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Nick Tilsley returns to Corrie
19 June 2003
Nick Tilsley is reportedly set to return to Coronation Street to be reunited with hairdresser Maria Sutherland.

The character, played by Adam Rickitt, left the ITV1 soap in 1999. But he will briefly return next month from Canada to rekindle the romance. Nick made a brief return last year for the wedding of screen mum Gail - and within hours had slept with Maria, played by Samia Ghadie.

According to The Sun , his sister's boyfriend Todd - played by Bruno Langley - will also reveal he is attracted to Nick as he begins to question his sexuality.

Will Emma stay or will she go?
18 June 2003
The turmoil in the Watts family continues as Emma and Curly battle to save their marriage. Their relationship has been heading for the rocks ever since Emma, played by Angela Lonsdale, was implicated in framing Les Battersby, much to Curly's disgust.

Curly, played by Kevin Kennedy, is in a reflective mood as he heads for his 40th birthday. He is upset that he has been left to celebrate his birthday alone. But Emma has secretly arranged a thrash at the Rovers as a surprise. Curly is delighted to see the lengths she has gone to and it looks as though the couple are starting to get closer until Emma drops her birthday bombshell - she intends to move to Newcastle taking son Ben with her!

Things go from bad to worse when a row between the two of them results in Emma asking for a divorce. In an effort to patch things up Curly offers to leave Weatherfield behind and go to Newcastle with her and Ben, but is put out when Emma fails to contact him. He feels he has put the ball fairly and squarely in her court in his bid to give their marriage another chance but she still hasn't given him a reply.

Kevin and Martin manage to get the estranged couple talking and Curly and Emma have a heart to heart. Emma is pleased when, for the first time, Curly concedes that she might have been right in framing Les. It seems as though the couple are finally on the verge of sorting things out - can they save their marriage?

Shell shocked
17 June 2003 by Brian Roberts
THESE are the explosive scenes after Corrie loverat Peter Barlow walks up the aisle with a beautiful bride ... for the second time in a year.

The bigamist bookie leaves himself facing seven years in jail after marrying Rovers landlady Shelley Unwin, just months after saying "I do" to florist Lucy Richards. Coronation Street bosses filmed several smoke-screen scenes yesterday in a bid to keep the outcome of the long- running plot shrouded in mystery.

Unsuspecting bride Shelley - played by Sally Lindsay - is given a dream wedding day as she emerges from church to scorching sunshine and the congratulations of her neighbours. Lucy - actress Katy Carmichael - happens to be strolling past the church with her and Peter's newborn baby and tells a passer- by: "I'm just here to see the bride in her lovely dress." But at that moment she notices the groom in his top hat and tails is none other than her estranged husband Peter - played by Chris Gascoyne.

The shocked young mum had been convinced his relationship with Shelley was over and that his other wedding plans were cancelled before he tied the knot with her. It is there that soap fans will be left guessing.

In one version Lucy is too stunned to act and the couple leave her festering while they go on honeymoon. But other tug-of-love scenes spied yesterday show Shelley's big day wrecked as Lucy has a furious showdown with cheat Peter. After the blistering argument, devastated Shelley runs off in floods of tears. For months she has remained blissfully unaware of the extent of her hubby-to-be's deception. She only knows of a casual fling with an unknown woman - which her mum Bev manages to prise from Peter's best man, Ciaron McCarthy - but writes it off as a moment of madness. But she knows nothing about Lucy, their marriage or their child.

Last night a Street insider said: "This is a huge storyline that has been brewing for several months. The wedding promises to have plenty of twists and turns. "The cast had a fabulous day filming the scenes and we were fortunate that the weather was gorgeous and sunny." Street regulars Ken Barlow - played by Bill Roache - Fred Elliot (John Savident), Deirdre Rachid (Anne Kirkbride), Karen Macdonald (Suranne Jones) and Maria Sutherland (Samia Ghadie) are all present at the cliffhanger wedding.

Shelley looks the part in a gold and ivory detailed basque-style dress and elegant gold tiara. Her bridesmaids - looking stunning in gold and white - are corner shop girl Sunita (Shobna Gulati) and Street minx Tracey Preston, Peter's scheming stepsister. Former florist's assistant Tracey is the only character who knows the full extent of Peter's betrayal, having been present at both weddings, but has amazingly managed to keep quiet.

Street's Curly to be a father again
17 June 2003
Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy is "absolutely delighted" after learning he is to be a father for the second time.

The actor, who is set to leave the soap later this year after 21 years as Curly Watts, announced that his wife Clare was expecting their baby in the New Year. Kennedy, 41, said: "It is wonderful news. We are absolutely delighted."

It will be the couple's first child since they married seven years ago. Kennedy has a 16-year-old son, Ryan, from his first marriage.

A spokeswoman for Coronation Street said today that everyone at the show was "thrilled" for them. "We're all very pleased for them and wish them all the best. We know it is something they both wanted."

From babysitter to babe!
15 June 2003
Julia Howarth simply screams with joy. "I can't believe it! I feel like a million dollars," yells the 23-year-old actress. "I have never looked this good in my life. I feel like I have just stepped out of a Hollywood set!"

The Burnley-born Coronation Street star is one of the latest recruits to Weatherfield, playing Joshua's nanny who ends up doing more than babysitting for dad Ashley. But the character - Claire Casey - is not exactly glamorous, so Julia's delighted with the star treatment we've given her today. "I don't dress, or make myself up anything like my character Claire. I'm a much funkier dresser and I wear loads more make-up than she does. "I usually dash home after filming and can't wait to put some lippy and mascara on," she says.

Though Julia has shot to what looks like overnight fame in Corrie, she has been performing since she was 14, appearing in dramas like The Grand, Peak Practice and Merseybeat, as Jenny Oulton. "That character, Jenny, was miles away from my new persona, Claire. She did drugs and slept around and was a really bad girl," she says.

But Julia admits she was still not fully prepared for the huge impact that appearing on Britain's most famous soap would bring. "Honestly, I'm being treated like royalty. I've done some acting work that I'm really proud of, but nobody blinked an eyelid. "But after I first appeared on Corrie, the phone didn't stop ringing with people saying well done! You'd have thought I'd won the Lottery or something."

Julia loves the glamorous look we gave her for this makeover, and says she's a fashion addict herself - thanks to her mum. "I get most of my dress sense from my mum, Valerie. I really love taking her shopping, because she always gives me an honest answer when I'm trying something on. "She actually helped me pick my outfit for my first audition for Coronation Street. It was a funky top and jeans with a studded belt. But I realised as I read the script that I was dressed nothing like the character of Claire. So when I got a second audition I went for a sensible top and looked much more the part." And the first thing she did when Julia landed her plum role was treat Mum to a white gold bracelet. "Mum's very elegant and it looks great on her."

Camilla's Corrie fix hits Charles
15 June 2003 by Mike Merritt
CAMILLA Parker Bowles has got Prince Charles hooked on her favourite soap opera - Coronation Street.

She has been a long-time lover of the Manchester-based soap. But royal insiders say the prince is now sharing the sofa as she laps up the latest instalment. Camilla - who has been with Prince Charles during his stay in Scotland this week - is fanatical about the long-running soap, which is also said to be a favourite of the Queen. The couple are about to move into Clarence House, the Queen Mother's old London home, after a revamp that has involved £4.5million of public money.

Leading royal author Ingrid Seward said: "Camilla likes flopping in front of the telly. Charles does not like television, so I can't imagine he'd even watched a soap before. "But he is devoted to Camilla and puts up with it." Another insider said Charles had accepted his lover's passion for the drama of the Street. He said: "It is a bit ironic. Camilla loves Coronation Street and so does the Queen. Things have improved between them and Camilla is seen as `one of the family' in all but name. "So maybe she and Her Majesty talk about the last episode. Who knows?"

The prince has had a walk-on role in the soap. In December 2000, he appeared to celebrate the Street's 40th anniversary. He filmed a short scene with actress Sue Nicholls, who plays councillor Audrey Roberts during an "official visit" to Weatherfield. And racy barmaid Liz McDonald told him: "Originally, I ran away with a younger man, so you had better watch out - there's always room for an older one."

Eileen Grimshaw is Corrie's new pin-up
8 June 2003
AND nobody is more surprised than actress SUE CLEAVER.

She says: "When Eileen first joined she was a battle-axe. But she's become attractive to men because of her soft centre. Some letters I get are quite saucy."

Corrie star often mistaken as real-life policewoman
REAL-LIFE policemen often mistake Corrie star ANGELA LONSDALE for a proper copper.

Angela, who plays corrupt WPC Emma Watts, says: ""They come over and say 'Look, I know the face, but what nick was it?' I always say Weatherfield. They walk away, do four paces and then ask 'Where's Weatherfield?' "

Tipsy star's dud money
SKINT Coronation Street mum Eileen Grimshaw went on a real-life spree with DUD money.

Eileen - actress Sue Cleaver - was given fake notes for her son's toy cash till after making a film with Harry Enfield about counterfeit cash. But she accidentally pulled the wad out of her handbag to buy champagne on a night out with pals at a club. After realising her mistake, hungover Sue rang the club to confess and paid her bill. "I was terrified - I feared I'd go to jail," she said.

Hello blossom!
BLOOMING 'eck! Ex-florist Tracy Barlow is cultivating a new look - with a rose tattoo on her bottom!

The petals were clearly visible as Tracy - stunning KATE FORD, 25 - filmed hear the Granada studios. Of course, the Corrie temptress is no stranger to controversy. Since arriving back on the Street, she has bedded her mum's ex Dev - and set her sights on her GRAN'S "millionaire" fancy man Wally Bannister. Now Steve McDonald is to get the Tracy treatment. She's certainly no wallflower...

