Len Fairclough bought a small business on Rosamund Street in the mid 1970s, thinking it was well established and profitable. Turns out the previous owner was married to money but the business didn't do that well. No matter. Len was determined, started up a newsagents and moved Rita in as manager even though Ray had already promised that job to Deirdre Hunt, a new dolly bird on the Street that he'd been trying to chat up. Rita was Len's girlfriend at the time, Len owned the shop so Len's choice won the job. She also moved into the flat upstairs and soon took on a shop assistant, Mavis Riley. Len decided to name the place The Kabin, though Rita thought it was a bit affected. Nonetheless, The Kabin it was and still is.
Yeeee-haaaah! This week's Fab Photo Friday is brought to you by the letter J. Looking at the expression on Bert Tilsley's face, J could only be for JOY! This is the precise moment on 1 January 1981, only a few minutes after the New Year bells, when Bert and Ivy Tilsley of No.5 Coronation Street learn that they have become the proud grandparents of a 7lb 2oz boy. We think it's joy on Ivy's face, but she does bear a strange resemblance to how we imagine Jeanette Krankie might look whilst trying to pass wind! For sheer devilment, why not add a caption in the comments? [Sky Clearbrook]
As our journey along the Coronation Street alphabet nears its middle point, we reach the letter, which stands for 'jail' and 'justice', and by heck have those residents of Coronation Street had their run-ins with the law. Around the time when Tracy Barlow was jailed in April this year, Corrieblog ran a weekly series about Corrie's women who had been on the wrong side of the law, including wor Rita, Elsie Tanner, Kelly Crabtree and Deirdre Rachid.
But what about the male wrongdoers? Click below to read more.
Eileen Grimshaw’s cheating fella Pat was one of a few Irishmen who have appeared in Coronation Street. The best known is probably big Jim McDonald, so it was, he of The Big House, “I love ye, Elizabeth” and the famous Ulster Fry. And let’s not forget Rovers barman and restaurateur Ciaran McCarthy played by ex-Boyzone member Keith Duffy. Have we forgotten any Irishmen on Corrie? Let us know below!
Have a look at all of the A-Z of Coronation Street
Let's add another quick bit to our Coronation Street alphabet, this time the lowly ironing board. Corrie prides itself on reflecting 'real life', and the best way to achieve that is to show the characters doing 'real' things. You know the stuff, going to the shop, vacuuming the front room, ironing the clothes. Gail Platt always seems to be doing the washing! Here's a nice picture of Ena Sharples ironing her smalls. [Ben]
In most housing areas, street names follow a theme, and in some parts of Weatherfield that theme is based around the people and events from the Crimean War. The Battle of Inkerman was fought in 1854, and a street in Weatherfield was named after it - Inkerman Street. Some of Corrie's most famous families, such as the Tilsleys and the Duckworths, lived on Inkerman Street before moving to Coronation Street. The mention of Inkerman Street was perhaps the only thing that could shut up Hilda Ogden, as a certain female resident at No.19 was Stan's fancywoman. [Ben]
In a little bit of a history quiz, can any Corrieblog readers name some other Weatherfield streets named after the events of the Crimean war? I can think of three!
Holidays have always been featured on Coronation Street. In the early days, most of them were mainly trips to the seaside in the northwest or north Wales or maybe to a holiday camp like Butlins. Even honeymoons were usually somewhere within the U.K. Then we started to see people venture further afield as cheap packages to sunny places like Spain and the Algarve became more affordable. Blackpool is still a favourite, though, but we've also seen holidays and honeymoons to places like the Caribbean, Benidorm, Majorca (where all the women went when Bet won a holiday), Capri, Paris, Cyprus, Florida, Canada, various Greek and Canary islands.
Humour is what sets Coronation Street apart from its main soap rival on the BBC. You know which one I mean. There has always been a lighter side to all of Corrie’s storylines. Whenever things get too heavy with a murder, a death or a demon child, there’s always a lighter story to give some balance to the soap. Without humour in Coronation Street I think it would soon lose fans.
But does the humour work well all the time? A lot depends on what you find funny. I know many fans hated Reg’s waterbed scene but it still makes me laugh. Some of the Corrie humour can be a little forced but most of it that comes in the form of dialogue from characters such as Rita, Norris and Blanche, can be sublime. The balance of humour against serious stories, of light against darkness, is what Corrie has always done best and long may it continue.
