True but that wouldnt really be much of a storyline or reason for bringing him back. Personally I think the Armed Robbery storyline is as big a load of excrement as the return of Kate PlankQuote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
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True but that wouldnt really be much of a storyline or reason for bringing him back. Personally I think the Armed Robbery storyline is as big a load of excrement as the return of Kate PlankQuote:
Originally Posted by Perdita
I never understand why they bring back characters, make them interesting and find some way to get rid of them for a long time..like Owen in EE.. I liked him more the 2nd time around and then Lucas killed himQuote:
Originally Posted by alan45
At least Big Jim has a reason to return to The Street. Elizabeth is still there (for now) and his son is there as well as his grandaughter
Great to see Big Jim McDonald back on the cobbles with Elizabeth so it is.
What a pity that some asshole of a scriptwriter whilst obviously having one too many Sauvignon Blancs at lunchtime dreamt up the ridiculous armed robbery storyline.
Probably the same clown who wrote Traceyluvs return to the street
Jim and Liz were under handed last night. I know Liz wants the pub back and Jim will do anything for her. But to stab your son in the back with the brewery. Is not very nice.
here are the first official pictures showing the desperate measures that Coronation Street's Jim McDonald will be driven to as he remains determined to drum up the cash to buy The Rovers.
After exhausting all legal avenues of securing the money and failing to convince Kevin to invest in the pub, Jim heads to the bank with a shotgun hidden in his coat.
After queuing up, Jim threatens the cashier and orders her to hand over a fortune in cash. However, it's not long until his attempt at an armed robbery goes horribly wrong and the police are on the scene.
Back on the street, Liz is eagerly awaiting the opportunity to take over at the business, while Steve and Becky are preparing to do a runner with the kids as soon as Jim hands over the money for the pub. How will the McDonalds react when they discover that Jim has let them all down?
Jim's shocking behaviour paves the way for Liz's exit as Beverley Callard bows out of the role for pastures new.
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GUN-TOTING Jim McDonald is attacked while trying to rob a bank.
The former squaddie launches the daring raid to try to raise the cash to help his ex-wife Liz buy the Rovers Return.
But he does not count on this have-a-go hero who batters him with a chair and tries to wrestle the gun away from him.
Charles Lawson, 51, who plays Jim, said: “He isn’t thinking about that or the consequences. Jim has never been a man who thinks about the consequences of his actions.
“He is hot-headed and a man of actions not words. It has got him into so much trouble before and this is no different but he doesn’t learn his lesson.”
Daily Star
Coronation Street star Charles Lawson has discussed his character's shock armed robbery plotline, admitting that Jim McDonald is a "desperate man" when he tries to steal a fortune.
Tonight's double bill of the Weatherfield soap sees Jim resort to drastic measures as he holds up a bank in a bid to raise the cash he needs to buy the Rovers Return.
However, as the drama unfolds, things start to go wrong when the bank cashier secretly presses a panic button, alerting the police to Jim's crime.
Explaining his alter ego's behaviour, Lawson told Hot TV magazine: "I don't think for a moment he thought, 'Right, one way I could get the pub is to rob the bank'. He is just a desperate man and he can't face telling Liz that he hasn't got the cash to buy the pub for her.
"He isn't thinking about the consequences - Jim has never been a man who thinks about the consequences of his actions. He is hot-heated and a man of actions, not words. It has got him into so much trouble before and this is no different, but he doesn't learn his lesson."
The actor continued: "He isn't thinking straight and it doesn't go to plan, but you'll have to tune in to find out what happens."
Jim's storyline reaches a conclusion this week and also leads to the departure of Liz, as Beverley Callard has decided to bow out from the role.
Lawson added: "It's nice to be able to dip in and out. You never know, it may not be the last you see of Jim and Liz - they both have connections to the street so they could easily turn up again. I have always loved working with Beverley, but we keep in touch away from the show anyway."
DS
Only if we get another stupid storyline like Big Jims last escape from Her Majesty's Pleasure or another silly excuse like Traceyluv's. Then again Charlie Lawson is not as well in as Kate Plank so its highly unlikely.Quote:
Lawson added: "It's nice to be able to dip in and out. You never know, it may not be the last you see of Jim and Liz - they both have connections to the street so they could easily turn up again. I have always loved working with Beverley, but we keep in touch away from the show anyway."
