Bryan
26-11-2005, 18:56
Bring the Barlows together under one roof, have the battling Baldwins go out for lunch at a posh resturaunt, and let the bonkers Battersby-Browns loose with a plump turkey and a deep-fat fryer, and guarantted bedlam.
After last year's sensational showdown between Tracy and Karen - as well as Ashley and Claire's white wedding - this time round Corrie is exploring the exposivie dynamics of a typical family Christmas. And it's enough to make you wish you were an orphan...
Poor Ken, Dreary and grumpy gran Blanche have to suffer the petty squabbles between glamarous gran Liz, her latest squeeze Vernon, Tracy with new boyfriend Charlieand Steve with gangster's roll Ronnie.
And it seems that Blanche is one of the few present not to have slept with somebody else's partner. Yet "I avent watched a fella unwrap a Christmas present for...well it must be nearly 10 years" Liz giggles suggestivley. Which is probably too much information.
There's also a drunken and acriminous gathering of the Baldwins at the Clock. Cutlery and insults fly when Danny shows up with Lea-anne. and his two ex wives throw fits.
But far more distubring is the ghost of Christmas past appearing when Mike's sister in law Viv turns up, an he think his recently deceased brother Harry must be parking the car. Well, only if NCP have a franchise in heaven.
While it'd be easy enough yet another "senior" moment for Mike as he slips slowly into a dreaded illness. And it's particulary emotional as he breaks down in tears of fear to grandson Jamie.
That's not half as scary as CodCilla deciding that the only way to cook their bird after her oven breaks down is to throw it in the fryer at Mr Wong's.
But when the chippie goes up in flames, she's the one who's well and truely stuffed.
After last year's sensational showdown between Tracy and Karen - as well as Ashley and Claire's white wedding - this time round Corrie is exploring the exposivie dynamics of a typical family Christmas. And it's enough to make you wish you were an orphan...
Poor Ken, Dreary and grumpy gran Blanche have to suffer the petty squabbles between glamarous gran Liz, her latest squeeze Vernon, Tracy with new boyfriend Charlieand Steve with gangster's roll Ronnie.
And it seems that Blanche is one of the few present not to have slept with somebody else's partner. Yet "I avent watched a fella unwrap a Christmas present for...well it must be nearly 10 years" Liz giggles suggestivley. Which is probably too much information.
There's also a drunken and acriminous gathering of the Baldwins at the Clock. Cutlery and insults fly when Danny shows up with Lea-anne. and his two ex wives throw fits.
But far more distubring is the ghost of Christmas past appearing when Mike's sister in law Viv turns up, an he think his recently deceased brother Harry must be parking the car. Well, only if NCP have a franchise in heaven.
While it'd be easy enough yet another "senior" moment for Mike as he slips slowly into a dreaded illness. And it's particulary emotional as he breaks down in tears of fear to grandson Jamie.
That's not half as scary as CodCilla deciding that the only way to cook their bird after her oven breaks down is to throw it in the fryer at Mr Wong's.
But when the chippie goes up in flames, she's the one who's well and truely stuffed.