These days he may be better known as a theatre impresario and chairman of Everton football club but there was a time when Bill Kenwright played Betty Turpin's son Gordon in Coronation Street. While he hasn't appeared on the soap since 1995 and the role has been played by another actor in the intervening years it now appears that Kenwright will reprise the role for scenes at Betty's funeral.

Little more is known about the soap's plans for the funeral except that producers have promised some sort of surprise. Maybe it will be revealed that Betty's son has become a theatre impresario and chairman of Everton football club?

In an interview with the Daily Star, Corrie actor Simon Gregson has said that the show's writers love 'dumping a bucket of s**t' on his character, Steve McDonald.

Talking about Steve's disastrous love life he said: 'There's a great line where Steve says that he collects ex-wives like his brother collected stamps. That sums Steve up. The writers love dumping a bucket of s**t on him. Each woman comes along and it's just a different way of making him suffer. But do you know what? I love that about him. I love that the writers will never let him be happy.'

In the past couple of weeks Steve has fallen out with new wife Tracy Barlow and lost any chance of reconciliation with ex Becky. After 4 unsuccessful marriages (and even more wedding ceremonies, if you count the ones that were interrupted) it certainly seems that Steve's woes are far from over.

This week sees the departure of one of Weatherfield's most popular recent residents and we didn't think we could let Becky McDonald go without looking back at some of her best bits.

Here (in 2 parts) is the episode when Becky married Steve for the second time (actually the first time). Enjoy.

So this week sees the departure of one of Weatherfield's most popular recent residents and we didn't think we could let Becky McDonald go without looking back at some of her best bits.

Here (in 2 parts) is the episode when Becky first married Steve - or not, as it goes. Not just a great Becky moment but a great Corrie moment as well.

Sunita Alahan's disaffection for her relationship with husband Dev (Jimmi Harkishin) has been apparent for a few months now. She has been become infuriated with his inattention, his pandering to daughter Amber and (probably) sick of the weird way he emphasises his sentences.

Well it seems she is about to take a step back from Dev and the corner shop by taking a barmaid job at the Rovers Return. Speaking on Daybreak, actress Shobna Gulati said that Sunita will revel in the opportunity for a little independence. She said: 'It's very strange. Being behind the bar, you suddenly feel very, very empowered. I can't explain - there's something about that bar that changes the way you behave and I think it's happened to Sunita, or it's happened to Shobna! But something's gone on and I feel incredibly different.'

Sunita will also be wearing rather more revealing outfits for her new job, favouring low cut attire: 'It's how she imagines a barmaid looks like. And also to wind up Dev, she's dressed like that - absolutely. But then she kind of gets used to it and wears that all the time!'

This week sees the sad demise of Corrie's resident horse-sized dog, Schmeichel. Chesney's Great Dane first appeared in Weatherfield in 2004 when Dev's ex-girlfriend Maya (remember her? Mad Maya? crashed her car into the viaduct?) left him on Tyrone's doorstep after some confusion surrounding a greyhound.

Anyway, Tyrone gave Shmeichel to Chesney, he named the dog after Man Utd's legendary goalie (who was Danish - geddit?) and boy and dog grew steadily bigger over the next few years.

Storylines have occasionally called for Schmeichel's presence - like when a huge dog was required to get in a bath with Les and Cilla and when Claire Peacock needed a huge dog to run over during her brief career as a bus driver - but generally he's only been seen as a vast background presence in No. 5 or out walking with Chesney.

In total 4 dogs have played Schmeichel, the first 3 have now passed away and the fourth took up the role in March this year. All of the dogs have been owned and trained by the same Granada staff member.

It looks like Corrie taxi dispatcher and knicker stitcher Eileen Grimshaw may be about to enjoy an upturn in her romantic fortunes. Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen, as been talking to ITV.com about an upcoming storyline where she somehow gets her head stuck in some railings at Underworld and is rescued by a firefighter called Paul. The pair then start dating.

It's the first signs of any action in Eileen's love life since she booted children's entertainer Jessy out for becoming too close with her sister Julie. Sue also claims that Paul will have 'a bit of a secret' but said no more. If the soap's recent history is anything to go by he could be anything from a cross-dresser to a lap dancer. Or both.

