Did not like them much when they first arrived but they have grown on me big time, especially Anna
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Did not like them much when they first arrived but they have grown on me big time, especially Anna
Coronation Street actress Debbie Rush has revealed that the Windass's army storyline is far from over and will continue to reflect the difficulties faced by real-life families.
On screen, Rush's character Anna and her screen husband Eddie (Steve Huison) recently saw their son Gary (Mikey North) sign up for basic training, before going AWOL for a short period.
Speaking to Digital Spy on the red carpet at this year's British Soap Awards, Rush said: "The army [story]'s going to play out a little bit longer yet... and we're really going to stick to the truth and hopefully it will portray a lot of what's going on in the country at the moment."
Meanwhile, of the Windass adoption storyline, she added: "Fundamentally Anna is a real mum and now Gary's gone, she's found a little bit of room in her nest... she was so good with Chesney... I don't know if they get to [adopt] or not, we have to wait and see."
I like the Windasses now and this army storyline is at least something a bit different from the usual soap stories.
Yeah, it makes a bit of a change.Quote:
Originally Posted by Dazzle
I agree and i thought that they handled the AWOL storyline a few weks ago brilliantly.
A HARD-HITTING new Corrie plot will see one-time tearaway Gary Windass become a bomb disposal hero.
Squaddie Gary, played by Mikey North, went AWOL earlier this year after meeting a soldier who lost his limbs in action.
But in an amazing turnaround, he'll overcome his nerves to tackle deadly IEDs on the frontline in Afghanistan. Soap bosses have planned a raft of storylines to mirror gritty real-life issues, in a move away from the usual domestic dramas.
And with 108 British soldiers killed in Afghanistan in 2009, and a further 80 so far this year, the war is becoming too big an issue for Coronation Street to ignore.
Among those killed was bomb disposal expert Staff Sergeant Olaf Schmid, whose wife Christina now campaigns with the News of the World on behalf of troops. And his is the dangerous role viewers will watch Gary take on.
"We will not be holding back on the realities of our men and women going to war," said a Corrie insider.
"We'll be showing how it really is... warts and all."
Corrie writers are understood to have consulted the Ministry of Defence over the storyline.
In one scene, dad Eddie sees some paintbrushes in Gary's bag and makes a joke about painting the enemy.
Gary then reveals their true purpose: "They're for brushing the sand off the landmines."
The scenes will be shown in October.
I think that it is good that they show a bit more reality again after the recent spell of some quite ridiculous storylines :)
You already have a thread about Gary Windass' army career here http://www.soapboards.co.uk/forums/s...hlight=windass
That thread is is about Gary going AWOL, this is quite the opposite :)
Not according to post 6 on the thread
Quote:
Coronation Street actress Debbie Rush has revealed that the Windass's army storyline is far from over and will continue to reflect the difficulties faced by real-life families.
On screen, Rush's character Anna and her screen husband Eddie (Steve Huison) recently saw their son Gary (Mikey North) sign up for basic training, before going AWOL for a short period.
Speaking to Digital Spy on the red carpet at this year's British Soap Awards, Rush said: "The army [story]'s going to play out a little bit longer yet... and we're really going to stick to the truth and hopefully it will portray a lot of what's going on in the country at the moment."
surely it takes quite a lot of time and maybe the odd qualification to become a bomb disposal expert?
So Corrie will become Soldier Soldier
It says he becomes a hero, not expert, means he might be trained in bomb disposal rather than already having all the skillsQuote:
Originally Posted by LostVoodoo
Nobody already has all the skills to be an EOD officer. Its something which is taught.Quote:
he might be trained in bomb disposal rather than already having all the skills
To be a bomb disposal hero you would need to be an expert. Its hardly a job that would be given to a squaddie just out of training.
You only become a hero after defusing lots of IEDs and you certainly wouldnt do that unless you were an expert and in diong so received months of highly specialised training.
In my eyes, anybody brave enough to try to defuse an IED is a hero, regardless of how many he or she have dealt with.
