Michelle Collins and John Michie join as Stella and Karl

[alan45]

I like both the Stella and Karl characters. Unfortunately for the actors, I think they're too closely associated with former roles. I truly hope they're given a fair chance, and that internet keyboard warriors, and let's not forget there are plenty of people out there who aren't keyboard warriors, don't succeed in persuading the producers to axe the characters.

You are entitled to your opinion just as the so called ''internet keyboard warriors'' Personally speaking I cant stand Stella or Karl. They do not work as characters IMHO and there was no need to even introduce them into Corrie. Michelle Collins was employed because she is a big name, not because she is a great actor and certainly not because of her ability too speak with a Mancunian accent. I hope the producers do take note of the ''internet keyboard warriors'' although I doubt it. After all these were the same producers who brought back Traceyluv with a ridiculous storyline

[lizann]

I like both the Stella and Karl characters. Unfortunately for the actors, I think they're too closely associated with former roles. I truly hope they're given a fair chance, and that internet keyboard warriors, and let's not forget there are plenty of people out there who aren't keyboard warriors, don't succeed in persuading the producers to axe the characters.

I dont mind Stella on her own

Michelle Collins is a decent actress - I liked her in Sunburn and Rock Rivals I dont really remember her much in EE

[alan45]

She has been slammed for her ‘awful’ Mancunian accent and plummeting ratings have left viewers questioning Michelle Collins’s future on the cobbles uncertain.
But a spokesperson for Coronation Street has told MailOnline that the soap is not going to axe Michelle's character Stella Price.
The actress, 50, who joined Coronation Street just last month, will find her character Stella Price clinging for life after being hit by drunk driver Carla Connor.
ITV bosses have written her into car crash storyline to try and increase viewing figures
It has been reported that the plot will allow bosses to kill off Michelle's character if ratings do not improve, but a spokesperson for the show denies the claims.
In a statement released today a spokesperson said: 'The channel is delighted with audience reaction to Stella's arrival on Coronation Street and with the storylines planned in the coming months.
'Michelle Collins is a valued member of the Corrie cast and we have fantastic storylines ahead for her character well into next year.'
London- born Michelle, 50, debuted on the show last month, but has faced criticism for her northern accent and ratings have dropped since her arrival on the show.
As well as the dramatic crash storyline Michelle is set to be written into more scenes with popular characters like Leanne Battersby, played by Jane Danson and Carla Connor, played by Alison King.

Audience figures had plummeted from 10.4million at the end of May down to 7.4million just last week.
Following criticism of Michelle’s role Corrie chief Phil Collinson defended her and said: ‘I think her accent is great.’
‘I think the thing is people will just get used to it.’
But the Coronation Street boss has come under fire himself for making the show ‘too gay’.
Cast and crew have questioned why producer Phil Collinson, who took the helm last year, has brought in so many gay characters.
Meanwhile a spokesperson for the show said: 'ITV are extremely pleased with the work of Phil Collinson and his production team.'
Actors and viewers have also criticised the move away from the show's roots, depicting the gritty reality of life in a typical working class street in Manchester, and replacing it with black comedy.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz...#ixzz1RpTU9NP2

[Katy]

im still not a fan, andi think it is the accent. She really bugs me. Also after the wholeLeanne thing i know it is fiction but i have horrible thought that stella would have to have slept with Les!

[alan45]

Corrie producer Phil Collinson has spoken out following recent press speculation about Coronation Street.

Here Phil gives his take on the casting of actress Michelle Collins, reveals accurate ratings for the show and gives us a taste of what’s coming up on the cobbles!

Phil has given his full backing to Michelle and explains how she was cast in the role of Stella Price. He says: “We interviewed lots of actresses for the role and screen tested 6 and we (Phil and senior execs at ITV), believed Michelle’s performance was the best. We are delighted with Michelle and her performance and hope that she will stay with us for a long time. Michelle is a well-respected actress and we’re lucky and pleased to have her as part of the cast.”

The producer says he is “baffled” by some negative comments about southerner Michelle’s northern accent in the soap. He says: “I’m a northerner myself. I was born and bred up here and I think her accent is great! Michelle has worked hard with a voice specialist and she’s doing an excellent job.”

Phil is certain that once Stella and her family have settled in on screen, they will become more popular with audiences and critics.

“When the McDonalds first joined the show there were calls for them to leave immediately. When the Battersbys arrived, a newspaper’s poll showed 97 per cent of people wanted them to leave. Leanne has gone on to become one of the most-loved characters in the show. It always takes time. I am convinced audiences will take both Stella and Karl to their hearts. “

Coronation Street continues to be the UK’s most popular serial drama, with a year-to-date average audience of 9.8 million viewers (39 per cent audience share) up 1.3 per cent on the same period in 2010. Corrie’s viewing figures are currently up 8 per cent since Stella arrived on screen, compared to the same four week period in 2010. In light of this information and additional research, Phil stresses there is no ratings crisis.

He says: “The ratings are healthy and the audience feedback is healthy. The show has never been better. Other genres are seeing audiences fall, but our audience is actually greater. The show is in rude health and forging along with some brilliant, brilliant stories.”

Referring to an article in a national newspaper about the number of gay and lesbian characters in Coronation Street, Phil states that only four characters out of 65 are homosexual and they were all established long before he joined the production team last year. Sean Tully arrived on the cobbles in 2003, Marcus Dent appeared for the first time in 2007, Sophie Webster has featured since her birth in 1994 and Sian Powers first appeared in 2009.