Have a look at all of the A-Z of Coronation Street
This week's Fab Photo Friday is brought to you today by the letter H. H is for Handel Gartside. Handel was a gentle old soul who had returned to Coronation Street in 1970 after thirty-three years living in Canada. He and Minnie Caldwell had been childhood friends, attending Hardcastle's Factory School together. Although Ena described him as being the same Handel Gartside he always was - "Shifty eyes and hot lips!" - it wasn't long before they rekindled that friendship. In 1976, Minnie left Weatherfield for a new life with Handel. Look at the twinkle in Handel's eyes as he catches sight of Bet - still plenty of life in that old dog (err.. I mean Handel, not Bet!)! [Sky Clearbrook]
We’ve had many Corrie crimpers over the years and a hair salon manages to survive and thrive on Coronation Street even now. Valerie Barlow was Corrie’s very first hairdresser but died when she plugged in a faulty hairdryer. As well as hairdressing on the street, hair features in many other ways too. There was Ena Sharples’ famous hair net of course and plenty of wig wearers too, the most notable being Reg Holdsworth and didn’t Fred Gee wear a wig at one tine? Hilda’s hair curlers deserve a special mention as does Deirdre Barlow's perm, Phyllis Pearce's blue rinse, Janice Battersby's shaved head and the time when Vera had her hair dyed a shade that she wasn't expecting. Which other hair-related Corrie connections can you recall?
Have a look at all of the A-Z of Coronation Street
Like the barmcake, Lancashire hotpot is a regional dish best known to those who live in the north-west. Basically, it’s a meat, usually lamb, stew but on Coronation Street, Betty’s famous hot pot deserves a medal for keeping the good men and women of Weatherfield going strong. It’s still on the menu in the Rovers today and there’s a recipe for traditional Lancashire hot pot right here. Mind you, you would do well to think on and never confuse hotpot with hot pot.
Have a look at all of the A-Z of Coronation Street
The old saying goes that men don’t make passes at girls who wear glasses but these two Coronation Street women seem to have done all right!
Have a look at all of the A-Z of Coronation Street
Granada Television is of course, where Coronation Street is produced. The Granada TV studios hosts the Corrie set although recent press reports suggest it could be on the move. There's a very detailed history of Granada TV here which makes fascinating reading.
And why not have a look at Granada Studios on Google Earth?
Have a look at all of the A-Z of Coronation Street
Fab Photo Friday is brought to you this week by the letter G. G is for Gentleman Stan. Before the Ogdens moved into No.13 Coronation Street, the story goes that Stan was rarely at home. When he was, he would roll in the door, penniless and paralytic, frequently lifting his hands to the long-suffering Hilda. Viewers often got to see the lighter side of Stan and here he is showing his chivalrous side by offering his young and flighty next door neighbours, Suzie and Gail, a shot on his tandem. Isn't that nice of him? And no... I've no idea why he's got a tandem. Phwoar - the 1970s, eh? [Sky Clearbrook]
With thanks to Corrie.net for this picture which shows the entrance to the ginnel. The ginnel is that opening on the right which allows access to the back of the Rovers Return and the back alley. And according to the Corrie.net FAQ the definition of a ginnel is a narrow passage or lane between terraced houses.
Have a look at all of the A-Z of Coronation Street
Coronation Street actors sometimes lead a bit of a double life, playing more than one character over the years. Some examples include Suranne Jones who played Mandy Philips in 1997 and three years later returned as Karen Philips. Funny, eh? We also welcomed Barbara Young (Doreen) back to the Street, in her second role, after first appearing as Dot Stockwell in 1982. Susan Brown appeared as Sean Tully's mam, Maggie, after having previously appeared as Connie Clayton in 1985, and of course, let us not forget that Keith Clifford will soon be returning, in a new role, different to that of his famous Charlie West.
Yet which Coronation Street actor or actress holds the title for having made the most appearances as a different character? Click below to read more. [Ben]
Hands up if you can remember the Omnibus Trolleybus exorcism on Coronation Street? What a weird storyline that was, wasn’t it? A vicar came onto the cobbles to exorcise the ghost of Ivy Tilsley from the Street after Sarah Platt claimed she saw nanna Ivy looking down to her on the cobbles from the upstairs window of her old house. But that’s not Corrie’s only ghost connection, no. Sue Nicholls, who plays Audrey Roberts, starred in RentaGhost and there are also rumours that the Street itself is haunted. Even Corrie creator Tony Warren reckons the ghost of Pat Phoenix walks the Street. Are there any more ghost connections that you can remember?
