The Road to Corrie (BBC4)

It was a terrific show, left me wanting more. It was so well cast. Celia Imrie was the classic Annie Walker, Lynda Baron was perfect as the battleaxe Ena Sharples and, of course, Jessie Wallace was a gorgeous Elsie Tanner. Elsie Tanner was gorgeous, great fun with a lot of heart. It was lovely to see James Roache, Bill Roache's youngest son, play his part as Ken Barlow, so like him.
Fabulous. My only criticism, it ended too quickly.
 
We discussed this a bit in the thread in 'Broadcasting' but might I suggest that the phone ringing in the way it did might be the way it actually did ring in areas which had yet to go on the STD (which in this instance stands for 'subscriber trunk dialling' :D ) system. Back in those days, you couldn't dial direct to many areas - you called the operator for the district and gave the number you wished to be connected to. I had no personal experience of this, but suspect the 'double ring' we are familiar with today might only have come in when the exchange was connected to the STD system. Someone on this thread might well know the answer. Tony Warren was script consultant for this drama, and presumably remembers the way the phone used to ring in his own house.
 
I dont think there has been any negative comments about this. Everyone who watched it really liked it. And I did too. A great show. Pity it wasnt on ITv1 really when im sure it would have followed an 8.30 Corrie episode one evening.
 
Superb production, direction and cast. Jessie Wallace as Elsie was wonderful and Lynda Baron was born to be Ena. If I was the current exec producer of the street I'd sign up Lynda now as the new street busybody.
 
Echo what everyone else has been saying, it was thoroughly enjoyable and who'd have thought Jessie Wallace could convincingly play Pat Phoenix? :eek:

I was one of the many who wondered what on Earth they were thinking when they gave her the role. :o
 
I watched the repeat last night and thoroughly enjoyed it. Where does Jessie Wallace come from? they said they only wanted northern actors and I thought she was a cockney, but her northern accent was spot on,southern actors usually have difficulty and slip up with things like "pat, and batter" instead of "poot and booter" [I'm thinking of Oscar in Heartbeat ]
 
Me too and I will deffo watch it again - so many memories for me.... My parents worked and were friends with Harry Kershaw,,,
 
I think I can almost (almost) forgive Jessie Wallace for all her many past sins, for that bravura performance as Elsie! She should get her agent to find her more roles that AREN'T cockernees, to show that she really can act. She was really excellent - whoddathortit?!!
 
I loved it, such a shame ITV didn't show it, it would of been perfect to show on the 9th of december.. you could of had..

The Road to Corrie
The First Episode
Live Episode
 
I think you're getting a little confused..
Jessie Wallace is from London, but she was playing the Part of Pat Phoenix - who is from Manchester(or there abouts)
Tony Wallace wanted people from the North for Corrie itself(which it got) but this was being acted out, and Jessie can easily do the accent so they hired her, to play the part of Pat.
 
Is it just me or does the bloke with the number 2 haircut & grey shirt/black cardi not look as if he's of the era?

Don't know his name but he looks 'modern' compared to the rest.
 
I am not confused, I well aware they were playing a part, but I was commenting on her accent which was very good and is usually difficult for southern actors, they usually slip up with their vowell sounds.
 
I'm going to nit pick here but two things they didn't get right was 1, the telephones in the office's were too new they were mid to late 1960's & 70's & 2, the interviews for actors in the show were not held in the Granda offices they were held in a nearby hall, hence when asked to her coat off Pat Phoenix said not "bloody likely" as it was cold in there & thats why rightly so she got the job.
 
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