There is no doubt that any properly trained EOD officer is a hero after defusing just one IED however it is unlikely in the extreme that a squaddie such as Gary Windass is supposed to be would be allowed to take part in EOD so how therefore can he be called a hero.Quote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
This storyline if true has been ill thought out and IMHO an insult to the highly trained professional who risk their lives on a daily basis throughout the world.
Mikey North has praised his co-stars in his Coronation Street family.
The actor - who plays Gary Windass in the Weatherfield soap - told RTÉ Ten that he loves working with the cast.
"It's nice that we've settled in now," he said. "Debbie [Rush] and Steve [Huison], who play Anna and Eddie, they're just so much fun to work with and they're a great double act.
"And I think they'll be around for many years to come. I love working with them.
"Everyone says it, it's so clichéd, but everyone gets on and it's like a big family."
He added: "We kind of hang out together and it's just a good laugh. We're so lucky to do what we do."
Earlier this month, it was reported that an upcoming plot will see Gary serve as a bomb disposal expert in Afghanistan.
And Gary seems to be an idiotQuote:
Originally Posted by LostVoodoo
Coronation Street's upcoming army plot will explore how the Windass family is affected by their son's time in Afghanistan.
Earlier this month, it was revealed that Gary Windass, played by Mikey North, would serve as a bomb disposal expert. North told RTÉ Ten that the "poignant" plot would focus on the effects the war has had on Gary when he returns to the street.
"It's very current and it's going to be quite poignant," he said. "They're going to look at how it's going to affect his family and how it's going to affect him."
He continued: "I don't think he's going to be away long. He's going to come back, for whatever reason, so we're going to look at the aftermath and how that's going to affect him. It sounds good."
The actor also spoke of the research he carried out for the plot.
"These guys that go over there are amazing. I've got the utmost respect for them," he said.
He added: "So I've done my research into it and I hope I can do it justice. It should be good on screen. I'm looking forward to it."
Obviously he didnt do enough. You just dont leave training as a raw recruit and become a bomb disposal ''expert''Quote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
Corrie viewers who saw squaddies Gary and Quinny make a pact over a beer last week are in for a shock.
We can reveal that Quinny (Stephen Bell, 34) will be killed by a Taliban bomb in Afghanistan later this year while saving Gary's life.
But Gary (Mikey North, 23) then agonises over whether to keep the pact that if one of them dies the surviving soldier will speak to the victims family face-to-face and reveal what happened.
Viewers will see Gary telling his mum: Quinny saved my life.
People are saying I was the hero for surviving but if it hadn't been for Quinny I wouldn't be here. He was the real hero.
But on the night before he is due to see Quinny's parents, vivid flashbacks stop Gary sleeping and in the morning he tells mum Anna (Debbie Rush, 44): I've been awake all night. I'm dreading having to do this.
Concerned for her sons frail state of mind, Anna questions exactly what hes going to tell Quinny's parents. Gary replies: There's only one thing I can tell them the truth.
But as the time draws closer, Gary's dread of reliving the nightmare sends him into a panic. In need of Dutch courage, he sinks a couple of pints in The Rovers Return where he bumps into Izzy Armstrong (Cherylee Houston, 34).
Seeing Gary's turmoil, Izzy says: If you fancy a drink later to help you get over it Ill be in here waiting.
But, left alone in the bar, Gary turns to whisky and gets drunk. When Izzy returns and asks how he got on, Gary confesses: Couldn't do it could I? Just couldn't face the memories. Pathetic aren't I? When Izzy tries to question him further Gary snaps: I don't want to talk about it. Not now, not ever.
A show insider said: This will be harrowing stuff. The realities of war in Afghanistan will be vividly brought home to the viewers. We hope our portrayal of the war and its consequences will be realistic and sensitive at the same time.
Taliban bombs or IEDs are now the major cause of British and Nato deaths in Afghanistan.
People
This sounds much more believable than making him an EOD officer with only a few months military service. If handled properly this will be a powerful storyline and one which will bring into our living rooms the risks faced by all our young squaddies in Afghanistan.
