Coronation street

The script writers have lost track of the original ideas of Tony Warren who based his stories on the characters of a typical northern street of terrace houses, and the working class people who lived in them.
The storylines and sets had to develop with the times of course, but even the corner shop has modernised out of all recognition, and where has that typical long street of terraced houses disappeared to?
Does anyone remember the very first episode (I do, sad person that I am) in that corner shop, Ena Sharples, Minnie Caldwell, Elsie Tanner, Albert Tatlock, Annie Walker et al? All with genuine accents and no soft southern vowels creeping in? (I hasten to add, nothing wrong with southern vowels in the right place). Who's in charge of casting I wonder.
Where are the real actresses and actors? Victoria Wood found plenty.

He's alive, but unwell, I think. I suppose when the actor dies it will be more difficult to cover it on screen.

When Brian Mosely was ill, they had his character, Alf Roberts, die on screen, too. I think it's more respectful, so that the 'real' death and the character's death aren't mixed up.

Why did they even have to kill Norris off? I understand the actor is still very much alive.
I have a horrible feeling it’s a way to bring the awful Freda back.

I agree with all the above and I do wonder why a prestigious soap like Coronation Street can't hire decent actors. Surely there must be loads of out of work luvvies who can actually act who would jump at the chance to be 'on the cobbles'?
The funeral was just ridiculous last night, especially Mary wearing a sheet and the Norris letter read out by Roy. As for Daniel, who has apparently suddenly become a teacher, and Max, who now has a different head and an entirely different character, well, don't get me started. No half decent teacher would have got into that situation anyway. Like others, I sometimes wonder why I carry on watching it. Habit, I guess.

We all watch at work, I’m always a few weeks behind, so I always know what’s coming.
We have one man who says he’s never watching it again, the story lines are ridiculous, the acting is dreadful, he simply cannot bring himself to watch another episode.
But still he does.

Why on earth do I watch it!?

My sister and I were discussing this on the phone, as we both agreed the storylines are dire most of the time. We came to the conclusion that for a few hours a week, we just wallow in the nonsense that is Corrie, helps you forget the real world around you, (Covid, fuel shortages, disappearing energy suppliers and that’s just this week).

It’s good for our mental health, a bit of nonsense, and occasionally, just occasionally, they play a blinder, i.e. the death of Sinead, the Serb/Nina /Corey case, the Pat Phelan murders, the Richard Hillman saga.

So we keep watching.

?

Going back to original post, for the first time in the history of me watching C. Street, I nearly fast forwarded last night’s fiasco where Freda locked herself in the community centre with Aled. “ Just call the police”, I found myself hollering at the tv...much to the amusement of my husband. Probably one of the most irritating storylines for a while.

My husband has just said it was all irritating last night. The blackmail with Grace. Norris was a miserable git. The situation with Daniel, David, and the suddenly very old looking Max! At one point,I thought he almost looked the same age as David!!

Don’t get me started on Claudia with her mouth full of marbles!

Time in Corrie is consistently eroded Franbern.
The years it takes to get a case to court, is done and over with in a matter of 1 or 2 episodes!
But it has stretch the patience of this viewer many times.
I now feel the writers just take the viewers for granted.
There are no hidden facets of the characters any more.
No joy at seeing them reveal unexpected nuggets of kindness/bravery or fear etc.
Mostly just stereotypical mindless rhetoric.
In the old days, a situation would occur that would allow a few characters to play against type. To step outside of their normal identity, a bit like real life.
I thought Tyrone (sorry forgotten actors name) handled his storyline well though.

Does anyone think one of the Bailey family (Mum?) will blow their top and do something despicable to Grace, just in time for the Christmas episode?
He's a builder and could dispose of a body on site?
No one was as good as Pat Phelan for that though!

The funeral episodes were two light-hearted ones. Good to have these occasionally. Loved the way Ken was happily getting prepared to be the person Norris had chosen to read out his letter - and then could not believe it when it was Roy. Did wonder where all the residents from that facility that Norris and Freda had been living in were at the funeral. Surely, Corrie could have afforded a few extras to portray them.
Must say I admire that the actor that plays Gemma has quite obviously, genuinely, learned BSL for her role (no mean feat).
Not quite sure when Daniel suddenly qualifiied as a teacher, thought his studies were for his MA. As a newly qualified or student teacher he would have had lots of support from more senior staff, to whom he would have been able to refer for help regarding a difficult pupil. He also seems to have far too much 'free' time. Most teachers I know arrive at school long before the pupils, and leave long after them and then continue working at home.

