ITV boss Adam Crozier (you remember the guy who was such a success at the Royal Mail and FA!) has said that he doesn't intend to charge viewers for Coronation Street.

Speaking on the Today programme on Radio 4 this morning, he said that ITV was seeking new ways of making money. This includes "developing a pay strategy", including charging for high definition versions of ITV2, 3 and 4.

However, he said that it was likely that ITV1 would remain free. "I can't envisage a situation where ITV1 is behind a pay wall," he reassured listeners.

"We are developing a pay strategy - we made our first move on to pay TV by launching HD versions for ITV2, 3 and 4 which will launch during the autumn on Sky.

And he added: "What we need to do is to turn the organisation round to get it fit for purpose and move it on and start competing in these new markets."

Which will be a change for Crozier who didn't leave either the FA or Royal Mail fit for purpose in my opinion. At the Post Office he was responsible for massive job losses, the closure of 6,000 post offices, longer queueing time, later deliveries and a massive hike in the price of stamps while ensuring he got paid nearly £1 million a year.

At the FA he was perhaps most famous for bringing in England's first foreign manager, Sven-Goran Eriksson.

Also given the amount of advertising revenue that ITV must coin in from Coronation Street (not just from the TV programme but online where you are treated to not one but two pre-roll adverts before watching a 1 minute clip!), deciding to put the programme behind a pay wall would be pretty stupid even for Crozier to contemplate.

Ryan Connor has become the latest victim of Coronation Street producer Phil 'cull' Collinson and has been axed from Coronation Street.

Just a day after Vicky Entwistle (Janice Battersby) announced her departure, it's been revealed that Ben Thompson who plays Ryan will quit the street in October.

New boss Collinson is said to have made the cut after deciding that there are too many teenage actors on the show. Viewers will see the 18 year old accept a university place in Scotland, while his mum Michelle remains on the street.

A source told The Sun: "Phil has made no secret of the fact he thinks Coronation Street has too many teenagers.

"He reckons it needs more 'real' characters like Eileen Grimshaw and is worried it's too much like Hollyoaks."

The source added: "By sending Ryan to Scotland, he leaves the door open for him to pop back."

Personally I think it's good the soap has a few teenagers in it in order to balance out the large number of old folks, though I don't think Ryan was the best character around. He did seem a little wooden to me. Nice haircut though.

Via Unreality TV

Vicky Entwistle who plays factory loudmouth Janice Battersby is to leave Coronation Street after fourteen years in the soap.

She will leave December in time for the soap's 50th anniversary, fuelling speculation that her character is one of those set to die in the controversial tram disaster.

Janice's lodger and romantic interest, Trevor, is set to be killed off in the bloodbath as well. Vicky told The Daily Mirror:

"Corrie means so much to me and I could easily have continued to play Janice for the rest of my acting career. But I've been thinking of leaving for some time, and couldn't deny those feelings," she said.
"I've had a fantastic time playing an extremely feisty character," she added.

She's certainly one of the Street's more colourful characters having scammed £25,000 from Underwordl colleagues after a lottery win and setting part of the factory on fire while having a crafty fag.

Coronation Street's Producer, Phil Collinson said Vicky was an "icon" of the show.

"When she first appeared on screen in 1996, Janice Battersby caused a stir and has continued to do so ever since," he said.

"Vicky created a strong and uncompromising battleaxe with a heart of gold lurking underneath - in the true tradition of great Coronation Street women. She'll be missed by us all and we wish her well."

Gallery: Changing faces of Janice Battersby

Via Daily Mirror

ITV has confirmed the details of the forthcoming Coronation Street anniversary play penned by the show's long-term scriptwriter Jonathan Harvey. The stage production, which is called Corrie!, will celebrate 50 years of the Mancunian soap, condensing the programme's entire history into one two-hour show.

Former cast member Charles Lawson, who starred as Jim McDonald on the soap, has signed up to narrate the comedy play.

Speaking of the project, Lawson commented: "I am delighted to be narrating the piece and I am looking forward to this 50th celebration of the 'established church'."