Tyrone's new squeeze Kirsty has a secret that she keeps from him, sadly it's not a very tasty one. Tyrone (Alan Hallsall) hasn't had a girlfriend since his cheating wife Molly was a victim of tramicide but met Kirsty (Natalie Gumede) one a night out. He is about to start seeing more of her but she keeps a big part of her life from him.

Natalie told 'What's On TV' that Kirsty is scared to tell Tyrone that she is a policewoman as it's put men off in the past. With Tyrone's recent history of kidnapping it's probably a safe bet that he'd be wary of saying the wrong thing to Kirsty.

With her own series off spin off web episodes looming, Corrie's resident glamour model Rosie Webster (Helen Flanagan) has launched her own modelling website to promote her career. The site www.justrosie.co.uk features her picture portfolio (though not the topless shot which wound up in the Rovers holding up peanuts), videos of her in action, Rosie's blog and beauty tips.

The website has been created by ITV to promote the new web episodes which follow Rosie to London as she attempts to become a super model. She may not make it to the top of her chosen career but it won't be because of a lack of effort on the part of Helen Flanagan, who has gamely thrown herself into the project and for whom it would appear there is no skirt too short and no top too low.

Since Dennis Tanner returned to Coronation Street in May this year he's done little more than sponge off Rita and throw the occasional saucy (and disturbing) wink at some of the more mature female residents of Weatherfield - is he flirting or what? We can't tell.

Despite the apparent pointlessness of the character, however, he has made the new edition of the Guinness Book of Records for the longest gap between appearances in the same role. Philip Lowrie last played Dennis in 1968, a break of some 42 years.

Philip is quoted as saying: 'I've always been proud to have been a member of the original cast of Coronation Street and now I'm doubly proud to be honoured with an entry in the Guinness World Records book for returning to play a part that I've always loved."

Good for you, Phil. Let's hope you don't appear in the book next year with the record for most underwritten soap character, eh?

Corrie bosses have announced that posh actor Nigel Havers is to reprise his man-prossie role of Lewis Archer in the soap. Havers was in Weatherfield in 2009 and 2010 playing male escort Lewis who had relationships or one sort or another with Rita, Claudia, Deidre and actually moved in with Audrey before being exposed as a con man and vanishing abroad.

It now appears that Lewis will return in 2012 after Havers dropped hints in an interview ('I absolutely adore it and I've got to go and say sorry to Sue [Nicholls] - to Audrey... I was in Manchester yesterday talking about it - so watch this space') and the ITV website now features the following statement: 'With Lewis about to return to Weatherfield, is there more heartbreak ahead for Audrey or could things finally be looking up?'

Could be a laugh! Lewis was a fun character (albeit a fraudster and prostitute) and Havers is a good actor who worked well in Weatherfield.

It's not easy being Dev. Corrie producers seem to struggle to find things for him to do and his business empire has shrunk in recent times from 'a chain of corner shops across the north' to one corner shop and an infrequently frequented kebab shop. He seems to spend his days wandering the cobbles perfectly his quirky intonation and going balder. His acting alter ego Jimmi Harkishin must pray Dev will suffer another life crisis for him to get his teeth into.

Well until that happens it seems he's going to become a pushy parent. Apparently Dev's son Aadi (so that's what he's called!) will show a tiny amount of golfing skill and Dev jumps on it, convincing himself that he's sired a potential (though less controversial) Tiger Woods.

Not much of a storyline, really, but at least we'll get to see Dev in his regulation garish golfing gear again. Something to cheer us up between murders.

An online campaign has begun to have put-upon Corrie character Fiz Stape (Jennie McAlpine) released from prison. It's a bit strange as Fiz is currently not incarcerated but the campaign's organisers appear to be trying to pre-empt the inevitable as Fiz is currently under suspicion of murder, manslaughter, perverting the course of justice and probably several other misdemeanours after her husband John's two year long kill-crazy (though ramshackle) rampage ended with him disappearing after a dramatic leap from a hospital roof.

The campaign's demands haven't yet been fully outlined but a spokesman offered this impassioned statement: 'We launched the campaign to back Fiz because the idea was being discussed widely on social media but nobody was actually doing anything. And what's social media for if not for sparking popular uprisings?'

