Our blogger Tvor wrote them up yesterday and now we have Phil’s interview in full, especially for those Corrie fans overseas who can’t see these video interviews online.
Goodbye to Betty
Betty’s wake is coming up and there was a wonderful clip shown in the interview showing the moment when Betty’s son Gordon, played by Bill Kenwright, breaks the sad news to Rita, Emily and Dennis that Betty has passed away. Phil said that actor Bill Kenwright returned as Gordon for a week’s worth of episodes. The shock storyline is that documents discovered in Betty’s house clearance shows that Annie Walker left the Rovers Return to Betty in her will. But Betty never took up the bequest and kept it secret. So, who owns the pub now? Phil said it will come as a shock for Stella but will make Betty by rights the longest serving landlady of the Rovers Return.
Sue Johnston joins Corrie
Phil confirmed that ex-Brookside and Royle Family actress, the fab Sue Johnston is joining Coronation Street as Gloria Price, Stella’s mum, Leanne and Eva’s grandma. She’ll be seen on screen in June and starts filming in two weeks time. Gloria will be feisty and comes into Corrie fresh from running a bar in Spain, She’ll be a very glamorous, perma-tanned, terrifying, domineering, overbearing mother. Sounds great!
Rita’s wedding
Rita and Dennis are set to get married on Jubilee Day – Monday 4th June – but there is some question as to whether they will end up wed, or not. Will Rita get to the church on time after she gets kidnapped? Kidnapped? There’ll be a great big extravagant street party to celebrate Jubilee Day with characters dressed up as pop stars from the 60 years of the Queen’s reign. This sounds a lot of fun.
Terry Duckworth’s return
Phil talked a little about the return of Nigel Pivaro as Terry Duckworth. Terry returns when Tommy comes into money from Jeff Horton’s death. Phil said it’s “Thrilling to have him back, he’ll be as bad as ever. “ However, when asked a question from a viewer if Terry’s other son Brad Armstrong would be returning to Corrie. Phil replied: “I didn’t know he had another son!” Really? Oh dear.
Peter and Carla
Phil said there’ll be no happy ever after for this warring couple. He said they were the Burton and Taylor of soap, car-crash television. Carla and Peter (or as we call them on this website, CarPet) will be together for a while, but Phil said there will be no happy ever after for them.
Bill Roache retiring?
Another viewer questioned a rumour that Bill Roache wanted to retire. Phil said he couldn’t ever see this happening.
Watch the interview online here.
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