Monday moan: waiting to turn the Coronation Street corner

I'm a bit worried that we're getting too negative on Corrieblog, but here goes...

In a very well-written and obviously heartfelt article, someone called Keith Newbery has written in the Rye & Battle Observer an article called My 50 year love affair is ending now - and the affair he speaks of is with Coronation Street.

He says, "They tried to dress you up in fashionable clothes and subjected you to all the latest social fads, but those who knew you well realised that at heart you remained a glorious creation. You were never the simple, working-class creature some perceived. You were far more subtle and richly-textured; you possessed a depth and humour that evolved naturally from the characters you nurtured and developed."

Keith now feels, however, that his patience has been tested too much and he's ready to turn away from his erstwhile favourite soap permanently.

In last week's Yay or Nay feature, we asked you whether Corrie is in a slump or not, and overwhelmingly you say that it is, and a lot of people seem to be feeling the same as Keith Newbery. One commenter said: "a lot of the reason these story lines (albeit they do verge on near-ridiculousness) are lacking is because they're mostly circling around brand new characters, therefore, lacking a lot of depth. This is why we want our old standbys back (Les and Jim etc). I personally would like to see more of Blanche etc. If they're going to add new characters, they need to mingle their storylines with existing characters for some rapport, otherwise, I may as well be watching some new pilot show on tv."

Keith Newbery agrees with this: "You [Corrie] will do anything for cheap laughs and have forgotten (or ignored) the fact that your humour was at its best when it poured naturally from seasoned performers, like fine wine from old casks. You labour tired storylines like Michelle and Ryan, yet allow a character like Vera Duckworth to pass from our lives in one flimsy episode."

So where does the blame for this lie? Is it particular scriptwriters, is it the producer, is it the pressure of too many episodes or an over-sized cast, of characters appearing and disappearing before we've even got to know them?

Personally, I always have faith that Corrie will get through this low ebb like it always has in the past. The traditions of the show and the talent of the majority of the cast and other people involved are too strong for it not to. I just wish they'd hurry up and turn the corner, before too many people follow Keith Newbery's lead and fall out of love.