TV Chris to play a pervert
13 June 2003 by Nicola Methven
ACTOR Chris Bisson is to star as a paedophile in a series about a dysfunctional family.

Bisson, a contestant on I'm a Celebrity....Get Me Out of Here!, plays a married father-of-two who has an affair with a boy of 15. It is the first big role for Bisson, 28, since he quit his role as Coronation Street taxi driver Vikram Desai last summer.

The eight-part Channel 4 series, called Shameless, is the work of State of Play writer Paul Abbott. It follows the lives of the Gallagher family on a Manchester estate. Ian Gallagher is actively gay and has a relationship with Bisson's character Kash, a Muslim who runs a mini-mart. A source said: "Despite the controversy surrounding this particular storyline, the series promises to be one of the funniest on TV for years." The Gallaghers are headed by dad Frank, an alcoholic bully. Mum has run off and the five children are being brought up by big sister Fiona, 21.

Not so racey Tracy
12 June 2003
CORRIE star Kate Ford looks like she's taking fashion tips from a Street legend of the past. Kate, who plays gold-digger Tracy Barlow, looked a bit like old star Ena Sharples, right, when she was spotted wearing a hairnet on the set of the soap yesterday. Maybe Tracy's trying to make herself look older to snare another rich pensioner now her fling with conman Wally is over.

Tracy comes a cropper
12 June 2003
Coronations Street sex kitten, Tracy Preston, played by gorgeous Kate Ford, really gets the cold shoulder this week after a drink-fuelled bet that goes disastrously wrong.

Never one to shirk a challenge, especially when it comes to men, unscrupulous Tracy enters into a drunken wager with barmaid Shelley Unwin's bossy mum, Bev. The rather unlikely subject of the bet turns out to be wimpy cafe boss, Roy Cropper, played by David Neilson, who Tracy has bet she can bed with a mere flutter of her eyelashes and a flash of her self-proclaimed considerable assets.

It all starts when tearaway Tracy corners an unsuspecting Roy in the Rovers as he is memorising the Highway Code for his forthcoming driving test. With her hand on his knee, Tracy purrs that if she got the opportunity to get him alone in a car she'd love things to get hot and steamy between them. Later she offers her services as a driving instructor so that he can get some real hands-on experience - of her!

Sparks really fly when Tracy 'loses' her earring in the Rovers and when Roy gallantly finds it for her she jumps at the chance to show her gratitude by a giving him a huge kiss and forcing him to accept a thank you drink. Horrified Hayley, who has already been alerted to Tracy's hot pursuit of her beloved husband Roy, bursts into the Rovers to find the pair huddled in a corner together. Too wrapped up in her callous prank to notice, Tracey doesn't see Hayley storm to the bar and demand an ice bucket under the pretence of needing to cool down her 'warm' pineapple juice.

Of course, the contents of the bucket end up on a very shocked Tracy's head as Hayley rants at the top of her voice that Tracy is just jealous of her and Roy's undying love for one another. Dripping wet and humiliated it seems that scheming Tracey finally gets caught out - until the next time.

Curly, this is your strife
11 June 2003 by Brian Roberts
SACKED Coronation Street star Kevin Kennedy is to be given one of the most memorable screen send-offs ever. His character Curly Watts will bow out with an emotional This Is Your Life-style knees-up in the Rovers.

Bosses believe the scenes will soften the blow for 41-year-old Kevin, who admitted he was stunned last month at being axed after 20 years in the soap. He is now said to be "chuffed to bits" his key appearances will be remembered in such a sensitive way.

Early next month viewers will see Curly walk in on a surprise 40th birthday party for him in the pub. The Rovers will be packed with his old friends, including adopted mum and dad Jack and Vera Duckworth (Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn), who will all take turns to take Curly on a trip down Memory Lane.

A source said: "Viewers, particularly the older ones, will love it. They'll be reminded of all the good times Curly's had, and some of the bad times. He's been through an enormous amount over the years. It will be a touching and memorable tribute to Curly and Kevin was delighted at the plans." Curly will be reminded of the houses he has lived in on the street, who he shared them with and his many romances.

His character will leave Weatherfield for Newcastle with police officer wife Emma (Angela Lonsdale) as she joins a new force.

Temperatures soar sky-high for TV's Naomi
10 June 2003
CURVY Naomi Ryan looks every inch the sexy star as she turns up at a glitzy film premiere.

The actress, who played a sex-mad air stewardess in TV's Mile High, was at a London cinema to see 2 Fast 2 Furious last night.

The 24-year-old, who also had a role as knicker factory girl Bobbi Lewis in Coronation Street, has been courted by a string of Hollywood stars, including Kevin Spacey. And no wonder ...

Queen Vic's top TV pub
10 June 2003
TELEVISION viewers have voted the Queen Vic the best screen pub. The Vic's Alfie Moon, played by Shane Richie, above, was named the greatest TV barman.

Coronation Street's Bet Lynch, actress Julie Goodyear, was voted best barmaid in the Blackthorn Cider survey.

Only Fools and Horses star Del Boy Trotter, played by David Jason, was the TV character most people would like to meet in their local.

Sunita's Double Trouble
9 June 2003

Firstly, the love of her life for as long as we can all remember, Dev Alahan, stuns her with a shock marriage proposal and the promise that he has changed his womanising ways for good on his return from a so called 'spiritual' trip to India. However, after suffering such painful rejection last Christmas when Sunita, played by Shobna Gulati, confessed her undying love to Dev and he told her in no uncertain terms that there was no chance for them, Sunita is more than a little wary of his advances - and rightly so given his shady past! Hopeless romantic Sunita demands that Dev prove his newly-found love for her once and for all and she adopts a surprisingly assertive attitude when she spurns his heartfelt offer of a romantic break for two. Like any red-blooded male, Dev loves Sunita's new play-hard-to-get approach and it merely serves to encourage him to chase her harder for a definite answer to his proposal as he wines and dines her to within an inch of her life.

As is this isn't enough for a rather confused Sunita to deal with, at the very moment that Dev goes down on one knee in a second attempt to win her hand, there is an ominous knock at the front door. Jaws drop in amazement as her old-flame, Ciaran McCarthy, saunters in, oblivious to the deadly-serious romantic scene that he has just accidentally interrupted. Sunita really fell for sexy Irish charmer Ciaran a couple of months ago but she was convinced that she'd lost him for good when he left the Street - the timing of his kiss-and-make up return is incredible and Sunita is now faced with two suitors vying for her hand which makes a welcome change!

As love rivals Ciaran and Dev battle it out for their dream woman Sunita can finally sit back and make the choice in her own time. May the best man win!

Tracy Shaw on claims over anorexia and marriage
9 June 2003 by Alexandra Williams
TRACY SHAW admitted last night: "I need help." The 29-year-old actress is to see an £80 an hour psychiatrist to help her conquer her loneliness and depression.

The former Coronation Street star told the Daily Mirror: "I'm just totally stressed out. "I have booked in to see a psychiatrist this week. She is the same one who helped me when I was anorexic eight years ago."

Tracy, flew home from holiday in Spain after her dad Karl spoke of his fears about her drinking. He said: "She's losing touch with reality. If she carries on this way it will kill her." Tracy hit back: "I'm not anorexic and I'm not a big drinker." She said she was "devastated" at claims that husband Robert Ashworth, 31, had a three-month affair with assistant Samantha Crothers. Tracy, who was not wearing her engagement or wedding rings, said: "I love him to bits." But she added: "I'm just not sure what the future holds."

The actress, who today begins her week of private counselling with a woman psychiatrist, said: "I need to speak to someone - but I have no friends because everyone I think is a friend spills the beans on me." She spoke out after her dad Karl revealed his fears about her drinking, saying: "She's losing touch with reality. If she carries on this way it will kill her." And our sister paper the Sunday Mirror revealed that her TV producer husband Robert Ashworth struck up a relationship with personal assistant Samantha Crothers when the couple's marriage ran into trouble earlier this year.

Former Coronation Street star Tracy, 29, flew back from a holiday with friends in Spain minus her wedding and engagement rings - and days after being pictured with bruises on her legs. She said of the allegations: "I've wept about them. I have been really stressed and a wreck. "I have booked in to see a psychiatrist this week. She is the same one who helped me when I was anorexic eight years ago. I am going to live in her house for a week. I need to sort myself out. "I am not a normal person who can just go and talk to Joe Bloggs down the street. I need someone who's properly trained. This woman has got me through a lot. She's very expensive but I need her to keep me sane because my life is not as perfect as some people might think."

Dad Karl, 49, said earlier: "She's living on three bottles of wine and a packet of crisps a day. I'm worried that if my daughter carries on drinking and living this way it will kill her." But friends on holiday with Tracy in Marbella said the claims were "absolute rubbish". And Tracy said: "I'm not anorexic and I'm not a big drinker."

Tracy said she was "devastated" by the allegations that husband Robert, 31, had a three-month affair with Samantha. South African born Samantha, 28, has said the relationship fizzled out after three months because he was so desperate to save his marriage. Tracy said he called her from the US, where he is working, a few days before the story broke. She said: "He was in floods of tears saying he wanted to see me. I thought he really wanted me back but little did I know that he knew the story was about to come out. "I spoke to him today and asked him if he could deny it. He said no. I was very calm. I thought, 'Come on Tracy, you can sort this out'." Robert promised her he had not slept with Samantha and that he was desperate to speak to Tracy "face to face".

