whilst I should have been working – designed scenery.

So, when was your first professional role?
I was about sixteen when I was asked to play a schoolboy in a production at the local theatre. I got paid £4 for the week. However, then there was a long gap until I landed a summer contract as an entertainer at a holiday camp on the Isle of Wight. I then went back to being a draughtsman again. I was desperate to join a repertory company and wrote so many letters of application. In 1962, when I was 27, I finally got a contract with the Nita Valerie Company in Huddersfield. I had many happy years there and then I went to Stoke and then Oldham. Working in rep, you rehearsed one play during the day and performed another at night. A different play every week, that was better than going to drama school.

Most people will know you from television but you’ve always appeared on stage too, haven’t you?
Yes. I always have done, even when I was in Coronation Street, I always insisted on time out to do a stage play each year. That’s why Alec (Gilroy) used to vanish on cruises. I’ve done a whole range – a lot of Arthur Miller, musicals, pantomime of course, more drama than comedy though. Theatre has always been my first love.

What were your first television roles?
Oldham is on the outskirts of Manchester and when Granada Television opened, the casting directors used to come and watch the plays there. Many of us – William Roache, Barbara Knox, Anne Kirkbride – ended up as regulars at Granada. I appeared in some of the early programmes like City 68, Nearest and Dearest and Coronation Street, which I first appeared in around 1964. In 1969 I got my first big role on TV, which was as a regular in Yorkshire TV’s first soap, Castle Haven. Kathy Staff and I played husband and wife. I then starred in a popular children’s series called Pardon My Genie which ran through the early 70s.

You met Les Dawson during that time, didn’t you?
I did. Les had won Opportunity Knocks and had landed his first series at Yorkshire. They had employed an actor to do sketches with him but actors like scripts and Les really liked to make it up as he went along. He didn’t care for rehearsals either. This poor actor walked out on the show and they needed someone to take over – fast! I happened to be on site and they asked me. We got on straight away. He was a lovely man and we worked together for a long time. On screen and on stage. The famous Cissie and Ada sketches came about because we both loved the comedy of Norman Evans and his Over the Garden Wall monologues so when we were bored we used to amuse each other by doing them. The producer overheard us and they got put into the show.

Did you enjoy your Coronation Street years?
Yes, although I always worried about being type-cast. I played quite a few different roles in the show before Alec came along including the man who sold the window-cleaning round to Stan Ogden, a tour guide taking the Rovers regulars on a trip and so on. They brought me in to run a drinking club as they had a story where the Rovers was going to burn down and would therefore be out of use for some time. They then decided to team Bet and Alec up and they then married us off. They always had a struggle to get me to sign a new contract because I was always tempted to go and do something new. So I had breaks every now and again – but if you add it all up, I played Alec across 25 years and from my first Corrie appearance until my last was 34 years.
Do you keep in touch with any of your Corrie co-stars?
Yes, I do – I have a chat with the actors who played Bet, Jack and Vera, Mavis, Betty and Rita now and again. I also have a very close relationship with Chloe, who played my granddaughter Vicky.

So what do you do these days?
Well, I’m very happy to be semi-retired. I’m 76 this year and if you tot it all up, it’s my 50th year in the business so I think I’ve earned a rest. I’m very fortunate in that I’m offered quite a few TV and stage roles but I turn most of them down. It has to be something that really appeals. I did a series called Funland which was set in Blackpool because I loved the scripts, I played the vicar in All the Small Things because it was filmed locally and the rest of the cast were wonderful and it allowed me to work with Sarah Lancashire (Raquel) again. I’ve also played Santa on stage in Southampton, Birmingham and Liverpool over the past few Christmases because the production values of the shows were so good.

And you're about to return to the cobbles - on stage at least.
Yes, Coronation Street has played such a big role in my career and this being my 50th year in the business it seemed like a great way to celebrate by going on tour with the Corrie! stage play by Jonathan Harvey. I’m playing the narrator at Cardiff, Bradford, Southampton and Malvern. I saw the play when it premiered at the Lowry and absolutely loved it. I wasn’t sure how Jonathan was going to get 50 years of stories and characters into a two-hour show but he does it very well indeed. As I sat in the audience I thought then that if it went on tour I’d love to be involved so when they asked it was an instant yes.

For more information on the show go to http://www.corrietheplay.com/

What a Carry On!

2011-01-19T08:52:00.000-08:00

WHAT A CARRY ON!

In tribute to the showing tonight on BBC4 of 'Hattie' - the story of Hattie Jacques, here are some Carry On facts:
They are considered quintessentially British – the bawdy honour, the innuendo and the host of famous British faces placed in the most daft, and often ludicrous, situations that the Carry On producers could dream up for each film. The films are so familiar – but did you know….?

Carry On Cleo was filmed on the sets that had been created for the Burton and Taylor epic Cleopatra.

One day Charles Hawtry brought his elderly mother to have tea with the cast at Pinewood Studios. Kenneth Williams and Joan Sims joined them and as usual, Hawtry smoked continuously. The pair noticed a long smouldering tip of ash fall from the cigarette into his mother’s open handbag. Sims shouted, “Charles, your mother’s handbag is on fire!” Without batting an eyelid he threw the cup of tea he was holding into the bag, closed it, and continued with his anecdote.

When filming on location for Carry On Cabbie, Sid James was waiting to shoot a scene, sitting in his fake taxi. An elderly lady climbed in, thinking it was real, and asked to be taken to the station. James drove her there and refused the fare.

In Carry On Sergeant there is a scene where the recruits are made to swing across a water filled, muddy pit on a rope. Every time Bob Monkhouse had to do his shot he slid down the rope and into the mud. It later turned out that Williams had coated the rope with a pound of butter!

In Carry on Teacher there is a scene where the children cover the teacher’s clothes in itching powder. Kenneth Connor bribed the wardrobe girl to ensure Kenneth Williams’ powder was the real stuff!

Joan Sims had a long scene in Carry On Regardless where she had to get drunk – they used real wine when they shot it so there’s no acting involved.

When filming Carry On Follow That Camel the cast were taken to Camber Sands to film the desert scenes. The crew had tried to find a stuffed camel but had no luck so a real one was borrowed from the local zoo. Unfortunately it didn’t like sand and they had to lay planks down for it to walk on.

In Carry On Doctor Kenneth Williams has to fall into a bath of ice cubes. The props men carefully carved plastic blocks to look like the ice but Bernard Bresslaw, who was fed up with Williams’ endless pranks, had the bath filled with the real thing.

Charles Hawtry made his own way to the studios by bus. One day he was walking up the long drive to Pinewood when a Rolls Royce stopped and Sir Laurence Olivier climbed out – he was horrified to find Hawtry didn’t have a car so he had his meet him off the bus each morning.

Carry On Camping was filmed under the most appalling conditions – there was so much rain that the field used for the camp site shots was awash with mud. They sprayed it with green paint to look like grass and tied fake leaves to the trees. All the cast were in foul moods and when they were alone they called the director every name under the sun. However, they had forgotten that Barbara Windsor was wearing a microphone and Gerald Thomas played them back his recording the following day!

Kenneth Williams often amused himself by flashing at fellow actors and studio staff. One day he did his party trick to the elderly tea lady who ignored him and continued serving his cuppa. “One lump or two?” she asked. He was furious and replied, “I don’t take any!” to which she quipped: “And from where I’m standing, you ain’t got none either!”

Gerald Thomas is heard in two of the Carry On’s – as a monster in Carry On Screaming and a bird in Carry On Behind.

When Carry On Up The Khyber was released the studios received a complimentary letter from an old soldier who remarked how wonderful it was to see the old Khyber Pass on the big screen – it had brought back so many memories – it was exactly how he recalled it. The film was shot in Wales!

Hattie Jacques described Sid James as having: “The general appearance of an ancient and dissipated walnut.”

In the very first film, Carry On Sergeant, the actors included Dora Bryan (Roz in Last of the Summer Wine) and Bill Owen (Compo).

Carry On Cabbie introduced Amanda Barrie (Corrie’s Alma) who later played the lead in Carry On Cleo.

Barbara Windsor made her Carry On debut in Carry On Spying in 1964. She appeared in just 9 of the 30 films.

Carry On Screaming features Frank Thornton (Captain Peacock in Are You Being Served?).

Carry On Doctor (1967) features Penelope Keith (The Good Life), Brian Wilde (Foggy in Last of the Summer Wine) and comedian Frankie Howerd.

Johnny Briggs (Mike Baldwin) appears in several of the films – notably, Carry On Up The Khyber.

Carry On Again Doctor features Shakira Baksh who went onto become Mrs Michael Caine.

Heartbeat’s Bill Maynard, Dad’s Army’s James Beck and Bill Pertwee and entertainer Kenny Lynch are all in Carry On Loving.

Geoffrey Hughes (Eddie Yates) appears in Carry On at Your Convenience whilst Wendy Richard (Are You Being Served? and EastEnders) is in Carry On Matron, as is Bill Kenwright (Corrie’s Gordon Clegg).

Tony Warren's inspiration?

2011-01-18T06:12:00.000-08:00

Pat, Doris and Vi ... did Vi's
singing inspire Tony Warren?

There are all kinds of stories about what might have inspired Tony Warren to come up with the characters in Coronation Street. I used to know an old actor who claimed he'd paid Tony's train fare from London to Manchester and he'd talked to him about the people he knew back home in Wigan as they waited for the train. Then, lo and behold, Tony invented Corrie. Another possible inspiration was the Samuel Laycock poem Bolton's Yard, which is about the back streets of Stalybridge in Cheshire. This was set to music by Eddie Cotty, a local folk singer and member of the folk group Fivepenny Piece. Eddie died in 2009 and I was reminded of him today as I passed what used to be his family deli shop. Anyway, here's a modern translation of Bolton's Yard (it was written in local dialect originally) for you to judge. One other interesting side to this is that Vi Carson (Ena Sharples) used to sing it, and indeed, sang it to a young Tony Warren. On his This Is Your Life programme she sang it again and reminded him that it could have inspired him.

At number one, in Bolton’s Yard, my granny keeps a school, But hasn’t many scholars yet, there’s only one or two; They say the old woman’s rather cross, - well, well, it may be so; I know she boxed me good one time, and pulled my ears, and all.

At number two lives widow Burns – she washes clothes for folk; Their Billy, that’s her son, gets jobs at wheeling (transporting) coke (coal);They say she courts with Sam O’Neds, who lives at number three; It may be so, I cannot tell, it matters not to me.

At number three, right facing the pump, Ned Grimshaw keeps a shop; He has church cakes, and gingerbread, and treacle beer, and pop; He sells oat-cakes, and all, does Ned, he has both soft and hard; And everybody buys off him that lives in Bolton’s Yard.

At number four Jack Blunderick lives; he goes to the mill and weaves; And then, on the weekend, when he has time, he pours (drinks) a bit, and shaves; He’s badly off, is Jack, poor lad; He’s rather lame, they say, And his children keep him down a bit; I think they’re nine or ten.

At number five, I live myself, with old Susannah Grimes; But I don’t know that she likes me very well – she turns me out sometimes; And when I’m in, there’s never any light, I have to shower in the dark; I cannot pay my lodging brass (rent), because I’m out of work.

At number six, next door to us, and close to the side of the spout, Old Susie Collins sells more drink, but she’s really always about; But how it is that is the case I’m sure I cannot tell; She happens to make it very sweet, and drinks it all herself.

At number seven there’s nobody lives, they left it yesterday, The bailiff came and marked their things, and took them all away; They took them in a donkey cart, I know not where they went. I reckon they’ve been taken and sold because they owed some rent.

At number eight – they’re Yorkshire folk – there’s only the man and wife, I think I’ve never seen nicer folk than these in all my life; You’ll never hear them falling out, like lots of married folk, They always seem good tempered like, and ready with a joke.

At number nine the old cobbler lives – the old chap that mends my shoes. He’s getting very weak and done, he’ll have to leave us soon; He reads his Bible every day, and sings just like a lark, He says he’s practicing for Heaven – he’s really done his work.

At number ten James Bolton lives, he has the nicest house in the row; He has always plenty of something to eat, and lots of brass, and all; And when he rides and walks about he’s dressed up very fine, But he isn’t half as near to heaven as him at number nine.

At number eleven my uncle lives - I call him uncle Tum, He goes to concerts, up and down, and plays a kettle-drum; In bands of music, and such things, he seems to take a pride, And always makes as big a noise as all of the place beside. At number eleven, my uncle lives - I call him Uncle Tom.

At number twelve, at the end of the row, Joe Stiggins deals in ale; He has sixpenny and fourpenny, dark-colored and pale; But I never touch it, for I know it’s ruined many a bard, I’m the only chap that doesn’t drink that lives in Bolton’s Yard.

And now I’m done, I’ll say goodbye, and leave you for a while; I know I haven’t told my tale in such a first-rate style; But if you’re pleased, I’m satisfied, and ask for no reward; For telling who my neighbors are that live in Bolton’s Yard.

Coronation Street Walks - NEW

2011-01-18T03:52:00.000-08:00

I'm always being asked whether it's possible to visit the Coronation Street set. Granada do allow occasional groups to pre-book visits but they charge quite a bit for this. For those who can't manage this and don't want to go to the expense of booking transport, I now offer a couple of options:

MARK LLEWELLIN WALKING TOURS - OFF THE COBBLES

Option 1: THE CORRIE STORY
We meet in the foyer of the famous Midland Hotel in central Manchester (itself a Corrie location) and I guide you on a walk around the city centre which takes about 1.5 hours. During this you'll hear all about Tony Warren and how the show began as well as the history of Granada TV and some of how Corrie is made today. We'll pass a few locations used in filming storylines in recent years, pass the studios (perhaps getting a glimpse of a corner of the outdoor set, and the original outdoor set) and you'll also hear something of Manchester's colourful history too. We end (subject to opening hours) at the Old Grapes, owned by 'our Vera' and full of Corrie memorabilia. I'll gladly answer further questions in there. So that takes about 2 hours in all and is an very easy, gentle and flat walk.

Option 2: THE CORRIE STORY AND WEATHERFIELD QUAYS

Tony confronts Roy - one of the locations
you'll see on both tours.
Picture: ITV

So we start with the guided walk as described in option one. After a quick drink and sit down in the Old Grapes we walk to the tram stop outside the Midland Hotel and we take the tram to Salford Quays. Along the journey I'll explain how Salford plays its part in the Corrie Story. In Salford I'll show you some further locations including the site where the Corrie set will be moving to. The tram journey takes about 20 minutes and the walk around Salford Quays takes about an hour (again, gentle and flat). I can then either leave you there to explore the shops (there's a Cadbury's discount store and a food court amongst other things) or I can wait while you have something to eat/do some shopping)
and escort you back to the city centre.

These tours are available for groups of 1+ and take place during the day (I am available 7 days a week).
If you wish a price, please email me with a suggested date and the number in your party.
Everyone receives a free locations guidebook as a momento.

If you wish to book transport (I can do this for you) from a car and driver to a coach, then I can offer a tour taking in a wider variety of locations across Greater Manchester. I am also available as a guide for groups wishing to have Non-Corrie days too!

Contact me at mark.llewellin187@btinternet.com

UPDATED! Since this first appeared I've had lots of questions, so I'll try and answer the most common here:
I really want to visit the set, can I? Granada do allow some organised groups to visit the studio set but this is very rare and is only available on 'Corrie holidays' like those organised by Kemptville Travel, Coronation Travel, CAA and so on. You'll find details elsewhere on this blog.
What can you tell me that I don't already know? Lots! I give lots of talks and tours to Corrie fans each year. Most fans know the basic history etc but I'll share inside info, funny stories etc.
Do you work for Granada TV? No. I've worked for and with lots of cast members over the years and I've visited the studios many times. I've also contributed research info to the official Corrie archives, but I work for myself.
I'm on my own - can I join other people on a tour? All I can do is - if you want to keep the costs down by joining with other people, you can let me know what dates you are in Manchester. I'll try and match up another enquiry and come back to you if I do.
I'm from Canada and we're 9 months behind, I don't want to know any spoilers, is that okay? Yes. I've given tours and talks for fans in the UK, USA, Canada and New Zealand, and I've visited each country too. If you don't waant spoilers, that's fine - if you want some, that's fine too.
I want to see where the stars live in real-life, can you do that?
No.

Happy New Year! - 2011 diary dates

2011-01-08T06:53:00.000-08:00

Whatever you did over Christmas, I hope you had a great time. I'm just back from a cruise around the Canaries, where it was 60 degrees warmer. In the run up to Christmas I was very busy - hosting events, staging events and of course, doing quite a few interviews about the 50th anniversary of Coronation Street.

Filming at the Lowry for the CBC
'Corrie Crazy' show

I can now announce that I will be tour guiding for the following Corrie holidays:
Coronation Travel: This takes place in May out of eastern Canada and is a tour of the UK which includes a couple of days in Manchester. I will be with the group for two days, which will include a visit to several Corrie locations and a visit to the studios themselves. http://www.coronationtravel.com/
CAA: Also in May, and out of eastern Canada, this tour takes in much of Britain and includes a couple of days with me. We'll visit some locations and the studios. There's also a Corrie dinner with mystery guest. www.atlantic.caa.ca/travel
Kemptville Travel: This is the longest running Corrie tour and takes place in September. I'll be with the group for four days and we'll visit Chester, several Corrie locations, enjoy great fish and chips, do some shopping, see some of the Yorkshire and Lancashire villages, visit the studios and enjoy a gala dinner with mystery guest. http://www.kemptvilletravel.com/

I will also be speaking at the World Book Day event entitled 'Between the Covers' at Oldham Central Library in Greater Manchester on 5 March between 6 and 8.30pm. I'm also talking about Corrie at Stalybridge WI on 4 July and at Failsworth Historical Society on 5 October, both in Greater Manchester. Email me if you require more information on any of these.

