Controversial Storyline for Corries 50th - Contains Spoilers

[Dazzle]

Craig Charles and Kym Marsh have recently signed long term contracts, won't be them. Rita Knox has only recently come back after being poorly so maybe health issues force her to leave for good

Aww, I'd be sad if Rita left

[tammyy2j]

Craig Charles and Kym Marsh have recently signed long term contracts, won't be them. Rita Knox has only recently come back after being poorly so maybe health issues force her to leave for good

What a pity I liked Michelle at the start now I cant stand her

[lizann]

There has to be at least one major character die

[Perdita]

Could be Trevor, cause his character has been sacked and of course, Molly, that way it would pave the way for Sally to look after the baby

[Perdita]

Jack Duckworth and Molly Dobbs have emerged as the bookies' favourites to be killed off in Coronation Street's forthcoming tram disaster.

Earlier this month, Corrie's series producer Phil Collinson revealed that the soap's 50th anniversary storyline will see a number of much-loved characters die when the street's viaduct collapses, causing a tram to crash on to the cobbles.

Bookmaker Betfred has now opened a book on which characters are most likely to meet their maker in the stunt. Jack and Molly - who are both confirmed to be leaving the serial - are currently favourites with odds of 4/5.

Carla Connor's love interest Trevor Dean - another character who is bowing out - is also high on the list at evens. Meanwhile, Claire and Ashley Peacock - two more departing regulars - follow with odds of 11/10.

Others being tipped as likely casualties include Rita Sullivan (11/10), Tina McIntyre (5/4), Dev Alahan (7/4) and Norris Cole (7/4).

Betfred's spokesman Jon Wilde told Bettingpro: "With the tram line being at the same end of the street as the Kabin and the corner shop, it naturally follows that the characters who regularly appear in those premises have to be the among the favourites to suffer in the crash.

"Plus, with producer Phil Collinson saying some well-known and well-loved characters will be lost, we fear time may be up for the likes of Jack Duckworth and Ashley Peacock, who may turn out to be in the wrong place at the wrong time."

[alan45]

Transport bosses in Manchester have offered their backing to Coronation Street's tram disaster plot after receiving assurances that the storyline will not damage the reputation of the city's Metrolink system.

Show producers have been working closely with the Greater Manchester Passenger Transport Executive while devising the plotline, which will air later this year to mark the soap's 50th anniversary.

As series producer Phil Collinson revealed earlier this month, a number of characters are to be killed off in December when the street's viaduct collapses, sending a tram crashing on to the cobbles.

In a statement, GMPTE representative Susan Wildman told the Manchester Evening News: "Given Metrolink's excellent safety record, we were concerned the storyline might be detrimental to Metrolink's public image.

"But ITV have assured us that the incident which takes place will not be the fault of either the tram system or the tram itself. Having received those assurances, we are pleased to be able to help ITV with their research and preparations for what I am sure will be a very dramatic storyline during Coronation Street's 50th anniversary year."

An ITV spokesman said: "We are delighted to be working closely with GMPTE on this storyline. We have assured them that it will be made clear that the crash is in no way the fault of the tram or the driver and they have been very helpful with our research."

Jack Duckworth and Molly Dobbs are currently the bookies' favourites to lose their lives in the tragedy.

[alan45]

Soap legend Bill Tarmey's character will die in Corries sensational 50th anniversary bloodbath tram disaster, The People can reveal.

Lovable layabout Jack Duckworth is the first big name to emerge as a victim of the horror which will also claim a host of other Street favourites.

Bill,69, who has played Jack for over three decades, announced earlier this year he wanted to quit to spend more time with his family.

But his bloody exit will stun the shows millions of fans who were hoping his departure would be left open-ended so he could return in special one-off editions.

Bill has been told by the ITV1 shows new producer Phil Collinson he will die when a tram crashes on to the Kabin and corner shop after the viaduct at the end of the street collapses.

The dramatic plotline will be played out over a week-long series of special episodes in December.

The ending is being kept so secret that not even the cast and crew know the final death toll.

But producer Collinson, 42, who joined six months ago, has warned the entire cast that none of them is safe from a possible gory ending when the most dramatic scenes ever in the shows history are filmed at the end of the summer.

The People understands that Graeme Hawley, 36, who has played charmer John Stape (pictured bottom right) since 2007 and had a controversial affair with Rosie Webster when she was a 16-year-old schoolgirl, will also die.

Others thought to be {vulnerable include (from left) shop boss Dev Alahan played by Jimmi Harkishin, 45, barman Ciaran McCarthy played by Boyzone star Keith Duffy, 35, and hairdresser Maria Connor who is the role of Samia Smith, 28.