'The British hate miscarriages of justice. We knew that with just a little prodding, campaigners would take to the streets in their tens of thousands, march on parliament, go on general strike and erect a giant Arab Spring-style camp in Weatherfield Square (if there is one) ... or, at least, click a few buttons online.'

With all proceeds from the campaign going to Amnesty International there was also a plug for the line of Free Fiz merchandise available: 'The truth will out. Justice will be served. And what better way to bear witness than to display proudly the campaign's wholesome range of t-shirts, mugs, caps, bags and babywear calling for Fiz to walk free? Especially as it's all in support of Amnesty International, which champions similar issues in real life.'

It would appear that Corrie's Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) is set to date Weatherfield doctor Matt Carter in an upcoming storyline. There are few further details but it does make you think, 'does Tina only date people with a connection to Gail?' Let's look at the evidence.

Tina first appeared in Corrie as Gail's son David's girlfriend

She then almost had a fling with David's brother Nick (both sons of Gail)

Then she lived with Graeme, who used to share a house with Gail and a cell with her son David.

Now she's dating Dr. Matt, the ex-boss of (you've guessed it) Gail.

And not forgetting that she is the daughter of Gail's dead husband Joe (no romantic involvement there but it's worth chucking into the mix)

It seems that Tina is obsessed only with men associated with Gail. Are Corrie bosses planning to explore this? Only time will tell.

NB: Obviously, for the sake of convenience, this theory totally ignores Tina's relationship with Jason Grimshaw. Which probably only happened to throw us off the scent.

Graeme Hawley, who plays Corrie teacher/ bookie/ furniture salesman/ kidnapper/ murderer John Stape, hopes that ITV will create a spin off for his character once he leaves Weatherfield next month. Over the past couple of years John's lying and general incompetence has got him into an increasing desperate state and left a trail of corpses in his wake. The storyline is currently coming to a sticky end and Graeme wishes John could make a great escape. 'I'd suggest John runs away to Italy and starts a new life over there,' he said, 'He's a very popular character. Maybe ITV would like to follow him to see what disasters befall him.'

This week's episodes will leave John in a bit of a tizz and with options running out he makes his exit from the cobbles after Chesney's detective work and some building work at the factory mean he has to answer for his crimes.

Scheming Tracy Barlow won't be satisfied until she gets her man, according to Kate Ford who plays the Corrie super-bitch. Tracy's ongoing plans to come between Steve and Becky McDonald look set to continue as Kate told TV Times: 'All Tracy wants is for her, Amy and Steve to be a family. She sees that as the key to her fulfilment and happiness'. Tracy and Steve's shared daughter, Amy, has recently developed a mystery illness which Tracy is utilising for her own ends but Kate reckons, when it comes to Amy, Tracy isn't all bad, 'She does love Amy and she's really worried about her mystery illness. When it comes down to it, she will put Amy above anything.'

Kate thinks that recent events on the soap have given Tracy hope that one day she will triumph, she says, 'She thinks she can see a shift in Steve, and she knows that his and Becky's relationship is not on firm ground. She's excited because she thinks an opportunity might be presenting itself'.

After a year of events such as a siege, a tram crash and a factory explosion it's no surprise that Coronation Street character Carla Connor turned to drink. Since losing her license a few months ago and being spurned by drinking confidante Peter Barlow, however, Carla seems to have the problem under control but Alison King, the actress who plays her, has told Inside Soap that booze may well be back in Carla's life before too long. 'Carla tends to drink more when she's unhappy. But I think she's in a very bad way and can unravel very quickly', she said, 'When Carla has got a firm grip on her life, as she seems to think she has now, she reckons she can handle it. She's not turning to the drink to escape at the moment - she'll just have a couple when she's letting her hair down. But she's making a big mistake thinking that she's got it under control.'

Apparently the fans were concerned about Carla's drinking too, 'Lots of people have said to me, 'Please don't turn Carla into a lush!', she said, adding, 'They reckon the one thing they really like doing is pouring themselves a big glass of red wine, settling down in front of the telly to watch Corrie, and drinking it while Carla glugs hers - I think that makes people feel comfortable.'

From ITV.com: William Roache talks about the latest Corrie plot which sees Ken reunited with a son he never knew about from his first love Susan back in 1962.