Private Tours, Talks etc:
If you are coming to Manchester and would like to book me for a walking tour of Manchester city centre (I talk about the history of the city, Granada and of course, Coronation Street) lasting an hour or two, then do get in touch. I'm happy to do them for one person or up to twenty people. I am also able to arrange transport if you would like a longer tour visiting locations.
I have a one-hour talk on the history of Corrie and everything which goes into making it and I'm happy to travel anywhere within the UK. Again, if you'd like to know more please email me.

My business email address is: mark.llewellin187@btinternet.com

Granada Studios - a history

2010-12-17T01:07:00.000-08:00

WELCOME TO GRANADA STUDIOS

The (current) home of Coronation Street

In 1954, brothers Sidney and Cecil Bernstein, the brains behind the Granada Cinema chain (founded in Dover in 1930 and named after their favourite holiday destination), bought the license to broadcast independent television to the north west region of England. Up until then the BBC were the only TV broadcasters. The Bernsteins chose the north west, not because they were from the region, but quite simply because of the area’s high rainfall. They figured that the poor weather would keep people inside watching the telly, giving them a greater chance of ratings success.

Their gamble – they actually had the Granada office building designed as a hotel as a fall back in case the company failed – was that Northern people were fed up with London-centric shows (almost all the BBC’s output came from the capital) and wanted to see people and places they recognised and could identify with. Their philosophy was to seek out regional acting and writing talent who had a desire to work on shows set in and around Manchester.

Of course, these days Coronation Street is the most famous show made at the city centre studios. Corrie has its own outdoor lot and two indoor studios - one either end of the street itself – this area is known as Stage One. In effect, although other programmes are made at this site, Coronation Street has its own self-contained area. The Corrie lot features the outdoor street set with indoor studios (containing the house and shop interior sets) at either end of the street. The arches behind the Kabin conceal one studio and the Victoria Court flats conceal the other. The buildings on the street are mainly empty shells used for storage and as offices, although the factory is often used inside as a police station, the medical centre houses the hospital set and the Victoria flats entrance housed the prison set during John and Fiz’s marriage story.

The current outdoor set, with the main Granada building
behind. Today there's a viaduct in the gap to
the left of the Rovers and the Victoria St shops
stand where we are viewing it from.

Other parts of the studios have also been used for Corrie filming – Carla’s flat entrance (when Rosie was spying on her) was the Corrie cast entrance, an old digital TV studio opposite Stage One was given a make-over and used as the temple where Dev and Sunita married with a fake street built across the Corrie cast car park! Remember when Sally and garage owner Ian Davenport were having a fling? His garage was constructed in old railway arches bordering the Corrie car park.

Today it’s not possible to visit the studios and security is tight. But this wasn’t always the case. The Granada Studios Tours, always a popular attraction in Manchester, particularly with Corrie fans, sadly closed at the end of 1999 and apart from the odd special occasion, it has remained closed. In recent years many of the attractions have been gutted and turned over to new uses – the Baker Street set is now used for Coronation Street filming with the front door of 221b Baker Street retained in the studio. The outdoor area used as an American street scene is used for car parking and the replica of the Rovers Return which used to be open to the public to dine and drink in (not the one used for filming) is now the staff bar.
Granada Facts:
1947: Through a partnership with Alfred Hitchcock the Bernsteins made movies Rope and Under Capricorn.
1959: The firm set up Granada TV Rentals
1965: Launched their first motorway services business.
1990: Bought the Forte Posthouse Hotels chain.
1991: Sold the cinema chain.
They have owned at one time or another: Harry Ramsdens, Granada Bingo, Camelot Theme Parks, 10% share of Liverpool FC, Granada Vending Machines.

Corrie's On The Move

2010-12-17T00:57:00.000-08:00

The very first outdoor set

After years of speculation it's been confirmed that a whole new Corrie set will be built on land next to the Imperial War Museum of the North, which borders the Salford Quays area. A bridge is currently being built across the Manchester Ship Canal which will link the Corrie site with the MediaCity development which will house new Granada offices and facilities. This means that ITV and the BBC will, in effect, share some facilities.
We're waiting to hear what will happen to the current outdoor set - will it be demolished? Will it open as a tourist attraction? We wait further news!

Tram Crash TV!

2010-12-08T01:20:00.000-08:00

Did you all catch it? The sparks flew, voices were raised and a few careers came off the rails ... yes, the Come Dine With Me Coronation Street Special was well worth watching (from behind the sofa).
In case you missed it (I'm sure you should be able to find it on Channel 4's i-player site) we had Ken Morley (Reg), Julie Goodyear (Bet), Phil Middlemiss (Des) and Tupele Dorgu (Kelly) entertaining each other to consecutive dinner parties at their homes (well, in true reality Tv style Julie's 'home' wasn't actually her real home).
Ken Morley's behaviour crossed the line somewhat (think highly embarrasing uncle at a family do) which included leering, groping, spitting food, testing food with his finger, wearing his wife's knickers, and much more besides. Julie's evening included a near-naked slave, a whip and ... well, you needed to be there (o maybe not). Tupele looked like Alice in Wonderland trapped at this ludicrous, and slightly frightening, mad hatter's tea party.
If you can catch it, do - if only to see that Reg Holdsworth was obviously a watered-down version of Mr Morley.

SHOCK - CORRIE STORYLINES FOR 2011?

2010-11-30T07:08:00.000-08:00

Seemingly a dossier of storylines planned for 2011 were left on a tram - and they've been handed to me. So, in the spirit of Wikileaks here they are....
January:
A van pulls up at the factory as Carla is closing up for the day. Her five long-lost Connor brothers climb out and take over the business. They set about building another extension to the factory and in doing so discover just what that smell is in the ladies loo. It’s Colin Fishwick. Fiz identifies the rug he’s wrapped in as hers and she is arrested for Colin’s murder ... and crimes against interior design. John conveniently heads off on a teacher’s training course in Benidorm. Sian and Sophie decide to adopt a child and book a trip to Tibet to find one.

February:
Gail enjoys a weekend away from it all at a retreat. Whilst there she meets handsome monk, Daniel, who asks to keep in touch. After exchanging a few religious postcards Daniel turns up on Gail’s doorstep having turned his back on celibacy and he moves in with her. Fiz is given a life sentence at her trial and uses her time in prison well – she makes another rug. Sian and Sophie jet off to Tibet.

March:
Gail and Daniel announce their engagement, much to Audrey’s discomfort. She knows there’s something not right about him and is determined to discover his dark secret. Ken decides to commission a portrait of Deirdre but when he goes to see the painter (Trixie) he falls into her arms and decides he would have preferred to have lived her bohemian life. They embark on a steamy affair. Sian and Sophie return with a little Tibetan baby they call GaGa.

April:
The Connors decide to make the factory smaller again and they remove the new extension over the course of a weekend. Two of the brothers die in the process, another goes back to Ireland and two more vanish. Carla is on her own again. Tracy Barlow offers to spring Fiz from prison if she’ll give her baby Hope. Fiz agrees. Tracy then offers the child to Becky and Steve for a few grand in unmarked notes. A deal is struck. GaGa isn’t settling in to Weatherfield life so Sian and Sophie post him back and agree to adopt Chesney instead.

May:
Tracy visits Fiz in prison carrying a very large bag and smuggles Fiz out in it. Fiz gives her baby Hope, which Tracy accidentally leaves on a bus and Becky is furious that she’s lost the chance for another child. Ken presents Deirdre with the portrait but she isn’t struck with it and throws it back at him. Trixie arrives in her old VW Beetle and begs him to leave with her. Emily reminds Ken that Uncle Albert would be turning in his grave if he thought Ken would get into a German car. He is brought back to earth by this reminder of his past. Trixie leaves without him and Deirdre burns the painting on the Red Rec. She is arrested because Weatherfield is now a smokeless zone.

June:
Deirdre is released from prison following the intervention of the Prime Minister. There’s a flood in the Rovers cellar and during the building works an old beehive wig of Bets is discovered with rats nesting in it. Norris gets very excited and Rita notices he changes just a little. His secret is out – he’s been Alec Gilroy in disguise all these years. Rita curses herself for not noticing the haircut and tank-tops were the same. He just wanted to be near Rita – he proposes to her, and she now finds herself owner of the Kabin once more .. and landlady of the Rovers, which Alec buys from Steve.

July:
Gail and Daniel marry on the banks of Weatherfield Canal. While they are away on honeymoon in Blackpool Audrey rifles through Gail’s private papers and discovers a newspaper cutting from the trial of Brian’s murderer. It is Daniel. Audrey decides to keep quiet until the Rovers has a big do. Peter Barlow is back on the bottle and he joins Eileen for a night on the town. They end up in bed together and when Eileen discovers she’s pregnant Ken forces Peter to propose to her. Eileen says yes. Baby Jack is taken ill and desperately needs a kidney transplant. Tyrone’s offer of a kidney is rejected but he pleads with Kevin to give the child one of his. He agrees.

August:
There’s a big do at the Rovers and Audrey produces the press cutting – Daniel is exposed as Brian’s murderer. Gail is having none of it and she forgives her new husband. However, later that night Daniel suggests a drive to their wedding location by the canal. As Gail gets into the car she questions his need to tie her up and Daniel admits he also set fire to the convent killing Ivy. He has a pathological desire to wipe out the Tilsleys. They set off towards the canal. Meanwhile, the residents are partying at the Rovers in celebration that Dev has learnt to do another facial expression at long last.

September:
Daniel is about to drive his car into the canal when he spots a figure climbing from the water. It is Joe, who faked his death a little too well. He has returned and shoots Daniel and snogs Gail. She berates him for all the money she wasted on the funeral but they are reunited. Steve wins a fortune in a Cumbrian gurning competition and his prize is a modelling job in Hollywood. He and Becky decide to go and chase their dreams. Becky, on a hunch, visits the lost property office at the bus depot and finds baby Hope, whom she renames Hope Rover. Steve, Becky, Amy, Hope Rover and all the other kids they’ve bought along the way head off to Hollywood. At the airport they realise the tickets say Hollinwood, a suburb of Manchester.

October:
Fiz notices that she hasn’t seen much of John since Colin Fishwick’s body turned up at the factory but then Sean spots a picture of him in the Weatherfield Gazette. It turns out he’s been leading a double life as the headmaster of Weatherfield County Academy so he’s not been able to see much of her. She confronts him at a parent’s evening and they fall into each others arms. He agrees to come home but only if Fiz will let him run a correspondence college from home. A bolt of lightening strikes the Websters causing Jason and Rosie to merge into one but Sally insists ‘Josie’ lives with her. Sally and Eileen have a fight in a vat of mud just for the sake of it – and the ratings. Eileen goes into labour and Sally helps deliver baby Blanche Barlow.

November:
Sophie and Sian split up when Sophie announces she was just going through a phase. Sian agrees that she was too and she begins a torrid affair with Kevin. Peter and Eileen marry with Leanne and Nick, who have found out that they never legally divorced, as their witnesses. Baby Jack comes home from hospital – he is now 18 and Kevin gives him a job at the garage having sacked Tyrone. Baby Jack rejects Tyrone as his father and changes his name to Baby Jack Webster. He is later diagnosed with a cotton allergy meaning he has to work in the garage shirtless.

December:
Newton and Ridley announce that the Rovers is to get a new name and there’s a campaign to stop them involving Rita sitting atop the pub. It snows heavily and she’s stuck there for a fortnight with Alec too tight to pay the fire brigade to bring her down. Little does she know that while she’s up there he goes on a cruise with an exotic snake act from Crewe. As the Platt/McIntryre family sit down for Christmas lunch Tina begins to doubt that Joe is who he says he is. He is later seen sitting on Maxine’s bench caressing an iron bar. 2012 might not be Gail’s year. Again.

Of course, it could just be utter rubbish.

Corrie Trivia

2010-11-25T03:39:00.000-08:00

MY TOP 25 CORRIE CAST TRIVIAS

Bet and Alec - in panto guise

1. Julie Goodyear and Roy Barraclough (Bet and Alec) first worked together in the mid-60s when he was an actor and she was a stage hand.

2. When Barbara Knox (Rita) made her first professional stage appearance another actress cut the crown of her hat out in a jealous rage.

3. Thelma Barlow and Peter Baldwin (Mavis and Derek) worked together first in the theatre. They were in the same show but didn’t have a scene together.

4. The role of Peter Barlow has been played by more actors than any other. Recently Linus Roache, who played Peter some years ago, returned as another Barlow son – but in the back of shot during many of his scenes, in the Barlows, was a picture of him as a young Peter.

5. Bill Waddington (Percy) used to own a pig farm.

6. Sue Nicholls (Audrey) is well known for entertaining the cast by singing pastiches of musicals.

7. The Oldham Coliseum Theatre is where many Corrie actors have appeared over the years. Roy Barraclough played his first pantomime dame there, Kenneth Alan Taylor (Cecil Newton) was the dame there for many years, Peter Dudley (Bert Tilsley) also and in recent years Eric Potts (Diggory Crompton) was resident dame. Now, Fine Time Fontayne plays the dame – he appeared as Hilda’s lodger Henry Wakefield.

8. Michael Le Vell’s real surname is Turner.

9. One of Julie Goodyear’s first stage appearances was in ‘A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum’. She wore a leopard-print bikini.

10. Bill Tarmey (Jack) used to sing regularly at his local pub. He gave it up a few years ago.

11. Liz Dawn’s return as Vera for Jack’s death was to have involved her flying. The scene was shot but not used.

12. One of Katherine Kelly’s (Becky) first professional roles was playing a nurse in a play about British comedian Frank Randle. He was played by Keith Clifford who also played Corrie’s Charlie West, owner of the famous turkey.

13. Antony Cotton’s (Sean) real mum appeared in the recent TV play about Corrie ‘The Road to Coronation Street’.

14. Sarah Lancashire (Raquel) was once a waitress. Suranne Jones (Karen) later worked in the same restaurant.

15. Every actress who has played Ken’s wives appeared at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre before landing the job.

16. Kevin Kennedy and Ken Morley (Curly and Reg) were reunited on stage when they both appeared in the touring version of ‘Chitty Chitty Bang Bang’.

17. Bernard Popley was the real name of the actor who played Stan Ogden. One of his early jobs was appearing in a film shot in Manchester. An actress called Pat Pilkington was in it too – she later became Pat Phoenix.

18. Jean Alexander (Hilda) first appeared in Corrie in 1961 – three years before Hilda was invented.

19. Roy Barraclough played the man who sold Stan Ogden his window cleaning round and he also played a salesman who sold Hilda a bed.

20. Alan Rothwell (David Barlow) started out on the Wilfred Pickles radio show. Vi Carson (Ena) also worked on that programme.

21. Eileen Derbyshire (Emily) once mistook the real vicar at a filming location for the actor vicar and had a long coversation with him about one of the storylines before realising her mistake.

22. Betty Driver, and her late sister Freda, once booked on a cruise to get a break from Corrie. Imagine their surprise when it turned out that several of the cast were on board as guest speakers!

23. When Granada TV was 40 years old they held a special concert at Liverpool's Philharmonic Hall hosted by Roy Barraclough and with guests including William Roache and Liz Dawn.

24. John Savident (Fred), Meg Johnson (Eunice) and Barbara Knox (Rita) all started their theatrical lives as amateur performers.

25. Actress Susie Blake (Bev) owns the bell cord from the Rovers set. As part of a storyline it was changed and she was given the old one as a leaving gift.

Copyright: The author

WHO’S THE DADDY?

2010-11-18T08:36:00.000-08:00

Another interview from the archives ... this time an interview with John Jardine from about five years ago:

Mark Llewellin chats exclusively with actor John Jardine

John Jardine will be instantly recognisable to long-standing Coronation Street fans for his portrayal of Randolph Taylor, affectionately known as ‘daddy’ by his wife. They were the parents of Curly’s former girlfriend Kimberley – ‘Daddy’ fond of slinking off, pipe in hand, to the greenhouse where he’d lecture ‘Norman’ on the blissful married life he had ahead of him! Despite it being some 14 years since John left Corrie he is still recognised by fans, including hundreds of Canadian ones who urge him to go into character and perform his most famous line: “That Battenberg cake is just the right side of moist mummy!” But John is now established as a member of the Hollyoaks cast – where he has been reunited with Kimberley’s alter-ego, the actress Suzanne Hall, as his daughter-in-law. “It was a wonderful surprise,” he tells me. “On my first day I was in the Green Room and Suzanne walked through!”

We were sat in the sun-dappled gardens at the Jardine’s pretty home, set at the foot of the beautiful Pennine hills, in his adopted home county of Lancashire. John told me that the charming cottage had been the butler’s accommodation for the adjacent large mill owner’s property and he and his Irish wife Kay have lived there for a number of years.

John was born in Harrow, west London, his parents running the nearby Swan Hotel in Northolt. Although none of the family worked in showbiz his parents were keen theatre-goers and John vividly recalls the weekly outings to either the Harrow Coliseum or the Watford Palace. “I remember gazing up from the car park, up at the back wall of the theatre where the windows of the dressing rooms were, and thinking I’d like to be inside there – maybe that’s where it came from.” But his parents were horrified when he later announced his hopes of becoming an actor. “I had an A level in religious studies and they rather harboured a hope that I’d go into the clergy so years later when I was playing the Archbishop of Canterbury I had a picture taken in the full robes and sent it home with a note saying ‘I got the top job!’,” he chortles.

