Perdita
13-05-2008, 06:49
Bonus Scoop: Corrie Assistant Producer Gavin Blyth
I recently chatted with Corrie's assistant producer Gavin Blyth for a preview of what's to come from Corrie in the coming weeks and months. Especially for you, my fellow scoopers, here are some extra morsels of teasery goodness for your pleasure. If you haven't read the main interview yet, click here to have a butcher's. But if you want to know more about Molly's Auntie Pam or the returns of Jackie Dobbs and John Stape, continuez...
Julia Haworth's about to take a break for maternity leave. How will we see Claire leave the Street?
"It would be all too easy to contrive a storyline to split Ashley and Claire up - but that isn't the case. After the trying time of last year, they are stronger than ever. But a disastrous house swap with Sally and Kevin could see them seeking sanctuary in the coming months... It's a very traditional, fun Coronation Street story with families and friends soon turning foes."
Where will this leave Ashley?
"Ashley will continue to figure in his own stories in Claire's absence and has a good framework of friends in other characters to ensure that he'll never be far away."
With Vernon and Harry leaving, where will this leave Liz on the 'man front'?
"I think the best way to describe her would be down, but not out. Where men are concerned, Liz has an uncanny knack of bouncing back. If she's not pulling pints, she's pulling men - so I doubt she'll be on her own for very long. But that isn't to say that she is just going to bounce into the arms of the next man that comes along."
Will we see Harry and Liz get it on before he goes?
"There's still plenty of time before Harry goes anywhere, so anything could happen. Though the spectre of Clarissa - Harry's ex - is looming large so it may not be straight forward for Liz. It's fair to say that Clarissa isn't necessarily finished with Harry yet and the idea of another woman trying to snare him won't go down well. Liz may just find herself an arch enemy before she finds herself another man!"
Carla's an absolutely fantastic character. Will we learn anything more about her background? Maybe her brother will emerge from prison?
"We may get a glimpse into Carla's background and the possibility of her brother popping up some time is always there. But her present is set to prove just as interesting as her past. Her desire for Liam and life with Tony has set her on a dangerous course and she'll have to be at her best to avoid a collision. But Carla's sharp and more than capable of sidestepping trouble should she need to. But as always with Carla - if a few people get hurt en route... then so be it.
"What Carla probably hasn't realised just yet, is that her bedfellow plays a similar game. But she'll get a wake-up call as life with Tony continues at a pace. She - and a few others - will start to learn what the viewers already know; Tony isn't a man to be crossed. The ripples of his actions will be felt far and wide as Tony starts to impact on the lives of Street stalwarts."
Can you tell us a little more about your plans for the Victoria Court Apartments? You must have some interesting new additions on the horizon for such a major development on the Street...
"The apartments bring an exciting new visual dimension to the Street. Like our characters, it allows us to mix contemporary Coronation Street with the traditional. Life may not change much for the residents of Coronation Street but life around them does.
"Victoria Court reminds us that Coronation Street exists within a bigger world, and of course allows us to home new characters as, when and if we need to. But in story terms, it offers us an insight into the workings of Tony Gordon. It will peel back another layer of that character and what we find underneath won't necessarily be sweetness and light."
Jackie Dobbs and John Stape are returning - what can you tell us about their motives for coming back?
"Jackie's return is only a brief one at this stage and will feed into a story that is underway for Tyrone and Molly. One great thing about Coronation Street is that it doesn't shy away from delving into its history and this is a perfect example. Tyrone will have need to be reunited with his mum, but where, how and when he finds her will tell us as much about Molly as it will Tyrone.
"John Stape's return will prove a very notable one. After loving Fiz, lusting after Rosie and being beaten up by Kevin, washed-up teacher John has unfinished business. Only time will tell if he is coming back as a lover or a fighter."
Are you going to be turning Tyrone and Molly into the next Jack and Vera?
"I don't think that you can ever set out with the aim of turning any two characters into the next Jack and Vera. They have iconic status. I can imagine, though, that Molly isn't unlike a young Vera and Tyrone could be a Jack in the making. But they are great characters in their own right and should they ever be likened to Jack and Vera in the years to come, I know that we and they would be very proud of a job well done.
Can you tell us anything about Molly's Auntie Pam?
"She's a lot of fun and a pretty shrewd cookie when it comes to making a fast buck. But she's big hearted too and it's obvious from the outset that she thinks the world of Molly and Tyrone; doing anything she can for them in their time of need. And of course Jack is never far away, so it'll be interesting to see what he makes of the larger-than-life new arrival. She certainly won't be replacing Vera - nobody could - but she may prove to be an equally worthy adversary."