Whether or not you agree with the reasons why they are there there can be no doubting the heroism of these guys and girls. Yet another two murdered today.
Well done to Corrie for highlighting this issue and God bless and protect everyone out in Afghanistan and let's hope they all return home safe.
i think its good as well, it does afect so many people. I can completely relate to it as there was a young lad where i live that i had briefly met, but knew his friends well and he was killed in afghanistan 2 years ago in january. No one thinks really that it will happen to them bit it is very real to a lot of people.
This is a more appropraite storyline for Gary instead of being an over-night bomb disposal expert. We only have to watch the news to know that a week can't pass but there are more lives lost. My nephew is 30 his Dad was in the RAF and served in Ireland in the late 70's early 80's. We used to watch the news holding our breaths every time the news reader would report that another soldier had been killed. Not to cast more doom or gloom on the tragedy of Afghanistan but there was a young woman age 29 who was part of the judo club that Marley goes to. Steph was her name, anyway Steph joined the army in 2000 and has served in Ireland, Iraq and Afghanstan. Last months while being back at the barracks in the UK Steph went into the woods and took her own life. She left no note so her family are in bits. They don't know if it was the effects of serving her country or stuff going on in her personal life.
That's really tragic :(
Unfortunately the longer this war goes on the more people who will be affected by its consequences and as Kath says its not just those killed while in Afghanistan. I have a close friend who is a widow and she has two sons bothe of whom will be going to Afghanistan within the next few weeks. Naturally she is worried sick. As it is one of our local regimets that is heading over there now its very likely that any deaths in the next six months will impact hard in a small community suvh as ours.
All we can do is hope and pray that they all return to their loved ones
......
Coronation Street star Mikey North has revealed that he has a lot of respect for the British Armed Forces.
The actor, who plays Gary Windass on the ITV1 soap, admitted that he is glad to play the first serving soldier in Weatherfield.
He told Inside Soap: "It's something I can't really get my head around - how those guys go out there and put their lives on the line without a thought for themselves.
"I've got so much respect for them, and it's nice to be the first regular serving soldier on the Street. Bill Roache, who plays Ken, told me there was one at the start, but he was only in it very briefly."
Speaking of his own physical fitness, he added: "I don't go to the gym at all, to be honest - I'm a lazy guy like that.
"I don't know how I don't put on weight! I really should be at the gym more, but I've not got round to it yet."
Coronation Street star Mikey North has predicted that his character Gary Windass will not return to the army after he gets caught up in a roadside bomb incident in Afghanistan.
Next week, Gary's parents Eddie and Anna discover that he has been injured in a horrifying blast during his tour of duty in the troubled country.
Speaking to Soaplife, North explained: "He has a broken arm, broken ribs, an injured leg and shrapnel wounds to his face. But the worst injury is the mental one.
"He's a different Gary to the one you last saw. When his parents come to the hospital, they're shocked at the state of him."
As well as focusing on his recovery after returning to Weatherfield, Gary must also deal with the loss of his close friend Quinny, who was killed by the bomb.
Discussing Gary's future, North added: "I think his army career will be over after this incident. I can't see him wanting to go back at any point. He'll get better but I think an experience like that stays with you for the rest of your life. Gary can never forget the terrible things he's seen."
Coronation Street star Steve Huison has said that his thoughts are with real-life parents who have children serving in Afghanistan.
Last night, the actor's character Eddie Windass and partner Anna (Debbie Rush) discovered that their son Gary had been injured by a roadside bomb during his tour of duty in the troubled country. The explosion also killed three of Gary's colleagues, including his close friend Quinny.
The development came as part of a long-running storyline which has seen Gary learn the value of the armed forces before signing up to become a soldier himself.
Speaking of the plot, Huison told the Manchester Evening News: "They're definitely the most emotional scenes we've ever done as a family in the Street. We all feel a huge responsibility with this story.
"My heart goes out to parents with sons and daughters in Afghanistan. You wouldn't be able to rest or switch it off, watching the news bulletins all the time. It must be harrowing.