Whatever his parents hope, he ended up in the RAF, with who he served until 1955. It was during this time that John got his first experience on the stage, taking part in shows and plays for the services – and he proudly showed me an award he won for his work. “My Oscar,” he beams. Aged 21 he left the RAF and needed work and although he did try to break into acting he ended up working in an outfitters in Harrow. “I was very good at the selling but I couldn’t wrap the clothes and as we were all on commission my colleagues weren’t best pleased that they had to wrap all my sales for me.” He landed an audition for the Central School of Speech and Drama, which he passed, but before he could accept the place someone advised him that he would be better off getting experience working in repertory theatre. So, he wrote off to, and got a contract with, the Harry Hanson Court Players in Swansea.

It was a time John confesses to having enjoyed greatly – appearing in some productions, working backstage on others, and some weeks, doing both. From Swansea he moved to Leeds (where the leading man was Leonard Pearce, now remembered as Granddad in Only Fools and Horses), which is where he first met Kay: “We met in a darkened room,” he says. Kay was a friend of his landlady and in the days when people watched television in the dark, he returned home to find the ladies watching the box. They were married in 1959. John continued to work in rep theatres all over the country and eventually he, Kay and son Terry found themselves residing in York. Then John landed parts in two plays in Oldham.

In those days – until just a few years ago in fact – Oldham Coliseum was widely regarded as a repertory theatre of distinction and one at which many household names began their careers. “I went, leaving the family in York, to do these plays and there seemed a possibility of more but I went to Carl Paulsen who ran it and told him that I’d have to have a proper contract because we’d all have to move to Oldham,” John told me. “It seems that he told his second in command that he wanted me to stay because I learnt the lines. So we all moved down.”

John found himself appearing in a different play every week and playing to packed houses. “Oldham audiences were very loyal and we got a bit spoilt there.” Comedy is John’s favourite medium and he recalls working with several co-stars who would go onto to join the Corrie cast – Peter Dudley (Bert Tilsley), Barbara Knox (Rita), Roy Barraclough (Alec) and many more. When John took over running Oldham in the early 70s he invited many of them back to star in his productions. After Oldham he joined the Library Theatre in Manchester under the direction of David Scase who also played Corrie’s Dr Lowther (the man Hilda Ogden left to look after).

But John isn’t only known for his theatre work of course – in the early 70s he was cast as the court foreman in the long-running daytime drama Crown Court. “It was wonderful because they filmed it at Granada in Manchester and you finished by 5pm so I could rush back to Oldham and appear on stage at night. I did that for a few years.” Being at Granada he was also able to make an impression on the Corrie casting directors and he landed a few Weatherfield roles over the years. “I think I’ve played four different people – I was Martin Platt’s dad, a press photographer, a solicitor. Then in 1990 John Stevenson created the Taylors and Marlene Sideway and I were cast. They were wonderful parts – I really enjoyed playing ‘Randy’ as Vera called him.”

Since the Taylor’s left in 1992 he’s appeared in shows including A Bit of a Do, Last of the Summer Wine (he jousted with Bill Owen’s Compo whilst the pair were dressed in full armour on bicycles: “It was so hot we literally roasted!” and he recently appeared as a supermarket manager), Brazen Hussies with Julie Walters, and the cult comedy The League of Gentlemen. One role which he is particularly proud of is in the series The Courtroom, made by Mersey TV: “It was a more modern take on Crown Court and I was asked to play a man accused of murder. He had carried out a mercy killing on his terminally ill wife, she’d asked him to do it.” Then last year he was offered the role of Grandpa Bill in the soap Hollyoaks. A new family, the Ashworths, had been created and the idea was that they had a granddad in a retirement home who they would go and visit – in fact, John’s portrayal was so funny that he’s now left the home and he’s moved in with the family (his son is played by former Emmerdale actor Jim Melia and his daughter-in-law by Suzanne Hall). “It’s a teenage soap and one of the lads playing my grandsons said to me on the first day: ‘We’ve never had anyone as old as you in this before!’”

“I’m enjoying doing Hollyoaks – and the new producer Bryan Kirkwood asks me to do Daddy’s ‘moist’ line every time I see him – so I’m hoping to be in the show for a while. I’ve just completed by second stint and I’m hoping to be back in towards the end of the summer. Other than that, as all actors know, you just wait and see what comes along……we’re well used to it in this family – my son Terry is a director of Autograph Sound who do the audio side of lots of big West End and international musicals and one of my two grandsons has already done a long stint in Les Miserables in the West End.”

Text and picture: The Author

LUCK BE A LADY

2010-11-18T08:32:00.000-08:00

Below is a reprint of an interview I did with Thelma Barlow some years back and which appeared in On The Air magazine:

Actress Thelma Barlow talks exclusively to Mark Llewellin as she celebrates 50 years in show business.

Not all Coronation Street characters have their names etched on that golden list – the ones we all miss so dearly, the very mention of whose name is sure to bring a smile to people’s faces – but Mavis Wilton is definitely up there with the best of them. Although writers invent the characters and create the situations that keep them busy it is the artiste who invests the written word with depth and actress Thelma Barlow is held in high affection by fans around the world for investing Mavis with so much. It’s surprising then to hear Thelma tell me that she never had any aspiration to become a performer during her formative years.

She was born in Middlesbrough just a few weeks after the death of her father. Her mother, who had also been born in the wake of her own father’s death, did what she had to do to keep herself and her two daughters fed and clothed – she rolled up her sleeves and worked hard. “There were no benefits in those days,” says Thelma. “We’re a line of small but strong women in our family!” The young Thelma was schooled in Huddersfield, Yorkshire and soon went to work as a secretary. “I studied short hand typing at night school but I didn’t enjoy it – one day my friend and I decided to change courses and the only one we could agree on was speech and drama so that’s what we changed to!” she says.

She was inspired to join the local amateur dramatics society and then took the momentous decision to head off to London in search of work. “I shudder now to think about it – I only knew one person there!” she laughs. Thelma had done a little radio work during which she had met a folk singer who told her to look him up if she ever went to the capital and he would send her to Joan Littlewood. “Joan ran a theatre company in the East End and later became hugely famous but in those days she was just starting out and she was putting together a company for a one-off project. I did an audition and got the part – alongside Michael Caine!”

That role led to another contact who passed her off as his girlfriend to land them both a contract with a touring company in the West Country. “We travelled round in an old van, putting the scenery up, learning lines for the next play on the way home – it was great training.” She tells me. “That’s where I first worked with Peter Baldwin (Derek Wilton) and my husband, the scenic designer Graham Barlow. We were married in Exmouth with a triumphal arch made of scenic braces covered in ribbons and we had a one day honeymoon in Budleigh Salterton before going back to work the next day!”

Stints at repertory theatres in Liverpool, Birmingham, Nottingham and Bristol followed. At Bristol Old Vic she was reunited with Peter Baldwin who played her husband in The Way of the World. “By now I had two sons and Graham landed a job in Glasgow so we moved up there – it was alright for a while but then I had a lot of difficulty getting work due to Scottish nationalism which was very strong at the time. I did a few jobs in England and then auditioned for Mavis. I did one episode of the Street in 1971 for Emily’s engagement to Ernest – then I went back a year later for the wedding, then another stint and so on until I joined the cast on a more regular basis. It was a great role and I loved playing her – I was lucky to get to work with Barbara Knox and Peter because they were both brilliant.”

When I ask whether she left because Derek was killed off by producer Brian Park she tells me the real reason: “No! That’s not true. I had already told them I was going a couple of years before and was persuaded to do two further years but I had told the producer that I would not be renewing my contract at the end of 1997. So they knew that when they decided to kill Derek off – I don’t know why Mavis didn’t die instead, maybe they wanted a bit of the grieving widow but either way, they knew I wanted to do other things – get back to theatre, most actors’ first love. My sons had left home, I was divorced, for the first time I had no responsibilities.”

Since leaving Coronation Street she has certainly been busy – making cameo appearances in top TV shows like Where the Heart Is and The Royal and she played Mrs Heap in David Copperfield plus of course her long stint in Dinner Ladies. Stage appearances have included Alan Bennett’s Enjoy, Blithe Spirit and Smoking with Lulu by Canadian Janet Munsil. She also appeared in London’s West End in the acclaimed revival of Arsenic and Old Lace. Her latest project has been a film, Mrs Henderson Presents, due for release at Christmas, in which she plays Lady Conway. “I’m the naughty friend of the title role, the lady who founded the saucy Windmill Theatre in London, played by Dame Judi Dench. It’s set in the late 30s and she’s very posh – lovely because I thought I was resigned to apron and slippers roles!” she laughs.

A couple of years ago Thelma moved from Yorkshire to the south coast where she is creating a new garden. “I garden organically – great fun! I also love cooking, travel, theatre-going and catching up with friends. I still see a lot of Peter. In fact Peter and I went to Toronto and Vancouver and we had a great reception – the fans there are brilliant!” she tells me. “I’ve been very lucky – very lucky indeed!”

Text Copyright: The author Picture: ITV

IT SHOULDN’T HAPPEN TO A TOUR GUIDE!

2010-11-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

Over the past decade or so I’ve been lucky enough to be able to take literally hundreds of Corrie fans to many of the locations used in filming the show, and in some cases, to the very cobbles themselves. How this came about is a long story but it started thanks to me agreeing to give a small group of Canadian fans a tour around the Oldham Coliseum Theatre where I worked at the time and which has strong links to lots the cast. I’ve also had, thanks to my proper job, the good fortune to get to know many of the cast – past and present, and to work alongside people such as the actors who play Chesney, Ken, Jason, Sean and many more.

I’m a fan myself and the earliest episode of Coronation Street I can recall watching was the one, in 1979, when a lorry ploughed into the front of the Rovers. Deirdre had left a young Tracy outside in her pram and everyone thought she’d been killed (now, looking back it’s a pity she wasn’t!) but of course, in true drama style she’d been kidnapped moments before the crash. The fact that, 30-odd years later, all those references will still mean something to viewers who weren’t even born at the time is one of Corrie’s strengths.

Each year I am asked to take groups around the many Corrie ‘off studio’ locations such as where Richard Hillman died, where the weddings and funerals take place, and so. It’s something I love to do and in the past 12 months or so I’ve looked after fans from the UK, Canada, Australia, Italy and New Zealand.

The following are just some of the more unusual incidents to have happened to me on my tours:

The park which is used as the location of the Red Rec overlooks several rows of houses which have been refurbished over recent years. In the build up to this the developers moved residents out of their homes so it was a bit controversial. On one of my visits, with forty fans in tow, a lady emerged from one of the houses to berate us. She thought we were the developers. When she finally accepted that we were Corrie fans she invited the group into her home to take a look at a two-up and two-down. As the last fan entered the house she suddenly looked at me and said: “Oh no, my husband’s asleep upstairs!” She’d quite forgotten in the heat of the moment.

We were at Ryecroft Hall, which doubles as Weatherfield Registry Office, when the six or so ladies I was looking after suddenly decided to run around the corner of the building shouting “Don’t do it – it’s me he loves!” I tried to think of what storyline they were re-enacting. I couldn’t place it. I asked them and they seemed confused. It turned out they were remembering something that had happened in entirely the wrong soap-opera!

When I recently filmed a segment for the upcoming CBC ‘Corrie Crazy’ show we were at the scene of Richard Hillman’s death, a canal bank. The director thought it would be fun if I were to lie out on the quayside like a dead Richard Hillman and have the presenter walk and talk to the camera and just step over me. Very funny except that the quayside is covered in Canada geese poo. Some things I draw the line at!

Filming Blanche's funeral. ITV

Sometimes I have to go and identify a location and I often visit early in the morning because when you’re driving, studying a map and trying to look for the hidden location it’s easier when there’s no traffic around. This is how I found myself at the location of Blanche’s funeral at 6.30am. I was creeping through the graveyard in the gloom trying to find the exact burial spot when I stumbled across another chap. We sort of, like in a comedy sketch, backed into each other. I don’t know who was most frightened. It turned out he was doing some family tree research and was looking for a gravestone with his surname on it. Or at least, that’s what he said!

Sometimes I get an odd request from a group, and sometimes they have their own secret agenda – like the lady who had been a huge fan of Uncle Albert and wanted to visit the British Legion club he used to drink in or the lady who wanted a picture of her messing up William Roache’s hair for a friend – all achieved. Then there was a lady who was so obsessed with Hilda Ogden that she wanted to be taken to actress Jean Alexander’s home. I couldn’t help with that but we did take her to the British Lawnmower Museum where Jean’s own lawnmower is on display. That seemed to please her and she must have had fifty or so pictures of herself taken with the lawnmower! And what about the lady who recently asked if I knew the hotel and room number which was used by Kevin and Molly for their trysts. I assume she wanted to get in there for some reason. When I told her that the room had been a set in the studio she seemed very upset!

Mainly I have groups of ladies to look after – and more often than not they want to visit somewhere associated with Liam or Steve or Jason – one of the good-lookers. One lady practically fainted when she sat in Steve’s chair in the Streetcars office, another found her way into the toilet that Jason escaped out of when he fled from the first wedding to Sarah. She boarded the coach with some toilet paper as a souvenir!

I was lucky enough to walk down those famous cobbles when the studios were open to the public. Since then I’ve walked down the set dozens of times and met the vast majority of the cast. However, when I’m looking after a group of fans I still remember my first time in ‘Weatherfield’ and try and bring that feeling to others – even if they can’t actually get into the studios themselves.

You'll find my 50 favourite bits of Corrie trivia at http://coronationstreetupdates.blogspot.com/

Becky and Sean Interviews 2010

2010-11-04T09:58:00.000-07:00

Last year I interviewed Katherine Kelly and Antony Cotton ahead of their visit to the British Isles Show in Canada. The interviews appeared in the official show magazine, but in case you couldn't be there, here are the interviews as they appeared:

WHY IT’S MY FAVOURITE YEAR ON THE STREET!

Katherine Kelly chatted to Mark Llewellin ahead of her visit to Canada

Have you been to Canada before?

Yes. My dad is Irish and has a large family. Some of them live on the east coast of America and when I was in my teens we went there on holiday. We also visited Toronto and Quebec but just for a day or two. I’m really looking forward to going back. When I was training at RADA my best friend was an actress from Halifax, Meredith McNeill. She’s coming with me on this trip and it’ll be our first visit to Canada together. It will be lovely to see her family especially as her sister is due to have a baby very soon.

How did you get the part of Becky?

Becky ties the knot. Pic: ITV

I’d done quite a bit of theatre and some TV roles already. I was asked to audition and was told to go along looking scruffy. However, earlier in the day I had an audition for something else and had been told to look glamorous. The first audition over-ran and so I was rushing on the train to the Corrie audition, trying to take my make-up off, pull my hair about … it was mad! Unusually, I didn’t have to go through a second audition; I got the part straight away. Becky was being looked after by Roy and Hayley. It was a job for a few weeks but I was kept on. That was in 2006.

What do you think of the public reaction to Becky?

She’s gone down a storm. Canadian viewers haven’t seen the best of her yet. She changes from a girl to a woman. She’s trying to become a good person, there’s still a big mountain to climb, but she’s trying hard. It’s an exciting time for me too and last year there was, in the UK, quite a bit of recognition for Becky, and for my playing of her.

As an actress, do you have to like her?

No, but you have to find a reason why she does what she does. Why she is who she is. Her past is an open book although sometimes she chooses to be vague about it all. Bill Ward who played Charlie Stubbs used to say that Charlie deserved to die but that he understood how Charlie had become so evil. Becky’s been a slow burner and I’ve had a lot of input into her clothes, make-up, hair, habits and humour. The whole team have enjoyed creating her, and developing her. It’s interesting that when I do public appearances I find a whole cross-section of fans – the other day I met a 94-year-old lady who had queued for two hours to tell me how much she liked Becky, there are 5-year-old mini Beckys . Girls seem to like her, which is a huge compliment.

Becky seems to get drama and comedy stories.

Yes – and she gets involved with so many different characters. I had a scene with Rita the other day, she’s taken to spending time with Claire Peacock. She’s now married to Steve so she has him, Amy and Liz around her. And she loves Roy and Hayley of course. People sometimes ask me how I can be happy playing her for so long. But she is like seven characters in one. The viewers have watched her grow up. In Canada they’ll see much more of this over the next year. The writers keep it mixed - slapstick and the most challenging of storylines. I hope I do her justice. Actors get pigeonholed – they’re good at comedy or drama, well playing Becky, I get to do both.

What have viewers got to look forward to?

In Canada they have Becky’s marriage to get through. Well, two weddings actually (I liked the pink one best!). Then Tracy Barlow returns and of course, Becky is bringing up Amy. We haven’t yet got to this in the UK but there’s going to be a three-way saga with Becky, Tracy and Steve. A mother’s love knows no bounds but Amy knows Becky better than her real mother. All the tricks Tracy has learnt in prison will come to the fore. But Becky already knows them.

When you are not working, what do you enjoy doing?

As with any freelance worker, you don’t get a lot of free time. However, I like the usual actor-ish things – cinema, reading, theatre. I’ve just taken up golf but I’m not very good … but I’m lucky, my work is doing something that were I in another job, would have been my hobby.

Any message for Canadian Fans?

I’ve met some in the UK and they are always lovely. I’m looking forward to meeting as many as I can during my visit. Please keep watching Becky – you’re about to see my favourite year playing her.

WHY I’D LOVE ENA AND RAQUEL BACK ON THE STREET

Antony Cotton spoke to Mark Llewellin ahead of his visit to Canada

Have you been to Canada before?

No, no it’s my first time. I’ve met lots of Canadians during my time on Coronation Street though, and they’ve always been really nice so I’m looking forward to it. I don’t think we’ll get much free time as we are visiting Halifax, Nova Scotia and St John’s, Newfoundland before flying into Toronto for the British Isles Show. I’m hoping to see Niagara Falls and a few bits and bobs. I’ll have to go again when I’m not working.