Tracy said she was not prepared to split from him but her work commitments mean she is away from home for months. She revealed that they have not had a physical relationship "for months and months" but stressed: "I love him to bits. He's beautiful and gorgeous. He's lovely. "But I never thought he would have an affair. "It's always the same story. Every man cheats on me - they always do. "I'm an actress and I can't stay in one place. I'm not prepared to give it all up but realise that if I want kids then I'll have to one day. "Robert's desperate for them. I had tests after my anorexia to see if I could have kids and I'm fine. We did try as soon as we got married but with no luck."

The couple, who live in Manchester, are due to meet this week. Their two-year marriage has been on the rocks virtually from the start. They went to see her psychiatrist last year but it did not help their problems. A friend said: "It is a very difficult time for both of them. There is still a chance that they could get back together."

Tracy headed for the sun after going on tour in stage play The Blue Room, in which she appeared naked with co-star Jason Connery. She said her bruised legs - revealed in publicity pictures of her in skimpy shorts for Kwik Save supermarket - were really caused by her demanding role. "Everyone made a fuss about the bruises but they were the result of being thrown about the stage. "It's a very physical play and Jason's a big guy. It's all about sex.

She said Robert resented her role and became jealous so they stopped talking for a few weeks. She last saw him two weeks ago when she went home to get some holiday clothes. She described the encounter as "just amicable". They have not spent any time together since Christmas when they holidayed in Egypt. She said her engagement and wedding rings were in the safe at home because they were too valuable to take to Spain.

Tracy also hit back at dad Karl. She said: "I am a daddy's girl but it's all going pear shaped at the moment. "I am spending a lot of time with my mum. He does love me and care about me but lately I haven't spoken to him much. "If he was genuinely concerned about me he would tell me straight to my face, not run off to the papers. "I have been drinking a bit too much but I can sort that out. "This holiday has been really good for me - very chilled. Just videos and dinners, no partying. And as for my eating, well ask anyone I saw in Spain and they'll tell you I ate loads and loads."

Friend Zara Reid, who chauffeured Tracy around Malaga, said: "She eats what I leave as well as her own meal. "Tracy eats more than anyone else. If I leave any food after an evening meal Tracy is at it like a wolf. She's fine. "She weighs more than me and we are the same height - 5ft 10ins."

Tracy joined Coronation Street when she was 22 and left after seven years when her character Maxine was killed off. When she was 21 she claims anorexia caused her to be admitted to a mental hospital. She said: "Counselling helped me get through and it helped me again when I was coping with press interest in my private life while I was in the Street. "The counselling has made me much more grown up and stronger. "I went to a great counsellor, two hours a day. I had to make myself. It was tough. I'd be crying every time. But slowly, over a year, it changed. I'd go in feeling depressed and come out feeling strong. "Gradually she helped me learn to eat. Hand on heart, she saved my life. Without counselling, I would have been anorexic for the rest of my life." Because of her battle she founded the Tracy Shaw Foundation to try to help sufferers battle the disease.

Street's date rape shock
8 June 2003
CORONATION Street is to feature a controversial date-rape plot as its latest hard- hitting storyline.

The shocking storyline unfolds at Shelley Unwin's (Sally Lindsay) hen night. The blonde barmaid attracts the attention of a sleazebag who attempts to spike her drink with Rohypnol. The Street will also have its first gay character after student Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley) struggles with his sexuality.

Tracy's killing herself
8 June 2003 by Billy Paterson
TROUBLED TV star Tracy Shaw is drinking herself into oblivion and surviving on a diet of crisps, says her worried dad.

Karl Shaw admitted last night he fears that Tracy, 29, is on a downward spiral that will lead to the return of the anorexia she suffered as a teenager. He is worried that her bingeing lifestyle will kill the glamorous star, who played hairdresser Maxine Peacock in Coronation Street. Karl said: "She's living on three bottles of wine a day and a pack of Walker's crisps. "She's been drinking more excessively and the problem with Tracy is that this induces a state where she losses touch with reality. "I'm worried that if she carries on living her life this way it will kill her."

According to Karl, 48, when he saw Tracy recently he was horrified by her appearance. He said: "She looks like she's aged 15 years. "I know she will claim she's absolutely fine but it is an attempt to deflect attention from the truth. She's in denial. "When Tracy first had anorexia she went down to about five or six stone. "She's not there yet but she's losing weight and what concerns me is she now has a combination of the drink and the eating disorder. "The worrying thing is that she is drinking to get through the day or to get through some crisis in her life and there have been enough of those in the past few months."

Earlier this year, Tracy's marriage to TV producer Robert Ashworth, 31, broke up. But Karl has also caused emotional upheaval for the blonde beauty. In 1998, Tracy was devastated when her mum Ann walked out of the family home after discovering that Karl had fathered a secret child by his mistress.

Tracy left Coronation Street earlier this year when Maxine Peacock was murdered by serial killer Richard Hillman. She then reinvented herself as a stage actress starring in the play The Blue Room in which she appeared nude. But signs that all was not well with Tracy were apparent when she was photographed last week looking dishevelled and bruised.

Karl believes the answer to his daughter's troubles lies in the rekindling of her marriage. He said: "There are a few clear things for Tracy to sort out. "She needs to start counselling for her anorexia and then keep it up. "She needs to sort her marriage out with Rob - one way or another. "They were trying for children but Tracy needs to find out if that's medically possible with her history of anorexia."

In April it was reported that after she had been drinking Tracy launched a foul- mouthed tirade on her husband and kicked and spat at him. But if a reconciliation with Robert is to be the answer to Tracy's troubles, then it may not be out of the question. According to Samantha Crothers, 25, who claims to have had a three-month relationship with Ashworth, he dumped her because he is still in love with Tracy.

It breaks my heart, but he loves Tracy
8 June 2003 by Suzanne Kerins And James Weatherup
TRACY SHAW'S devastated husband had a romance with a blonde to get over his marriage heartache.

TV producer Robert Ashworth struck up a relationship with personal assistant Samantha Crothers after his marriage ran into trouble earlier this year. But Samantha claimed that he dumped her after just three months because he was still in love with former Coronation Street actress Tracy. South African-born Samantha, 25, who last spoke to Robert over a week ago, revealed how he had broken her heart. She told how she was convinced that Robert would soon be reconciled with his wife. "Robert and I got very, very close and I cared for him deeply," she said. "I had just come out of a relationship myself and I could understand where Robert was coming from. "He was in a relationship where things were just not working out. I could see Robert's side completely."

Robert, 31, sent Samantha text messages and emails after meeting her at a party shortly after it became public that his marriage was on the rocks. The party was thrown by media director Steve Cooper, who is close friends with Robert and Tracy. Tracy, 29, did not go to the party at Cooper's house in Chorlton, Manchester, in February. At the time, the couple's marriage was under strain as she spent weeks away from home starring in the raunchy stage play, The Blue Room.

Samantha was just getting over the break-up of a relationship with an executive at Everton Football Club. Talking of how romance blossomed, a friend of Samantha's said: "They even discussed moving in together. Robert was very keen on Sam. He told her he loved her." Samantha, who works for a graphic design company in Manchester, said Tracy and Robert were just "two human beings who were very lost and confused". Their relationship fizzled out when Robert said he wanted to try to patch up his marriage. The friend said: "They went their separate ways three weeks ago and Samantha was very upset."

Samantha said: "Robert has just cut me out completely. It's been a very stressful time for me over the past three weeks. Things have taken a turn with our relationship. I haven't heard from him. "He sent me an email over a week ago but I've not heard from him since. Obviously he's not telling me what's going on. So I'm not involved as he doesn't see me as important in the whole scheme of things."

Last month Tracy was reported to have moved her belongings from the couple's home in Prestwich, Manchester, and it seemed the marriage was over. It was believed Tracy and Robert were trying to mend their relationship. A close friend of the couple said: "There is still dialogue going on between Robert and Tracy. Tracy has been speaking to Robert on the phone and they are trying to work through their problems. There is still a chance that they can make a go of it. "There is light at the end of the tunnel and they want to try and get their love back again." Samantha said: "I suspect they are getting back together because I haven't heard from Robert."

Our revelations about their marriage come just 10 days after the actress was pictured looking gaunt and bruised in a publicity shot. She was seen with marks on her legs as she was snapped in a trolley at a Kwik Save store in Barking, Essex. Friends feared for the former anorexic's health after seeing the worrying photos splashed across newspapers. Tracy's agent Peter Charlesworth ruled out spiteful rumours that Robert may have caused the bruises. "If anybody tried to beat up anybody in that marriage, it would be Tracy beating up Robert," he joked. "She's very tough."

Speculation has mounted that Tracy and Robert - whose glitzy wedding in 2001 was featured in OK! magazine - have split up. Last month Tracy, who quit her £95,000-a-year soap role as hairdresser Maxine in a row over money last September, hit out at her husband, saying: "Robert hasn't worked for months. "All he does is sit around smoking the occasional spliff. I want him to be the man I married."

And the Sunday Mirror revealed that Tracy was being helped through her marriage troubles by handsome computer expert Ashley Poundall, 30. The pair were seen enjoying an intimate meal after Tracy spent a week performing her sexy role in The Blue Room at London's Richmond Theatre. Friends said Tracy - voted sexiest woman on TV on several occasions - dashed off stage to share giggly phone calls with Ashley.

Tracy's stage role, in which she stripped naked, was blamed for putting a strain on the marriage. In March, eight weeks into the play, the couple removed their wedding rings. Tracy's former friend Clare McGlinn, who played doctor's wife Charlie Ramsden in Coronation Street, voiced her fears about the marriage after she witnessed one blazing row between the couple. She said Tracy was drinking too much and constantly worried that her husband was cheating on her when they were apart. In April, Claire claimed her friend acted like an "uncaged animal" as she drunkenly attacked Robert. Clare, 34, said: "I saw it all. She even spat in his face. He was nearly in tears. What she called him was disgusting. I told him, 'You're a battered husband'."