Re the Freda storyline - I should have added that I have every sympathy for deaf people - some of my family have become deaf in their later years - but the storyline (whilst trying to raise awareness of deafness) was not handled that well. I thought the BSL signing in the Corrie episodes was a good thing to portray and it’s wonderful that people with and without deafness can communicate in this way. Sorry if I offended anyone.

Kadinsky
I agree with you about Grace, but for me, it’s a toss up who is the most unpleasant character, Grace, or Michaels mother, whose name I can’t remember.
The footballer son, is probably one of the worst actors they have ever had.

I wish they’d get rid of Gemma & Freda, really annoying characters.
I actually don’t mind the Bailey family ( apart from Grace ) the Mum is lovely & her character could really develop.

I agree with all of the above! I’ve been watching Corrie for 60 years so I’m not going to stop now, but a lot of the storylines are just ridiculous. I suppose I enjoy the humour that is often a feature, but most of the serious stuff is not true to life. The acting is often chronic - and getting worse. The worst offenders are Gail, Dev, Gemma, and all of the Bailey family. The Freda storyline drove me mad - go back to whence you came Freda! What’s it got to do with her whether Aled has cochlear implants or not?! I do love Nana. Obviously Maureen Lipman is a very experienced and versatile actress - and it shows. As for the others.....! I’ll still watch though - out of habit, loyalty and the occasional sparks of humour. The scriptwriting needs an injection of reality though. I know it’s all done for entertainment, but we the viewers are asked to suspend belief too far sometimes!

My favourite at the moment is definitely Nanna, we all love her, I think she’s a very well written character.
I don’t know what had happened to Gails character, she used to be a feisty young woman, now she a downtrodden, put upon drudge.
It’s interesting to watch classic, and see what the scriptwriters have done with the characters, Audrey was awful, now she’s the wise matriarchal figure, Ken was quite unpleasant at times, Kevin was a real chauvinist, now he’s a supportive partner, only Sally seems unchanged.

There's something up with the writers. They're getting a lot wrong these days.
Freda begone!!

I’ve watched Corrie for decades. It’s the only soap I record and watch all episodes. I feel they’ve lost the way in recent months. I wonder if they have new script writers? Some storylines are just ludicrous. I actually found myself saying out loud at the end of last night’s episode “why do I keep watching this drivel?

Ex dancer,Norris was in Corrie a lot over the years. I think the funeral etc was as much a tribute to the actor from the cast etc who seemed very fond of him than maybe a reflection of the characters feelings.

I must add I do like Maureen Lipman as Evelyn, I didnt warm to her character at first but now I really pay attention when shes in a scene-some classic one liners and heart of gold under that icy exterior. I always used to wonder if she was secretly Tyrones mum but the recent episodes on ITV 3 when Tyrone has appeared with his mum Jackie have just made me rethink that. Is Evelyn supposed to be Jackie's mum? Or was she a grandmother figure?

That funeral was a joke, though we have to bear in mind it would be codged together at the last moment.
I don't remember Norris being a big personality in the series, why spend so much time of that funeral (days) when others have had a mention on one episode and then forgotten. I feel he got more air-time than Haley.

I was rather shocked to see Audrey, is it my imagination or had she lost a lot of weight since I last saw her? She really didn't look at all well

What was the towel doing on Gail’s head when her massive fringe was clearly dry??? Can’t bear Gail ….the acting is shocking especially when she tries to be funny,

Why on earth do I watch it !?

I agree with all the above. I have watched Corrie for as long as I can remember,never stuck with any of the other soaps. Even now it has its moments of brilliance but they are few and far between. I watch mainly out of habit/ loyalty. Story lines seem to drag on forever. I too enjoy the repeats on ITV 3 much more.
Maybe in a strange way it does sometimes reflect real life-size of the originals that are left seem to have aged drastically. Theres nothing wrong with that in itself-makes a change from the surgically enhanced soap stars etc that are norm. I do find that Rita and Ken appear particularly frail which is sad to see. It doesnt help that there are so few strong younger characters.

They kept going on about how many of Norris’s old friends had attended the funeral. To me, it looked about a dozen or so there. Hardly bursting at the seams. And all sat gossiping away before Billy entered and the service commenced.

Not sure why Billy was needed, he didn’t seem to have much to do.

Do the Corrie writers ever attend a real funeral?

I sincerely hope we never see Freda again.

Doodledog

I wonder if some of these episodes have been recorded as 'fillers' in case cast members were ill or 'pinged', and now they feel they need to use them?

Good point Doodledog

I agree with the comments re the poor story lines.I record and watch Classic Coronation Street every afternoon. The acting is better ,story lines have humour ,Alec ,Jack and Vera have had some marvellous lines .Blanche has been and gone ,Deidre and Ken are back together and Tyrone has made his first appearance.

The funeral was unbelievable. The scripts are getting worse by the week.