Your mum has been in Coronation Street hasn’t she?

She has. Well remembered! My mum, Enid Dunn, has played two roles in the show. She has also appeared in shows like Shameless, Phoenix Nights and Doctors, the BBC soap.

What can viewers expect for Sean in the next few months?

Canadian viewers are about nine months behind the UK, aren’t they? We’re now looking forward to all the stories building up to the 50th anniversary. As you know Sean and Violet had a baby but she took off with Jamie Baldwin so Sean never knew him. There’s going to be lots of baby talk in the Rovers over the next few months (in the UK) with Becky and Steve planning to adopt a child. This gets Sean thinking about his little boy, who would be two years old by now. He decides to track Violet down and does this using social networking websites. It’s going to be interesting to see what happens as Sean plans to reintroduce himself to his son, Dylan.

Do you enjoy playing him?

Oh yes. I love Sean in the Rovers because he gets involved in other people’s storylines. He doesn’t really need his own – he has this Weatherfield world to get mixed up in. With him being involved in the pub and in the factory there’s a lot for him to take an interest in! There’s always a love interest around the corner too. I’m not sure whether the Canadian fans have met Leon yet, but he’s a love interest who’s been and gone. There’s bound to be another. As we gear up for the special anniversary I’m intrigued to see what else comes along.

There are lots of rumours of past characters returning to the show for the 50th anniversary. Who would you like to see coming back?

There are a lot of rumours, aren’t there? It was in the papers yesterday that Bet (Julie Goodyear) was coming back but that’s not true. Everyone is asking us about this at the moment. Raquel would be my number one choice. Sean would like her I think. Then there’s Ena Sharples, I would like to see her back on the cobbles. Of course, Vi Carson died many years ago – I would have liked to have met her. I did once get to appear in a scene with her via some computer magic. They put me into a scene digitally. I replaced Martha Longhurst. It was that lovely scene where she says of a friend who has passed away, ‘She sat up, broke wind, and died.’ I think, whoever comes back, it would have to be for a reason. I’d also like to see Bet and Alec Gilroy behind the bar. That would be fun – but I can’t see any of my suggestions happening.

You’re always busy with other projects – what are you doing now?

You’re right – I had my own chat show and I write a lot. I’m writing something for ITV Studios at the moment. I had the first script commissioned and I’ve just submitted the first draft of that. It’s a comedy/drama set in a fictional part of Manchester. The central character is a woman and it revolves around her and her home. I’ve enjoyed immersing myself in her world. It’s a funny look at life. Hopefully it will be made sometime.

All packed for Canada?

Not yet. I’m really looking forward to going though. I’ve been to some of the dinners you host for visiting Canadian fans and I’ve always enjoyed them. They’re such lovely people and great fans of the show. Have you any tips for me?

Wear comfortable shoes and get ready to be amazed at the crowds of people who come to see you!

Text copyright of the author.

Fantasy Tram Crash

2010-10-19T08:36:00.000-07:00

I have no inside knowledge and haven't read much of the press speculation but here's what I'd do (well, maybe!) with the tram crash ...

It's opening night at the Joinery and Nick and Leanne are holding a party. Meanwhile, Liz has decided to have her own rival event and stages a 'Weatherfield's Got Talent' evening . Many of the residents are torn between supporting one or the other and some have decided to play it safe by going to both venues in turn. During the course of the evening there's an explosion at The Joinery and the roof caves in causing a tram to crash over the vaiduct and into the Kabin. Debris is thrown across the street and the Corner Shop catches fire. Inside, Dev has called in to collect a loaf of bread on his way back home to Sunita from the Joinery party. He is thrown through the window and into the street, where he lies dead. Sunita will eventually leave Weatherfield to start a new life elsewhere.
Meanwhile, across the road Rita's been kept up by the loud music playing in the new club and as she watches TV in bed with a cup of Horlicks the tram slices the wall off and causes the roof to collapse on her. She is trapped under the wood and slates and it will be several episodes before we see her rescued. She survives with only cuts and bruises.
Deirdre has been supporting Liz but Ken has not long left the Rovers for the Joinery do (he feels he has to show his face) and she dashes up the street shouting his name. After a few neck-tightening moments Ken emerges from their house, where he's just gone to use the loo and read the latest issue of the Wetherfield Recorder. Others emerge from the Rovers - Jim McDonald (who's been staying at the Rovers) and Becky, Fiz and John amongst them. Tyrone, cradling baby Jack, steps out from his home. Molly had stormed out after a row and he isn't sure where she is.
Leanne throws debris off herself and touches the lifeless body of Nick. He is dead. Gail and David emerge from the dust but in doing so they trip over Janice's dead body. Carla is rescued by Michelle. Things will never be the same for Carla, who thought she was going to die. She later embarks on charity work and she joins the Salvation Army.
Jim knows Steve went to the Joinery, though Liz does not. He rushes in to find him. As he pulls him from the rubble a joist gives way. Steve escpaes but Jim dies a hero so he does.
Norris and Emily arrive on the scene as Graeme and Tina arrive in a cab, back from a night out in town. They try to help but then the emergency services arrive and they are sent to the end of the street where they huddle around Maxine's bench. Tyrone begs them - have they seen Molly? Carla says she did - she was sat next to her in the club. Molly is later found dead.
Kevin and Sally look desperately for Sian and Sophie but they can't be found. It transpires later that they left the Joinery early and are in the gay village. Kevin eyes baby Jack.
Sean's body is carried out. He'd told Liz he was having the night off because he was ill but he'd gone to support Leanne. His body is discovered along with that of Peter Barlow. Eileen and Jason thank their stars that they came home early until someone points a finger at Jason. Just what did he and Owen do when they were refurbishing the club?
Lloyd and the Windasses appear on the scene. Gail then starts screaming - Audrey went to touch her make-up up in the loo, where is she? A woman's body is brought out. David takes a look and announces that it's Audrey. However, as the hours go by, Audrey is rescued but it's touch and go whether she'll walk again. Betty eventually arrives in a taxi having heard the news of Weatherfield FM and she sets up a soup kitchen in the Rovers. The Rev. Mike arrives and so do the media.
Evetually, the site is searched and secured. Dev, Molly, Nick, Peter, Jim, Janice and Sean are all dead.

Tinsel and Cobbles

2010-10-19T07:55:00.000-07:00

I'm just back from what should have been a great trip to the US and Canada for the fall (New York, Boston, Rhode Island, St John, Halifax, Quebec, St John's). Sadly the weather was pretty dreadful ... so it's was good rather than great! My favourite was Halifax, where Corrie fan Mike Shacklock took me on a great tour! However, I'm now back to work with lots of Corrie things to do and lots of Christmas things also.

I was at Granada the other day where I spotted a tram incongruously balanced on top of Stage One. Many of the cast (past and present) were popping in to film bits for a tribute show to Bill Tarmey (to be aired on the day his final episodes get shown, which I think is Nov 8th) and for the show looking at the 50 'best' scenes/stories to be broadcast for the anniversary. Incidentally, I am currently reading Bill's book and it's very good.

Over the next few weeks I'm involved in the following events, which I hope to see some of you at:

Tonight - Tue 19 Oct, 6.30pm: Oldham Local Studies Library, Union St, Oldham. Talk on Coronation St (£2 admission)
Wed 27 Oct, 10am. A day touring some Corrie locations. £15 each. Organised by the Oldham Chronicle newspaper and leaving from their offices on Union St, Oldham. Call 0161 633 2121 or visit http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/ to book. I believe there are still places to be had!

Sat 6 Nov, 12.45. I'm donning a white beard and playing a role (guess who!) in Santa's Real Reindeer Parade in Oldham town centre. This is my 11th year - and it's always something I look forward to. The parade includes marching bands, panto characters, Sportacus and lots more - plus the real reindeer of course!
Sun 21 Nov, 4.20pm. I'm hosting Oldham's Christmas Lights Switch-On and Fireworks. They really are very good - and it's free! Peppa Pig will be pressing the button at about 5pm. See http://www.visitoldham.co.uk/ for more details.

Theatre's Corrie Links ... and Liam returns!

2010-09-15T07:54:00.000-07:00

Here's an article I wrote, which appeared in a number of magazines, about the Oldham Coliseum Theatre. A full history with lots of pictures can be found in my book They Started Here! which you can still find copies of on ebay now and again. It's also where Martha was appearing when Ken Barlow went to see her in Corrie.

UP WITH THE CURTAIN!

The extraordinary history of the Oldham Coliseum

The current Coliseum Theatre sits in a tiny back street off the busy Lancashire to Yorkshire road. I say ‘current’ theatre because the building started life in the town centre where the busy ‘Tommyfield Market’ stands today. In 1885 Oldham was visited by a Mr Myers who instructed local builder, and Mayor’s son, Thomas Whittaker to construct a round wooden theatre as a home for his touring circus. Circus was the latest craze - Wild West shows fronted by legends like Buffalo Bill and produced by firms such as Barnum and Bailey had just crossed the Atlantic to huge success and so small-time regional producers attempted to jump on the wagon. Mr Myers was doing just that – he called his show ‘The Grand American Circus’ but they’d probably been no further west than Ormskirk.

When the work on the building was finished Myers couldn’t come up with the funds to pay for it so Whittaker found himself the owner of the circus. Amazingly, with no experience to speak of, he decided to have a go at running it as a commercial venture – and even more amazingly, he had a success on his hands. The first shows were themed events – Chinese Festivals, recreations of Dick Turpin’s ride to York and so forth. A couple of years later and the council decided that they wanted the site in order to build a market hall so Whittaker moved the Colloseum (as the name was then spelt) further down the hill – plank by plank. The market, ‘Tommyfield’, bears testament through its name to the fact that Tommy Whittaker owned the land.

So, down in Fairbottom Street, on the site of a disused colliery, the new theatre was opened to great publicity. The theatre was made of wood but by now new fire regulations were being brought in and so Whittaker was forced to prove that his 3,000 seat venue wasn’t a fire risk. He invited the Oldham Fire Brigade to try and set light to it – they tried, it didn’t burn and so he was allowed to open to the public. Over the next 50 years or so the theatre played host to variety, musicals, pantomimes, circus and film. Charlie Chaplin is rumoured to have made a visit although actual written records and hard to find – the great Stan Laurel definitely did appear however, as a child actor in the pantomime ‘Sleeping Beauty’ alongside Wee Georgie Wood. By the 1930’s business was suffering from both the depression and the growth in the popularity of cinemas – a great many were opening up in the small town and in 1932 the theatre went bust and closed its doors.

Many in the town campaigned to keep live theatre and in 1938 they opened the Oldham Repertory Club in the former Temperance Hall in the street behind what is now called the ‘Coliseum’. They employed a professional team of actors and a professional director (a young Oldhamer called Dora Broadbent (now known as Dora Bryan) was one of them). Such was their success that in 1939 they leased the old Coliseum and moved the company in there – performing a different play every week.

During the war years the venue was used by companies who were forced to leave London such as the Old Vic, Ballet Rambert and Sadler’s Wells. The Coliseum company also gained a reputation for launching the careers of famous actors – Mollie Sugden (‘Are You Being Served?’), Alan Rothwell (‘Coronation Street’), Anna Wing (‘EastEnders’) and Bernard Cribbins amongst them. In 1947 the theatre caught the national headlines when an actor playing the title role in the often-fated play ‘Macbeth’ was accidentally stabbed on stage and later died. His ghost is said to haunt the theatre to this day.

In the late 50s when television was becoming a widely watched form of entertainment the theatre found itself a popular calling place for casting directors looking for new stars – many of the cast of ‘Coronation Street’ were discovered this way. In fact, William Roache, who was cast as Ken Barlow in 1960 had only just completed his first leading pantomime role at the Coliseum, as he told me: “I was cast as Robin Hood – and there I was in Lincoln green, with the tights, boots and a hat with a feather in it. We had a chorus of little girls – a horn sounded and they cried, “It’s Robin! It’s Robin!” as I came heroically down a staircase, centre stage. On the opening night, I made my entrance at the top of the stairs. I threw my arms back in greeting. The orchestra swelled. Then I tripped and bumped all the way down on my bottom! I never did panto gain.”

By the 60s the theatre was feeling the effects of the growth in the popularity of television and was forced to adapt. Smoking was banned from the auditorium, the building was extended and productions started to go out on tour. The strain of producing a different play each week was also causing problems as people now saw the technical achievements of TV studios night after night and they demanded an improving product. The actors had traditionally performed one play at night whilst rehearsing the following week’s production during the day. Under the direction of Carl Paulsen, a man not known for holding his own counsel, the pressure was increased – Carl’s standards were high.

“If he wasn’t happy about something you soon knew it!” actor John Jardine says. “I remember being on stage during a rehearsal when he called the props girl onto the stage. She was stood there holding a tray of props and he said something about not wanting props of such poor quality on his stage and he pushed the tray up in the air – everything fell onto the stage and smashed. What he didn’t know was that they’d all been borrowed from his house!”

At the end of the decade they were forced to make financial savings too – by making productions fortnightly rather than weekly. During the following decade they moved to monthly productions and the invited back many former company members – people like Patricia Phoenix (Corrie’s Elsie Tanner) in a bid to boost the box office takings. For a while it worked and the Coliseum seemed to be back on an even keel but gradually things began to slide again and the 80s were particularly turbulent times as the theatre struggled to maintain full houses and keep the doors from closing.

During the 90s the theatre became a charity and funding was sought form various national and regional agencies. Today the theatre continues to thrive and provides a rich diet of new and established writing using both the 580 seat main house and the smaller 60 seat studio theatre. Although not strictly a repertory theatre any more in that the company of actors largely changes for each production, Oldhamers are still rightly proud of the town’s ‘Rep’ – as I’m sure it will always be known.

FACT FILE:
• Film stars Ralph Fiennes and Minnie Driver have both appeared at the Coliseum.
• The theatre ghost is an actor who was stabbed on stage in 1947.
• Jean Alexander (Hilda Ogden) once worked in the theatre’s wardrobe department.
• Amongst other famous names to have worked there: Roy Barraclough, Jean Fergusson, Barbara Knox, Kathy Staff, Sarah Lancashire, Anne Kirkbride and Steve Halliwell.
• The late Dame Thora Hird enjoyed a huge success at the Coliseum with the comedy ‘Saturday Night at the Crown’. It was during this run that a booker from Blackpool signed the show for what would prove a record-breaking summer season and subsequent West End run.
• Oldhamer Eric Sykes claims that without a chance to shine on the Coliseum stage he would have continued working in the mills.
• The West End hit ‘Marlene’ starring Sian Phillips began life at the Coliseum.

Text copyright of the author.

Picture copyright ITV

NOTE: I am working on a project until the middle of October so this will probably be my last post until then. On the recent 'World of Coronation Street' Tour several ladies (it's always the ladies!) asked whether Rob Collier-James, who played Liam, was doing anything else. Here he is in the forthcoming ITV drama Downton Abbey which airs soon.

Meet the Vicar!

2010-09-09T03:21:00.000-07:00

This article appeared in the Coronation St magazine produced for the British Isles Show this year. It's by my former writing partner Peter Riley, who is no longer with us:

Jim Whelan is a face known to millions of Coronation Street fans throughout the world, and his character has been vital to some of the most controversial storylines in recent years, yet he can still pass largely unnoticed in the street.

For Jim, who has been a professional actor and entertainer for more than 40 years, has been the Vicar of Weatherfield for several years now, and his most recent appearances saw him officiating at the cremation of Vera Duckworth, following the exit of Liz Dawn from the show, and prior to that as the man who finally married Jason Grimshaw and Sarah Platt, played by Ryan Thomas and Tina O’Brien.

His character, Vicar Mike, was also responsible for the wedding of Steve and Karen McDonald, after first attempting to referee the fisticuffs between the bride (Suranne Jones) and her rival Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) who were trying to tear each other apart under the watchful eye of the church congregation.

“It has become a way of life playing the Corrie vicar and I love it!” Jim said as we chatted at his home in Bury, just a few miles from the famous cobbles. “I am semi-retired now but if I get the call from the Coronation Street office to preside over a wedding or funeral then I am more than happy to do it. I have played the vicar for several years now and I think I should be the ‘official’ Vicar of Weatherfield, with my own vicarage! Seriously, though, I have enjoyed playing the part, though many people don’t realize that I have been in the Street before. In fact I have played six different characters in all but over the past few years the vicar role has been quite frequent and goes back a way.

The church used for Vicar Mike's parish

“Some viewers may remember the plot years ago when Terry Duckworth, (the wayward son of Jack and Vera) married his girlfriend Lisa while he was handcuffed to prison guards. Well when Lisa was eventually killed by being run over by a car I was the vicar who officiated at her funeral.”

For Jim acting has been a long process which started when he was a teenager and he knew he wanted to be in the profession. In 1971 he made his first Street appearance when he was a customer in the corner shop. In 1973 he appeared in the lunchtime drama series Crown Court as a jury foreman and in the same year appeared in the comedy series Last of the Summer Wine, in which he has now appeared four times. Other well known TV shows in which he has also appeared include Heartbeat, and long running rural soap Emmerdale in which he has appeared as many different characters.

But it is undoubtedly Coronation Street which has given him worldwide coverage, and from his first role as shop customer through to being a postman delivering the good news to Jack and Vera Duckworth that they had inherited £30,000 following the death of Jack’s brother Cliff, to his skill as the Street vicar the attraction of the famous cobbles are never far away.

It has also given him, for example, the chance to meet up with old friends whom he first met well before they were famous faces, including Bill Tarmey who plays Jack Duckworth, Barbara Knox, (Rita) and Anne Kirkbride (Deirdre).

An alternative church location - this is where
Betty married and where Joe is buried.

