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Coronation Street star Bill Roache has claimed that ITV made the right choice when it pulled the soap from last week's schedules.
Episodes of the Weatherfield serial were not aired as planned last Wednesday, Thursday and Friday after the show's siege storyline was deemed unsuitable for broadcast following the Cumbrian shooting massacre.
Speaking at last night's BAFTA TV Awards, Roache - who plays veteran character Ken Barlow - confirmed that he was in favour of the decision to postpone the dramatic instalments.
He told BBC News: "It was a very sensitive and appropriate thing to do and when you see the episodes you'll understand why."
The show's shock plotline sees crazed Tony Gordon (Gray O'Brien) taking hostages at Underworld as he attempts to exact his revenge on those he believes have wronged him.
Coronation Street will return to ITV1's schedules tonight with a double bill of episodes airing at 7.30pm and 8.30pm. Screenings will then continue on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday.
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Tina O'Brien has revealed that her on-screen lesbian kiss in a recent BBC period drama felt normal.
The 26-year-old actress, best known for playing Sarah Platt on Coronation Street, also spoke of her forthcoming TV projects.
"It was fine. Maxine Peake (O'Brien's co-star) is an amazing actress, and to be honest, it was absolutely no different from kissing a guy. It didn't even feel weird," she told Metro.
O'Brien said that she was "absolutely happy" to be in the show, adding that "it was just a dream come true".
The star, who is soon to begin filming Jimmy McGovern's The Accused, added: "I'm really excited to be a part of it as he's literally the best writer when it comes to drama."
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TINA O'Brien has blasted ex Ryan Thomas for moaning she wasn't sexy enough - months after she gave birth to their daughter.
The 26-year-old, who met the Corrie star while playing Sarah-Louise Platt, split from Ryan last autumn.
Talking about the break-up, which came a week before daughter Scarlett's first birthday, Tina explained: "He said I didn't do it for him any more. I was absolutely devastated."
The Waterloo Road actress, who is pictured above leaving Sunday's Bafta awards, also said he warned her off rejoining the soap - claiming it could drive them apart.
Tina believes having a baby put too much pressure on "laddy" Ryan, 25.
She told this week's new! magazine: "He'd do stupid things like hire a Lamborghini - he was rebelling."
But she insisted he was a "brilliant" dad to Scarlett.
Tina is now dating a Waterloo Road production worker who she has known since she was a teenager. She said: "He makes me feel secure and happy."
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz0qDYAPEv0
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ULIE Walters has just won a Bafta and has now set her sights even higher - with, erm, a role on Corrie.
The star, 60, who scooped the Best Actress gong for playing politician Mo Mowlam in a Channel 4 drama, admits she is a big soap fan.
And when asked if she would like to join Corrie, she gasped: "I was once on the set of EastEnders and I could hardly speak! It depends on the part but I'd love a little something in Corrie.
"Someone once asked if it was true I was going to play Audrey's sister and I thought, 'What a good idea' but nothing came of that."
Julie added: "I'm a big soap fan. I'm addicted - I had to give up for lent."
She told how she once drove pals mad by singing the EastEnders theme tune.
Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz0qDdD1jQt
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Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has admitted that she is feeling down about her love life following a number of disastrous dates.
The actress, who plays Weatherfield's Sunita Alahan, confessed that she is struggling to find a man without an ulterior motive as she searches for romance.
Speaking to Closer, the 43-year-old explained: "I'm so disillusioned, I don't know what to do. I've been on a few dates with a handful of men recently, but they only seem to care about the fact I'm on the telly."
She continued: "Some guys just want to sell stories on me afterwards so they can say, 'I shagged that bird off Corrie'. I've even had someone ask me if I'd taken drugs, so they can sell the scandal. It makes you feel very vulnerable. I'd love to try internet dating, but then everyone would recognise my face and probably just write to me to beg for a job!"
The mother-of-one already has a failed marriage after splitting from husband Anshu Srivastava in 1994. Meanwhile, her last major relationship ended two years ago after just six months.
Gulati said: "My romances are usually that brief because at the end of the six months I realise I'm with a broken man who I can't fix, no matter how hard I try. I always ignore the warning signs and pick the wrong men."
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Kym Marsh has revealed that she and fiancé Jamie Lomas have scrapped plans to tie the knot this year.
The couple had been due to marry in December, but have now postponed the ceremony in order to concentrate on their respective work commitments.
Speaking to OK magazine, Marsh explained: "The wedding was going to be taking place during Coronation Street's 50th birthday celebrations, which would have meant I'd be very busy. I didn't want to be distracted from either the preparations for the big day or from work related to Corrie's 50th."
She continued: "Jamie has got the chance to fly out to LA in January for pilot season. It's a great opportunity for him but it would have meant if we'd married in December we wouldn't have the chance for a honeymoon."
The 33-year-old added that she does not know when the wedding will take place but is still eager to become Lomas's wife.
Marsh said: "We'll make a decision about the final wedding date when Jamie comes back from America. He might even land a job out there, so the final date is still up in the air. All we know is that we're very much in love and looking forward to the day when we finally get married."
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ITV soap Coronation Street has announced that it is to lead this year's Manchester Pride parade.
Cast and crew from the Weatherfield serial will appear on a special float at the event on August 28, leading the way through the city centre as more than 100 other entries follow.
Manchester Pride - an annual Gay Pride celebration which attracts thousands of spectators - has a 'Through The Decades' theme this year, coinciding with Coronation Street's 50th year in the North West.
Speaking of the show's involvement in the event, Coronation Street's executive producer Kieran Roberts commented: "This is going to be one of the best weekends of the year in the city, and we're honoured that Manchester Pride has allowed us to head up the country's most glamorous parade. Prepare for Corrie like you've never seen it before."
Manchester Pride's festival director Jackie Crozier added: "Coronation Street is a Mancunian institution with a global following and we're delighted they're teaming up with Manchester Pride in this, their 50th anniversary year.
"Through characters like Sean Tully, Hayley Cropper, Todd Grimshaw and, most recently, Sophie Webster, they have helped to raise awareness of the issues facing the LGBT community to millions of loyal viewers.
"The parade is always a highlight of the festival and I look forward to seeing the cast of Corrie take to the streets of the city centre in aid of Manchester Pride and all of the good causes that we support."
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Katherine Kelly has claimed that the cast of Coronation Street will be visually affected by the results of the World Cup.
The 30-year-old actress, who plays Becky McDonald on the serial, predicts that England's progress will be written on the faces of her fellow castmates.
She told TV Times: "We film about six weeks ahead. So when you see the episodes that we're making during the tournament, the happiness or sadness from the England games is bound to affect us. Look out for it.
"It'll be party season - a great atmosphere. Everyone will be passing messages to us when we're filming, so the matches will be the talk of the set. I think it's great when the nation gets together like this."
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Coronation Street favourites Eileen Derbyshire, Barbara Knox are to become MBE in the Queen's birthday honors list. Knox - Rita Sullivan in the soap - said it was a "wonderful honour", while Derbyshire, the Street's Emily Bishop, said she was "astounded".
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