Coronation Street's executive producer Kieran Roberts is to be the play's chief producer for ITV Studios, teaming up with Phil McIntrye Entertainment Ltd. The project is unrelated to the rumoured Coronation Street musical project.

Corrie! will be performed at The Lowry theatre in Salford between August 12 and 25. Tickets are on sale now and are priced between £19 and £25.

Sounds like a hoot! Now, how about a Neighbours musical?

Via TV Scoop

Andy Whyment (Kirk Sutherland) being filmed at The X Factor auditions as part of a Coronation street storyline Manchester, England (July 11th, 2010)

So it seems that Corrie will be 'celebrating' its 50th anniversary with a crash, bang, wallop as the viaduct at the end of the street collapses, causing a tram to career off the bridge and onto the cobbles, killing several Weatherfield residents.

Announced today, the 50th anniversary disaster storyline will strike fear into the hearts of Coronation Street actors who haven't yet signed a new contract with executive producer Phil Collinson (Craig Charles should be breathing a huge sigh of relief, then).

Exact details of the special week of episodes to be screened during the build up to the anniversary on December 9th are being kept under wraps. And security will be tight as producers keep the identity of those who will lose their lives a closely guarded secret.

Apparently Metrolink bosses at GMPTE in Manchester have been working with the soap to make the storyline as authentic as possible.

Even cast and crew do not know which Weatherfield residents will be killed in the disaster which will be the biggest stunt Coronation Street has ever staged. Even bigger than the recent Underworld fire scenes which I thought were a bit of a damp squib.

Special effects experts who worked on Gladiator and Doctor Who (Phil Collinson's old programme) have been brought in by to ensure the crash is as sensational as possible.

Says Corrie producer Phil Collinson:

"As we celebrate the show reaching such an incredible milestone it feels fitting that we will be screening a dramatic event of this magnitude which will affect the lives of all the residents of Coronation Street.

"We'll be using all the wonders of modern television production to bring you a disaster that will rock the lives of everyone in Weatherfield.

"At the heart of the drama though will be ordinary people on an ordinary street battling adversity - the template for the programme created by Tony Warren 50 years ago."

I once interviewed Craig Charles who plays Coronation Street's cabbie Lloyd Mullaney. He was a lovely fella, very friendly and down to earth, and I think he's a great actor. So I was pleased to read that new Corrie producer Phil Collinson has shown faith in him by giving him a new 1 year contract worth £155,00 a year.

Apparently his new salary takes him just behind the likes of Barbara Knox (Rita Sullivan), Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) and Kym Marsh (Michelle Connor). Friends say the 45 year old Craig is delighted that Phil Collinson has decided to include him in his long-term plans.

As a result Craig, who has taken a bit of a back seat in terms of storylines, is going to be on our screens a bit more often which can be no bad thing. Tonight you can see him trying to protect Cheryl from her violent husband Chris.

Last month we reported that Molly Dobbs (played by Vicky Binns) was the latest Corrie character to leave the Street following the arrival of new producer, Phil 'Cull' Collinson.

Now reports are emerging that Kevin and Sally are to take in Molly's child following the death of the pregnant character. Apparently Coronation Street 'love cheat' Molly Dobbs, played by actress Vicky Binns, will meet her maker in the climax to her long-running love triangle plot involving husband Tyrone and Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell)

Binns announced last month that she is to leave Coronation Street after five years with the soap. One of the first things Corrie's new producer did when he arrived on the cobbles was to keep the love triangle storyline running for a bit longer, rather than bringing it to a dramatic conclusion.

Hairdresser Natasha Blakeman will also be killed off later this year.

He's a cad and a bounder and no mistake. Love rat and gigolo Lewis Archer (Nigel Havers) is to dump Audrey and jet off to Barbados with foxy business woman Lydia Radcliffe.

Radcliffe is being played by eighties model - Lysette Anthony - who was apparently once dubbed the 'Face of the Eighties' before appearing in Woody Allen's Husbands and Wives.

Nigel Havers and Lysette Antony were filming the airport scenes yesterday at a Manchester Hotel. 

