Coronation Street General News Thread

[Perdita]

Coronation Street's explosive 50th anniversary celebrations have been immortalised in a special DVD set, which will be released on February 21.

All six dramatic episodes, which aired last December, including the devastating tram crash shown in the historic live episode and its aftermath will be on the double-disc box set.

There are also extra features on the second disc, which includes a look behind the scenes of the anniversary week, the making of the tram crash and the filming of the live episode on December 9.

A 'Farewell Ashley' tribute, a feature on Ken Barlow (played by William Roache) on his life on the Street and a look at the 50 years of stunts on the ITV soap by Craig Charles (who plays taxicab driver Lloyd Mullaney) are added bonuses.

The tram crash saw the deaths of Weatherfield residents Molly Dobbs (Vicky Binns) and Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold).

There was also an emergency marriage between Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne) and Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson) and Molly's shock revelation to Sally Webster (Sally Dynevor) that husband Kevin (Michael Le Vell) is the father of her baby son Jack.

PA

[alan45]

Look out for lucky Derek on Corrie tonight

Derek Dunn is a very lucky Coronation Street fan. He won a walk-on part in Corrie which will be screened tonight.

Derek beat thousands of entrants in a J W Lees brewery competition to make a guest appearance on the cobbles. Derek’s big moment will be broadcast tonight at 7.30pm.

He said: “I’ll remember my trip to the Street for a long time to come. I’m a huge fan of the show. We weren’t quite sure what to expect, but my wife and I had a terrific day. The cast were wonderful, and during a busy filming session, took time to talk to us and make us feel welcome

[Perdita]

Coronation Street star Alan Halsall was spoken to by police last weekend after he and his friends became involved in a pub bust-up.

Halsall, who plays Tyrone Dobbs in the ITV1 soap, apparently sprayed a can of deodorant at a fellow drinker, causing a "huge row".

Staff at the Boundary Stone pub in Worsley, Greater Manchester called police to the scene and closed the bar early.

A witness told the News of the World: "Alan kept playing jokes on this lad but eventually it backfired. First he took a can of deodorant or aftershave and started spraying it about.

"Then he found a can of cider and was shaking it as if he were going to spray it. There was a huge row. Three or four police cars turned up and I saw officers talking to Alan."

The witness added: "There's always decent banter in there and Alan goes along with it. He's normally pretty quiet although he can be full of himself at times."

[alan45]

Sherrie Hewson has said that she was attacked by one of her male Coronation Street co-stars during her time working on the soap in the 1990s.

The actress, who played Maureen Holdsworth from 1993 to 1997, told The Mirror that the man in question was a well-known member of the cast who targeted her in a frightening incident which took place in the show's canteen.

Speaking to the newspaper, Hewson explained: "This man suddenly jumped up and lunged at me. He started shouting - ranting at me that I had been spreading lies about him. I managed to stutter, 'I haven't, I haven't' - but then he grabbed me round the throat. Before I knew what was happening he had me up against the wall, almost throttling me, and getting hysterical.

"I was terrified. I couldn't move and couldn't have screamed because his hand was round my neck. His face was right up against mine and his eyes were full of hatred. I was starting to panic but at that moment someone else came into the room.

"He heard their footsteps, loosened his grip and then leaned in and kissed me. He made it look as if we were in a lovers' clinch."

Hewson added that the man in question had previously made a move on her at work and always seemed "angry and unpredictable" after she rejected him.

However, discussing the aftermath of the canteen incident, she explained: "After he attacked me, he cooled towards me. I think he realised he'd gone too far but I was still scared if he was anywhere near me. I never said a thing to anyone about it. It might sound strange but it was a different era. I was being harassed behind-the-scenes in the world's most famous soap but I did nothing.

"I know if I'd ever reported it to my bosses at Coronation Street, they would have immediately taken action, but I never said a word. My self-esteem was very low and I thought I'd brought it all on myself. I'm sure they'll be horrified to read about it now because they would never have condoned it."

Hewson is currently promoting her new autobiography Sherrie: Behind The Laughter, which is released on March 3. The book sees her recall other memories from her time at Corrie and speak fondly about working with screen husband Ken Morley, who played Reg.

[Dazzle]

Sherrie Hewson has said that she was attacked by one of her male Coronation Street co-stars during her time working on the soap in the 1990s.

Scary...I wonder who it was who attacked her?