Earlier rows included a mid-air bust-up as the couple returned from a holiday in January last year. Tracy was seen slapping Robert six or seven times in the face. The actress, a former cocaine user, blamed champagne she had been drinking and her attempts to give up smoking. Last night Robert was working in Los Angeles and Tracy was on holiday in Puerto Banus in Spain. Neither were available for comment. When the Sunday Mirror approached Robert earlier and asked him about his romance with Sam, he replied: "Sam who?" He then admitted he knew her but insisted it was not a personal relationship. He added: "It's rubbish mate."

Corrie me daddy
8 June 2003
CORONATION Street star Sean Wilson makes sure daughter Maisie is looking head and shoulders above the rest. Sean, who plays male nurse Martin Platt, gave his little girl a taste of the high life during a trip out to the shops.

The happy family scene in Manchester is streets away from Sean's latest plotline - he's been dubbed the dirty old man of Weatherfield for having a fling with teenage tearaway Katy Nelson. In real life, 38-year-old Sean is happily married to Gaynor and is a loving dad to Maisie, three, and five-year-old Callum. But the talented actor can obviously Corrie off any role... and he's more than delighted to shoulder all his family responsibilities.

Booth to star in EastEnders
8 June 2003
TONY BLAIR'S father-in-law is to star in EastEnders as a boozy tramp who befriends Alfie Moon (Shane Richie). Tony Booth, 69, is most famous as Alf Garnett's "Scouse Git" son-in-law in the sitcom Till Death Do Us Part.

Booth was "delighted" last night at winning the minor role - his first TV part in years.

The former alcoholic left Cherie's mother when Cherie was nine. He later wed Coronation Street's Pat Phoenix.

Tina talks men
8 June 2003
She's not yet out of her teens, but Tina O'Brien has seen a lot of life - on the TV screen at least. As Coronation Street's Sarah Platt, she's become a schoolgirl mum, met an internet pervert, recovered from a joy-ride induced coma and escaped the murderous clutches of her evil stepfather. And this week there's no let-up for her character, as she dumps screen boyfriend Todd Grimshaw because of fears that she and daughter Bethany will hold him back when he starts student life at Oxford University.

It will be the beginning of an emotional roller-coaster for Sarah and Todd - and the scenes will have an extra intensity because her on-screen love Todd is played by real-life boyfriend Bruno Langley. The couple have been together for two years, but Tina, 19, prefers to remain rather tight-lipped about their relationship. "It's going fine with Bruno," she says. "We get on really well, but I don't really want to talk about it because we work together. If we started talking openly about our relationship it would end up like part of the job. At the end of the day we go home and not many people know about us."

One thing Tina does want to set straight, though, is the persistent rumour that they live together. "We don't," she states simply. "That is a big thing to say about a couple." In fact, Tina has bought a house conveniently near to the Granada TV Studios in Manchester and Bruno, 20, shares a flat nearby with Ryan Thomas, 18, who plays his screen brother, Jason.

Although Tina won't give much away about Bruno, she does admit she can't help fancying bad boys. "I'm in love with Colin Farrell," she says with a huge sigh. "He's gorgeous because he's a bad boy. It's all about his attitude - he looks like he doesn't give a damn about anything. "In interviews he's always sitting back and looking really cheeky and - I don't know why, because I know he's the wrong type of man - but that's exactly what draws me towards him."

So what would she say to the Phone Booth star if she met him on the red carpet? "I probably wouldn't even say anything, I couldn't say anything. I wouldn't flirt with him because I can't flirt with guys that I like," she says. "I just can't speak - I'm terrible."

But the Irish charmer isn't the first film star who's caught Tina's eye. Titanic star Leonardo DiCaprio was an early influence on her acting career. "Leonardo was my first crush when I was about 12. I used to dream that one day I would be in a film with him. I think your first major famous crush stays with you through life."

She may joke about her favourite film hunks, but Tina has been quite a hit with the male population, too. In fact she was voted in the top five Soap's All-Time Sexiest Babes in a People readers' poll, joining the likes of Martine McCutcheon and Holly Valance. But the diminutive actress says: "It's very flattering that people think that I look nice. But then it's amazing what make-up, hair-styling and good lighting can do!" Ever since she appeared on a calendar for the lads' magazine Loaded, Tina has had plenty of attention, but swears that fans would be disappointed with her in the flesh. "Recently I was shopping when a guy came up clutching his Loaded calendar and asked me to sign it," she reveals. "I really blushed because on the picture I looked so nice, while that day my hair was greasy and I had no make-up on. I thought, `Oh my God - he's never going to believe anything he sees in a magazine again'," she laughs. "I really enjoyed posing for the calendar, but I don't feel that I'm a naturally sexy person - I only feel sexy when I'm wearing those sort of clothes, not when I'm in my normal combat pants."

Her fresh-faced schoolgirl beauty has also attracted some slightly stranger attention. Some fans have even taken to sending her unusual gifts to show their appreciation - and offering to go on dates with her. "One bloke sent me a CD of whale and dolphin music because he'd read that I was having trouble sleeping. I thought that was quite sweet so I replied to say thank you and sent him a signed photo. "But someone else sent me a letter saying `meet me at two o'clock on Saturday, I'll leave my front door open'. Needless to say, I never wrote back to him! But on the whole people send me really nice letters."

At other times she's received bunches of roses from admirers, and one besotted fan even rushed out of a hairdressing salon - still in his plastic gown and rubber highlighting cap - to get her autograph. It's all a long way from her school days in the Hulme area of Manchester where she grew up. And her success on Corrie has put some distance between Tina and some of her school friends. "I can count on one hand the people I still see from school. People's lives just go in different directions and unless you go to college and university together you really don't keep in contact."

She admits that she would have liked to take her A-levels before taking the Coronation Street role, which came along when she was just 16. But, according to Tina, finally sitting those exams is just one of her plans for the future. "There are loads of things I want to do, including going travelling and maybe trying some dangerous sports, like skydiving. But that would have to wait until I left the show and I'm quite happy here at the moment. I get great story lines and I'm really enjoying myself."

Corrie's Naomi 'to star in British Sex and The City'
5 June 2003
Former Coronation Street actress Naomi Ryan is reported to have landed a part in the British version of Sex And The City. Ryan, who shot to fame as factory girl Bobbi Lewis in the ITV soap, will play a struggling English soap actress who desperately wants to make it big in Hollywood. She starts filming the show, Denial, with Rachel Hunter, later this month.

Their co-stars include Frances Barber and Emily Lloyd as party queen Stella and 'ducker and diver' Jerry. Hunter plays a socialite called Georgia.

TV networks are already involved in a bidding war to sign the series, says The Sun .

Suranne hits right notes
4 June 2003
Coronation Street's Suranne Jones hit all the right notes at her screen-lover's leaving do. Now she is being given the chance to shine in a celebrity special of Stars In Their Eyes.

Suranne, who plays Karen McDonald, belted out a stunning version of the Carly Simon classic Nobody Does it Better at Jonathan Wrather's James Bond-themed farewell bash. Jonathan, whose character Joe Carter is being axed from the soap, was astounded by Suranne's powerful performance.

The Daily Star reports that Suranne has been asked to step in at the last minute to the Stars In Their Eyes special after fellow Corrie star Tina O'Brien, who plays Sarah-Louise Platt, was forced to pull out. Suranne will tell host Matthew Kelly: "Tonight Matthew I am going to be Catherine Zeta-Jones." She'll sing All That Jazz from the musical Chicago.

Corrie star: My brave decision to come out
4 June 2003 by Richard Barber
WHEN her autobiography was published at the end of last year, Amanda Barrie was terrified of the reaction her startling revelations might provoke. She knew the secret that had been hanging over her 15-year career as Alma Halliwell in Coronation Street would finally be out in the open.

But she needn't have worried. The bulging postbag which followed the publication of Life's Not A Rehearsal didn't contain one letter of criticism. Instead, her many admirers were full of praise for the bravery she showed in admitting she is more attracted to women than men. "The truth is," she says, "I'd been living a lie. And it became a kind of insult to keep pretending I was something I wasn't. That's why I used to give so few interviews. I didn't want to keep adding to the lies."

And now she no longer has to hide behind a facade, Amanda, who's currently starring in the prison drama Bad Girls, has been able to reveal that she's fallen in love. "She's 67 - although she looks years younger - so it's a bonus at my age," she says of her partner.

The soap star was in torment for many years about telling the world the true nature of her sexuality. "Part of the reason was because I was in Coronation Street. It's a family show that goes out early evening," she explains. "And I lived and worked with the same small group of people. I'm not saying they would have disapproved of me if I told the world I preferred women. But I didn't feel I could cope with it if they did."

It was an incident near her Covent Garden flat that proved to be the turning point. "I was chased down the street one evening by a journalist wanting to ask me personal questions. "I told him that if he wouldn't do that to his own grandmother, then he shouldn't do it to me. "But when I arrived home he appeared again and started trying to talk to the person I was with. At that point, a passing taxi driver asked if I was all right. When I said 'no' he told me to get in his cab and lie on the floor. "I thought, 'What on earth am I doing at my age lying on the floor of a black cab to escape some prying journalist?' It was plain ridiculous. "I decided then and there that I'd write my autobiography."