I can't think why Lewis would want to swap barm cakes for Barbados! And who wants a sexy businesswoman when the lovely Audrey and Rita are on tap.

There will be a dead body on the Street this summer, says new Corrie producer Phil Collinson. "It's going to be a death which is going to affect a couple of our significant characters," he told The Weatherfield Gazette.

Phil Collinson, nicknmaed Cull-inson for the actors that he has axed from the soap since his arrival, said he was excited about producing Corrie in its 50th year.

"We have huge plans so that it really feels Corrie is 50 years young." And viewers can expect a "more cinematic" and "slightly pacier" feel with the move to HD.

You can see the full interview here.

First there was the Cumbrian shootings. Now there's a little thing called The World Cup to mess up the Coronation Street schedules. Anyway, here are the dates to put on your Coronation Street wall chart.

Wednesday 9 June 8pm
Wednesday 9 June 8.30pm
Thursday 10 June 8pm
Friday 11 June 7.30pm
Friday 11 June 8.30pm
Monday 14 June 7.30pm
Monday 14 June 8.30pm
Wednesday 16 June 7.30pm
Thursday 17 June 8.30pm

No episode on Friday 18 June.

The very lovely Helen Worth (Gail McIntyre) talks about the decision to pull Corrie from the schedules last week and whether she was worried that Corrie producers would allow viewers to vote on the alternative trial endings!

Unfortunately, Corrie lost out on the night to EastEnders for best ongoing TV drama series.

It's been a strange week for Corrie this week. Instead of episodes every day - sandwiched between Britain's Got Talent's semi-finals and its results in the hope of boosting Corrie's ratings - we've had to make do with Harry Hill's not very funny TV Burp at 9pm.

The decision to pull Coronation Street was taken because of the truly terrible shootings in Cumbria and seemed to receive a great deal of support from viewers via Coronation Street's Facebook page (at least at first - though after three postponed episodes it seems the mood is changing).

I can fully understand why the decision was taken given that Tony Gordon is portrayed as a crazed psychopathic killer in the latest episodes. But does this mean that every time horrific murders are committed that any drama containing shootings should be pulled?

As one woman on Coronation Street's Facebook page puts it:
"I am from Whitehaven, wishing that coronation street was on. Just to take our mind off what has happened here. The story line isn't going to hurt us anymore than we already are. i just want some normality. even for just 30 mins. x"

And what about violent films or video games - should they also be withdrawn from screening or pulled from shelves too? And just how long should we give before the nation stops mourning and goes back to its normal duties.

If it is about showing respect for those who have lost their loved ones as many people think, then surely getting enjoyment watching Britain's Got Talent or Harry Hill's TV Burp at a time when these people are grieving is just as disrespectful.

Anyway, no matter where you stand on the decision, the good news is that Coronation Street is back at 7pm on Monday when you can tune into the ongoing hostage siege and also Gail's murder trial.

By Mof Gimmers

Coronation Street's unlikely nympho Deirdre looks to be set to cheat on Ken (AGAIN!). But who with?

Well, it looks like Deirdre will be sticking her tongue all over male escort Lewis Archer.

According to The Sun, Deirdre will be caught embracing Lewis (played by Nigel Havers) in the bookies on CCTV. Sordid! Alas, with this being Coronation Street, things can't just happen without consequence as Peter, her stepson, sees the footage and decides that the best thing to do is completely lose the plot over it and show jazz-loving Ken.

A source told the newspaper: "Ken is disgusted. He can't believe his eyes and erupts into absolute fury. But Audrey is just as heartbroken. She had planned a whole future with Lewis."

Bloody hell. Lewis has already been batting Rita Sullivan off with a stick already hasn't he? He'll be fiddling with Betty's hotpot next...

Via TV Scoop

Weatherfield's favourite busybody Norris Cole will be sending out Twitter updates during Gail McIntyre's trial, starting today.

Under the Twitter name of @NorrisMole, the nosey newsagent will be giving you his view on the court proceedings, as he watches from the public gallery. He'll also make sure you're the first to know the trial gossip from the cobbles!