[alan45]

Scary...I wonder who it was who attacked her?

No doubt when she needs a bit more publicity for her book we will be told

[Perdita]

CORRIE star Bill Roache has been Ken Barlow for 50 years - but he only recently went upstairs in the character's house.
Bill, 78, finally saw Ken's bedroom when a replica of the terrace he shares with wife Deirdre was built for a new exhibition.

The actor, who first set foot on the cobbles in 1960, said: "We spend time in the kitchen, sitting room and hall but I'd never been to the bedroom."

The replica will go on display next to a green version complete with solar panels at the Ideal Home Show, which opens in London on March 11.

Bill added: "Maybe it's time Ken became more eco-friendly."


The Sun

[Perdita]

Sherrie Hewson has opened up about her whirlwind romance with Robert Lindsay.

The former Coronation Street star's autobiography is being serialised by The Mirror. In it, the actress admitted that she had fallen "instantly in love" with the My Family actor when they met at drama school.

"In my first year at Rada I went to see the second years in Romeo and Juliet - starring a young Robert Lindsay," she said. "Watching his passionate portrayal I fell instantly in love.

"We met at a party later and talked and laughed all night. He asked me on a date and within weeks we were in love and decided to move in together… in a very shabby flat."

She continued: "We'd been in our little love nest for a year when we decided to get married. I was 20 and Bob was 21 but we thought it was real love and we’d be together for ever. We chose a date and despite her reservations Mum bought me a beautiful wedding dress and outfits for my bridesmaids and pageboy. We chose the venue and guests and I arranged for our banns to be read.

However, Hewson admitted that her happiness was short-lived as she realised Lindsay was not happy.

"I was ecstatic. Bob seemed just as happy but a few weeks before our wedding it all changed," she said. "Bob had graduated from Rada and was beginning his career in a play in Exeter. I went down to visit but started to feel uneasy. A couple of girls he worked with were giving him looks I couldn't mistake and he was very distant towards me.

I became convinced he was playing around. I went home to Mum’s house in Nottingham. I didn't hear from him. As the days passed I realised he wasn't going to get in touch. Mum picked up the signals and then quietly cancelled everything.

"Looking back, Bob was fiercely ambitious," she explained. "He used to say: 'I'll have my name in lights before you do'. So perhaps he felt we'd be competing. Of course I felt sad but deep down I knew we'd just got carried away."

Describing her first encounter with Lindsay after the breakdown of their relationship, she recalled: "I headed back to Rada and didn't see or speak to Bob until 12 years later when I walked into the BBC for a radio play. We said a polite 'hello' but I couldn't resist a little dig. 'By the way,' I called out over my shoulder, 'I sold the dress!' Quite rightly, he lowered his head."

DS

[alan45]

The cast of Coronation Street are lending their support to ‘Join the Girls’ – Cancer Research UK’s first ever mini-musical, which toured the UK this week stopping off at the UK’s most famous cobbles. The musical, to launch Race for Life – the UK’s largest women-only fundraising event - features a full West-End cast, celebrities and women from all over the country who have been touched by cancer, and will be reprised at Race For Life’s flagship Battersea event in May.

Sally Dynevor, Corrie’s Sally Webster, will shortly be shunning her wig in favour of her own natural hair – following a successful series of treatment for breast cancer – and is pictured here with the cast of ‘Join The Girls’ on the famous Weatherfield cobbles. Find out more at www.raceforlife.org

[Perdita]

Shobna Gulati has revealed that she is enjoying the chance to show new sides of her Coronation Street character Sunita Alahan.

The actress told The People that she believes Sunita had grown as a person when she returned to the show in 2009.

Sunita spent three years off screen from 2006 after discovering that husband Dev (Jimmi Harkishin) had been unfaithful, prompting her to file for a divorce.

Discussing her time away from the cobbles, Gulati commented: "Leaving was a huge decision but I just wanted to see what else was out there. I was really worried I would never get another job but I had to take that risk."

She continued: "Leaving gave me a massive confidence boost. It proved to me that I could do other things, which made me more confident as an actress. I'm enjoying myself far more.

"The experiences have made me a better actress. I feel I have more sides I can give Sunita. The old Sunita was a bit daft - the new Sunita is much stronger and that's down to me feeling the same."

Gulati landed a number of theatre roles during her time away from Corrie, as well as parts in Where the Heart Is and New Street Law.