It was a task she found surprisingly easy. She says: "I forgot any thoughts of what people might think. I was only interested in one thing - telling the truth." The resulting book proved to be both a revelation and liberation. "I'm as happy now as I've ever been," says Amanda. "I hadn't realised how unhappy I'd been - something that was brought home more acutely as soon as the truth was out. I'd been so vulnerable. Stories were forever being leaked to the press about actors in the Street."

And some of them, it seems, came from an insider on the soap. "I'm not going to reveal the source but I'd love the culprit to be caught because it's still happening today. It makes everyone's life a nightmare. "I used to warn each newcomer to be careful of this particular person - especially if there was an aspect of their private lives which might upset their mums and dads."

Amanda had also heard a rumour that somebody else was going to write a book about her, revealing her lesbian affairs. "It was all getting really tacky," she says. "I know it was stupid to have been so afraid of what people might say if the truth came out. But I was truly terrified. "At one point I even contemplated swallowing a load of pills. I was like a frightened animal. But the incident in Covent Garden changed all that. And if writing my story meant some people stopped talking to me, so be it. It took a tremendous weight off."

After it was published she was delighted when she didn't receive a single hate letter. "The book sparked an enormous postbag and all of it complimentary," she says. "I do think it's a relief to know that you're not the only person in the world with the same feelings about your sexuality."

The 68-year-old is every bit as frank and funny face-to-face as she is in print. And when we meet in a bar round the corner from her central London flat, she's full of enthusiasm about her new role in Bad Girls. She and Stephanie Beacham play Bev and Phyl, a couple of Costa Brava conwomen nicked for selling shares in non-existent golf courses. "I was enchanted that anyone who'd seen me wobbling around the Street all those years should ask me to do anything else," she says.

But then she's never been out of work in more than half a century in the business. She first made her mark as a dancer before moving into Carry On films. That was followed by her 15-year stint in Corrie. But she remains refreshingly dismissive of her lasting success. "I've been a household name for many years now - but so has Ajax. And I'm not Barbara Windsor. She's an icon. I'm just familiar."

Her autobiography also lifted the lid on the stand she took against Granada bosses over what she saw as irresponsible inaccuracies in Alma's most poignant storyline. "I didn't like the way my character was written out but I didn't mind being killed off. I was ready to leave," she explains. "But what I objected to was the powers that be getting the facts wrong about Alma's illness. "For instance, she got the results of her biopsy the same day it was done and that simply wouldn't happen. "One of the worst things about thinking you may have cancer is waiting for those results."

But despite locking horns over the plot, she did all she could to portray Alma's condition as truthfully as possible. "I was very conscious of not faking pain," she says. "I didn't feel I had the right. How dare I when there were people out there going through it for real?" And judging by the public reaction, Amanda's performance was spot-on. "I was walking through Birmingham after I'd left the Street and this lad ran up to me and clung on to my arm. "His mum had died of cancer the previous year and he wanted to tell me that Alma's death had stopped him feeling frightened about what had happened to her. "That was the biggest compliment."

So does she still keep up with all the goings-on in Weatherfield? "I never watched it while I was in it but now I wouldn't miss an episode," she explains. "I like to see what's happening to Helen Worth and Sue Nicholls. Oh, and Eileen Derbyshire. I adore her. She's someone who's made me laugh - by mistake or on purpose - almost more than anyone I know." She's also incredibly fond the Street's longest-serving resident, Bill Roache. "For all the mockery of him, he's an extraordinary man. "He still plays sport, still rides horses, still parachutes out of planes. He's a dear friend."

But it was the younger members of the cast who gave Amanda the strength to tell the world she's gay. "The kids were great. They have a different attitude to sex. They've got far fewer prejudices. "Older people suffer from a sort of Victorian hangover. But if you go back to the Georgians, they couldn't have cared less how many people were sharing the same bed."

And judging by Amanda's past it's a sentiment she can relate to. When she was married to actor Robin Hunter more than 30 years ago, she moved in a girlfriend who she refers to as Sally and all three shared the same bed. "I think the attitude was that if you wanted to join in, you joined in - whoever you were," she recalls. "There's a bit more variety if there are three of you and one's a man. But it's ridiculous to talk about lesbian romps. In all my life I've never romped with anyone. "You don't talk about a romp if it's a man and a woman. So why apply it to two people of the same sex? And as I was doing eight shows in the theatre each week, I was far more concerned about getting a good night's sleep. "I was the one crushed in the middle with a Yorkshire terrier on the pillow above my head. "And if we weren't 'romping', my husband would make me recite the Grand National winners in reverse order until we all went to sleep. "I know it must sound extraordinary to the outside world but it never seemed so to me. We were a very happy little unit. It was never dull. "We had immense fun. But you grow in different directions. In time, it ran its course."

But she and Robin have never divorced. "I've never been good at paperwork," she explains." There have been a handful of female relationships since she and Robin went their separate ways, but now it appears that she's found the love of her life. "Falling in love again has been a bonus," she says, but she refuses to elaborate about her lover, a former journalist who now writes novels. "It's all very well talking about me but it's not all very well for me to talk about somebody else," she says. "I was absolutely crippled by people gossiping about my private life and I won't do it about somebody else."

She's happy to talk about her work, though. Now that she's completed this series of Bad Girls, she's filming some episodes of BBC1's lunchtime drama, Doctors. "It's so nice to be asked," she says. "Well, it's the same as sex, isn't it? I've always thought that it's rude to say no."

New life of Brian
4 June 2003
MARRIED life seems to be agreeing with actor Brian Capron, judging by the former Coronation Street star's smiling face as he strolled along the beach yesterday. Capron, who played Corrie killer Tricky Dicky, wed Jacqueline Bucknell earlier this week in the Welsh village of Portmeirion. And the picturesque setting was a million miles away from the grimy streets of Weatherfield.

Thug Joe turns on Karen
3 June 2003
Domestic violence rears its ugly head when the knicker factory scam reaches its climax in Coronation Street - and pretty Karen McDonald is on the end of it.

Evil Joe Carter, played by Jonathan Wrather, is cock-a-hoop that his scheme to bleed Underworld white has brought Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs) to his knees. He and Karen (Suranne Jones) have convinced Mike that Naveen is responsible for a robbery that has crippled the firm. All they have to do now is sit tight and wait for the company to go under before they can start living the high life.

But at Joe's moment of triumph it all goes horribly wrong and the thug turns violent and beats up his live-in girlfriend Karen in a frenzied assault. Mike rumbles that a bogus company has been set up to syphon funds from Underworld's account and he confronts Karen who is forced to come clean. When Joe learns Karen has confessed all he turns on her delivering a vicious beating.

Mike could call the police, but is simply too embarrassed to admit he has been conned. Instead he orders Joe to clear off never to return to Weatherfield and sacks Karen.

Groom star's a Prisoner of love
3 June 2003
CORONATION Street's Tricky Dicky got hitched yesterday. Actor Brian Capron, who played serial killer Richard Hillman, walked up the aisle at Portmeirion village - where cult TV show The Prisoner was filmed. Coronation Street stars were among the guests in the Welsh village as the 55- year-old married partner Jacqueline Bucknall, 41. The couple share a home in Hove, Sussex, with their six-year-old son Louis. Fans eager to catch a glimpse of the star were kept at bay by security guards, and it emerged the couple had sold the pictures to a magazine.

More than 200 guests were treated to spectacular views from the whitewashed Portmeirion Hotel. Jazz music was piped around the village. Among the well-wishers were Michael Le Vell, who plays Kevin Webster in the soap, and Bruce Jones, who plays Les Battersby. After the ceremony, guests ran on to the beach below the hotel to write "Jac loves Brian" on the sand.

The Italian-style village near Portmaddog was the location for The Prisoner - a 60s drama about a man trapped in a surreal world. Architect Clough William-Ellis began work on Portmeirion in 1926. It took him until 1976 to complete the project. Recently, the final scenes of ITV drama Cold Feet were filmed in the village. Lead character Rachel's ashes were scattered into the Dwyryd Estuary.

Court on camera
2 June 2003 by Malcolm Balen
The stakes couldn't have been higher. In the dock, a defendant accused of assault. In the witness box, the alleged victim of the attack, a policeman with a fractured eye socket. To the jury, the evidence looked convincing. But nothing was as it seemed.

The truth was that two officers on patrol had stopped a taxi for going through a red light. By chance, it turned out that the policeman was living with the driver's estranged wife and they couldn't stand each other. Sharp words were exchanged and the PC lost control, punching the defendant and kicking him on the ground. Only then did he take stock of what he'd done, realising, too late, that he'd placed his entire career in jeopardy after nearly 20 years in the force. He put pressure on his colleague, a sergeant, to back him up, rather than lose his job. Reluctantly, she agreed to concoct a story that the driver had started it.

So far, so dramatic, especially for the television audience which was watching - because, unusually, cameras were in court. And that's what it was, of course - a drama, the climax of a long-running storyline in Coronation Street, starring its resident troublemaker, Les Battersby.

In court, things went from bad to worse for Les. The prosecution counsel was allowed to question him about his previous convictions, forcing the admission that he had been convicted of assault. "You can't do that!" shouted Les, when his murky past was dredged up. "Oh yes he can!" retorted the judge. With a sad inevitability, Les went to jail. In real life, of course, Les would be right. Ordinarily, jurors would not be told about a defendant's record in case it coloured their judgment of the evidence placed before them. Only if the judge agreed to a prosecution application, which would take place without the jury present, might a defendant's past be mentioned.