Twitter is obviously the perfect medium for a gossip who is desperate to spread his opinionated views during the nail-biting murder case.

In other tech news, Corrie is also going High Definition from tonight's episode so you can see all the action from the cobbles - and the new opening titles - in even greater detail.

I guess most Corrie fans, myself included, are wary of change and suspcious when words like 'modern' and 'lively' are used to describe new title shots. So I think it's fair to say that these new title shots are going to take some getting used to.

I thought they might have 'modernised' the music too - given it a bit of a drumbeat perhaps like some of the Coronation Street variations on YouTube. But if anything the music sounds a litttle more old fashioned with more of a 'swing' feel.

But I'm not sure about these titles - yet. I can see what they're trying to do with bustling scenes of Manchester rather than the all too cosy cobbles, but it all seemed a little, well, blurry and disjointed. At first I didn't even realise it was Manchester - it felt more like London's Piccadilly Circus.

Anyway this is what Coronation Street's executive producer Kieran Roberts has to say:

"In our new titles Coronation Street remains the star but we see it as part of a busy, modern Manchester through our opening shots. The overall feel is livelier, more intimate and more colourful and they look stunning, especially in high definition. We think the new titles have a classy, classic, timeless quality but at the same time feel vibrant, fresh and very contemporary. That combination is exactly what we strive for in the show itself."

You can see the new opening titles here.

And you can have your say on Corrie's Facebook page here.

Certainly the Facebook feedback so far doesn't seem to be that great.

Says Nicole Sowter: "NOOOOO, its RUBBISH, sack the person that did this, I cant focus on it at all.... everything is blured it the back ground, can you imagine your faithful older viewers when you run this... they will be grabbing their reading glasses. You can't see the cobbles just some blooming flowers and a post box!!!! and as for the opening scene a blurred taxi ..."

Adds Patricia Hallard: "The cat is ok but its not the BLACK cat? Not sure about the blurriness?. I've been watching since the first episode and dont mind change but would like it to be clearer and not a shot of the flowers at the end of the street outside the shop a more definite picture of the new manchester would have been better! Lol missed the yellow T shirt as well."

It's certainly an interesting idea. Apparently the BBC is looking to 'bring back' all of Corrie's old characters for its drama Florizel Street which is airing on BBC4 later this year, just as Corrie turns 50 years old.

Elsie Tanner, Annie Walker and Ena Sharples are among those which will be featured in the drama, though of course with new actors given that the old ones are dead!! Apparently a Street source told the Daily Star newspaper: "It is sensational. The BBC will have a sure-fire ratings success with this.

"Fans of a certain age will be absolutely thrilled at the prospect of seeing some of the biggest names in soap on the small screen once again. The idea behind it is brilliant and the BBC deserve every plaudit for pulling it off."

And writer Daran Little, who wrote Coronation Street for Granada from 2000 to 2006 seemed to confirm the rumours when he tweeted yesterday:

"Very productive meeting with the director of Florizel Street... talk about thinking big!! can't wait for filming to start in 6 weeks."

Florizel Street was the original name for Coronation Street until ITV bosses felt it sounded too much like the name of a disinfectant.

Want to see the British Soap Awards Sexiest Female of the Year Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) in all her high definition glory? Or perhaps Ben Price who plays Nick Tilsely?

ITV has announced its flagship show Coronation Street will be broadcast in high definition from 31 May, ahead of the soap's 50th birthday in December.

ITV has made a multi-million pound investment, including upgrading the filming and editing facilities to enable ITV Studios to shoot high definition for the first time.

Peter Fincham, director of television, channels and online at ITV, said: "It is fitting that, in its golden anniversary year, Coronation Street should be entering the era of high definition."

ITV1 HD launched on 2 April and a number of its shows are now in high definition including the live stages of Britain's Got Talent, Survival with Ray Mears and Greatest Cities of the World with Griff Rhys Jones.

It also plans to air The FA Cup Final and The FIFA 2010 World Cup in HD.

Not a great night for Coronation Street at this year's British Soap Awards. Corrie scooped just three gongs (compared to EastEnders' 10 gongs) including one for Michelle Keegan who plays Tina McIntyre. She was voted Sexiest Female.