He meets Lawrence in this Sunday's episode (played by Bill's real life son Linus) and disovers that he has a lot in common with him.

But it doesn't end there. Ken goes on to discover he also has a grandson, played by Bill's other real life son Jame Roache. However, not all is well in the family unit.

See the interview with William Roache here.

Apparently Jack Duckworth isn't going to die in Coronation Street's much publicised tram crash later in the year.

But will take his own life with the help of lady friend Connie after discovering he has terminal cancer - at least according to the News of the World.

Now I'm all for gritty storylines from time to time, but personally I find it all a bit depressing. And if there's one reason why I've always preferred Corrie to 'Enders it's because it is, on the whole, more cheerful.

The News of the World reports that Jack will discover he has terminal cancer, and will ask his lady friend Connie to help him to die before his suffering becomes unbearable.

The article also adds that before he dies, Jack will carry out "secret good deeds" for several of the Street's residents.

Via TV Throng

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.

It's a family affair as William Roache is joined by his real life sons Linus and James in a 50th Anniversary Coronation Street storyline kicking off this September.

According to Holy Soap , Ken discovers a dark family secret when a letter from the 1960s is unearthed during building work. But his desire to dredge up the past causes friction with wife Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride) and son Peter (Chris Gascoyne).

Roache senior said: "I can think of no better way to celebrate my 50th anniversary on Coronation Street than to be working alongside both of my sons - I am looking forward to it immensely."

Linus Roache, 46, is the Corrie star's eldest son and is well known in the US for his role as Michael Cutter in Law and Order. He also played the role of Peter Barlow as a child in 1975!

James Roache, 24, was actually christened William but changed his name to avoid confusion with his dad. Bill Roache's youngest son, he's appeared in ITV1 drama Cold Blood and the Innocence Project for the BBC.

The brothers will hit screens in September for a three-week stint in the run-up to the show's 50th anniversary.

Via Holy Soap

Wheelchair user Cherylee Houston is to play Coronation Street's first regular disabled character when she meets Kirk through an internet dating website. But it is far from love at first sight as dopey Kirk experences Izzy's fiery personality.

She will make her screen debut on April 16 . She said: '"I'm really excited and well chuffed to be joining the show. I grew up with Coronation Street and I can't wait to get started."

Cherylee Houston, 35, began filming scenes yesterday. Originally from Morecambe, she moved to Manchester in 1994 to pursue her dream of becoming an actress. She made her TV debut in daytime soap Doctors before appearing in shows like I'm With Stupid, Little Britain and Holby City.

She's not 90 in real life until May, but actress Betty Driver - who plays Betty Williams - celebrates the landmark birthday in Coronation Street tonight.

The Manchester Evening News has a great interview with her where we learn loads of interesting things about Betty's life including the fact that the Hot Pot queen is actually a vegetarian (what a great advert for vegetarianism - she looks fantastic for her age) and that she initially auditioned for the part of Hilda Ogden.

As she celebrates her birthday in The Rovers, Betty has to deal with a gatecrasher - 91 year old Enid Crump - who is mad at claims in the paper that Betty is the oldest barmaid in Weatherfield. Betty's big birthday coincides with a Royal visit to the Street from Corrie fan Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who can be seen pulling pints here.

From the official Corrie site: Becky McDonald throws in a show-stopper when she makes up with hubby Steve. When the pair finally sit down to talk about their marital problems, she shocks him with some unexpected news. She announces that she's pregnant.

The pair have been arguing for weeks about starting a family. Katherine Kelly, who plays Becky, said: "Becky doesn't want kids. So the trouble begins."

Watch the full interview with Katherine and Simon Gregson who plays Steve

You can read an interview with Katherine Kelly who plays feisty Becky in The Sun today. And don't forget to vote for the two of them for Wednesday's National Television Awards.

Craig Gazey has signed a year's contract with Corrie which will see him on the street until March 2011.

Craig, who plays likeable but eccentric window cleaner Graeme Proctor, is a particular favourite at the moment among viewers, and Corrieblog readers, so the fact that he's stucking around for a little while longer is welcome news indeed.

He's also rumoured to be finiding love in his life at last - though I don't think that will be Rosie Webster somehow. Sorry Graeme.