"Shoddy work," complained a solicitors' association. "Not properly researched. A judicial joke." But is it? Do soaps have an obligation to inform and educate their audiences, as well as to entertain? "It's drama first and foremost" is the scriptwriters' bemused reaction to claims that, in this instance, they lost the plot. They have to fight to capture millions of viewers in the key television battleground of the evening schedule. That means they claim dramatic licence in the interests of their audience. It's more forceful to end Les Battersby's case with the prosecution's summing up, rather than giving the defence the last word, as real court procedure dictates. And it would clearly only trouble the legal eagles in the audience that the defence witnesses were called in the wrong order.

The real problem is not that Coronation Street got it wrong, but that no one else has a chance to get it right. Its court case is a rare glimpse into a closed world for television viewers who have no opportunity to see a British court in action on their screens. Every day our news journalists labour under the legal restrictions placed upon them when they report court cases. It's difficult to do what Coronation Street does - to engage an audience when the viewers are excluded from so much of the legal process. In television news, all we can show are arrival shots and stills and an artist's drawings of the personalities in court, and only then if identification is not an issue.

Last year, ITV News brought an inventive new look to its court coverage, for which it won a Royal Television Society award. It produced highly realistic computerised images of court number one at the Old Bailey for the trial of Paul Burrell, the former butler of the Princess of Wales, accused of stealing her possessions. But ITN's success is also a reflection of how far away we are from getting cameras into court, despite successful experiments. It's more than a decade since Scotland tried out cameras in civil and criminal hearings to record a BBC documentary series, and the Lockerbie bombers' appeal was broadcast live from Camp Zeist, a specially convened Scottish court sitting in the Netherlands. But the lord president still holds the view that court cases shouldn't be televised.

At Westminster, the lord chancellor, Lord Irvine, is said to be examining the possibility of putting cameras into appeal hearings, where there are no juries, not for broadcast purposes but to see whether the equipment disrupts the work of the courtroom. But don't hold your breath. He was thinking about it two years ago and his office says that no decision is imminent. In the meantime, give or take a documentary reconstruction or the coverage of a foreign trial, we have to rely on fictional courts for a televisual glimpse into the workings of the law. Is it fair to ask dramatists to take the prime responsibility for educating the audience by bringing to the screen an accurate representation of the judicial system?

Then again, it could be that Coronation Street is simply preparing us for the next twist in the story - that Les has clear grounds for appeal.

Get thee to a nunery Tracy
2 June 2003
Former Coronation Street favourite Tracy Shaw will surely feel at home in her latest role. The actress who famously played murder victim Maxine Peacock has secured a role as Ophelia - the tragic heroine in Shakespeare's Hamlet.

It is Tracy's second big stage part since leaving the Street and her first crack at a Shakespeare classic. She has wowed West End audiences with her part in The Blue Room, in which she appears naked. She proved herself a real trouper when she continued with the performances despite the breakdown of her 23-month marriage to TV producer Robert Ashworth.

Ophelia too had more than her fair share of tragedy. She drowns after being rejected by her love, Hamlet the Prince of Denmark, with the cruel put down: "Get thee to a nunnery.". Tracy takes on the part in a series of open-air performances in London, Birmingham and Manchester later this summer.  

Bruno's gay away day
2 June 2003
GAY fans of Coronation Street pin-up Bruno Langley flocked to a cancer charity fundraiser yesterday. They clamoured for autographs as Bruno, 19, appeared at the Marie Curie event in Inverurie, Aberdeenshire.

Bruno, the soap's Todd Grimshaw, is set to dump girlfriend Sarah Platt for a man in a new storyline. An event organiser said: "It was not just girls who turned out in force."

Bond ambition
1 June 2003
CORONATION STREET star JONATHAN WRATHER must fancy himself as the next 007. His leaving party from the soap was a James Bond- themed bash. Was it a hint to movie producers that with Pierce Brosnan quitting, there's another tall, dark and handsome actor ready to don his tuxedo?

Jonathan's sexy Street co-star SURANNE JONES also got 'em shaken and stirred singing the Bond song Nobody Does It Better at the party in Bar Barca in Manchester.

But oh oh dear, TINA O'BRIEN! She looked like M's frumpy secretary Miss Moneypenny. And Steve McDonald star SIMON GREGSON had to make do with his fingers instead of a golden gun.

Fred's easy to spot
CORRIE landlord Fred Elliott must be pulling someone's leg as well as his pints. Actor JOHN SAVIDENT, who as Fred is still trying to help screen son Ashley over the death of Maxine, has obviously got a blind spot when it comes to fashion. The 64-year-old dotty soap star was pictured during a break from the show carrying a bag of clothes and smoking a cigarette.

One onlooker said: "John likes to keep up to date with fashion but he's made a big mistake with this one. "Everyone gasped because no-one could believe what he looked like. Bless him for trying, but he ought to get rid of the polka dots. It's a fashion disaster."

Nikki Sanderson
SO is NIKKI SANDERSON, who plays Corrie teenager Candice, too good to be true? Nikki says: "Fame will never change me, I'll always be the girl-next-door. I would never use my celebrity to get something and I'd never refuse an autograph. If the public didn't like me I wouldn't have a job."

Jenni McAlpine
CORRIE star JENNI McALPINE has an odd taste in blokes off-screen as well as on. Jenni, who plays Fizz, has the hots for monkey man Liam Gallagher! She raves: "Liam would be my dream date, he's drop-dead gorgeous. I love everything about him, even his walk turns me on."

Suranne does it better
1 June 2003
Corrie actress Suranne Jones made sure she gave co-star Jonathan Wrather a send-off to remember. She belted out Carly Simon 's Bond hit Nobody Does It Better for Jonathan at his star-studded leaving bash. Suranne, who plays lingerie factory girl Karen McDonald, stole the show in a stylish black dress at the 007-themed party in a bar in Manchester. Jonny didn't look too bad either in a tuxedo.

Suranne, 24, and Jonathan - Underworld boss Joe Carter - became close friends after filming the red-hot love triangle storyline. And Jonathan has been a shoulder to cry on as Suranne gets over the break-up of her engagement to computer programmer Jim Phelan .

But love was in the air for Samia Ghadie , who plays naughty Rovers barmaid Maria Sutherland. She gave her new boyfriend, property developer Matthew Smith , a first-time outing.

The black & blue room
29 May 2003 by Calum Macdonald
FORMER Coronation Street star Tracy Shaw has been left bruised and battered by her raunchy stage performance in The Blue Room.

The 29-year-old revealed shocking dark bruises on her side, legs and arms at a food store promotion yesterday. But it was revealed that the actress, who played hairdresser Maxine Peacock in Corrie, has a blood disorder which means she bruises like a peach.

Tracy is nearing the end of a 16-week tour of the steamy play, in which she appears naked with Sean Connery's son Jason. The 10 scenes of the play follow a series of lovers, all played by Shaw and Connery. The play is physically demanding and Tracy has picked up more than a few scratches and bruises along the way. The set is large and complicated and on more than one occasion she has stumbled into scenery during scene changes.

Earlier this year, one bump left her with a cut above the eye. Her injury was so bad she missed two performances but she joked that she had a scar just like David Beckham, who was cut when team boss Sir Alex Ferguson kicked a boot. The bruises on her arms and legs were revealed yesterday as she did a promotional photo shoot for healthy eating during a break in performances at the Lowry Centre in Salford, near Manchester.

For Tracy, it is a return to performing in Coronation Street land. The Granada Studios where her character was bludgeoned to death by serial killer Richard Hillman are just up the road. She has been busy with work since her exit from the soap but she has had personal problems.

Earlier this year, she revealed her stormy marriage to TV producer Robert Ashworth was on the rocks but she denied claims that she had attacked him in a drunken rage. The couple are now living apart. Richard Arnold, promoter of The Blue Room, said: "I imagine Tracy picked these bruises up during scene changes because there is a lot of scenery lying about. "She also has a blood disorder which means she bruises easily."

Who is Ashley's stalker?
28 May 2003
Coronation Street's Ashley Peacock is heading for some unwelcome attention - from a mystery stalker.

After a report appears in the local paper claiming he is engaged to nanny Claire, posters begin appearing around Weatherfield congratulating the couple. But the posters are supposedly from Ashley's murdered wife Maxine, the Daily Star reported. Suspicion immediately falls on Claire, who is besotted with butcher Ashley and his baby son Joshua - but show insiders have hinted she may not be responsible.

A source told the Star: "To some people it seems Ashley has landed himself the original nanny from hell. "It's especially spooky when the posters begin to appear. Ashley is devastated and beside himself with worry over what could possible happen next."

Ashley's dad Fred is furious and begins to suspect Claire, the source said. "As far as he's concerned Claire is the one putting his son through this nightmare. He wants her out of their lives as quickly as possible." But they added: "We're not confirming or denying anything, but viewers know Claire has a jealous boyfriend. "Could he be the one behind the stalking plot?"  

Privates on parade
27 May 2003 by Nancy Banks-Smith
It is a typical northern bank holiday in Coronation Street (ITV1), where we know how to make our own entertainment. Framed in an upstairs window and clutching his baby to his breast, Curly Watts is flinging his estranged wife's smalls on to the cobbles. (Traditionally, it is the wife who does the clutching and flinging, but Curly is a new man and house husband, so the roles are reversed.)

His wife, Emma, is an inspector with the Greater Manchester Constabulary, so we were charmed at the frivolous nature of her pastel underpinnings. Personally, I would have purchased some stout, blue, serge bloomers (admittedly after a prolonged search) and pretended they were hers. "This," cried Emma in anguish, "is private." "Not very," said Norris, speaking up for a small but appreciative crowd.

Street bosses plan return for Curly
26 May 2003
Axed Coronation Street veteran Kevin Kennedy has reportedly been told his character Curly Watts will return to the show next year.