Other awards went to Craig Gazey who scooped Best Comedy Performance for his role as Graeme Procter and a Lifetime Achievement Award for Betty Driver who plays Betty Williams. Tweeted Craig Gazey: "Chuffed for my win but gutted that corrie won very little! Nevermind, heads held high! Up the corrie!"

For more British Soap Awards coverage go to Shiny Style

Seems new Coronation Street producer Phil Collinson is determined to make his mark on the cobbles. First he gets rid of The Peacocks, much to the alleged annoyance of Steven Arnold who plays the squeaky voiced butcher Ashley Peacock.

Next to go will be Rachel Leskovac who plays hairdresser Natasha Blakeman. Apparently she is set to leave a trail of devastation in her wake when she leaves the show later this year. Since joining the show in 2008, Natasha has had an affair with evil Tony Gordon (Gray O'Brien) and is now dating Nick Tilsley (Ben Price).

Says producer Phil Collinson: "Rachel is a really talented actress who has been an asset to the show. Her character will be involved in an exciting and dramatic storyline which will be an integral part of the build up to the 5Oth anniversary."

"She will leave behind a trail of devastation - a real testament to the impact Rachel as Natasha has had on many lives in our community. We wish her much success for the future."

However, it's not all bad news for the Corrie actors. While Phil 'Cull-inson' may have got rid of some of the cast and put the fear of God into a load more, Helen Flanagan has been handed a new 12 month contract - perhaps a reward for turning her character into a vampish WAG.

Corrie legend Betty Driver, who plays barmaid Betty Williams, is in hospital receiving treatment for a chest infection. According to The Sun, the 89 year old checked in for care at a private facility a few days ago.

A source told the newspaper: "She is probably the most popular person in the cast. Everyone wants her to get well and get back on set."

Driver has apparently said that she is keen to return to Coronation Street filming as soon as she is well enough. Here at Corrieblog we wish her well a speedy recovery.

From ITV.com: Norris is petrified by Mary's bizarre behaviour on holiday and tries to flee the cottage. The friends go away together after winning a competition. It doesn't take long for Norris to have second thoughts about their trip, especially when Mary moves into full seductress mode!

As she gets more amorous, a terrified Norris plans his escape. Patti Clare (Mary), said: "Mary becomes more and more erratic as she becomes overwhelmed by her feelings for Norris. I think she feels it's now or never!"

You can see video here.

Corrie bosses are bringing in a family for disabled character Izzy Armstrong. Played by actress Cherrylee Houston, the character will be accompanied by her father, sister and brother in Coronation Street.

A source told The Sun newspaper: "Cherylee is a great actress. She's done really well and is absolutely perfect. We want her as a permanent fixture so we're getting her a family to give her more scope."

Since her arrival Izzy has become a new romantic interest for unlucky-in-love character Kirk Sutherland (Andy Whyment) after the pair met through an internet dating website.

Congratulations to Jenny Platt and Rupert Hill who played Violet Wilson and Jamie Baldwin in Coronation Street (pictured here with onscreen son Dylan). They've just become parents to a baby girl in real life.

Matilda was born on Sunday, two weeks late, weighing 7lbs 10oz . Rupert Hill tweeted earlier today: "Forgot to say how amazing St Marys Hospitial's maternity ward is. Everyone who helped bring Matilda to us was brilliant & delightful."

You can follow Rupert Hill's tweets www.twitter.com/RupertHill

Or check out his Facebook page here.

Obviously Coronation Street producers decided to move Friday's lesbian kiss between Sian and Sophie in the hope of boosting ratings by plugging the hell out of the storyline for a few days.

But for regular viewers it is a tad annoying when they mess around with schedules like this. Anyway here's the low down on Sunday's episode... After the row over Ryan reaches a head, the two girls reconcile and Sophie reveals her true feelings. Meanwhile, Rosie has second thoughts about Kyle when Kevin informs her that he might not be exactly who he says he is.

Elsewhere, John takes drastic action in an attempt to save his career. But is he heading for another disaster?