Jim said: “I first met Bill Tarmey many years ago. I had been fixing a table lamp at home when I was electrocuted because it was faulty. I ended up going to hospital and I came out with my hand and arm bandaged. In order to make a living I was singing in clubs in those days, between acting jobs, and one night I was at a club waiting to go on and sing, whether I had a bandaged arm or not, when I hears this gruff voice asking ‘what have you done to your arm then?’ I turned around and saw this chap standing there smoking a cigarette. It was Bill Tarmey.

“Bill had turned up to sing too, because he wasn’t famous then, he also had to make a living and he told me he’d had a heart attack not long before. So like two invalids we started talking and became friendly, so it has been nice to be able to meet him now and then whenever we have both appeared in Corrie at the same time, and it was particularly poignant when we met up to film Vera’s cremation service at Manchester Crematorium.

“It was the same with Barbara, as we worked together more than 30 years ago. And Anne and I go way back to when we both appeared at Oldham Coliseum acting in repertory. That is the nice thing about working on Coronation Street, as it allows old friends to come together again.

“I enjoy appearing in Coronation Street and I get to see some interesting places. For example, when we were filming the wedding of Mike and Linda Baldwin a few years ago we were on location at beautiful Arley Hall in Cheshire which was a treat. Of course there are also some less interesting locations such as Manchester's Crematorium where we filmed the funeral of Vera. But you can’t have glamour all the time!” he laughed.

During periods when he wasn’t acting Jim spent his days helping out by driving children to and from school for a local firm. But Jim, now 66, has now called it a day from full time work, unless he gets offered a full time role as Corrie’s vicar, of course.

“They have a full time vicar in Emmerdale, so what’s wrong with having one in Corrie?” Jim laughed.

Kemptville Tour - Day Ten

2010-09-06T05:33:00.000-07:00

Sunday 5 September 2010

Something special this morning to get the last day off to a cracking start. The real vicar of the church where most of the weddings, funerals, baptisms etc are filmed is a real star. Rev. Hackett and I first met several years ago when he’d just taken over in his new post and had a call from me going on about a Corrie tour. He didn’t, I don’t think, watch Corrie at the time – but he sure does now! He’s seen a lot of filming at the church and has built up a collection of memorabilia from big stories such as Mike’s funeral, Bev and Fred’s wedding etc etc. Anyway, he invited us to join his congregation at Sunday service. It was very special indeed – we were guests at a baptism but, much to the delight of our guests, we were very much involved in proceedings. Everyone was given a certificate to say they had attneded a service plus a knitted mouse to take away. Each mouse had been given the name of a Corrie character and the idea is that we send postcards from our mice back to the church! They've even knitted a cat - who has the name Tony Gordon Richard Hillman! As the service finished, we all noticed that the organist was playing the Coronation St theme tune!

Afterwards we set off on a whistle stop tour of some final locations – the court where Rita and Deirdre were both sent down, Audrey’s house, Mummy and Daddy Taylor’s house (remember when Curly was going out with Kimberley and he endured several dreadful teas with her parents?), the church Tony Warren was christened in, Weatherfield Comprehensive, and so on.

Final stop was the heart of Salford. In the shadow of the town hall (where Les was sent down) I pointed out some of the inspirations behind the show, how it’s rooted in truth, about its matriarchal thread and so on. We were also in the shadow of Salford Cathedral where Maggie Jones’ memorial service was held. It was a fitting end to the tour to pay tribute to that great actress. We finally had our tally of locations visited or seen - 61!

So, back to the hotel for packing! Glad I didn’t have it to do.

This evening was another wonderful occasion. We all met up at the Midland Hotel (itself used as a location) for a farewell gala dinner. Of course we also had a surprise guest. Now, normally we have one guest but this being a special year Kemptville Travel had two! We welcomed Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley) and William Roache (Ken) to the dinner. Again, both were wonderful and posed for pictures, signed autographs and answered hundreds of questions. A fantastic way to finish off the trip – for tomorrow it’s back to Manchester Airport.

Hope you enjoyed tagging along!

For more information on the tour and to register your interest in ‘The World of Coronation Street’ tour look at http://www.kemptvilletravel.com/
For groups wishing to book a guide and coach/driver for one day or more visiting Coronation St locations with a commentary on the history of the show please contact volcano.associates@ukonline.co.uk

Kemptville Tour - Day Nine

2010-09-06T05:25:00.000-07:00

Saturday 4 September 2010

Lovely – a little bit of a lie-in before we set off for Chorley and the Park Hall Hotel. It’s situated next door to a theme park called Camelot, which used to be owned by Granada TV. Anyway, we enjoyed a buffet lunch before setting out for Southport. The gentile seaside town was always used for Alma and Audrey’s shopping trips and it’s where Maria went into labour (remember Tony Gordon delivering the baby on the beach?) with only Ozzie as nursemaid?

Then it was off to the brasher Blackpool further up the coast. Again we had a bit of a surprise lined up as the BBC joined us (goodness, we’ll be more famous than the Corrie cast soon!) to record some stuff for an upcoming documentary about the Blackpool trams. You might just recall Alan Bradley being turned to strawberry jam on the front of one. We had some free time to explore the town and its attractions before we drove up the seafront – we saw the Tower (remember Norris ballroom dancing in there? And Tyrone proposing to Maria at the top?), the piers (as featured in a Peter/Simon storyline), the hotel where Rita was staying when Alan came for her and the spot where Alan (a much misunderstood man if you ask me!) coped it on the front of tram 710 (did you know that was 21 years ago this December?). We pulled up into a secret location and watched a Corrie video for an hour. Why? Because when the famous illuminations came on at 8pm we wanted to zip out from our secret place and straight into the line-up to see the whole thing. Rob, our superb driver, did a great job in getting us right at the front of the queue.

The illuminations were switched on yesterday by Robbie Williams (he did ask to meet us but as he hasn’t appeared in Corrie we politely refused!) and they stretch 6 miles, have over a million light bulbs, and cost £2.5m. Quite a sight!

The BBC stuck with us ‘til the bitter end – recording my commentary and some interviews with the guests. We’re getting quite media savvy now!

Kemptville Tour - Day Eight

2010-09-04T00:14:00.000-07:00

Friday 3 September 2010

Manchester was founded by the Romans in 79AD (they were called that because they did a lot of roamin’ about! – the group had to suffer that one, so why shouldn’t you?) We passed the Castlefield district where the Roman fort was and where Michelle and Steve split up, where Tony tried to drown Roy and where Les tried to kill himself (not a happy place really!) etc etc. We had a better time visiting the Science and industry Museum, which actually backs onto the Coronation Street set. Part of it is housed in what was the world’s first railway station - and the original outdoor Corrie set was built on the cobbles from the railway goods yards next door. The museum is being redeveloped at the moment so some parts were closed but we enjoyed the trains, planes, cars, steam engines (including Thomas the Tank Engine), underground sewers exhibit and the small Corrie exhibit where we could watch backstage videos and classic episodes.

Next stop was the green and canal bank where Martha lured Ken into her clutches! That Martha! We all stood on the bridge where Ken had been, carrying his suitcase, wondering whether to leave Weatherfield behind or not. Sad!

Then we drove out to Bury to look at a little corner where we found the prison John Stape was in and where Fizbomb sat outside waiting on her wedding day. Nearby was the location used in Monday’s big episode (spoiler below) and where Antony Cotton recently had his 35th birthday bash. We just had to have a peek!

Then we had time to explore the town and to do some shopping on the market. Actually, quite a few of the costumes used to be bought from here – and we were reminded of that fact when we spotted stalls covered in aprons and overalls (a la Hilda). It’s also the home of the Black Pudding, which is an acquired taste for many.

Back to the hotel for something to eat and then off to the Oldham Coliseum Theatre. Now, not only did many of the Corrie cast start their careers in the theatre company based here (Alec, Rita, Bet, Ken , Deirdre and others!) but this is the theatre where Martha was appearing when she dallied with Ken. Anyway, we weren’t there for that reason – but we do like our Corrie connections! No, we had come to see a production of Kes (Lynne Perrie, who played Ivy, was in the film!). A very moving play (and often hilarious) set in the industrial North of the 60s – so very Corrie really.

Roy and Hayley’s wedding featured the East Lancashire Railway Line which we saw today.

Kemptville Tour - Day seven

2010-09-02T11:56:00.000-07:00

Thursday 2 September 2010

Another day in the country, but this time it was Derbyshire.

The route out of the city is great as we drop down into rural Cheshire and then through pretty towns, scenic valleys and up into the Peak District.

Our first stop was the spa town of Buxton. We had a break at the historic Pavilion and park where we stretched our legs and took in the views. Then it was on a bit further south and a stop at the Peak Village Outlet which is a café, shops and so on. It beats sitting on the coach too long!

Each year the tour has a different itinerary (obviously some of the Corrie locations come up each year - and that allows us to take in a good variety of places and means that so many people come back year after year. Our main stop today was the Crich Tramway Museum which has period shops, tram exhibitions (it’s 150 years this year that the first tram line opened in the UK) and unlimited rides on vintage trams. There was also a blue police box like Dr Who’s! It’s also set in the pretty village where the TV series Peak Practice was set.

After a three hours visit we made our way back to Manchester via a different route which took us past pubs which had been owned by Betty Driver and Pat Phoenix and near the pub in which Tony Warren penned the first Corrie episodes.

Some of our guests met Tyrone and Jessie whilst out and about!

Kemptville Tour - Day Six

2010-09-01T12:58:00.000-07:00

Wednesday 1 September 2010

The joy with Manchester is that leaving the city you are very quickly into beautiful countryside. This morning we drove back into Yorkshire and the city of Bradford. The town hall was used for Tracy’s trial (and another trial yet to be shown in Canada but which involves Tracy again – I’m beginning to think she might be a troubled child). Our first stop was the National Media Museum, which has a large collection of exhibits relating to film, TV and photography. We were especially interested in viewing some of the old Corrie episodes they have available in their viewing area, in seeing the special EastEnders exhibition they had there (well, a bit of healthy competition and all that!) and visiting the shop (of course!).

It was then off to stop two and another nod to the soap rivals. This time it was the village of Esholt where Emmerdale was filmed for many years before a full replica was built nearby, which is where they film today. I’m told that the Woolpack serves lovely ale!

It was gloriously sunny and so we did a little detour to Skipton for a little picture stop. Whilst there we spied their decorated sheep including this one, in a building society window, by Jayne Tunnicliffe (Yana).
We then had about an hour and a half’s drive back into Lancashire and the town of Colne. It’s home to Boundary Mills, a family owned department store where everything is heavily discounted. We enjoyed an hour in there before tucking into a fish and chip supper in their restaurant.

Some of the guests have bumped into cast members in Manchester this week - they include the actors who play Sean, Ciaran, Kevin and Janice!

Kemptville Tour - Day Five

2010-08-31T08:49:00.000-07:00

Tuesday 31 August 2010

The day started with a book sale. Most of the 50th anniversary merchandise doesn’t come out until October and finding Corrie stuff in the shops is difficult so we always try and get a local trader to supply us with anything they have – and it’s brought to the hotel where it’s offered at a discount. Today we had books by Ken, Liz and Natalie, fridge magnets, the odd costume item and my new book called Lights, Camera, Location! which is a locations guide to over 100 film and TV shows shot in this part of England, including a big section on Corrie. It just came out last week so it was interesting to see what people thought of it.

The group on Coronation Street itself

Then we boarded the Healings coach for the Granada Studios. Now, it’s not easy to get into the studios and it’s really only possible for groups and corporate companies who book a long time in advance. Anyway, we enjoyed a couple of hours looking around the Coronation Street outdoor set and the two indoor studios which contain the rooms of the houses. Everything is smaller than you might imagine but amazing.

Whilst at the studios we met the actors who play Jack, Sian, Sophie, Rosie, Fiz, Nick, Kevin, Peter, and Leanne and we also met Executive Producer Keiron Roberts and out-going Producer Kim Crowther, who both told us how much the international fans mean to the cast and crew.

The rest of the day was free – some people headed across the road to Liz Dawn’s pub to enjoy a pint and look at all the pictures on the walls, some went shopping. It had been an amazing day!

Kemptville Travel Tour - Day Four

2010-08-30T13:08:00.000-07:00

Monday 30 August 2010

It’s a public holiday here today and we took the opportunity to have a noon departure giving anyone with jet-lag chance to lie in or the more adventurous to take some city air and explore the streets around the hotel.

We did a quick drive around the outside of the Granada Studios complex so that I could tell them the story of Granada itself – of the Bernstein brothers who founded it, where the name comes from, why Canadians were brought over to help start it, and just how many Corrie street sets there’ve been.

Next we crossed into the city of Salford, where creator Tony Warren was born and raised. First stop was a real Coronation Street. Yes, it has terraced houses and yes, that’s its real name. We found out why Prince Charles has visited it and how it’s featured in several TV shows. Then we drove past rows of terraced houses and back yards until we reached the park they use to film the Red Rec scenes. It’s also the spot from where they used to film the shots of roof tops and chimneys which were featured in the opening and closing credits. I say ‘used to’ because the houses here have been renovated and look nothing like they used to. As we drove to our next locations we passed a spot where someone (you’ll have to wait for this is Canada) escapes from an ambulance. ….

The Granada Studios

Then we had a surprise for our guests as we entered the Salford Quays area. We saw the locations where Don Brennan drove his taxi into the water (he had Alma with him!), where Steve proposed to Karen, where Leanne worked when she was a prostitute, where Mike Baldwin lived and where the first church ever used for a wedding (it was in 1961) stands. There waiting for us was the film crew shooting the up-coming Debbie Travis show ‘Corrie Crazy’ to be shown on CBC on the 50th anniversary (9 December). They filmed us arriving and chatted with some of the guests about the tour (I took Debbie on a tour a few weeks ago which was also filmed). They then joined us as we learnt about the Quays and its Canadian connections (did you know many of the waterways and streets are named after Canadian places – that’s why Mike lived in Montreal House at Weatherfield Quays) and passed the Manchester United Stadium, Archie Street (which was used as an early double for Coronation St when outdoor filming was required) and the new BBC studios.

Next stop was a little street where Weatherfield Community Centre sits (remember Blanche holding forth at the Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in there?) and it’s also been used when Roy and Ken were accused of drug dealing and when Chesney ran away. It also gives me an opportunity to explain how filming is done and what makes a good Corrie location (it was a bit odd giving this talk whilst being filmed!)

The film crew then left us as we headed to the Trafford Centre, a huge indoor shopping mall built in an Italian style. After an hour or two it was back to the hotel for a free evening. Again, we were lucky, ITV were airing a double episode focused on a big event!

Spoiler bit – Tony Gordon escapes and returns to Weatherfield.
Tonight ITV is showing Roy and Hayley’s wedding.

Kemptville Tour - Day Three

2010-08-30T01:14:00.000-07:00

Sun 29 August 2010

As we drive around from stop to stop I talk about Corrie, its history, how it’s made and so on. We’re also keeping a note of the number of locations we’re visiting or seeing from the coach (I’ll try and give you the total at the end). We definitely added to that total today. We had a sort of weddings and funerals theme! We started with a quick tour of the city centre - we saw the concert hall built on springs, the building Hitler had earmarked as his Nazi headquarters, the building which played Parliament in the latest Sherlock Holmes movie, and the hotel owned by Sir Cliff Richard amongst other things. First stop was the location of Ken and Deirdre’s second wedding (it’s actually a museum!). Then we headed off to a funeral location – again, this episode hasn’t been aired yet in Canada so for those who don’t like spoilers, I won’t reveal who is buried there here - but it's at the bottom. It was also used for Betty's wedding to Billy Williams.

We then drove into rural Cheshire where we were able to enjoy a couple of hours roaming around the beautiful Arley Hall and gardens. Mike married Linda here and Liam married Maria. This isn’t really a lucky wedding venue – you might recall that Mark, Mike’s son, let out a little secret at his father’s wedding – he’d been sleeping with his future step-mother, and Carla tried to ruin Maria’s big day! Anyway, we enjoyed our time there – it really is a stunning home with gorgeous gardens.

On the way back into Manchester we made a final stop at a location that’s not been seen on screen in Canada yet. However, there can be few people that know Blanche dies. The wonderful actress who played her, Maggie Jones, died earlier this year so filming Blanche’s funeral was an emotional time for the cast. Our last stop was at the church and graveyard where they filmed the funeral scenes. The church was opened up for us to look inside and we also discovered that John Stape's grandma was buried here and Joshua Peacock was christened here. We all agreed that Blanche was a classic character and is sadly missed and we made donations to the church's tower appeal in her memory.

After an hour or two to freshen up it was back on the coach and across town to The Bridge, a quaint pub restaurant. We had a private room where we enjoyed a traditional Sunday roast dinner – and the company of a special guest, none other than Craig Gazey who plays Graeme. It’s the first time Craig has been a guest on the tour and he seemed taken aback by the numbers – and the response. He answered lots of questions and posed for pictures with everyone.

Introducing our special guest.

Gail's husband Joe is buried there.

Kemptville Tour - Day two

2010-08-29T00:37:00.000-07:00

Sat 28 August 2010

And we’re off! This morning we left the hotel at 9am and headed out of the city (which is very busy and colourful this weekend as it’s the Pride Festival) into the rolling hills of Yorkshire. Tomorrow the BBC airs the last ever episode of the world’s longest running sit-com, Last of the Summer Wine. LOTSW is in its 31st series, and I know many Canadians and Americans love to watch it. So it seemed fitting that our first call was the pretty town of Holmfirth, where the series has been filmed for all those years. We had about an hour’s free time to explore – some visited the Wrinkled Stocking café, some Sid’s Café (as featured in the show). There was also the Summer Wine Museum, based in the house where Compo lived – and several members of the group took the opportunity to have a photo taken posing on Nora Batty’s steps.