"And something like this would be devastating. Let's just hope that they're getting the support they need."
Scenes to air in forthcoming episodes will explore how Gary's (Mikey North) experience in Afghanistan has affected him as it becomes clear that he is no longer the man he was.
CORONATION Street's Gary Windass gets his collar felt after fighting with cops following a night out on the tiles.
Gary, played by Mikey North, is out on the town with David Platt (Jack P Shepherd) when they end up having a row with cops after staggering out of a nightclub.
The argument gets more heated, and Gary ends up getting into a scuffle with the officers and is arrested.
But cowardly bad boy David leaves him to face the music alone, doing a runner while Gary is put in handcuffs.
http://img.thesun.co.uk/multimedia/a...s_1167056a.jpg
It's just more bad luck for military man Gary whose has seen his army career end after getting caught up a roadside bomb in Afghanistan.
In Monday's episode an army officer visited the Windasses to tell them that Gary had been injured while touring the battle zone.
He survives the blast with a broken arm, broken ribs, injured leg and shrapnel wounds, but finds it difficult to deal with the loss of comrade Quinny, who was killed by the bomb.
I thought Eddie Windass reaction at the hospital last night was well acted. How many other parents have walked away from their childrens bedside not been able to cope with their injuries.
As Coronation Street's 50th anniversary week begins next Monday, the show's devastating tram crash brings back horrific memories for Gary Windass as he experiences flashbacks to his time in Afghanistan. The shocking events on the cobbles trigger symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) for Gary, kicking off a new storyline as it becomes clear that moving on from his stint in a warzone will be a momentous task. Here, actor Mikey North talks about his character's return home, how Gary's been affected by his tour of duty and why the anniversary stunt changes everything.
Before the tram crash, how is Gary coping after his experience in Afghanistan?
"It's totally changed him, he won't talk about it and he doesn't want anyone around him. He's pushing everybody away, he's having a go at his mum, his dad's annoying him and there's row after row."
Do Anna and Eddie try to bring him out of his shell?
"His mum's pussyfooting around him, but his dad's telling him to get out of bed and get himself sorted. Neither are helping and it's causing friction between them as well. They both know what he's been through and that it's been a really tough time for him so they understand. They're trying to help him, but he's just pushing them away."
Following Quinny's death in Afghanistan, is there a sense of Gary feeling guilty that he's still alive?
"He feels really guilty and that will live with him for a long time. He's ducked out of going to see Quinny's parents so that's still on his mind as well. He just isn't ready to look them in the eye and tell them what happened. Partly he feels guilty, partly he doesn't want to talk about it. He's in a state."
Was there anything more he could have done for Quinny?
"No, there was nothing he could have done, but when your best mate's been killed you wonder, 'Why him and not me?' - that's where the guilt comes from. There's always that thought, 'Did he die to save me?'"
Will Gary go back to the army?
"He can't at the moment because of his psychological state, but he may be ready to return in the future. At the moment he needs to get his head sorted out before he can decide what to do."
The army was important to him, but how does he feel about it now?
"The army was a big thing for him, it was the first time he felt he belonged somewhere. Now that's been taken away, what does he do? Maybe he'll just revert back to his old ways."
Where is Gary when the tram crashes?
"He's in the house - basically he hears the explosion in The Joinery and he comes out. He's transfixed by it, it's quite surreal, then his mum finds him on the street and she's speaking to him, but he can't hear her. He's just transfixed by the disaster scene which triggers memories of Afghanistan and that's when it all hits him."
How does the tram crash affect him?
"Things were bad enough before the tram crash, but this brings it all back to the forefront of his memory. It's the trigger for the flashbacks - there's always a trigger for a person with PTSD and the explosions and chaos around him trigger it for Gary. It brings it home and he completely loses the plot. You see him stumbling around the street thinking he's in Afghanistan. Then he runs back to his house and breaks down - he thinks he's in a warzone even in his own house. He's stuck in a warzone in his head in his own front room."
What's it been like to film these scenes?