“Sean and Sophie have consistently been among the most popular characters,” he says. “The character of Sophie has actually risen in popularity since she came out as a lesbian. Viewers are appreciating her storyline and enjoying it. We tell stories about characters audiences want to see.”

“Audiences are continuing to watch Corrie. We have a wonderful summer and autumn coming up. There are big stories for Carla and Eileen and there’s a new lady in Tyrone’s life. Corrie hasn’t changed and it won’t change.”

[alan45]

Coronation Street producer Phil Collinson and actress Michelle Collins have responded to tabloid reports that the show has suffered in the ratings recently.

An ex newspaper suggested that viewing figures had fallen by a quarter in just a month, with blame focused on a poor reception for Collins and viewers' unhappiness with the number of gay characters on the soap.

Collinson confirmed that he and Collins had asked to appear on ITV1's daytime magazine show This Morning in order to "answer back" the "inaccurate and disingenuous" claims.

Collins - who made her debut as Stella Price last month - explained: "I'm the sort of person... I'm quite dignified, so I was thinking, ' No, just sit back and it'll all go away'. But it hasn't gone away."

On criticism of her accent, Collins admitted that it was "not my choice" to do a northern accent in the role.

"I'm an actor. I was in a soap 15 years ago, and I've done lots of other jobs in between where I've had accents as well," she said. "To me, it was embarking on a new role.

"I'm not even sure that's many of the public. I think it's a few tabloid journalists that have picked up on something and then it escalates. It's very mischievous, I think they like to cause... they're just being mischievous, to be honest with you."

Collinson described Collins's accent as "brilliant", insisting that the soap "wouldn't want to" have her drop it.

"Just to robustly say, we are really happy with Michelle's performance," he said. "I think we're really happy with the character. We've got storylines planned for this new family right through next year."

Collins admitted that she is "bewildered" by the various claims, but added that she knew it would take time for the character to be accepted.

"I haven't even be on air for four weeks. It's like, hold on a minute. Jane Danson was telling me that when the Battersbys went in, there was a petition to get rid of them," she said. "When the Slaters went in [to EastEnders], I remember telling John Yorke, 'I don't like them. They're never going to work'. About five years later, he said to me: 'What did you say to me?' People just have to let you breathe. People are [not] used to me. I'm just sort of bewildered."

She continued: "I'm a big girl and I'm tough. What annoys me is that I'm quite bewildered by it. What annoys me is that most of the things they are saying are untrue. Coronation Street has made me very welcome and people among the cast haven't complained."

However, Collins did confirm that reports of a storyline which will see Stella knocked down by a drunk Carla Connor are true.

"Storylines are storylined six months in advance. So, whoever played Stella would have been involved in this storyline," she said. "It's not because they are trying to win viewers over. The public aren't silly."


Collinson also dismissed tabloid claims that Coronation Street's ratings have fallen dramatically, telling hosts Phillip Schofield and Jenni Falconer that the high figure mentioned had come from an instalment aired during the week of 9pm episodes scheduled between Britain's Got Talent shows. The lower rated episode was one which aired directly against an Andy Murray Wimbledon game.

"They took those two ratings," he explained. "It's a bit mischievous really. In actual fact, if we compare the ratings for the last four-week period with the same period for last year, we are actually around 5 or 6% up.

"There is absolutely no crisis at Coronation Street. The ratings are in brilliant shape. ITV are very pleased with the way the show is performing."

Finally, the producer took on complaints that the Manchester serial is too focused on gay characters.

Collinson said: "We have a very broad cast; 65 regulars and two gay couples. In the research that we do, Hayley, Sean and Sophie are among the most popular characters. They're right up there among the most popular characters in the show.

"Of course we are going to tell stories about our most popular characters. The audience want us to tell stories about these characters. There is no gay agenda. There is no soapbox. We are telling stories about love."

Collins concluded: "It's 2011 and we're talking about too many gay characters on TV? Come on people, this is crazy."

[tammyy2j]

For me it is that the gay characters are not really likeable look at EE and Emmerdale both Syed & Christian and Aaron & Jackson are likeable and had a great build up and storyline and of course the actors involved can act whereas the likes of Sean, Sian and Sophie are bloody awful

I dont think the ratings slump can all be down to Michelle Collins and her character Stella to be fair to her there is far worse characters and actors on the show

I think the reveal of her as Leanne's real mother came out too soon

[Dazzle]

I do feel sorry for Michelle Collins with all the criticism of Stella. If a character doesn't work, it's the fault of the people who cast her, not the actor's. Still, I think Michelle is an ok actor, and that Stella will improve and grow on people.

As tammy says above, some of the worst actors in Corrie are Sean, Sophie and Sian - they're far worse than Michelle Collins.

[tammyy2j]

The accent can be fazed out and I think Jane and Michelle (Leanne and Stella) could pull of some great acting scenes between them given time and good storylines

Leanne is the best character on the show for me

[alan45]

I dont think the ratings slump can all be down to Michelle Collins and her character Stella to be fair to her there is far worse characters and actors on the show

The rot started before Michelle arrived. It started with a plethora of crap storylines almost too many to mention. Joe and Gail, AAudrey and the Trannie, the return of Tracyluv, the xin, tina Graeme love triangle, Sean getting the baby and boyfriend back, the Becky/Steve split up and of course yet another murderer on the street not just any murderer but a multiple murderer.