The popular actor was told last month he would be leaving the soap after 20 years' service, and Curly's departure will be screened on ITV1 in the autumn. He will follow his wife Emma, played by Angela Lonsdale, out of Weatherfield and will join her in Newcastle to try to patch up their marriage.

But the show's chiefs told this week's TV Times they are already plotting his return. Producer Kieran Roberts said: "There is a huge amount of affection for a character of such long standing, so we're reluctant to say goodbye to Curly permanently. "I'll be working with the story team to devise a suitable return for him."

Kennedy told the Daily Star he was happy at the prospect of bringing Curly back. "I am pleased that Kieran has allowed me to take this time out and I look forward to playing Curly again in the future," he said.

Corrie stars face grilling in BNP trial
26 May 2003
THREE Coronation Street actresses who campaigned against racism could be called to testify in the trial of a BNP activist. Liz Dawn, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Shobna Gulati are set to be served with legal documents ordering them to appear as witnesses.

Oldham BNP supporter Mick Treacy, 41, was charged with "using a vehicle with excess noise" following a protest outside the Corrie set. As the cast rehearsed, music including Land Of Hope And Glory was blasted through a van's loudspeaker.

The BNP demo came after Shobna, 28, joined Anti- Nazi League supporters in leafleting homes in Oldham, the scene of race riots in 2001, urging people to vote in last year's local elections.

Terror of Corrie beauty
25 May 2003 by Dan Evans
CORONATION Street star Shobna Gulati has been terrorised by racist thugs. Shobna, 31, was confronted by two white men who screamed "Paki bitch" and spat threats as she sat in a car.

Last night Shobna, who plays shop girl Sunita Parekh, was still too upset to discuss her ordeal. But a friend said: "She was sitting in a car at traffic lights. Two men in their 20s were mucking about beside her. "She told me, 'They started screaming Paki bitch' and they hurled other vile abuse at her. She was shaken by it all and had no choice but to report it to the police. She made a full statement."

Victim support officials have offered her counselling and anti-racism officers at Greater Manchester Police are investigating the incident, which happened last week in the Hollinwood area of Oldham where Shobna was brought up. It was next to a ward contested by Nick Griffin, leader of the far-right British National Party, in this month's local elections. Shobna had handed out leaflets in the area in 2002 against the BNP.

In 2001 Britain's biggest race riots for 15 years erupted in Oldham amid claims the BNP were fanning the flames of hate. The damage ran to more than £2million - and resulted in 200 criminal charges . Shobna, who recently split from former Emmerdale star Gary Turner, has tried to promote racial harmony in Oldham. She helped found the town's multi-ethnic theatre group and last year campaigned for everyone to use their vote in a bid to stop the BNP gaining seats.

Shobna and fellow Corrie star Julie Hesmondhalgh, who plays Hayley Cropper, posted pro-democracy election leaflets in BNP target areas. She said: "I had a relatively hassle-free upbringing and don't want to live in a community where there is a divide. "I am definitely more aware of racism now. It's obviously to do with social deprivation and who has what and which community has more, but I can't come up with a logical reason."

Her anti-racist stand made her a target for the far-right even before last week's incident. BNP member Mick Treacy, 41, blared Land Of Hope And Glory from speakers outside Granada Studios in Manchester - where Coronation Street is recorded - before local elections last year. The party won a quarter of the vote in the area's local elections this month.

Last night, Shobna's friend said: "She has been outspoken but measured in her comments. She did not campaign this year."

Shobna is the daughter of Indians who came to Britain in the 1960s. Her father, a doctor, chose Oldham because of the reputation of its hospital. Last night a police spokesman said: "We are committed to tackling hate crime and incidents of this nature will not be tolerated." A spokesman for Granada TV said: "This is a personal matter for Shobna."

Schoolboys chat me up, but it's a waste... I fancy older man
25 May 2003
SCHOOLGIRL Katy Harris is about to shock Coronation Street fans by seducing dad-of-two Martin Platt. But actress Lucy-Jo Hudson, who plays the 16-year-old temptress, has no qualms about the sizzling plot - because she really does fancy older men.

Lucy-Jo, 20 in real life, told The People: "I think the reason is because I'm mature for my age. "I've never been out with anyone younger than 23 and I can understand why Katy falls for Martin. "The funny thing is I get loads of schoolboys chatting me up because they think I am 16. It's such a waste."

The first hint of her on-screen affair with 35-year-old male nurse Martin, played by Sean Wilson, came with a stolen kiss in Friday's episode. But, with Katy determined to get her man, there's far more to come as the controversial storyline develops over the summer. And Martin, whose daughter Sarah Louise is the same age as Katy, becomes a hate figure in the Street when the news comes out - particularly with good mate Tommy Harris, the furious dad of his new love.

Lucy-Jo, who is single at the moment, says divorce Martin may be a bit too old even for her. She said: "My ideal boyfriend would be in his late 20s. It would be great if he took me out for dinner and then clubbing. I'm a bit of a party animal. I haven't got a type of man looks-wise but they have to have a great sense of humour."

Lucy-Jo only joined the soap seven months ago - as part of a mystery family we now know were being hidden as part of a police witness protection scheme. She is using her own experiences of teenage crushes to act out her scenes with Martin. She said: "Like most teenagers, I had a massive crush on loads of people - especially singers from boy bands. "I was a massive fan of Boyzone and had all their CDs. It's so weird that I've been working with Keith Duffy on the show. He's a great bloke but there was a time when I had pictures of him on my bedroom wall."

Lucy-Jo was amused to be described as a "soap babe" after attending her first awards ceremony. She said: "They're having a laugh! Forget looking sexy, I was too worried I was going to fall on my a*** on the red carpet."

But fans may be surprised to know Lucy-Jo is a natural blonde who has to dye her hair brunette for the part. She said "I really hated it at first. "But now I prefer it. "I don't know whether blondes have more fun - but I'm having plenty as a brunette!"

It's time to move on, says Angela
24 May 2003
Angela Lonsdale, who plays Corrie's resident cop Emma Watts, says she isn't worried about life after the Street. Along with husband Curly (Kevin Kennedy) Emma will walk out of Weatherfield after showing her darker side.

Emma recently lied in the witness box to protect bent cop Mick, even though her testimony sent innocent Les Battersby to prison for six months on an assault charge. Principled Curly has been disgusted by his wife's behaviour. He tells her to choose between their marriage or her career. When she chooses the latter he kicks her out.

Angela told the Daily Mirror's The Look magazine: "I am hoping people will be sympathetic and recognise that Emma was in a no-win situation. She was faced with a terrible moral dilemma. "If she told the truth she would destroy the career of a fellow officer and be treated as a grass, and if she lied she would have to live with the consequences. "She did nothing wrong, but was stuck in the middle and faced losing everything. I have had nothing but support from the public up until now and have my fingers crossed that nothing will change."

Angela is tight-lipped about the circumstances surrounding her departure. She added: "Viewers will have to wait and see what happens. All I can say is we have some big emotional scenes. It is wonderful to have something you can really get your teeth into. "The outcome of this storyline means that I can take new opportunities that are being offered and I'm really excited about the future. I feel the time is right to move on."

Soap stars make sexy women list
23 May 2003
Star from soaps past and present made a strong showing in the 100 Sexiest Women poll organised by lads' mag FHM. Former Neighbours star turned pop princess Holly Valance was pipped to the top spot by Bond girl Halle Berry - the competition's oldest winner at 34. Kylie Minogue, who blazed the soap to pop stardom trail before Holly, also made the top ten, at number nine.

Samia Ghadie, Maria Sutherland in Coronation Street, was the highest rated current soap actress at number 52. Jennifer Ellison, who was Emily O'Leary in Brookside, came in at 60 and Jill Halfpenny, undercover cop Kate Tyler in EastEnders, was rated number 62, closely followed by Hollyoaks babe Elize Du Toit at number 68

More than five million votes were counted from around the world for this year's competition. Berry shot up from last year's 33rd place thanks to her sexy high-profile roles. The oldest previous winner was Teri Hatcher in 1997, who was 32 at the time of her win. Last year's number one, Anna Kournikova, has to content herself with just eighth spot in 2003. The highest-placed Brit for the third year running was soon-to-be-ex-S Club star Rachel Stevens. She finished at number four, down from the runner-up slot last year. Teenage singing star Charlotte Church made the list at number 21 - a rise of 68 places in a year.

Top 10: 1. Halle Berry 2. Holly Valance 3. Britney Spears 4. Rachel Stevens 5. Carmen Electra 6. Jennifer Lopez 7. Jennifer Love Hewitt 8. Anna Kournikova 9. Kylie Minogue 10. Jolene Blalock.

Tears on the Street
22 May 2003 by Brian Roberts
CORONATION Street star Suranne Jones was struggling to come to terms with calling off her engagement yesterday. But the actress, 24, continued filming after her split with fiance Jim Phelan.

A source at Granada studios said: "If Jim is devastated then Suranne is heartbroken. "She is devastated but she is having to come in to the studios, put her face on and play feisty Karen McDonald in front of the cameras." Suranne, who is filming the biggest storylines of her career, has turned to friends on the cast for support. The source said: "They all go out together and look out for one another, so they're naturals to help her pull through."

Friends said computer programmer Jim, 28 was "absolutely heartbroken". One said: "Jim is struggling to come to terms with what has happened. He has moved out of their Cheshire home and took a day off work yesterday.

A Street spokesman denied rumours the split was due to Suranne having a fling with co-star Jonathan Wrather, who plays on-screen lover Joe Carter.