We then boarded the coach and headed over the Saddleworth Moors to Ashton-under-Lyne. We passed the town hall, which doubled for Weatherfield Town Hall when Alf Roberts was Mayor, and called at the canal quayside where Richard Hillman tried to kill the Platts – but only killed himself! It’s also where David Platt staged his suicide to disrupt Sarah’s second marriage attempt to Jason.

Next, and final stop, was the wedding location used for Jason and Sarah’s first wedding attempt (he escaped through the toilet window) and Steve and Becky’s two weddings. Another couple marry there too (but as it’s not been shown yet in Canada, I’ll keep it quiet!). Whilst we were there a real couple were tying the knot!

Now, this morning’s itinerary was hastily rearranged last week and we set off an hour earlier than planned and had a little less time at each stop than planned. The reason? When I attended the glitzy ‘opening night’ of the Corrie! Stage show at the Lowry I found out that they were adding some extra performances and that the show would now close today. Karen at Kemptville Travel immediately got working and managed to secure 40 seats for today’s matinee. What a treat for everyone and what a great way to get the tour off to a golden 50th start! Everyone enjoyed the show which is hosted by Charles Lawson (Jim McDonald) and in which 5 hugely talented performers appear as over 50 characters!

It was then back to the hotel for a couple of hours before we made for the historic Briton’s Protection inn, which is over 200 years old. We enjoyed a great dinner and a Corrie quiz with some fiendish questions (Do you know Derek Wilton’s middle name?) set by me and some great prizes of Corrie books published over the past 30 years.

Spoiler bit – Gail marries Joe there.
Derek’s middle name was Bernard.

Kemptville Travel Tour report 1

2010-08-27T05:30:00.000-07:00

As promised here's my first blog entry about the World of Coronation St Tour:

Fri 27 August 2010

Most of the Kemptville Travel group arrived together today, landing at Manchester Airport this morning. I had advised them to keep clear of any dodgy tie salesmen (remember what happened to poor Deirdre!) and get through the airport as quickly as they could.

We were soon on board the Healings coach and heading into Manchester. They are staying at a great downtown hotel, which the group has used for many years, and which is in walking distance of the shops and attractions. Other members of the party who were making their own way there will check in later and this evening, it’s a sherry reception and dinner – then everyone will go off to their rooms to watch a special episode which happens to be airing tonight (I’d love to say it was all planned that way – but I’d be lying!).

We’ve been working on the tour for almost a year so by the time we get to this point Karen, the travel agent, and I are more than happy to see the guests arrive in the UK. Now the fun begins! This year we have 40 people, mainly returners but a few new faces too. Yesterday I had to work out where Canadian viewers were up to in the stories. To give you an idea, the episode CBC aired on August 13 was shown in the UK on October 23. Last year’s group watched the cast filming a scene outside the betting shop where Simon’s granddad arrived in Weatherfield. Canadian viewers should be seeing that about now/just have seen it! So I have to think where each story is up to. Mind you, our guests inevitably hear spoilers, you can’t not do. Of course, I have been known to make a few up just to cloud the issue.

In this posting I’ll put the spoilers at the bottom in italics – then if you don’t want to see them, don’t read the bottom!

The episode shown tonight was Hayley’s hen night.

A-touring we will go!

2010-08-25T08:06:00.000-07:00

Tomorrow I'll be out and about down Weatherfield way on the first tour of an 11-day stint. Tomorrow it's a one-day Corrie tour for Coronation Travel (coronationtravel.com) for whom I've done a day of their British tour for the past few years. They're always a nice group, mainly from the east coast of Canada.

The real vicar of 'Weatherfield
parish church' talks about filming
in his churchyard.

Tomorrow we're calling at Weatherfield Registry Office, the canal where Richard Hillman perished, Weatherfield Parish Church, the Red Rec, Weatherfield Quays and Weatherfield Locks. It'll be a busy day! On our way round I talk about the history of the show, the history of Granada Television, Tony Warren, how the show is put together and so on. On Friday they're off to the studios to visit the actual sets so it's a good introductory day. I was asked to go with them to the studios but on Friday I have 40 Canadian and American guests arriving with Kemptville Travel (kemptvilletravel.com) on the 21st World of Coronation Street holiday. I will be with them for 10 days and have a lot of surprises ready and waiting. I'll be blogging all about that during the trip.
A lot of British fans ask me how they can do a locations tour and I'm pleased to announce that the Oldham Chronicle newspaper have booked me for a one-day tour on Wednesday October 27th. It will depart from their offices (OL1 1EQ) at 10am and return at about 4.30pm. We'll be taking in the Richard Hillman death spot, the registry office, parish church, Weathefield Quays, Red Rec, passing the studios and a number of other locations too - and I'll be filling you in on how it's all put together, the history and so on. If you would like to know more or book - it costs £15 each - then call 0161 622 2130. You'll find it listed on their website http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/ then click on 'readers holidays' at the top and then 'our famous day trips' to open the pdf. Please note that this day trip does not visit the studios nor include a visit to the sets.

Please note that the tour is not run by Granada Television or ITV

Summer Wine & Corrie Connections

2010-08-22T09:45:00.000-07:00

This is an article I wrote in 2006 - an interview with Kathy Staff and Roy Barraclough. Since then Kathy has passed away but as the very last episode of Last of the Summer Wine is screened next Sunday in the UK, I thought I might dust off the feature which appeared in Lancashire Life, Cheshire Life and Fourmost magazines:

FRIENDS REUNITED

TV stars Kathy Staff and Roy Barraclough talk exclusively about their long friendship with Mark Llewellin.

If we believe the tabloid press then showbiz marriages, friendships and partnerships seem to hit the rocks with alarming regularity. So it’s refreshing to meet two actors who share a strong bond – Kathy Staff (TV’s Nora Batty) and Roy Barraclough (best known for his years with Les Dawson and behind the Rovers Return bar) fall into that category – as Kathy herself put it: ‘Pals for over thirty-five years!’

Kathy was born in Dukinfield, Cheshire whereas Roy is a Lancastrian, born in Preston. Their birthdays are the same though – both came into the world on July 12th. They think that is why they get on so well, Kathy points to a number of shared likes and dislikes. As jobbing actors their paths must have crossed – both did television extra work in the early days and also played small roles in many of the fledgling Granada TV’s output.

Kathy has early memories of watching Roy as a leading man at Oldham’s Coliseum Theatre. In those days, the mid 60s, he was a member of the repertory company alongside Barbara Knox (Corrie’s Rita Sullivan) and Jean Fergusson (Last of the Summer Wine’s Marina). Kathy and her family were members of the repertory theatre and tried to see as many productions there as possible.

However, it wasn’t until 1969 that they met – both being sent to audition in London for Yorkshire TV’s first soap opera, Castle Haven. At Manchester’s Piccadilly Station Kathy recalls spotting Alec Guinness as she ran for the train: ‘He was one of my idols and I thought seeing him like that must be a good omen.’ In London the pair joined a room full of hopefuls and they discovered that they were being auditioned for the roles of husband and wife Harry and Lorna Everett. Kathy told me: ‘Roy said, “You’re not taller than me. You stand with me and we’ll go in together” because the producers were seeing actors in pairs.’ After a long wait they discovered that they had been cast to work together. ‘I think we celebrated in the buffet car on the train back home!’ Roy laughs.

Castle Haven was the creation of former actor Kevin Laffan. Set in a large Whitby house which had been converted into flats, the weekly show revolved around the lives of the tenants and the local pub. Roy said: ‘We never got so far as Whitby, it was all filmed in the studios at Leeds.’ The Everetts were a struggling young couple with two children. ‘You never saw us at first, we were voices heard through the wall of one of the flats – there was a lot of arguing and shouting really!’ Kathy says. Despite a good cast – Jill Summers who later played blue-rinsed Phyllis Pearce in Coronation Street was the local landlady and the Everett’s son’s best friend was played by a young Colin Firth, it was destined to run for just a year.

Roy explained why: ‘Firstly, Granada wouldn’t air it as they felt it was competition for Coronation Street and ATV wouldn’t air it because they had their own show and so on. We just went out around the British coastline I think. Then, just months after we went on air, the Emley Moor Transmitter fell down and most of the Yorkshire TV area was blacked out. They had to beam down signals from an air-ship!’ Kathy chips in: ‘That’s right – until then tea in the studio canteen had been free but when they had to pay for a new transmitter we had to pay two pence a cup!’

Roy was commuting from his then home in Oldham, and Kathy from Dukinfield, so the pair met at Stalybridge Station and travelled on the train together every day. ‘They were great times and that’s when we became pals,’ said Kathy. The pair had also become recognisable TV faces. ‘Jess Yates did his Junior Showtime programme from Leeds and the girl who played our daughter wanted to be a singer so Jess invited her on and he asked us if we’d sit in the audience. He wanted to introduce her in her character’s name and we would dress up as the Everetts and play our parts too. Well, when we found that out Roy asked him what we would be paid – he went quite pale!’ laughs Kathy. ‘He had no intention of paying – he was quite taken aback and he said, “Well! I was going to give you a jelly tea!”’

In 1970 Castle Haven came to an end and creator Kevin Laffan invented the idea of a Yorkshire farm run by the Sugden family - Emmerdale. Kathy joined the Oldham Coliseum company for three plays whilst Roy teamed up with Yorkshire’s new comedy signing – Les Dawson. Roy told me: ‘I was sitting in the canteen when this producer came up and begged me to help them out. Les hadn’t done much TV before and this was his first series. The actor they’d employed to do the sketches with him had walked out and they needed someone to take over quickly. I did – and the rest is history.’

Kathy was to join the pair later on and she too became a regular on Les’ Yorkshire shows. ‘There was a running sketch called the Desponds, who appeared every week - a miserable family who were interviewed by Julian Orchard as the man from the BBC. They were my favourites.’ she says. During their years with Dawson the pair were also in demand for comedy roles in other shows – in 1972 Kathy was cast as Nora Batty in a Comedy Playhouse one-off which soon landed a series commission and she was cast in the recurring role of Doris Luke in Crossroads whilst Roy appeared in classics such as Rising Damp and George and Mildred.

Eventually Roy moved from Oldham to Stalybridge and the friends would meet socially and often travel to London together for work. ‘Roy was always known by my two girls as 'Daddy Number Two' and in fact, Katherine even became one of his neighbours for a time,’ says Kathy. In 1972 Roy made his first appearance as Alec Gilroy in Coronation Street, a role he would resume on a full-time basis over a decade later. ‘It was just a one-off, as were all the roles I’d had in the show since my first appearance as a tour guide in 1964,’ he said. A year later Kathy was cast as the show’s Vera Hopkins and made several cameo appearances before the whole Hopkins family were introduced as owners of the Corner Shop in 1974 but they lasted just a year. ‘I owned the shop at one end of the Street and Roy later owned the pub at the other!’ Kathy laughs.

‘Our paths kept crossing really,’ explains Roy. ‘But, although we were friends, we never met on stage or screen for quite a while.’ In 1984 Kathy was the subject of the programme This Is Your Life and Roy flew in from Germany to make a guest appearance on the show. She later suffered from shingles. Three years later and Roy was the subject of the tribute with Kathy and her daughters, the guests. Kathy says: ‘I reminded Roy of what had happened to me but it was no good – he got shingles too.’ Roy says: ‘It was very traumatic, I hated every minute of that show and it made me very ill.’

Keith Clifford & Roy Barraclough
filming Summer Wine

Amongst the many personal and career parallels the pair share is one which will perhaps come as a surprise to all of their fans – they have both danced in ballets. Kathy says: ‘As a child I always wanted to be a ballerina and in 1990 I was asked to appear on a show where celebrities were given the opportunity of doing something they’d always wanted to do – and so I asked to appear in a ballet. For one night only I danced in The Simple Man at Leeds Grand with the Northern Ballet. When you are asked to do these things, people often want you to be in character, Nora in a tutu. But I wanted to do it properly.’

Roy’s dancing skills were put to good use with the Birmingham Royal Ballet in 1999. ‘Every year, at the Birmingham Hippodrome, they do a charity performance of the Nutcracker with a few surprise guests and I was asked to appear in drag at one point, coming out of a magic box, and also in the Arab Dance,’ he says. ‘What I hadn’t realised was that the Arab Dance was to be done straight with no comedy so I too had to rehearse properly with the corps de ballet – it was wonderful though!’

The pair were over-joyed when, in 1995, they were cast to appear on stage together. Kathy says: ‘We were offered the parts of dad and granny to Jason Donovan who was to play the lead in a West End production of the musical Billy. We did all the publicity together and then for no apparent reason it was pulled – we never did get to work with each other.’ Roy adds: ‘We did a photo-call in Blackpool and a palm reader came out of her booth to predict the show would be a hit. I’ve never gone back to her again!’

Bill Owen & Kathy Staff in LOTSW

These days the friends still live near by. ‘We meet up all the time, at charity events – we’re both heavily involved with the wonderful Willow Wood Hospice in Ashton-Under-Lyne for example – and of course, we pop round to each other’s houses for tea and to catch up on all the news, but we just never got to work together,’ says Roy. ‘For years I said to Alan Bell, who directs Last of the Summer Wine, that Roy should join us in the show – he’s so right for it - but it never seemed to happen!,’ explained Kathy.

That is until the casting of the 2005 series of the ever-popular show. ‘Yes, I played a man called Crowcroft, who is a bit of a hit with the ladies,’ Roy tells me with a wink. ‘He’s given his biggest challenge to date – woo Nora Batty!’ Kathy says: ‘So we finally got back together at long last – after thirty-six years of friendship.’ Roy laughs, ‘Yes, and only because we were the same height!’

Kathy, ironically, passed away at Willow Wood Hospice in 2008.

Text copyright of the author.

Fresh off the presses....

2010-08-19T05:47:00.000-07:00

I'm pleased to announce that I had a new book published today. It's a handy-sized (A5, 32 page) full colour guide to some of northern England's film and TV locations called Lights, Camera, Location. It includes over 100 productions, each one with a trivia fact about it, and quite a few pictures. We've also included a Coronation Street section.
It will be available through tourist offices, featured locations etc in the north at £4.50 - or via ebay (in due course) at £4 plus p&p.
It won't be available via Amazon or high street book shops.

If you are interested in any of my past books, they are out of print but you can still find used copies via Amazon or Ebay.
They are:
They Started Here! - the story of Oldham Coliseum Theatre.
The World of Crime - (written with Peter Riley) - true Victorian and Edwardian crimes and cons.

You wait 50 years for a stage show ... (updated!)

2010-08-17T14:24:00.000-07:00

.... and then two come along at once!

News reaches me of a Coronation Street stage show taking place at Toronto's John Bassett Theater in September. This is not the show that is currently running in Manchester but something completely different.
This other show is written by John Stevenson, ex-Corrie writer of many years standing. It will be interesting to see what format it uses.

See my previous posting about the Corrie! stage show currently running at the Lowry Theatre in Salford. Incidentally, when Leanne was a prostitute and Janice turned up at a hotel in which she was working, those scenes were filmed at the Lowry Theatre.

Update: I spoke with John Stevenson today and his production is a play. I'm hoping to be able to reveal more information in the next week or two. Keep watching!

Corrie! The stage play - first night report

2010-08-17T01:41:00.000-07:00

LAST NIGHT AT THE LOWRY

I have to admit that I wasn't sure whether I would like the Corrie! stage play or not. The more I read about it in advance the more I was put off. It just sounded like a send-up to me. So I hold my hands up - I was wrong, it's a triumph!

How the actors must have been dreading last night - five of them play a long list of Corrie favourites - from Hilda and Ena to Mike, Roy, Hayley, Alec, Annie and more. Not only did they have a full house to entertain last night - along with the reviewers of course - but they also had many of the actors they were portraying sat out in the dark too!

It became a little surreal actually. I had Johnny Briggs (Mike) sat right behind me watching an actor playing Mike on stage. We went through the Deidre/Ken/Mike triangle and then, they acted out Mike's death in Ken's arms. Johnny laughed away and afterwards told me that he thought the show was wonderful - adding that he wished he'd invested in it! The audience included the actors who play/played Fiz, Sean, Alec, Molly, Amy, Simon, Mike, Richard Hillman, Roy, Rita, Sunita, Candice, Sally, Leanne and Julie Carp. Fiz was right in front of me and laughed like a drain - and Sean, who was two along from me, was certainly loving it. In fact, at the end, the audience gave the production a much deserved standing ovation.

So, how does it work? Blanche arrives at the pearly gates to be met by Jim McDonald/Charles Lawson/St Peter (the show's only weak point for me. It requires a narrator with a bit more life in him/her). St Peter isn't sure that Blanche should enter heaven so whilst she goes off to find God to complain, St Peter takes a look at her life and where she's from. We then set off on a hilarious romp through 50 years of stories. Some are played very much for laughs - Steve McDonald is played bug-eyed and gurning, Jason is a complete plank and Brian Tilsley is a gormless womaniser. Some of it is touching - Hilda returning with Stan's things after he's died, Hayley telling Roy that she's a transsexual. Some of it works because we're in on the joke - every time Gail meets a fella she pronounces him ideal husband material, Deidre straining her neck with ever twist of bad news. It's not a send up, it's an affectionate romp.

The five actors who play all the parts work their socks off and change costumes and wigs hundreds of times, the set is highly ingenious and even gets laughs when it becomes Gail Force (Gail and Joe's boat) for example, or when Deidre is locked up in the slammer. Alan Bradley's death on the front of the Blackpool tram is very well done (Barbara Knox told me that she cried with laughter watching that) and the Tony Gordon storyline told as a ballet works very well.

