Coronation Street General News Thread

Barbara Knox has said that she is "shocked and delighted" to be recognised with an MBE for her services to acting.

The 76-year-old, who is part of the Queen's birthday honours list, has appeared as Rita Sullivan in episodes dating back to 1964.

Eileen Derbyshire, 78, has also been honoured for her tenure in Coronation Street, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year.

Meanwhile, Anne Reid - who played Ken Barlow's wife Valerie on the thrice weekly serial - will also receive an award.

Reid, who has more recently starred in Victoria Wood's Dinnerladies, said: "I have always tried to do my job as best I can but I never dreamt in a million years I would be honoured in this way."

CORRIE layabout Eddie Windass has brushed away his super-slob image - by becoming a talented ARTIST.

Actor Steve Huison, who plays the workshy cabbie, is the toast of Weatherfield with his oil and watercolour paintings.

His co-stars are so impressed with his work that they've asked him to paint portraits of them.

His first piece of Street art - of Alan Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs - was unveiled at the Granada studios in Manchester.

Modest Steve, 47, said on Twitter: "My painting of Alan in his seat is hanging above said seat in the green room at work."


A show insider said: "Steve's character may be a slob but Steve is a very skilful artist.

"The stars have been so intrigued by his work, and the Alan Halsall portrait is absolutely fantastic."

Full Monty star Steve also loves painting nudes - let's just hope Ken Barlow isn't on his list.

Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine has revealed that she wouldn't have married her on-screen husband John Stape (Graeme Hawley) in real life.

The actress, who plays Fiz Stape on the soap, admitted that she would not have supported a prison wedding.

She told the Daily Record: "Every time you get a script and see what he's going to do next, it looks like he's for the chop.

"I would possibly have bailed out before now. I don't know if I would have gone through with the prison wedding. But you never know what love can do to a girl. I've always been able to believe in Fiz. She stands by him because, ultimately, she loves him. He makes her happy.

"And the more it goes on, the more believable it is to my mind. The fact that she went out with him against all the odds, against everyone's advice, including her little brother, Chesney, all her close friends and all her workmates. It's become a pride thing. There's a bit of determination on her part to make it work. I can understand that."

WENNCoronation Street star Antony Cotton has signed a new 12-month contract with the soap, according to a report.

The 34-year-old, who has played factory worker Sean Tully since 2003, finalised his deal late last week, The Mirror claims.

It is thought that the actor decided to stick with the serial amid speculation that he was quitting to join ITV1 comedy Benidorm. The rumour is said to have spread through Coronation Street's green room last Friday, but has now been quashed.

A source said: "Antony was off on Friday and out of the blue everyone was talking about him quitting to join Benidorm."

Cotton has previously made no secret of his desire for a long future in Coronation Street. In an interview last year, he admitted that he would be unlikely to leave the programme of his own accord.

Helen Flanagan (Rosie Webster), Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw), Katherine Kelly (Becky McDonald), Kym Marsh (Michelle Connor) and Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw) are also thought to have landed new Corrie contracts in recent weeks.

Is he going to get any storylines then? He hasn't had a decent one for ages.

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Originally Posted by Dazzle

Is he going to get any storylines then? He hasn't had a decent one for ages.

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He is trying to get into contact with his son soon, would have thought that Violet and maybe even Jamie come back to Corrie as Dylan's mum and dad

Oh yeah, I forgot he's started searching for Dylan.

WENNCoronation Street star Michelle Keegan has revealed that she is still keen for Tina McIntyre and David Platt to reunite in a future storyline.

In early 2008, Tina's first ever plotline saw her starting a romance with the Weatherfield bad boy, but the pair later broke up.

Although Tina's newest love interest is show favourite Graeme Proctor (Craig Gazey), Keegan confessed that she still wants her character's partnership with David (Jack P. Shepherd) to be revisited at some point.

The 23-year-old told Hot TV: "I know this sounds mad but I would really love to see her back with David. I think they suited each other really well. They had a fiery relationship and that was great to film.

"It would be different to see what David's like a few years on and see if he's learnt from his mistakes - see if he can actually be the man that Tina wants."

It is not the first time that Keegan had pondered a possible reunion for the couple. Earlier this year, she claimed that David "still really loves" his ex-girlfriend.

CORRIE'S Peter Barlow is heading for a string of bloody bust-ups - just like his dad Ken.
Peter will scrap with Nick Tilsley, mainly over women - mimicking the legendary rivalry between Ken and Mike Baldwin.
Their first fight comes as Peter (Chris Gascoyne) sees fiancée Leanne Battersby talking to Nick (Ben Price) in the Rovers Return.
Peter is furious and thinks that the pair - who used to be married - are having a fling.
The bookie drags Nick from the pub, followed by several of the locals and Rovers barman and would-be peacemaker Ciaran McCarthy (Keith Duffy).
When Nick refuses to back down, former alcoholic Peter punches him in the face and launches himself at him.
The pair are pulled apart by Ciaran, but their feud won't be buried for long.
New producer Phil Collinson is planning a series of bust-ups between the pair. He wants to recreate relationships that have kept Corrie at the top of the viewing charts for the last 50 years.
And Peter isn't the only Barlow involved in fisticuffs - as Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride) has a catfight with Nick's mum Gail.
The fight breaks out after Gail discovers that Deirdre has been carrying on with her mum Audrey's lover Lewis Archer.
Gail attacks her and the pair have to be dragged off the floor by Deirdre's husband Ken.


Read more: http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage...#ixzz0qyAdhu1Q

Coronation Street star Antony Cotton yesterday attended a Gay Pride reception hosted by David Cameron at 10 Downing Street.

The actor, best known for his role as Sean Tully on the Weatherfield soap, was among a number of gay celebrities who were present at the drinks party as Cameron pledged his support for "equal rights and equal treatment".

Cameron's event coincided with the launch of a new "Action Plan" created by his Coalition Government which aims to tackle discrimination against those in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community.

Cotton attended as a representative for The Albert Kennedy Trust, a voluntary organisation which provides assistance to homeless gay teenagers.

He told the Daily Mail: "It was set up after a young boy died in Manchester. He was homeless and was being chased by what you would now call homophobic bullies and he was chased to the top of a car park and jumped off. The trust helps young people all over the country who are homeless after coming out."

The 34-year-old was joined at the event by his former screen lover Charlie Condou (Marcus Dent) and ex-Weatherfield actress Amanda Barrie (Alma Baldwin).

Other celebrities in attendance included Blue singer Duncan James and BBC newsreader Jane Hill.