Coronation Street

Where’s the Ena, Elsie, Hilda, Bet, Vera? Strong, distinctive northern women.
Eileen and Rita are the exceptions but the rest are generic, bland or ‘ham’ northern

They seem so reluctant to move things on though, it seems to based on stereotypes and traditions if I'm honest. The Factory is shut, but we all know it will come back. Norris and Rita back in the Kabin, David and Sarah still living with their mother. Where is the development? Its been going round and round in circles for years, and nothing will change.

Im enjoying the 1986 episodes more than the current episodes of Corrie by a long way. In 1986 even scenes about something silly like Derek and Mavis and the stationery order were comedy gold because of the characters, performances and writing. You could have scenes about anything and it would be entertaining and comical. There were big storylines back then like what is going on with Brian and Gail, but it all seemed a much better balance then than it is in modern day Corrie. Now Corrie has become just another soap and has lost what made it so special and superior to the other soaps.

Corrie has definitely taken a step back in quality IMO since the 6th episodes was introduced. I think it was a mistake to have yet another double episode. None of the current storylines are very exciting especially Phelan and Billy's storylines, a shame as it really was quite good earlier in the year.

For what it's worth, these are my thoughts.

Firstly, the scheduling. We all know that six episodes a week is too much and reduces the quality. But realistically, that is never going to change. ITV is a commercial business and whilst it's still the most popular soap, they're going to insist on more of it. Moving the second Wednesday to a Sunday I think would help. It would provide more time to spread storylines across a week, rather than the long, dramatic Wetherfield days with a nonsense cliffhanger half-way through. It'd also be quite nice for the characters to have a weekend.

On to more editorial matters and I agree there is a lack of commitment with many of the storylines. Liz is back behind the bar, Rita and Norris are back in the Kabin and the factory I'm sure will be reopened shortly by Carla Connor and everyone will return to their jobs. Izzy seems to have got over the death of her sister quickly and Chesney's PTSD didn't last long, did it? This means you never take any of the storylines seriously. I think it would have been great to see Rita in a different setting following her scare, or perhaps we could see Carla running a different business when she returns. The sad death of Anne Kirkbride could have really seen some change of Tracey Barlow (the less said about her and Steve the better). Of course, there are stories that have had long-lasting consequences (Steve and Michelle for one) but there are far too many over-egged tales that are forgotten the next week, so you end up not caring.

Then there are the characters. I'm not sure I agree it's lost it's northern-ness. You can see the northern lass come out in Sally, Leanne, Beth and Liz, amongst others, but of course you can never have too many! My problem is there are now many characters who, if they were to be killed off tomorrow, you wouldn't miss them. The whole Alya, Luke and Kate group, Jonny Connor, the Webster sisters, Jude and family, Dev and the kids, Chesney, Cathy, even Maria: would anyone really miss them? A lot of them have very little depth, or their past is quickly forgotten, so it's difficult to empathise and enjoy any of their stories. It's not as if they can't bring in new characters that work - I enjoy Gemma for example - but a good ol' purge wouldn't do the show any harm. Can anyone hear a tram?

Don't get me wrong, I still enjoy Coronation Street and there have been some good storylines of late, such as Bethany's grooming and Steve's double-baby. I haven't minded the Phelan storyline than much (at least the Andy reveal was dramatic and unexpected) but now I do find myself flicking through my iPad whilst watching it. I'm not gripped like I used to be, which is a shame. I hope the still-relatively-new producer can work some magic and get it back to being the fantastic soap it used to be.

All soaps are based in an unrealistic bubble in settings that don't exist in real life, but it's what viewers want, they don't like change, and if there is change it eventually gets put back as viewers presumably make their feelings known. There was no way Rita was going to do anything but run the Kabin, and Liz was obviously going to end up back behind the bar, the comedy of her working in the medical centre was never going to be long term.

The Phelan story was good but has now run on to long and hat was the whole point of bringing Andy back? Like said above, we can already see Carla coming back to sort out underworld.

On a production side of things, I think it's time we got some new titles as these were done at Quay Street? and also still think Roy's Rolls could do with a revamp it's a bit of a dive now. Also what has happened to the tiny community centre? she always seems to be working at Roys Rolls now. Plus like you said about some story lines having no ending, Dev said he was buying the chippy the other week and we have not seen anymore on this.

It was a complete waste of time bringing Andy back only to kill him off a few months later.

I remember someone posting about product placement and co-op shopping bags appearing a few weeks ago. Well in one of todays ITV3 episodes, Susan Barlow was seen with co-op carrier bags!

I have watched the programme since the 1960s. In my view Coronation Street has become a grotesque pantomime with increasingly unbelievable characters and storylines. It has definitely lost its way....and a lot of its humanity.

First Sally, now Gail's started shopping at the Co-op. At this rate Freshco's is going to go out of business.

Maybe the Co-op has taken over Freshco's?

Susan Barlow was seen with Co-Op shopping bags in a recent ITV3 episode so obviously been a Co-Op store in the area for quite some time! It shouldnt be long before we see the Bettabuys era with Reg Holdsworth, Curly and Vera.

The programme is going too far with too many scenes of unpleasant nature. I am one for drama as well as comedy but the way the programme is going; it should be an after 9PM Programme on most occasions.