I recently chatted with Corrie's assistant producer Gavin Blyth for a preview of what's to come from Corrie in the coming weeks and months. Especially for you, my fellow scoopers, here are some extra morsels of teasery goodness for your pleasure. If you haven't read the main interview yet, click here to have a butcher's. But if you want to know more about Molly's Auntie Pam or the returns of Jackie Dobbs and John Stape, continuez...
Julia Haworth's about to take a break for maternity leave. How will we see Claire leave the Street?
"It would be all too easy to contrive a storyline to split Ashley and Claire up - but that isn't the case. After the trying time of last year, they are stronger than ever. But a disastrous house swap with Sally and Kevin could see them seeking sanctuary in the coming months... It's a very traditional, fun Coronation Street story with families and friends soon turning foes."
Where will this leave Ashley?
"Ashley will continue to figure in his own stories in Claire's absence and has a good framework of friends in other characters to ensure that he'll never be far away."
With Vernon and Harry leaving, where will this leave Liz on the 'man front'?
"I think the best way to describe her would be down, but not out. Where men are concerned, Liz has an uncanny knack of bouncing back. If she's not pulling pints, she's pulling men - so I doubt she'll be on her own for very long. But that isn't to say that she is just going to bounce into the arms of the next man that comes along."
Will we see Harry and Liz get it on before he goes?
"There's still plenty of time before Harry goes anywhere, so anything could happen. Though the spectre of Clarissa - Harry's ex - is looming large so it may not be straight forward for Liz. It's fair to say that Clarissa isn't necessarily finished with Harry yet and the idea of another woman trying to snare him won't go down well. Liz may just find herself an arch enemy before she finds herself another man!"
Carla's an absolutely fantastic character. Will we learn anything more about her background? Maybe her brother will emerge from prison?
"We may get a glimpse into Carla's background and the possibility of her brother popping up some time is always there. But her present is set to prove just as interesting as her past. Her desire for Liam and life with Tony has set her on a dangerous course and she'll have to be at her best to avoid a collision. But Carla's sharp and more than capable of sidestepping trouble should she need to. But as always with Carla - if a few people get hurt en route... then so be it.
"What Carla probably hasn't realised just yet, is that her bedfellow plays a similar game. But she'll get a wake-up call as life with Tony continues at a pace. She - and a few others - will start to learn what the viewers already know; Tony isn't a man to be crossed. The ripples of his actions will be felt far and wide as Tony starts to impact on the lives of Street stalwarts."
Can you tell us a little more about your plans for the Victoria Court Apartments? You must have some interesting new additions on the horizon for such a major development on the Street...
"The apartments bring an exciting new visual dimension to the Street. Like our characters, it allows us to mix contemporary Coronation Street with the traditional. Life may not change much for the residents of Coronation Street but life around them does.
"Victoria Court reminds us that Coronation Street exists within a bigger world, and of course allows us to home new characters as, when and if we need to. But in story terms, it offers us an insight into the workings of Tony Gordon. It will peel back another layer of that character and what we find underneath won't necessarily be sweetness and light."
Jackie Dobbs and John Stape are returning - what can you tell us about their motives for coming back?
"Jackie's return is only a brief one at this stage and will feed into a story that is underway for Tyrone and Molly. One great thing about Coronation Street is that it doesn't shy away from delving into its history and this is a perfect example. Tyrone will have need to be reunited with his mum, but where, how and when he finds her will tell us as much about Molly as it will Tyrone.
"John Stape's return will prove a very notable one. After loving Fiz, lusting after Rosie and being beaten up by Kevin, washed-up teacher John has unfinished business. Only time will tell if he is coming back as a lover or a fighter."
Are you going to be turning Tyrone and Molly into the next Jack and Vera?
"I don't think that you can ever set out with the aim of turning any two characters into the next Jack and Vera. They have iconic status. I can imagine, though, that Molly isn't unlike a young Vera and Tyrone could be a Jack in the making. But they are great characters in their own right and should they ever be likened to Jack and Vera in the years to come, I know that we and they would be very proud of a job well done.
Can you tell us anything about Molly's Auntie Pam?
"She's a lot of fun and a pretty shrewd cookie when it comes to making a fast buck. But she's big hearted too and it's obvious from the outset that she thinks the world of Molly and Tyrone; doing anything she can for them in their time of need. And of course Jack is never far away, so it'll be interesting to see what he makes of the larger-than-life new arrival. She certainly won't be replacing Vera - nobody could - but she may prove to be an equally worthy adversary."