First for Corrie as Xin moves in

[Perdita]

CORONATION Street is getting its first ever Chinese resident next month.

Nineteen-year-old college graduate Xin will arrive as the best friend of sexpot Tina McIntyre.

She will be working in a Chinese restaurant and takeaway called The Royal Panda and move in with Tina and boyfriend Graeme Proctor who rent Dev Alahan's posh flat.

Xin will ingratiate herself with Corrie residents with her endearing habit of recognising everyone from what they order from her at work.

She tells Roy Cropper: "I know you... you're sweet and sour chicken, fried rice and prawn crackers." But she will bring some dark secrets. British soaps have long been criticised for not having Chinese characters. Corrie chiefs hope that Xin's arrival will broaden the ITV show's multi-cultural appeal.

A source said: "Manchester has a big Chinatown and it's a crime that Corrie bosses have ignored it for so long. They hope Xin becomes a big character and that a whole family can be introduced."

Chippy owner Mr Wong was the ITV soap's only previous Chinese character. He appeared only briefly and was written out in December 2005.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/3331330/Its-a-first-for-Coronation-Street-as-Chinese-Xin-moves-in.html

[lizann]

I wonder how long it will take for her to sleep with Graeme

[alan45]

The Sun claims that the only other Chinese character on the Street was Mr Wong from the chip shop - but of course they are wrong.

The first Chinese character was Jasmine Choong who turned up in 1969 as Billy Walker's girlfriend. His mother Annie took to her at first but when she found out that Billy was planning to propose, she feigned and breakdown and took to her bed. She told Billy that she was dying begged him to find a more suitable wife.

Her lies were exposed by paying guest, Emily Nugent who told Jasmine that Annie was a fraud and when Billy did ask her to marry him, she turned him down. Before leaving Jasmine told Annie that she had nothing to fear: that there was no way her family would allow her to marry into a bigot's family.

Billy was furious and left, vowing never to return (which of course he did many times over the coming years) and Annie blamed Emily for her son's reaction, throwing her out of the pub to go and live with Elsie Tanner. Annie and Emily eventually made their peace and Emily returned to the pub, much to the relief of Elsie who was growing tired of Emily's moralising about her relationship with bookie, Dave Smith.

[tammyy2j]

I have never seen Tina with one female friend only Rita

[LostVoodoo]

I have never seen Tina with one female friend only Rita

which is rather weird since she's old enough to be her gran! get poor tina with someone her age lol

[Perdita]

Coronation Street's first Chinese resident Elizabeth Tan started filming yesterday.

Elizabeth plays Tina McIntyre's best friend Xin who will move in with her and boyfriend Graeme Proctor.

Her first scenes - to be shown in six weeks - were filmed in Manchester's Chinatown.

Elizabeth has previously appeared in Doctor Who, Spooks and Hustle.

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/showbiz/tv/soaps/3341683/Coronation-Streets-Eastern-promise.html

[alan45]

Coronation Street's new recruit Elizabeth Tan has predicted that viewers will be hooked as her storyline starts to unfold on screen.

The actress has been cast as Tina McIntyre's (Michelle Keegan) old friend Xin, who is introduced to viewers in tonight's double bill of the soap.

Xin is to play a big role in the lives of Tina and Graeme Proctor (Craig Gazey) in the weeks ahead as she moves in with the couple amid problems in her personal life.

Speaking to Corrie's official website about her character, Tan commented: "Has she got secrets? Well, you'll have to watch to find out! We're expecting a really big storyline that I think is going to have everyone gripped to their television, but that's all I can say!"

Last month, reports suggested that a new plot will see Graeme stage a sham wedding with Xin so that she can stay in the country when her student visa runs out. However, this has yet to be confirmed by Corrie bosses.

Asked about joining the soap, Tan explained: "I was very excited to be offered a role on Coronation Street because it's such an iconic show with such a lot of talented actors."

The show newcomer also promised that Xin is "always up for a laugh" and "quite a funny character".

[tammyy2j]

Has Tina ever mentioned this friend before or was she even at Tina's dad funeral?

Apparently Tina asks Graeme to marry her so she can stay in the UK

[alan45]

Has Tina ever mentioned this friend before or was she even at Tina's dad funeral?

She is just another one of those random characters who turn up in soaps. Obviously if she hadnt have been Chinese they could have passed her off as a long lost cousin

[TaintedLove]

Has Tina ever mentioned this friend before or was she even at Tina's dad funeral?

