R2OK!

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6792

Loved everything about this drama ..great casting!

When Jessie Wallace turned round in the audition and launched into Elsie's part it was as if Pat Phoenix had walked into the office..terrific performance and Lynda Baron was another one who caught the essence of Ena Sharples beautifully....and unless it was just for dramatic purposes we were told if it wasn't for the tea lady Coronation Street might not have made it to our screens.

A wonderful piece of TV nostalgia ...loved it!

http://www.radiotimes.com/ListingsServlet?event=10&channelId=47&programmeId=131381651&jspLocation=/jsp/prog_details_fullpage.jsp

ColinB · Guest

I have it recorded and we'll probably watch it over the weekend. It's fascinating that Bill Roache's younger son plays a young Ken Barlow, and that the director of this drama was one of Coronation Street's directors way back when....

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6792

And he (William Roache) looks very like his father as does the elder son Linus

suzysu · Joined: 16 Sep 2010 Posts: 5

Soulsister · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 11:03 am Post subject:

Ooh I completely forgot about this. Spent all evening on the Radio 2 board for the last time ... so didn't watch any telly.

I used to love Corrie - haven't watched it for years though, but grew up with Ena, Elsie Tanner and co.

Hopefully it will be up on the iplayer.

ColinB · Guest

Soulsister · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 11:21 am Post subject:

Cheers Col - I'll keep an eye out for it.

Minx · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 12:58 pm Post subject:

We set it to record, but ended up watching it right the way through. A real trip down memory lane for me 'cos I worked at GTV from 1967 to 1977 and went to the 10th anniversary party.

The portrayal of Sidney Bernstein was nowhere near frightening enough though Mr Cecil's was pretty near the mark. Mr Sidney was so horrific to work for that when he came up to Manchester all the secretaries had their names on a rota system to go to work for him. No-one would volunteer. Girls would go off sick just to avoid it. I remember him once looking out his office window and asking his temporary secretary to find out who designed a certain building he could see. When she couldn't he bellowed "well get your coat on and get out there and find out woman."

When it was my turn I just put on the shortest dress I had, with matching knickers, put my hair in pigtails and wore no make up. I nearly always got an easy ride, but you had to be just incompetent enough not to annoy him, but enough to make sure he didn't ask for you every time.

Happy days!
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Minx

To err is human, to forgive - canine.

ColinB · Guest

Minx · Posted: Fri Sep 17, 2010 2:23 pm Post subject:

It doesn't have quite the same effect these days. Laughing

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Minx

To err is human, to forgive - canine.

ColinB · Guest

geminiman · Joined: 14 Sep 2010 Posts: 4

Hi everyone,My first post on here so here goes....
Road to Corrie....brilliant bit of drama,brought back memories of when Corrie was worth watching.Never rated Jessie Wallace before but she captured Pat Phoenix to a tee.I remember as a kid she opened a new Tescos in my home town,she arrived in a Rolls Royce....the lady had class,just ask Len Fairclough...lol

becky sharp · Joined: 01 Dec 2008 Posts: 6792

Soulsister · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 5:46 pm Post subject:

Just finished watching this and have to say what a superb piece of drama from the BBC. Excellent script, superb casting and the attention to detail was astonishing. It really felt as if you were back there. Difficult to single out any one performance but I if I had to choose it would be Lynda Baron's portrayal of Ena Sharples - which was uncanny.

If only there was more drama of this quality on TV, but sadly it's a rare occurrence these days. Ten out of ten!

Soulsister · Posted: Sat Sep 18, 2010 5:54 pm Post subject:

On the subject of the William Roache character, I might be wrong but I think the point they were making was that here was this young actor who clearly thought he was going places. I think that's why the scriptwriter included some of the references to him having a London agent, another cast member said to him 'we are lucky to work with you before you go on to be famous in films' etc. etc. He was young, ambitious and full of himself.

I think it's fair enough for a young, good looking actor to think that he was going to go on to bigger things and that this part was just a job on the way 'it's only 13 episodes' says the character. The irony is of course that he is the only one still in the cast over 50 years later. He's never had another job since, never went on to other parts on TV, film although of course, his sons have.

I'm sure the real life William Roache would have been aware of how he was being portrayed seeing as how his son was playing him, and had no objections.

aviddiva · Posted: Tue Sep 21, 2010 2:30 pm Post subject: The Road To Coronation Street

Celia Imrie as Doris Speed reprised Miss Babs from Acorn Antiques!

Tony Warren as portrayed in the programme was the real-life Ken Barlow in speech and manners, though the actor portraying Warren looked like he should have been in Heaven 17 circa 1983!
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John W · Joined: 07 Dec 2006 Posts: 3367 Location: Warwickshire, UK

Watched a late night repeat and I thought is was fantastic. I used to watch the old black & white episodes as a kid with me mum and dad and remember Elsie Tanner and Ena Sharples and the rest of them.

The portrayals of Elsie, Ena and Mrs Walker were absolutely spot on, Jessie Wallace and Lynda Baron in particular must be immensely proud of their performances.

Mrs W missed it so I'm keen to find out when it's repeated again, I expect the BBC 4 website will tell me.
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John W