The tram disaster may also claim Corrie favourites Ashley and Claire Peacock played by Steven Arnold, 35, and Julia Haworth, 30. Another possible victim is Kabin
owner Norris Cole played by Malcolm Hebden, 70.

Producer Collinson announced recently: People are going to be killed. We will be losing some well-known, well-loved characters.

But it will be Bills exit which will cause the most controversy.

A Corrie source revealed: Bill agreed to stay on for the 50thanniversary programme but I don't think even he was expecting to be killed off under a falling tram and brick debris.

It's the exciting ending he was promised but privately he would have liked to have headed off from Weatherfield still alive and kicking.

He knew how much his character meant to fans and would have loved to have returned from time to time.

In scripts which are being kept under lock and key his character is told he has got cancer but ultimately that's not what kills him in the end.

Manchester-born Bill, who has suffered poor health in recent years, announced in April he wanted to quit at the end of the year.

He leaves the hit soap two years after his screen wife Vera Duckworth played by actress Liz Dawn,70, died in an armchair from a heart attack.

After announcing his retirement Bill said: People often ask me if I like Jack Duckworth and I always reply, Like him, I bloody love him.

Because of him I have made some fantastic friends and travelled all over the world and I will be sorry to say goodbye to Jack.

I was persuaded to stay on for the shows 50th anniversary and I am glad that I made that decision.

I have had some great story lines over the past three decades and I am looking forward to seeing what Jacks final story will be.

The former pub singer and TV extra added: I had originally wanted to retire last year but the producer and my wife Ally persuaded me to stay for the shows 50th anniversary.

The veteran actor, a heavy smoker, has battled health problems and has been seen less frequently on screen. He suffered a minor heart attack following a bypass operation in 2002.

That came 15 years after a previous quadruple heart bypass.

The People pictured Bill looking frail in a wheelchair as he was being pushed through a Spanish airport on the way to his holiday home two months ago.

A Corrie source said: His character will basically be in the wrong place at the wrong time when the viaduct comes crashing down along with the tram.

But he certainly wont be dying alone. A bloodbath is planned.

The size of the looming death toll is believed to have upset the shows senior stars including Bill Roache, 78, who plays Ken Barlow and Sue Nicholls, 65, who plays Audrey Roberts.

But in a bid to make the anniversary shows the most memorable ever, a host of former Street stars are believed to have been approached to make a one-off return.

They include one of the shows most iconic characters, Hilda Ogden played by Jean Alexander, 84, and former binman Curly Watts played by Kevin Kennedy, 48.

Americanrap star Snoop Dogg, 38, recently approached producers saying he'd love to appear in the show alongside pal David Beckham in Ashley Peacock's butchers shop.

Manchester United and England star Rio Ferdinand, 31, is another fan of the show.

Boss Collinson, a former head of drama at BBC Manchester, said: As we celebrate the show reaching such an incredible milestone it feels fitting that we will be screening a dramatic event of this magnitude that will affect the lives of all the residents.

Well be using the wonders of modern television production to bring you a disaster that will rock Weatherfield.

[Chloe O'brien]

Poor Jack he will be greatly missed on the street. But if Bill is suffering from ill health in real life it's better he rests and enjoy his free time. Instead of becoming seriously ill while on set.

[Perdita]

EX-Corrie stars Ken Morley and Kevin Kennedy say they can't wait to return for the soap's 50th anniversary.
Ken, 67, who played Reg Holdsworth, and Kevin, 49, who played Curly Watts, were two of the ITV soap's biggest stars in the 1990s.

The actors will return to film scenes for a Coronation Street DVD to mark the half-century.

Ken, who quit 15 years ago, said: "It is tremendous to be working with him again."

Kevin, who left in 2003, added: "It's great to be back with my old sparring partner - it will be a lot of fun."



Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz0vQO3RYxV

[alan45]

EX-Corrie stars Ken Morley and Kevin Kennedy say they can't wait to return for the soap's 50th anniversary.
Ken, 67, who played Reg Holdsworth, and Kevin, 49, who played Curly Watts, were two of the ITV soap's biggest stars in the 1990s.

[COLOR=\"red\"]The actors will return to film scenes for a Coronation Street DVD to mark the half-century.
[/COLOR]
Ken, who quit 15 years ago, said: \"It is tremendous to be working with him again.\"

Kevin, who left in 2003, added: \"It's great to be back with my old sparring partner - it will be a lot of fun.\"



Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz0vQO3RYxV

They are NOT actually returning to the Street. They are just making a compilation DVD