Ken Barlow

You are quite right rubylady - I wouldn't live on Coronation Street for all the money in the world, death and destruction lurking around every corner and behind every dooor

I also agree about the size of the houses and how many people they seem to comfortably fit in - take Gail's house: Gail, David, Kylie, two small children and Nick - all manage to sleep in a bedroom in a very small 3 bedroomed house (I'm assuming it has 3 bedrooms and not two!). No-one is ever unemployed for more than a few days and, as you have said, there is always a vacant flat miraculously available in a very short time!

I still love the programme though

I have to agree Holly. The line about Steve's vasectomy still makes me laugh. "It's a vasectomy, not a vasectoyou" Classic.

Seeing as I watch Emmerdale, Corrie and Eastenders, I'm going to try to keep a tally next year of hatches, matches and dispatches. Especially the murders. You really wouldn't want to live in any with the crime rates, would you?

And I agree about the jobs, or the flat/house shares. How many people do they get into some houses, like Eileen's. There's about six of them in a two bed. And the relationships, they don't tend to be able to date anyone further than 100 yards away or shop other than the corner shop. And all in the pub at lunch time, even Edna. (although Edna was the Inebriate, for anyone who remembers the Patricia Hayes play, lol).

I think the writers are trying too hard to make Deirdre a replacement for Blanche. Some of her lines about the missing dog this week were cringeworthy. I think they need a bit more subtlety but have the potential to be very funny in their own right.

I agree - she doesn't come across so much as funny but as though she's gone a bit 'simple' (they do the same with Gail sometimes). Coronation Street humour is best when it is subtle. I love the banter between Steve, Eileen and Lloyd - now that is Corrie magic!

I thoroughly dislike Jim MacDonald (and Liz) and how many times can Jim say so it is or so you are in one sentence - why oh why do they have to keep wheeling out the MacDonald parents!

For me, Ken is like Norris, irritating as heck but I would miss them - there'd be no-one to tut at (well, apart from Deidre, Gail, Audrey, Maddie, Karla, Michelle, Leanne (and her new chap), Nick ... )

And in Walford, nobody seems to own a washing machine!

Yes, and if anyone's made homeless there's always a vacant flat to rent over someone's shop or business!

I stopped watching Eastenders ages ago as the plots and characters became increasingly unpleasant.

I still enjoy Coronation Street, mostly for its humour. I don't expect soaps to reflect "real life" but sometimes I think they are so unrealistic as to be annoying. Why, for instance, does everybody seem to work within a few yards of where they live?

Must agree rubylady but wouldn't you just hate living in that village it must be the most dangerous place to live in Yorkshire if you ask me.

Talking of soaps though, who thinks that little April in Emmerdale is fantastic. I wasn't keen at first but she has had some remarkable lines to learn for a five year old and plays it really well. I hope she gets the Newcomer award at the Soaps this year. A good little actress in the making.

Gosh! reading these posts made me think how long ago it was when I stopped watching the soaps...when I went back to FT work in 1982 and the timings did not work and it was before catch up etc was invented!! I used to love a bit of Corrie!

I felt the same when I stopped watching Eastenders! Couldn't miss Coronation Street, though...

One day I realised that I fast forwarded through so much of Corrie that it wasn't worth watching anymore.

I felt a wonderful relief not having to keep up with all the episodes. I have't missed it one bit.

It was the influx of 'yoof' that finally drove me away from it - the only soap I ever watched.

I haven't missed Kevin at all to be honest and I would prefer it if he didn't come back. Sally is much funnier now and I think she and Tim make a great double act. I like Ken and Deirdre but I think the writers are trying too hard to make Deirdre a replacement for Blanche. Some of her lines about the missing dog this week were cringeworthy. I think they need a bit more subtlety but have the potential to be very funny in their own right.

I agree about Maddie - I wish she and Sophie would disappear and not return. They are both annoying. And if they could take Kim Marsh with them I'd be very happy.

glammanana Jim McDonald isn't in prison, he's in the 'bighice'

Maybe that's why there is more emphasis on the young characters - will Amy turn into a scheming b** like Tracey, what will happen to Little Simon etc. mind you what has happened to Chesney? He hasn't been in it for a while.

I never missed Ken Barlow as a character whilst he was away or Kevin Webster to be honest,but the story line with Peter in prison & the meet up with Jim McDonald is so far fetched "so it is"
They need to get some new families in soon I think as all the main characters are ageing somewhat

I'm a big Corrie fan. I think the writing is very good and have enjoyed the Ken and Deidre sketches this week - Ken is supposed to be pretentious and I think the two of them have some great comic lines. I nearly choked on my cuppa when Ken started greeting strangers in Welsh. I find Gail amusing too, and the David's sniping about her love life - "they're playing your song" when the ice cream van's chimes were heard, etc. Nothing can come close to dear old Blanche though - how I miss her!

I'd agree on Leanne and Nick - I'd be happy to see them both go. Leanne could take Cal with her too, for me. Oh, and Dev, whose twins seem to have disappeared - have I missed something?

I think I read somewhere that Michael Le Vell (Kevin Webster) has gone off to have his alcoholism sorted out and will then return to Corrie. I hope so.

I agree the murder plot has gone on for far too long.

henetha

I enjoy Coronation Steet and I also cannot stand Maddie and I add Steve MacDonald to my list as well as Carla's husband who is in prison and his name escapes me. I wish that plot would end soon- it has been going on for too long.

I love Corrie. I was pleased to see Ken Barlow back and think he has successfully reintegrated into the program, unlike Kevin Webster who gave it a try and couldn't cope.

(used characters names because the actors' names escape me at the moment).

Gail, the simpering dormouse! I love that, KatyK. Such a good description. I could shake her at the moment.
I keep hoping that Maddie will go and live with her little brother in Cornwall, or wherever it is he's gone. She's irritating isn't she.
But mostly Corrie is perfect escapism. I don't expect it to completely reflect real life; that would be boring, wouldn't it.
So glad you like it too.

Yes but you get people who walk about looking like that. Is it really out of character for him?
Any soap needs someone who is annoying or a bit of a poser. Its what poeple are really like in real life.