Apparently Tina asks Graeme to marry her so she can stay in the UK

There was a brief mention of Xin in Fridays Corrie. Tina mentioned to Graham that she got her friend Xin a job in the Royal Panda, and that she and Graham will be having a meal at the Chinese restaurant in Mondays episode of Corrie.
I`m so envious...I love Chinese food
:D

[Perdita]

Yes, I noticed this as first reference to her too

[alan45]

Coronation Street is getting political with an upcoming storyline when one of its characters takes part in sham wedding.
Butcher Graeme Proctor is talked into marrying his girlfriend Tina McIntyre's Chinese friend Xin so she can get a visa to stay in the country.
To make matters even more complicated, it soon becomes a double wedding with Tina's ex-boyfriend David Platt tying the knot with Kylie Turner.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/01/article-1362012-0D6C1C4D000005DC-733_468x709.jpg
Here comes the (fake) bride: Elizabeth Tan (Xin) teams her white bridal gown with battered boots as she films the Coronation Street double wedding in Manchester yesterday
Actors Craig Gazey, who plays Graeme, Jack P Shepherd (David) and Elizabeth Tan (Xin Chiang), were all spotted dressed to the nines in Manchester yesterday as they filmed the controversial storyline.
Blushing bride Xin was wearing a white bridal gown, teamed with black biker boots and a quilted jacket - which she was wearing to keep warm inbetween takes.
Missing out was Shepherd's on-screen love interest Paula Lane, who plays Becky's wayward sister Kylie, who was spotted looking anything but bridal outside the Corrie studios.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/01/article-1362012-0D6C1D60000005DC-515_468x565.jpg
It's all an act: The would-be groom Graeme Proctor (Craig Gazey) shares a joke between takes with Tan
David shocked his mother Gail (Helen Worth) this week when he returned from Tenerife with a new fiancee, who he hadn't even been dating before leaving for his holiday.
Equally horrified was Becky (Katherine Kelly), who had robbed the Alahans' Corner Shop during the tram crash to 'buy' Kylie's son Max from her.
While David and Kylie are in a real relationship, Graeme is still currently loved up with Tina (Michelle Keegan).
But after Tina's brainwave to help her friend Xin avoid deportation, she and Graeme have to stage a huge public break-up in the Rovers Return.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/01/article-1362012-0D6C1E86000005DC-839_468x586.jpg
In it for real: Genuine groom David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) with on-screen brother Nick Tilsley (Ben Price)
Actor Gazey told Inside Soap magazine: 'They stage a massive row in the Rovers, and Tina publicly accuses Graeme of cheating on her with Xin.
'Graeme's a bit reluctant at first, but Tina really gets into character. Eventually Graeme joins in, but takes things too far when he accuses her of going on about her dead dad all the time.'
The storyline is predicted to cause trouble for the two lovebirds and will no doubt pave the way for the departure of Gazey.
The actor announced in January he would be quitting the soap after two years of playing former jailbird Graeme.

http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/01/article-1362012-0D6D5122000005DC-130_224x495.jpg http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2011/03/01/article-1362012-0D6D511A000005DC-408_224x495.jpg


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1362012/Coronation-Streets-David-Platt-Graeme-Proctor-double-visa-scam-wedding.html#ixzz1FOr685yl

[alan45]

The UK Border Agency (UKBA) has praised Coronation Street for highlighting the issue of sham marriages in its latest storyline.

A new plot centring around show newcomer Xin Chiang (Elizabeth Tan) is at the forefront of the soap this week as Graeme Proctor plans to tie the knot with the waitress, allowing her to remain in the country once her student visa expires.

The Manchester Evening News now reports that the UKBA worked closely with Corrie bosses while the plotline was being devised.

Eddy Montgomery - north west regional director of the UKBA - told the newspaper: "We are pleased to see the profile of our work raised and to see this sort of storyline being featured in the media.

"We have been really happy to work closely with Granada on this, as we have seen this cynical crime in action in the region."

It is currently unclear whether Graeme, Xin or fellow plotter Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) will face punishment or escape detection as the storyline continues over the coming weeks.

However, Craig Gazey - who plays Graeme - will leave Coronation Street later this year.

[LostVoodoo]

however, it doesn't paint UKBA in a good light as we see Xin under threat of being sent home when she had studied hard, qualified, worked rather than claiming benefits and can't find a job in psychiatric nursing. i suppose Corrie doesn't want to have this storyline featuring someone who wants to sponge off the British system but it doesn't seem fair someone like her gets sent home.

[alan45]

On Coronation Street, as the sham wedding organised by Graeme, Xin and Tina draws closer in the next fortnight, the trio will struggle to keep their deception under wraps.

With Graeme and Tina spending hardly any time together in order to avoid arousing suspicions, they're struggling without each other's company - prompting Xin to act as a go-between for the pair, arranging a secret meeting for them at the flat.

As Xin gives the couple some time alone and they enjoy a rendezvous, she heads out on to the street and bumps into Rita, who demands a word with her and Graeme upstairs.

Unable to think of an excuse, Xin takes Rita up to the flat, forcing Tina to do some quick-thinking and hide away before the Kabin worker sees her.

Rita then gives Graeme and Xin a piece of her mind as she chastises them for their 'mistreatment' of Tina. Will Tina be able to remain hidden or will Rita stumble across the shocking truth?