After the show I had a chat with Tony Warren who pronounced it a hit and I also told the producer, Phil McIntyre, how well it would work in Canada and that he should consider a national tour. Let's hope so.

A fine birthday gift for Corrie!

Trams, trains, viaducts and crashes

2010-08-16T08:44:00.000-07:00

In 1967 a goods train crashed over the side of the vaiduct at the end of Coronation Street. It crashed into the middle of the street near the corner shop and Ena Sharples was feared dead underneath the wreckage. In actual fact only one person died in the crash - a little girl.
At the time the 'outdoor street' scenes were actually filmed inside. The houses were made of wood and canvas, the cobbles painted on the studio floor. To create the train crash was an amazing feat in its day - but to be honest, if you watch those episodes today, they don't stand up.
The train crash pushed the technical side of making the show to the limits and this caused the producers to seek somewhere to build an outdoor set. Hence, in 1968 a former railway yard next to Granada Studios, they built a miniature version of the set with houses about 7 feet wide.
Now here we are in 2010 looking forward to the modern equivilant of that train crash - a tram crash. Speculation is rife about who will die with the newspapers predicting a bloodbath. I'm not so sure. To have Jack Duckworth (a long-standing and popular character) die in such a way would squander some of the pathos you could gain by having such a character leave.
I am wondering whether the tram story might go in a differnt direction. At the moment we have Bill Webster and Owen working as builders. Could it be that their work in the arches causes the crash? Could Owen be on his way out and could there be repurcusions for Bill and Jason?
We know that the change to filming in HD has meant that some parts of the outdoor set, which was built in the 80s, have had to be touched up. Could the tram crash cause the demolition of the Kabin or the corner shop? Would this give the show's designers a chance to rebuild that part of the set to meet the standards required by HD?

One of my bugbears is reading leaks, and advance stories given through press offices. I think the show has more impact when you don't know what's coming. We've all read an increasing long list of characters who are leaving the show but I hope there's an actor who knows they are leaving. I hope their character dies in the crash and that we viewers only find out who the fatality is in the 50th anniversary episode. Now that, along with the wonderful special effects I'm sure they'll be using, would have real impact.

Corrie Hilda Trivia

2010-08-16T08:27:00.000-07:00

Did you know...?

Actress Jean Alexander once worked in the wardrobe department at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre? This is the theatre where Ken's Martha was appearing when he went to see her in her play.

Jean's lawnmower is on display in the National Lawnmower Museum in Southport.

Last of the Summer Wine, the show in which Jean has played Auntie Wainwright for many years, has been axed by the BBC. The very last episode airs in the UK on Sunday 29th August.

Stan Ogden bought his wondow cleaning round from a character called I-Spy Dwyer. The part was played by Roy Barraclough, know best known as Alec Gilroy. He also played a bed salesman in a shop where the Odgens slept outside overnight to get a bargain in the sale.

The Ogdens first appeared in 1964.

On Hilda's sideboard she had a plaster ornament of a mermaid sitting on a rock.

Hilda's brother ran a fish and chip shop.

The curlers worn by Jean Alexander in the show used to be on exhibition at Manchester's Science and Industry Museum.

Pantomime History

2010-08-13T05:11:00.000-07:00

A look at a very British art form:

For most British youngsters, their first taste of live theatre is at a pantomime – and the seasonal favourite seems to be as popular today as it always has been. Screams of “It’s behind you!” and “Oh, yes it is!” (for all British children know what to shout out) will lift the roof of many a theatre this Christmas and the brisk business at the box office will often be used to underpin the rest of the year’s theatrical programme.

Although one thinks of pantomime as being typically British it’s really a hotchpotch of ideas gathered from across the globe and commercialised by the Victorians as a seasonal treat. Look closely and you’ll recognise a generous dollop of Greek drama, a little Roman over-acting and more than a nod towards the Italian Commedia dell’ arte in there somewhere. It’s the Italian sounding Joseph Grimaldi (right) who is credited with establishing pantomime as a British entertainment. He made his first panto appearance at London’s Covent Garden back in 1806 – it was a run-away success playing for 92 nights and taking an incredible £20,000. Theatre managers up and down the land saw pound signs before their eyes!

The first pantomimes were based upon those Italian characters Harlequin, Columbine and Pantaloon with a Fairy Godmother usually thrown in for good measure. But with the rise of the music halls at the end of the 19th century so pantos grew into something we would recognise today. Dan Leno, a London-born entertainer, won a number of clog dancing competitions bringing him great public recognition. Aged just twenty-six, he played the title role in ‘Mother Goose’ at Drury Lane, taking the capital by storm – a star was born and it was he who first created the ‘dame’ character (the mother is nearly always played by a man) we know and love today – wearing a bun wig, a shawl and buttoned boots he made his first entrance on the back of a cart pulled by two donkeys, live geese scattering everywhere!

Leno’s success lead to pantomimes being packed with music hall stars of the day such as Marie Lloyd, Arthur Conquest and Vesta Tilley aided and abetted by speciality acts and featuring all the latest songs and jokes and of course, innuendo-laden routines. Men found they could milk more humour from playing the mothers whereas the girls in thigh-length boots and low-cut jackets attracted the dads! At this time pantos weren’t just Christmas treats – they were so popular that they often played from November until Easter, and sometimes beyond. As more and more pantomimes were staged in the regions so artistes travelled from town to town honing well-trodden routines and adding topical references.

The tradition continues today with 166 (at last count) professional pantomimes being presented this year in theatres large and small with of course, hundreds more amateur ones. The subject matters haven’t changed much over the centuries either - no doubt somewhere this Christmas, the wicked Sheriff of Nottingham will be despatching his niece and nephew to their doom in ‘Babes in the Wood’, one of the few home-grown tales. Mixed with the legend of Robin Hood it was first used for a pantomime in 1867. ‘Dick Whittington’ is another British tale, a mixture of fact and fiction. ‘Aladdin’ is adapted from one of the Arabian Nights stories and made its debut in 1813, 50 years later the characters had their names changed to make a topical pun out of the Chinese tea trade so the Princess became Pekoe and the dame, Twankey, both popular brands of tea at the time.

‘Cinderella’ will be praying that the Fairy Godmother can turn pumpkins into coaches up and down the country although in the original French story Cinders wore a fur shoe. ‘Mother Goose’ is another French tale and one of the earliest pantomime subjects, remaining popular with ‘dame’ performers because it’s the only one in which they get the starring role. ‘Jack and the Beanstalk’ is based on the German legend of ‘Jack the Giant Killer’ and achieved popularity after a production at London’s Adelphi Theatre in 1855. Other subjects such as ‘Peter Pan’ and ‘Snow White’ are more modern additions.

The late 'I'm Free' John Inman as panto dame

Maybe because of its rich historical past, pantomime is packed with traditions and superstitions handed down from generation to generation. The Demon should always appear from the left and the Fairy from the right (their right) – good being right whereas we throw salt over our left shoulder into the face of the devil – so that’s where he should lurk! The Fairy traditionally holds her wand in her right hand but when she speaks she should transfer it to her left so that it protects her heart. When the actors rehearse the production they never practise the rhyming couplets spoken at the conclusion of the finale, saving it until the opening night for luck. Actors are a superstitious lot at the best of times but pantomime seems to bring out a particular set of conventions and rules handed down over the years.

There will, of course, always be those who predict the end of pantomime often citing the casting of ‘one hit wonders’, sports personalities and the like. But according to many that is why it has survived - constantly remaining topical and reinventing itself. ‘The Theatre’ magazine ran an article proclaiming that, “Alas, pantomime is on its last legs!” But that was over a century ago – long may it continue to delight children of all ages!

Text copyright of the author.

It's Panto Time - oh, yes it is!

2010-08-12T10:42:00.000-07:00

“I love playing panto dame. It saves wearing a frock at home.” John Inman

I've just finished writing my last pantomime script for the year (hopefully!). For those who don't know what panto is - I'll publish a blog on panto history soon, but here's a bit about my scripts:

I really have my paternal grandparents to thank for my interest in theatre. They used to take my sister and I to see the pantomimes and Christmas shows at the Bristol Hippodrome each year. It was quite an occasion too! We used to go by taxi, which quite a thing, and invariably had seats near the front of the circle. This is still the area of a theatre I prefer to sit in. Front row of the circle, in the middle.

I can recall many of the people we saw – Danny La Rue, John Inman, Johnny Hutch and the Half-Wits, Jimmy Jewel. Wonderful! I also remember being fascinated by the musical director. I think his name was Derek New. Anyway, to me – remember, I was just a child – it always seemed like he was jumping up and down on his box as he conducted. He seemed to be having so much fun. Life is made up of such memories.

I still love pantomime today and so when the National Operatic and Dramatic Association, which represents the interests of amateur societies, asked if they could publish some of my scripts for performance by amateur societies I was thrilled. I dusted off some I’d written for performance at London’s Bloomsbury Theatre and worked with John Jardine and Roy Barraclough, both wonderful panto performers, to update some of their scripts. These are now performed up and down the country each Christmas.

Whether your society or group is a NODA member of not you need to apply to them for reading copies of scripts and for licenses if you are going to be performing in the UK. Visit www.noda.org.uk

For professional performances, amateur performances outside the UK and for commissions please contact volcano.associates@ukonline.co.uk

Credits:
Published pantomimes: Dick Whittington, Aladdin, Jack and the Beanstalk*, Robinson Crusoe*, Babes in the Wood, Sleeping Beauty, Father Christmas – the Pantomime, Cinderella*, Snow White, and Mother Goose.
*Co-written with Roy Barraclough MBE and John Jardine.

Quotes:
“Top-drawer double-entendre.” Rotherham Advertiser
“A pearl of a pantomime. Not to be missed. In fact, I went twice.” Retford Today
“Even on opening night, a ghost scene could still draw the kind of infant squeals of laughter you want to bottle!” Lancashire Evening Post
“This was the best pantomime I have seen whilst I have been the regional representative.” NODA Review

Please note the the pantomime posters displayed here are from previous years - don't try and book!

A Corrie Legend

2010-08-10T07:12:00.000-07:00

I knew actress Jill Summers very well - and always loved her portrayal of Percy-chasing Phyllis Pearce. Here's a reprint of an article I wrote for Lancashire Life magazine some years ago looking back on her life.

Honor Margaret Rozelle Santoi Fuller became one of Britain’s most famous grannies – but few of her devoted TV fans had any inkling of her colourful professional past. For Jill Summers, best known as Coronation Street’s Phyllis Pearce, the sandpaper-voiced old lady with the blue rinse, was once known for jokes that were as blue as her hair.

The diminutive Eccles-born actress came from a famous family of travelling players and was practically born in a stage trunk – her mother, Mary Power, only just made it home after a performance in time to give birth. Mary, stage name Marie Santoi, toured for many years with her own theatre company – one of the first women to succeed in what was definitely a man’s business at the end of the 19th century. She and Jill’s father, who was a wire walker, performed in variety staging romantic musical scenes with titles such as ‘A Night in Japan’, ‘Egypt’ and ‘Pearl of The Orient’.

Coming from such a richly theatrical family it is no surprise that the young Jill, or Honor as she was really called, should enter the profession. She chose her stage name by the way after her favourite time of year, summer, and the measurement of drink, a gill. Jill recalled later: ‘Life hadn’t always been easy for my mother but if a show fell on difficult times she would sell her furs and jewellery to keep the company going. The older members of the family soon joined her but I was too young.’

Jill’s half-brother, Tom F. Moss, was soon roped into the family firm and started out working in the orchestra pit until their mother heard him sing and he was instantly promoted. In fact he went on to achieve fame as a tenor at an early age and was often likened to the great Richard Tauber. Incidentally, Tom F. Moss was the son of Jill’s mother and Tom Major-Ball who went on to marry one Gwen Coates. Tom and Gwen had three children – one of whom is John Major, former British Prime Minister. With the advent of war Jill signed up with ENSA and in 1942 she and half-brother Tom teamed up to tour the Moss Empire circuit.

Tom sang romantic ballads like ‘On with the Motley’, ‘Because’ and ‘I’m Falling in Love’ dressed in trade-mark top hat, tails and white-tie with a monocle and small, neat beard. Jill too was considered a classical singer until her voice began to deepen and her mischievous sense of humour came to the fore – from then on she performed musical parodies.

The successful double act toured together for seven years but in true theatrical fashion life was not without its rows and bust-ups. Tom was something of a lady’s man which occasionally caused problems - and eventually Jill got a feeling that she was earning less than him. Her suspicions were confirmed when Tom fell ill and she was forced to deal with the wages herself. Her horror at discovering the truth that he was dividing their fees 60/40 caused them to split up and Jill took the first steps towards becoming a solo act.

Again Jill travelled the length and breadth of the country as a character comedienne appearing alongside the stars of the day and an amazing array of bewildering speciality acts. The picture above shows her whilst appearing at the famous London Palladium. Welsh star Tessie O’Shea once told her: ‘Your mother may have passed on now but she’ll always live on in you.’ Jill had countless stories of the acts she worked with but two of the most memorable involve animals. On one bill was an act called ‘Mushie the Forest Bred Lion’. The lady who ran the act, dressed in full military uniform, pledged that the beast would eat raw meat from her chest and that she would risk death by placing her head inside its mouth. Jill recalled that Mushie was so old and toothless that the lady (Miss Ellen) had to wait for him to yawn before thrusting her head inside his gums, and that he couldn’t chew raw meat so it had to be chopped into tiny pieces before being placed on her ample bosom! The other act was a live bear who Jill worked with in the pantomime ‘Goldilocks’ at Folkestone. Jill recalled that the bear got so excited at being on stage that it used to wet itself thus fusing the footlights and plunging the actors into darkness! It learnt to unlock the van the company travelled in and is said to have escaped whilst being driven through London!

During the fifties Jill became famous for her sketches including ‘The Landlady’, ‘The Bartered Bride’ and ‘The Lady Porteress’. Once again she toured the variety halls both with her own shows and as a club comic appearing alongside people like Dickie Henderson Jnr, Jimmy Charters and Jane ‘of the Daily Mirror’. One night she appeared with a husband and wife singing act. He would warble a selection of songs with roses in the title finishing with ‘Roses of Picardy’ during which his wife would walk along the footlights throwing red plastic roses to the ladies on the front row. Jill said that the effect was far from magical especially as the wife would hiss: ‘Hand them in at the Box Office on the way out!’

In 1948 she met and married her second husband, Doctor Clifford Simpson Smith, who took over the management of her career and toured with her whenever he could. It was in 1957 that Jill got her big break – her own television show entitled ‘Summers Here’, appearing alongside her were Michael Bentine and Wilfred Hyde White. She also toured for Paul Raymond as the comic in a strip show called ‘Paris After Dark – a tale of sin and sex!’

During the early sixties she continued with her stage appearances as well as pursuing a television career. Jill played the London Palladium, appeared in pantomimes and took part in the legendary ‘Thanks for the Memory’ tours for Don Ross, sharing the bill with such legendary names as Cavan O’Connor, George Lacey, Nat Gonela, Hetty King, GH Elliott and Billy Matchett.

During the latter half of the decade, with variety theatres closing, Jill re-launched herself on the club circuit with a show featuring songs and comedy, often quite blue comedy. She had many a tale involving being paid-off because her jokes were too much for the working men in the audience. But her professionalism and talent was beyond doubt as one critic put it: “She has a weaving-shed accent you could cut with a bread-knife and a sense of humour as keen as Gillette blue.”

In 1969 the newly formed Yorkshire Television launched its very first soap opera entitled ‘Castle Haven’. It starred Roy Barraclough (Alec Gilroy), Gretchen Franklin (EastEnders’ Ethel Skinner), Kathy Staff (Nora Batty) and Jill playing pub landlady Delilah Hilldrup. The series lasted just over a year and then it was back to cabaret and cameo TV roles, including a small role as a friend of Hilda Ogden's in 'Coronation Street'. In 1982 fame came knocking again – Granada TV wanted to introduce a feisty old lady into ‘Coronation Street’, just for a few episodes. Her name would be Phyllis Pearce.

At the age of 72, Jill created another masterpiece and the nation took the blue rinsed busybody to their hearts. Her on-screen relationship with Percy Sugden kept us all entertained for over 500 episodes and she reached a whole new audience. In 1997 Jill died in her sleep aged 86, only months before she had taken a break from 'Coronation Street' but she'd always hoped to return to the famous cobbles.

A wonderful career - and I'm sure her mother would have been proud that she’d carried the family baton so well.

This blog is not endorsed by ITV or Granada Television. Please note that the text and pictures on this posting are copyright of the author.

Corrie Trivia - continued

2010-08-10T01:44:00.000-07:00

The Red Rec (the park in Weatherfield) is so called because it's a 'red brick recreation ground'. In the picture on the right of the real park where they film most (but not all) Red Rec scenes you'll see the park has high brick walls. In fact, under the park is a reservoir.

The first wedding filmed on location was Harry Hewitt's. It was filmed at St Clement's in Ordsall. The church is still there. The road leading up to the church was Archie Street, and this was used for occasional outdoor street scenes. Archie St is long gone though the name lives on.

Just up the road from the Red Rec location used to be a cinema. Actress Violet Carson played the piano there for the silent films, long before Coronation Street had been invented.