A Northern Irish man walks into bank with a flat cap, a shotgun and says this is a hold up, so it is...
Sounds like the beginning of one of 'those jokes'. Instead it was a line in Coronation Street after Jim McDonald, who is short of cash, decides to rob a building society.
So far so stereotypical, but is it a case of Northern Irish people being given an unfair portrayal or does everyone carry a gun and say "so it is" after every sentence?
I've lived here for over three years and can confirm they don't all carry guns, only say "so it is" some of the time, and have a brilliant sense of humour: so where's the problem?
In the soap, Jim's ex-wife Liz wants to buy the Rovers pub from their son Steve, lacking in funds Jim tries to help with disastrous consequences.
Armed police finally arrest him and he waves good bye to Elizabeth as he heads off to the big house (prison).
Despite being a popular character Jim has had a troubled background in the soap, the ex-army man has a violent past, a hatred of the police and a problem with drinking.
"Catch yourself on"
According to Wikipedia: "The character is noted for his violent nature and his passionate love for Liz McDonald."
Charlie Lawson, who has played Jim McDonald since the character first appeared on the soap in 1989, said it was never meant to be offensive, and the phrases are "a bit of craic".
"Anyone who doesn't see the funny side doesn't have a sense of humour," he said.
"I am very proud of the character and it isn't mocking Northern Ireland at all.
"When I started to play the part it was all written with a Mancunian accent so obviously it had to be changed.
Jim McDonald catch phrases
Alright big lad?
So it is/So I am/So you are
Catch yourself on
What about ya?
Let me tell you sonny-jim
I'm in the big house
Elizabeth!!
"Over the years I would add in a few bits, but now the scriptwriters know how he talks.
"At the start I was often asked did I think Jim painted a bad picture of people from Northern Ireland.
"Back in those days things were very different here and I remember saying 'I think there's a few of our politicians that have given the place more of a bad name than Jim does'."
Charlie, who has played the character on and off for nearly 12 years said he has a soft spot for the loveable rogue.
"He was desperate when he went in to that bank," he said.
"He had the chance to get back with Elizabeth, help her get the Rovers and help Steve, he did it for his family so I have a bit of sympathy for him."
James Claridge, 25, from Leamington Spa is usually a salesman, but after being swept up in the plight of Jim McDonald and his arrest he set up a campaign on facebook.
"I'm not necessarily Corrie's biggest fan but me and my mates have always done Jim's accent and his sayings since we were kids," he said.
On Tuesday he created the facebook page: Free Jim McDonald. He's Innocent, So he is. :cheer::thumbsup:
"I thought it would just be a bit of banter for me and my mates, it's grown to nearly 14,000 followers in 48 hours, it's just madness.
Liz McDonald is comforted by police as Jim is led away after the attempted robbery
"To be honest I think he's the last outlaw of good soap characters, he's got good sayings and he's a bit of a lad.
"I can see why people think it's a bad stereotype and I can't speak for all people in England, but I know people don't see him like that, I think he's probably one of the most liked characters in soap history."
"Jim McDonald is a legend, so he is, and I think that having so many followers in such a short time shows his popularity."
Tim McGarry is a member of the NI comedy group Hole In The Wall Gang, and played "Da", a fictional Sinn Fein spokesman, in the comedy series Give My Head Peace.
The north Belfast actor said: "Of course we still get stereotyped in Northern Ireland but it's only because of our accent."
"Let's face it, we can make a thank you sound like a death threat," he said.
Legend
"I think we should all get involved in freeing Jim McDonald, he only robbed the bank to try and get by.
"We should free him, send him to elocution lessons and get Jim a job on Downtown Abbey.
"In all seriousness, I don't find the phrases or the character offensive in the slightest."
When I spoke to Charlie Lawson I told him about the online campaign and he was genuinely surprised.
"I'm absolutely chuffed, I don't have a computer here so I'll get my wife to have a look," he said.
"The more people that get involved in his cause the better, so it is.
"We might even be able to get Jim some psychiatric help and get him out of the big house.
"Seriously, I'm very flattered and I'll raise a glass to the lot of them in the boozer tonight."
BBC News