"It's been really heavy stuff, playing someone who's effectively losing control of his mind. I'm just hoping I've done it justice and it comes across well on screen. It's the most challenging storyline I've worked on so far - I hope it's believable and it portrays the emotion."
Finally, what's next for Gary?
"We're going to follow Gary and see how he gets through this. It's going to run for a good while. He's stuck in the state where different events are triggering flashbacks. He needs to get help but he won't accept any help at the minute. He won't listen to anybody. He's got people who are trying to help him but he's just pushing everybody away. I don't think they're really aware of how seriously ill he is at the moment…"
Coronation Street star Steve Huison is to leave the show, it has been revealed.
The actor, who plays Eddie Windass in the ITV1 soap, will leave the cobbles next year after bosses decided to write him out of the drama.
Huison wrote on Twitter: "To be honest, I'll be glad to get on with things. It's all unreal there anyway. No challenge. I'll miss the money and a few good friends."
He then joked: "Do you know what I'm really looking forward to more than anything else? A right bloody good haircut!"
Speaking to the Daily Star Sunday, Coronation Street's producer Phil Collinson commented: "I've loved watching Steve's portrayal of super-slob Eddie and, with Gary [Windass] still very much part of Coronation Street, I'm sure it's not going to be the last we'll see of Eddie."
A show spokesman added: "The storyline is still being worked out but Steve will leave early next year."
Eddie is expected to leave Weatherfield as part of son Gary's post-traumatic stress storyline.
That's a shame. I like Eddie Windass and he works well with the rest of the Windass familiy.
I didnt like him at the start but since his involvement in Gary's army storyline he has grown on meQuote:
Originally Posted by Dazzle
Yes it took a while for me to take to the family but now I like themQuote:
Originally Posted by Dazzle
Coronation Street's Mikey North has revealed that Gary Windass's recovery from post-traumatic stress will be a "slow process".
Viewers have seen this week's tram crash trigger the disorder as Gary suffered from flashbacks to his recent experiences in the army.
"His recovery is going to be a slow process," North told What's On TV. "He's really quite mentally ill now. It's heavy stuff and we'll follow him as he tries to cope with what he's going through."
North admitted that nothing Gary's parents Anna and Eddie does can help him with the situation.
"Anna is pussyfooting around him, but Eddie is like, 'Get your **** out of bed and get yourself sorted'," he said. "But neither technique is working."
Confirming that he had spoken to real soldiers about their experiences, he added: "One guy told me that two years after he'd been in Afghanistan, a tyre blew in the street and he threw himself behind a wall. It triggered a flashback. Apparently that's quite common with post-traumatic stress disorder."
CORRIE soldier Gary Windass is to be kicked out of the Army in a hard-hitting storyline next year.
Gary (Mikey North) - who has post-traumatic stress after serving in Afghanistan - gets the boot after clobbering a policeman on a drunken night out.
A Corrie source said: "Gary is devastated when he is discharged from the Army. He pleads with his CO but is told they have no option."
The Sun
Coronation Street's Windass family will get involved in plenty of brawls in the new year.
Actress Debbie Rush - who plays loudmouth mother Anna Windass - is hoping the clan get back to their usual argumentative selves in the coming months, as it gives her an opportunity to vent her anger.
She told BANG Showbiz: "I really hope you get to see a few more brawls from the Windass clan. I love the fact that Anna has so many different sides to her personality. She can be funny, but she can also be sad - and she'd certainly knock your head off if you crossed her!
"She lets me vent my anger! That's the good thing about being an actor - you get to do loads of stuff you just wouldn't be allowed to do in real life."
However, Debbie admitted viewers of the ITV1 soap will also see Anna in a different light as she struggles to come to terms with her son Gary's (Mikey North) post-traumatic stress syndrome, which he has been suffering since he returned to the street from serving with the Army in Afghanistan.
She said: "You'll see Anna as a struggling mum trying to cope with what her son is going through. Further down the line, we've got a big surprise coming up and there's going to be a lot of exciting storylines for the Windass family over the next 12 months."