Granada Studios Tours

2010-08-08T05:00:00.000-07:00

I get quite a few people asking whether I can arrange visits into Granada Studios - and the answer, I'm afraid to say, is that I can't. Of course, there used to be a 'theme park' based at the studios. It's actually how I got to walk on the famous cobbles for the first time. You entered off Water Street into a open-air New York set. Once upon a time, that area had been home to the first outdoor Coronation St set! It was also later used as Davenport's car showroom when Sally had one of her many flings. Anyway, there were all kinds of things to do - a Baker Street set, a tram ride through Checkpoint Charlie, a Houses of Parliament set, a room where you appeared to have shrunk, even a mock up of the Rovers where you could buy lunch - and you could walk down the outdoor street set. It was very good. All that closed around 1999. Since then access to the Coronation St set, and the studios, is very limited. I have been to the odd corporate event there when a firm has hired part of the old tours area. Sometimes a travel company books me for a locations tour and then they've managed to arrange a studio visit and I accompany them.
However, what I do is offer visits to the 'off studio' locations. Places like the one shown in the picture - it's where Richard Hillman drove the Platts into the canal. He of course, died there. Later, David drove his car into the water in an attempt to disrupt Sarah and Jason's wedding. Other locations I tend to include are - the church where the majority of weddings and funerals take place, the hall where Steve and Becky married, the Red Rec, Wetherfield Quays (Don drove Alma into the water there. Made a change!) where Steve proposed to Karen. Places like that, out of the studios, but associated with some of the biggest stories.
If you still have a longing to visit the studios and the actual street set then look out for some of the competitions running for the 50th. Check out the websites of some of the associated companies - Holland's Pies, Imperial Leather, Warburtons and so on. Quite a few have studio visits as prizes.

Join me on a Corrie tour!

2010-08-05T08:48:00.000-07:00

When ever Coronation Street fans hear that I give Corrie themed locations tours they always say things like 'Oh I wish I lived nearer' or 'I could never afford to do that'. Well, in celebration of the 50th anniversary, I'll do the best I can to share a tour with you.
Between 27th August and 6th September I'm looking after 40 Canadian fans on the Kemptville Travel 'World of Coronation Street Tour'. During that time I'll regularly blog what we've been up to, where we've been and who we've met. Here's a basic rundown of the itinerary:

Sat 28 Aug: Visit to Holmfirth (setting of BBC sit-com Last of the Summer Wine), drive through Saddleworth villages, visit to two Corrie locations - where Richard Hillman's death was filmed and where Steve and Becky married. Quiz night.
Sun 29 Aug: Visit two locations before we head to Arley Hall, where Liam married Maria and Mike married Linda (not really a lucky wedding venue for Weatherfield residents!) before we visit a final location for the day. Evening meal with special guest!
Mon 30 Aug: A look at Granada Studios, the Red Rec, Weatherfield Quays, Weatherfield Community Centre. Evening free to watch the latest episode on TV (it's two very special episodes in the UK!)
Tue 31 Aug: ....Now, that would be telling!

Wed 1 Sept: We call at the National Media Museum, at the village where Emmerdale was filmed for many years and take in the Yorkshire scenery.

Thurs 2 Sept: An almost non-Corrie day as we take in pretty Derbyshire villages and the National Tramways Museum.

Fri 3 Sept: The Castlefield district of Manchester and then we look for Martha's canal boat before we have time at the famous Bury Market and catch glimpse of a couple of locations. This evening we are at the theatre...oh, and that's been used for filming too!

Sat 4 Sept: Audrey and Alma loved shopping in Southport - and we're off there too! Then it's on to Blackpool for the famous illuminations and a look at the site where Alan Bradley died!

Sun 5 Sept: We go to the Coronation Street church for a special service followed by a tour of several locations. Then it's the farewell dinner with a special guest.

I keep a lot of it vague so that there are plenty of surprises - so keep checking this blog for my unfolding report and pictures. For more information on the tour - and to register your interest in joining next year's - visist http://www.kemptvilletravel.com/

Corrie Trivia

2010-08-05T07:28:00.000-07:00

An occasional posting of Coronation Street trivia:

In the Coronation Street video set on the QE2 there's a sequence where Rita and Alec watch fireworks from the aft of the ship. In fact setting off fireworks from a ship would be very dangerous and would be viewed as a distress signal. Therefore, the fireworks you see were set off in a field in Cheshire and the sequence editted in.

Archie Street in Ordsall, Salford was used for the first 'on location' filming. It didn't quite match the first street set (which was indoors at Granada Studios) but it was close.

At one time in the Kabin there was a theatre poster showing high-kicking chorus girls. It was provided by the Oldham Coliseum Theatre, where actress Barbara Knox, who plays Rita, started her career.

Blanche's funeral scenes were shot at a different church than is usually used. This was because the church in Prestwich, normally used for filming weddings and funerals, was having restoration work done at the time.

My upcoming talks and tours

2010-08-05T07:20:00.000-07:00

26 Aug: One day Coronation Street locations tour for Coronation Travel.
27 Aug - 6 Sept: World of Coronation Street Tour for Kemptville Travel.
8 Sept: 10.15am 'Crimes and Cons' talk at Dukinfield Library, Greater Manchester. Open to all. Free admission.
19 Oct: 6.30pm 'On The Cobbles' - a talk covering 50 years of Coronation Street for Oldham Civic Society at the Local Studies Library, Union St, Oldham. Open to all. Free admission.
2 Nov: 10.30am 'Christmas Traditions' - a talk at the Oldham Coliseum Theatre for their Full Circle Club.
21 Nov: Hosting the 'Oldham Christmas Lights Switch-On' event from 4.20pm outside the parish church.
2 Dec: Hosting the 'Pride in Oldham' awards at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Oldham.

Coronation Street - the first cast (continued)

2010-08-05T07:11:00.000-07:00

Alan Rothwell – played David Barlow:

David was a footballer who married Stan and Hilda Ogden’s daughter Irma. He enjoyed a successful career until an accident put paid to his future. He and Irma moved to Australia in 1968 and were killed in a car crash two years later. Alan was cast after producers saw him in a TV version of Love on the Dole. Born just outside Oldham, Alan was a child star appearing in the Wilfred Pickles’ radio shows. After leaving the Street he had a long stint hosting the children’s show Picture Box. He has appeared in other UK soaps – Emmerdale and Brookside and now works solidly on TV and in theatre.

Arthur Leslie – played Jack Walker:

Jack, landlord of the Rovers, had a tough life with his wife Annie. He died in 1970 whilst visiting daughter Joan in Derby. Arthur Leslie (real name Broughton) was an experienced theatre actor with a career going back to 1916 – he had also run several of his own companies, most notably in Wigan. His real-life son was later to appear in the show as shopkeeper Les Curry.

Frank Pemberton – played Frank Barlow:

Ken’s dad was a postman who lost his wife in 1961. Three years later he won a great deal of money which allowed him to sell up and move to a more expensive area. He returned for Daughter-in-law Valerie’s funeral in 1971 and died at home in 1975. Frank was already a well-known face when he joined the show – he’d been in Emergency Ward 10 and films David Copperfield and Saturday Night Sunday Morning amongst many other roles. He died of a stroke in 1975.

Noel Dyson – played Ida Barlow:

Ida never went to the Rovers and spent all her time cleaning – she was knocked down by a bus in 1961 and killed. Noel was an experienced actress who planned to turn down the role of Ida – she only agreed to play her when assured that the Street would finish after thirteen episodes. When the show took off, Noel decided she wanted out – although hers wasn’t the first death in the show it was the first on-screen funeral. She died in 1995 – her last screen role being in Prime Suspect 3.

Margot Bryant – played Minnie Caldwell:

Minnie resided in the Street for 16 years, for some of that time with her cat Bobby. She almost died in a coach crash, was engaged to Albert Tatlock and held at gunpoint by an American looking for Elsie Tanner. She left to look after a friend whose wife had died. Actress Margot Bryant was a trained dancer – she had danced in the West End and even with Fred Astaire! She died in 1988 aged 90.

Doris Speed – played Annie Walker:

Annie ran the Rovers until 1983 when she retired to Derby to live with daughter Joan. During her time in the Street she lorded it over many of her regulars and staff. Doris was from a theatrical family and was a highly experienced actress. Whilst performing in a Children’s Hour radio play she met child actor Tony Warren (he was only 12) but he remembered her – and when Annie was created he knew instantly who he wanted for the role. She fibbed about her age throughout her latter years and retired from the show to live in a home – she returned for the 30th anniversary special. She died in 1995 aged 95.

Betty Alberge – played Florrie Lindley:

Owner of the Corner Shop, Florrie was unlucky in love. She suffered a nervous breakdown and emigrated to Canada in 1965. The role of Ida Barlow had been written with Betty in mind but Tony Warren had a change of heart. Betty had a long career on stage and radio before joining the Street. The character was the last to go in the new producer’s cull of 1964. She continued to work extensively, working on films with Richard Burton and in the TV soap Brookside as Edna Cross. She died in 1991.

Anne Cunningham – played Linda Cheveski:

Elsie’s daughter, Ivan’s wife, was a headstrong young lady who emigrated to Canada only to make several return visits to her mother over the years. Her last appearance was in 1984. Anne was born in Yorkshire and brought up in South Africa. She returned to the UK to train as a nurse but got the acting bug instead. She worked with the great Orson Welles before arriving in Weatherfield. Anne played the Street’s first birth scene – having son Paul. When the actors were offered extended contracts, when the success of the programme became apparent, she declined and the Cheveski’s were written out – their exit episode got sixteen million viewers, a record-breaking episode at the time. Anne married a theatre director and, last I heard, was running an antiques shop in London.

Patricia Phoenix – played Elsie Tanner:

With numerous relationships – and husbands – Elsie was the siren of the Street. She finally left Weatherfield for good in 1983 when she met old flame Bill Gregory and they headed off to Portugal together. Pat Pilkington, her real name, was born in Manchester in 1924, after working in an office she joined the local theatre and played varying roles. She married actor Alan Browning who played her screen husband but the marriage failed. On her death-bed she married actor Tony Booth, father of Cherie Booth, wife of Prime Minister Tony Blair. When she finally left the show she starred in a TV sit-com about a boarding house owner with a bitter rival – the rival was played by Prunella Gee who later played Maxine’s mother. She died of cancer aged just 62 in 1986.

Violet Carson – played Ena Sharples:

Ena was the scourge of the Street for twenty years – most famously, doing battle with Elsie or as caretaker of the Mission. She went to stay with an old friend in the seaside town of St Anne’s and never returned. When she left school Vi Carson was much in demand as a pianist in cinemas. She later worked extensively on radio and was famous as ‘Auntie Vi’ on Children’s Hour. Several actresses auditioned for Ena and the role was actually offered to Doris Hare (On The Buses) but she had theatre commitments. Vi turned Ena into a legend. She died in her sleep aged 85 in 1983.

Christine Hargreaves – played Christine Hardman:

After the death of her mother, Christine Hargreaves could see no future and the factory worker fell into a deep depression – even threatening to throw herself off a roof (Ken talked her down). She then met an old flame and eloped to London. Actress Chrstine Hargreaves was from Salford, raised in a terraced street very much like that depicted on the show. She had trained at RADA and appeared in Skyport with many of the other Street actors before landing the role. She passed away in 1984 aged just 45.

William Roache – played Ken Barlow:

Ken of course, still lives in Coronation Street – its longest surviving resident. He has been married 4 times – to Valerie, Janet and Deirdre (twice) and is father to Peter, Susan, Daniel (and soon, another!) and step-father to Tracy. William was born in Derbyshire and studied medicine before joining the army. He served in many countries across the world before returning to the UK and training as an actor. He appeared in many stage productions, married first wife Anna Cropper whilst they were at Oldham Rep together (she played Joan Akers in the Street in 1962). He appeared in a number of TV roles before landing the part of Ken Barlow. His second wife Sara died recently. In November 2010 he will become the world record holder for an actor playing the same role continuously.

Lynne Carol – played Martha Longhurst:

Martha, the Rovers cleaner, was often to be found in the snug with Ena and Minnie. That’s where she died, glass of stout on the table before her, in 1964. Lynne came from a theatrical family – making her first stage appearance when only 9 days old. When the role was ‘killed off’ by a controversial new producer, the rest of the cast were furious. Lynne however returned to her roots and had a long stage career. She died in 1990 aged 76.

Elsie Lappin – played by Maudie Edwards:

Elsie, who had owned the corner shop for a number of years, had just sold up to Florrie Lindley. She was about to move to Knott End and indeed, episode two would be her last appearance. Elsie spoke the very first words on Coronation Street (apart from the sound of children playing that is!). Maudie Edwards was from Neath in South Wales where, for many years, she’d run her own theatre company at the Palace Theatre, Swansea. Her film and TV credits are numerous and include Under Milk Wood and Pink String and Sealing Wax. She had a beautiful singing voice and dubbed the voices of Margaret Lockwood and Diana Dors in I’ll Be Your Sweetheart and Diamond City respectively. She died in 1991.

Patricia Shakesby – played Susan Cunningham:

Ken’s girlfriend from university. They split up after a few weeks. Patricia was an ‘in-demand’ actress before the show – her first professional role being in the West End production of Where the Rainbow Ends co-directed by Sir Noel Coward. She continues to work extensively and is best known in the UK as Polly Urquhart in Howard’s Way but she has also appeared in many other classics such as Yes Minister.

Oldham's Good Old Days

2010-08-05T06:56:00.000-07:00

I just love pictures like this one. Makes you stop and go: "What on earth is that??" For a couple of years now I've written a series of magazines called 'Good Old Days' for the Oldham Evening Chronicle newspaper. It comes out twice a year and includes loads of pictures taken from their archives (like this bizarre bus).
I'm currently working on the Christmas issue, which will be published at the end of October.
You'll find all the photos we've used in past issues on their website http://www.oldham-chronicle.co.uk/ for purchase.

Coronation Street - the first residents

2010-08-04T08:59:00.000-07:00

In the run up to the 50th anniversary, I thought I would share some of the articles about Coronation Street that I've written over the years. To get it started, I'll post, over a few days, biographies of the original cast.

Ivan Beavis – played Harry Hewitt:

The character lasted seven years – eventually being crushed under his drinking pal Len Fairclough’s van. After serving with the Royal Navy, Ivan was working in Northern Ireland when he contracted TB. Whilst resting, in the early 50s, he joined the local amateur dramatics society and decided to turn professional. He landed several jobs at Granada before the part of Harry came along. After leaving the show he said that he found it hard to find work – producers claimed that the public identified him too strongly with the popular Harry. He did however tour New Zealand with Pat Phoenix in Gaslight and he worked with the Royal Shakespeare Company. He died in 1997.

Jack Howarth – played Albert Tatlock:

Uncle Albert, Valerie Barlow’s uncle, lived in the Street for 24 years until his death. During his time there he acted as a lollypop-man and Ena Sharples’ assistant at the Mission. He almost married twice – to Alice Pickens and Minnie Caldwell but the plans fell through. Jack was born in Rochdale (he went to school with Gracie Fields) and had a long repertory career, even staging his own shows in Wales. He found fame as Mr Maggs in the radio series Mrs Dale’s Diary before joining the Street. He died in his sleep in 1984, he was 88.

Ernst Walder – played Ivan Cheveski:

Ivan was the Polish son-in-law of Elsie Tanner. He worked in the Rovers as pot man before emigrating to Canada with his family. He returned briefly when his marriage broke down and moved to Birmingham in 1967. Ernst, born in Austria, arrived in the UK in 1952 as a domestic servant. In his spare time he trained as an actor and carved out a good line in German soldiers – appearing in such films as Carve Her Name with Pride. He was one of the original cast of Castle Haven, the fore-runner to Emmerdale, alongside Jill Summers, Kathy Staff and Roy Barraclough. He now lives in Austria.

Philip Lowrie – played Dennis Tanner:

Dennis’ eight years in the Street caused nothing but trouble for mum, Elsie. He had already served time and the last we heard of him was when Elsie visited him in prison where he was incarcerated for swindling pensioners. Coronation Street’s creator Tony Warren admits to having had a yearning to play this role himself – but two actors got down to the final casting decision – Philip and Ken Farrington (he lost it – but landed the later role of Billy Walker!). Philip had a great CV and indeed, continues to act and write.

To be continued -
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Summer Wine - the very last!

2010-08-04T08:22:00.000-07:00

The BBC recently announced that Last of the Summer Wine was to be axed. Actually, the epsiodes which are currently being shown in the UK were filmed last year befaore the cast and crew had been given the news. Sadly, that means the final episode (which is due to air on Sunday 29th August by my calculation) doesn't actually tie things up. Shame!
Holmfirth, where the show was filmed, is still a hugely popular stop off for visitors from across the world. In fact, I'll be taking some Canadians there on the 28th to enjoy a cuppa in the famous cafe, to stand on Nora's steps and to enjoy the moorland setting.

Coronation Street - filming with Debbie Travis

2010-08-04T08:16:00.000-07:00

About 12 years ago (maybe more) I got a call from a tour guide who was looking after a group of Canadian Coronation Street fans and was wanting to bring them to my place of work. At the time I was working at the Coliseum Theatre in Oldham where many of the Corrie stars had appeared early in their careers. As it happened, Malcolm Hebden, who plays Norris, was working with us and Kenneth Alan Taylor, who ran the theatre, had played brewery boss Cecil Newton. Anyway, to cut a long story short, I arranged for the group to visit, meet Kenneth and Malcolm, and watch a play. Little did I know then that within a few short years I would have taken over as the guide (I didn't force the previous one out, honest!) and now I'm the one ringing people and asking them to open up locations specially for us. I've now taken hundreds of British, Canadian and New Zealand fans on tours around some of the famous off-set locations (generally, the studio sets are not open to the public) including the Red Rec, canal, church etc etc. This year I even got to film with Canadian TV host Debbie Travis for a CBC 50th anniversary documentary to be aired in December.
I can either do a one or two day coach tour, a Manchester city centre walking tour lasting about two hours, or I do a talk about Coronation Street's history which I give for groups such as WIs, at libraries and so on. For any enquiries contact volcano.associates@ukonline.co.uk
The tours and talks are not endorsed by Granada TV or ITV