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[Perdita]

Coronation Street's Craig Gazey has admitted that Xin has developed feelings for fake-fiancé Graeme Proctor.

Gazey's exit plot has seen Graeme plan to tie the knot with newcomer Xin in order to help her remain in the country, at the request of his girlfriend Tina (Michelle Keegan).

Asked if Graeme could fall for Xin, the actor told What's On TV: "At the minute, his feelings are not directed at Xin, but I think she does have some feelings for him."

He confessed that Graeme is worried about going to prison if the trio's scam is uncovered, saying: "Even though he's getting no money for it, it is still illegal."

However, Gazey said that the "softy" is not taking his frustrations out on his girlfriend.

"The resentment is more towards Xin because she starts to get bossy and tries to take over his life," he said.

Teasing how long the pair will have to maintain their fake marriage, he added: "Their plan is that in a few weeks Xin will hop off. However, they find out that immigration are coming round because of Mary."

Gazey recently insisted that he would not rule out returning to the ITV1 soap in the future.

DS

[Perdita]

Coronation Street star Michelle Keegan has admitted that her character Tina McIntyre now regrets her sham marriage scheme.

Earlier this year, Tina convinced boyfriend Graeme Proctor that he should tie the knot with her Chinese friend Xin (Elizabeth Tan), allowing her to stay in the country once her student visa runs out.

The pair's big day arrives in tomorrow night's double bill of the soap, but in the run-up to the ceremony, Tina has become increasingly concerned over the amount of time that Graeme and Xin are spending together.

Speaking on Lorraine this morning, Keegan explained: "I think Tina's intentions were really good at the beginning, but I think she obviously knows now that she made the wrong decision. She is obviously now starting to get a bit jealous about the whole situation."

It is currently unclear whether the fake couple will make it down the aisle as local gossip Norris Cole spots Tina and Graeme kissing on the day, leaving him with a dilemma over whether to expose Xin's wedding as a sham.

Keegan said: "He's the worst character to catch us as well - the busybody of the street!"

The 23-year-old also reflected on her previous plotlines, admitting that she is grateful to have been at the centre of so much Weatherfield drama.

"I've been really lucky storyline-wise," she said. "Obviously I was a new actress [when I started] as well, so to give me storylines like that is just amazing."

Craig Gazey, who plays Graeme, will be leaving Coronation Street at the end of the current story.

DS

[Perdita]

Coronation Street's Mary Taylor could be set to pull the plug on Graeme Proctor and Xin Chiang's fake marriage.

The nosy neighbour - played by Pattie Clare - puts an end to the duo's sham union when she reports them to the authorities, and a very stern immigration officer pays a visit, warning that not only could Xin (Elizabeth Tan) have to say goodbye to her life in the UK, but that Graeme could even end up behind bars.

Craig Gazey - who portrays hapless Graeme - explained: "Graeme's devastated. He realises that he could go to prison over this. He does care for Xin - but when it comes to the crunch, Graeme is more worried about his own destiny.

"Xin runs off and leaves a note for Graeme. She wants him to say that she tricked him into marrying her. Graeme doesn't want to do that, though - he thinks the officials will believe their story."

However, the Weatherfield window cleaner also faces more worry when gorgeous girlfriend Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) - who forced him into the sham romance with her best friend Xin in a desperate attempt to guarantee her a visa - grows even closer to local casanova Tommy Duckworth (Chris Fountain).

Craig added to Inside Soap magazine: "It's crazy that Graeme didn't think this was going to happen. He never wanted to get involved in the first place. It's ripping his life apart, and there's nothing he can do to stop it.

"He's really gutted, as he can see his life with Tina slipping away from him."

(C) BANG Media International

[Perdita]

Michelle Keegan has revealed that she would like another member of Tina McIntyre's family to make an appearance on Coronation Street.

Tina is currently feeling lonely in Weatherfield as her boyfriend Graeme Proctor has pretended to break up with her and is now spending all of his time with 'wife' Xin, keen to keep the locals fooled by their sham marriage.

As a result of the unusual situation, Tina and Graeme's relationship has come under intense strain - leading to speculation that they could be heading for a real split.

Speaking to Inside Soap about what the future may hold, Keegan commented: "Tina would be absolutely heartbroken if she lost Graeme. She classes him as her best friend as well as her boyfriend - and after losing her dad Joe, she'd be left with no-one.

"Whatever happens, I hope that Tina can pick herself up and dust herself off. I'd like to see another family member come into her life to take her mind off things."

Asked whether her character could find love with Tommy Duckworth (Chris Fountain), she replied: "Tina could be attracted to Tommy. He's a good-looking guy, but she's only been flirting with him to get a reaction out of Graeme."

Craig Gazey, who plays Graeme, is due to leave Coronation Street next month but will remain on screen until July.

DS