Have a look at all of the A-Z of Coronation Street
The most famous, or infamous fire ever on Coronation Street, the one that everybody remembers, is 1986 when the Rovers went up in flames. The opening credits showed an early morning Weatherfield. Quiet. A few birds about. The rattle of the milk truck. Sally and Kevin arrive home from a night of clubbing and spot the smoke around the door and raise the alarm down the row of houses.
We've just seen a nasty fire at the Peacock's house but fire has been no stranger to Coronation Street over the decades. One of the worst early fires was the one in 1971 that was caused when Valerie Barlow electrocuted herself with a dodgy hair dryer plug. She died from the jolt and the plug caused a fire. It was decided that the entire set of maisonettes had bad wiring after that and they were pulled down. A few years later 1975, the Mark Brittain Warehouse burned down and Fred Gee's wife, Edna died, trapped in the Ladies' room. The most famous fire was probably the one that that gutted the Rovers in 1986. Sally's DIY shop went up in flames because of a faulty radio that Jason tried to fix.
This week's Fab Photo Friday is brought to you by the letter F. F is for Fantastic Friday Feeling and we make absolutely no apologies whatsoever for using (yet) another snap of Jack and Vera for this weekly feature. Here they are in the living room of No.9 Coronation Street, just about to celebrate the end of another long week with a drink from their very own bar - every home should have one! Grab a drink and let's toast this joyous couple. Here's to Jack and Vera - the Duckworths! [Sky Clearbrook]
It's long been a legend that the original name of Coronation Street when Tony Warren first put pen to paper, the name was going to be "Florizel Street". Legend has it that Agnes the tea lady at Granada commented that "Florizel" sounded like something you'd wash your floors with and the name was changed to "Coronation Street". Just think, you could be reading Florrieblog right now! Florizel Street also resurfaced in a Doctor Who episode in 2006. Writer Russell T. Davies was a Corrie scriptwriter for a short time and it was his tip of the hat to our favourite show!
One of the staples of Coronation Street has always been its cast of strong women. From Elsie Tanner through to Liz McDonald, they’re women of a certain age who command the screen with huge presence. Playing opposite these strong women are the men they love and fall for, their feckless fellas. Coronation Street men, by and large, are always feckless aren’t they? These men are workshy and lazy but loveable. I’m thinking Jack Duckworth, Les Battersby and of course Vernon Tomlin. Men who aren’t feckless on Corrie are few and far between and include the lovely Roy Cropper. I wonder if Jerry Morton will remain feck-free too?
Have a look at all of the A-Z of Coronation Street
Up until a few years ago, the alternative local pub was the Flying Horse on Jubilee Terrace. We almost never saw the inside of it but it was always mentioned whenever someone wanted some place different to sup. Over the years, there has been a fierce rivalry between the regulars of each pub. There have even been competitions such as the Coronation Street Olympics or pub quizzes! Who can forget the other competitions which saw Ena Sharples facing a fierce challenge over the dominoes board and Stan Ogden competing in a beer drinking competition! Nowadays, we don't hear about the Flying Horse too often. The other local of choice seems to be the Weatherfield Arms, where both Cilla and later Liz and Bev worked for awhile. (by the way, that photo is a pub I came across in London, not far from Liverpool Street station!)
Too much sex on Coronation Street these days? The girls and boys of Weatherfield's most lively street don't know the half of it, not where a certain Mrs Elsie Tanner is concerned. Elsie remains Coronation Street's most over-sexed woman, but just how many male acquaintances did she manage to notch up between 1960 and 1984?
Over the twenty odd years that Elsie spent on Corrie, not a year went by when her bed was left empty for any length of time, it's no wonder that Ena Sharples had so much to say about Elsie's so-called morals! [Ben]
Click below to read the definitive list of Elsie's lovers.
Here on Corrieblog we’ve check eBay regularly to bring you some of the more unusual, weird and downright scary Coronation Street items for sale on th’internet car boot sale. You can see a whole list of the stuff we’ve linked to in the past here . My personal favourites for sale on eBay have been the Weatherfield Wayfarer and the Kabin paperboy. As well as the irreverent stuff we blog occasionally here, there are always signed photos, old books and memorabilia for sale over at eBay. Sadly, there’s also a load of old tat.
Have a look at all of the A-Z of Coronation Street
From: Coronation Street reveals two new hunks