Heartache of Corrie's Suranne
21 May 2003 by Brian Roberts
CORONATION Street star Suranne Jones has split from her fiance, just months after his fairytale proposal. Friends fear the 24-year-old's rapid rise to stardom has left computer programmer Jim Phelan, 28, trailing in her wake.

Suranne, who plays feisty Karen McDonald, admitted yesterday that the relationship is over. She and Jim said in a joint statement: "We still love each other dearly and it is with deep regret we have reached the decision to separate. We share a large group of very close friends and will continue to see each other socially. "We have tried to work things out but it is evident now to us both that we are much better as friends than partners. "This is a sad time for both of us. It became increasingly clear over the past few months that we were growing further and further apart."

Jim proposed at Christmas after lighting 50 candles in the shape of a heart. Suranne, nominated this year as soap's sexiest female, is the darling of Britain's lad mags. She has been revelling in her new image. But one friend said last night: "That left Jim wondering where it was all going." Another claimed Jim confronted her about a night out at a restaurant after he heard rumours from the set.

As factory girl Karen, Granada bosses have been delighted with her ratings-boosting performances and are tipping her for huge success. Street associates said last night they hoped stardom has not turned Suranne's head. One said: "Let's face it, one minute she's playing a dowdy machinist, the next she's being tipped as the sexiest girl in Britain. "It's a shame it didn't work out between her and Jim. But every bloke in Manchester wants to ask her out, she's in photo-shoots for every lad mag going. "It's not just ordinary fellas who think she's stunning, it's men with a lot of money, a lot of clout who can open the door to every VIP restaurant and bar."

Suranne wept with joy when Jim proposed at Christmas. They met in the summer of 2000, but it was six months before he plucked up courage to ask her out. Her relationship with Jim was a far cry from her screen marriage to Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson). The warring characters both cheated on each other. Karen, recently promoted at Mike Baldwin's factory, eventually walked out on Steve and set up home with devious boss Joe Carter (Jonathan Wrather).

A Street insider said: "Suranne has had a meteoric rise and is fantastic in her role as Karen. "She is a brilliant actress and has a great future ahead of her. She has definitely made a mark for herself in the Street. "Suranne likes a good time and has been seen out enjoying herself with mates on a regular basis. "There has been talk among the younger kids in the cast for the last two or three weeks that she and Jim had called it a day. She decided to issue a statement to confirm it."

Prison cell misery begins for Street's wronged Les
21 May 2003
Wrongly convicted Les Battersby will be put behind bars in Coronation Street. He was sent down on the evidence of lying police sergeant Emma Watts in Monday's episode.

Battersby will be seen stepping into his sparse new home, dressed in his prison uniform and taking stock of his life after picking up a six-month sentence, in tonight's programme. Battersby was given a severe beating by Pc Mick Hopwood. But his police colleague Watts told the court it was Battersby who actually started the scuffle.

"He's a wronged man wondering where he goes from here," said a Corrie spokeswoman. Viewers will be left to stew over the coming weeks whether the miscarriage of justice which put Les behind bars will be righted.

Eagle-eyed Street fans will be party to an in-joke in tonight's episode, left by jokers on the show. On the wall of the cell the words "Free the Weatherfield one" can be seen written faintly in pen. That was the name of the campaign to free another victim of the courts system on the show, Deirdre Rachid.

My Curly classics
21 May 2003 by Claire Donnelly
SAY what you like about Curly Watts, his life has never been boring. Arriving in Coronation Street as a binman and leaving as a local councillor, actor Kevin Kennedy has seen his character through troubled - and some side-splitting - times. From foiling an armed siege to brawling in the Rovers, in 20 years speccy Curly has done it all. With his owlish glasses and trademark floppy hair, he might seem an unlikely Romeo, but he's had his fair share of Street romance too.

Blonde bimbo Raquel, temptress Maureen and current wife, Emma ... the bedroom of his terraced home has never been empty for long. Speaking to the Daily Mirror on the fourth day of our exclusive series, Kevin, 41, who is leaving the Street in July, says: "The last 20 years have gone so fast - it's genuinely hard to believe it's been that long. "I've been Curly for half of my life. We've grown up together really, which is one of the reasons I'm quite happy to see him go out in such a plausible way. "People might think that sounds strange, but the character is very important to me.

"There is nowhere for Curly to go at the moment, so it makes sense for him to go off with his wife. To be honest, I wouldn't have wanted them to have changed that just so I could stay. "He has always been such a credible character - that's part of his appeal - and they had to maintain that. Coronation Street has always done things the right way and this was no different."

But he hopes the character will be back in Weatherfield for more adventures in the future. "The door is open for me to come back and who knows what Curly could get up to then? He'll come back with a clean slate, an open book to get up to all sorts," he laughs. "When I joined I was only signed up for four episodes, I arrived as an intellectual binman, and never looked back. I had no idea how popular Curly was going to be, it was a bit of a shock. People identify with him because he's basically a nice bloke. He's loveable, isn't he? "And he's done everything. From moments of high drama with Raquel to the very funny stuff with Reg, there's been a huge range and I've made some great friends. "I love Ken Morley - who played Reg - and working with Sarah Lancashire was a real honour. It sounds like a cliche, but the cast and crew really are like family to me. "Whatever happens now at least people know me - I've been in the best shop window there is for 20 years."

Here Kevin looks back on some of his most memorable moments:

1985 Early days as a removal man with Terry Duckworth

KEVIN says that this sums up the time when he first found fame on the Street. He and Nigel Pivaro (Terry Duckworth) joined the show together and their close working relationship spilled over into real life. "Yes, I really liked Nigel," he says. "One minute I was anonymous, the next I was Curly Watts. "I went to see Manchester City around this time and fans chanted my name - then I knew I was famous."

 

1989 Lodging with the mile- a-minute Duckworths

IT might not be everyone's idea of fun but living with the Duckworths was a fast and furious experience for Kevin. The hundreds of "at home with Jack and Vera" scenes he shot in his early days gave the young actor a chance to make his mark on the Street... but he couldn't afford to pussyfoot around. "My scenes with the Duckworths were done between 1,000mph and 1,000 decibels, and I had to learn fast because Bill Tarmey and Liz Dawn just kept going. If I didn't jump in and say my lines, I lost them."

 

1991 Covered in gold paint for the Weatherfield Carnival

WITH the whole of Coronation Street in fancy dress, scriptwriters decided to make the most of Curly's comic potential and cast him as Mercury. Poor Kevin had to be covered from head to toe in gold paint to make sure he looked the part, with only a small costume to hide his modesty. "It was very hot and the paint ran down my legs," he remembers. "It wasn't Goldfinger - more like Goldbunions. "We were all wearing short robes so there were some very rude comments as we climbed on and off the float."

 

1993 Being seduced by Maureen Holdsworth, his boss's wife

WHEN Curly bedded his boss's wife, it was a bitter-sweet experience for Kevin. The episode brought great ratings - and an embarrassing injury. He explains: "Sherrie Hewson, who played Maureen, is a very physical actress and in this episode she got tipsy and seduced Curly on the settee. "We did it at half-speed in rehearsals and it went fine. But when they shouted 'Action' she jumped on me and kneed me in the groin. "I played the whole scene with tears in my eyes."

 

1994 Curly unshaven and losing the plot after losing his job

AFTER being sacked from his supermarket job at Bettabuy on a trumped-up charge, Curly became depressed and had to rely on Maureen to cheer him up. Viewers were shocked to see his character looking so drained and dishevelled. "Emotional scenes are more draining than fights," he says. "Maureen came round and found Curly wallowing in despair. I had to prepare for it by going unshaven for a few days. "It might look great on pop stars but I felt like a hedgehog."

 

1995 Heartbreak at Raquel and Curly's engagement party

ONE of Corrie's most emotional scenes was the love triangle between Curly, Raquel and Des. After a big build-up, it reached a climax at Curly and Raquel's engagement party. "This is my favourite scene," says Kevin. "Des stirs up Raquel again, she tells Curly she can't marry him and he is devastated. It's got everything - sex, violence, humour, heartache, despair and deceit - everything an actor could want. "In that episode, Julie Goodyear comforted me by resting my head on her famous chest. Well, you've got to have some perks."

 

 

1995 Brawling with Des Barnes over his affair with Raquel

THEY say you shouldn't hit a man with glasses, but Curly has had his fair share of fights - and this one was the biggest. After his affair with Raquel, Des Barnes took a few punches and the scene was so realistic, both actors ended up black and blue. "Fight scenes can be quite dangerous," he says. "You can't hit someone but you have to make it rough enough to appear convincing. "I ended up with bruises. This is my favourite fight because Curly really lost his temper. The adrenalin took over and I felt shattered afterwards."

 

1995 Having a laugh inspecting Reg Holdsworth's wig

STRUGGLING to keep a straight face as he checks out his sidekick's new toupee, Kevin says the mad-cap storyline was the funniest he ever worked on. He explains: "It was funny but also rather sad - here was this insecure guy, worrying about getting older... "Ken Morley and I worked very well together and we were always playing jokes on each other. "You'd wait until Ken was about to start filming then flick his wig at the back, so the fringe flopped down over his eyes."

 

1995 In bed with Raquel on the QE2 in honeymoon special

A HONEYMOON cruise proved a real voyage of discovery for Kevin. Filming the special episode with new wife Raquel, the actors made sure they had plenty of laughs. "We had a great time, although there was one puzzling moment," he says. "All the way through our love scene, Sarah Lancashire was fiddling around under the sheets. When filming finished, I asked what she was doing. She lifted her hands out and I saw she was wearing a pair of rubber gloves. "To this day, I don't know why she felt she needed them!"

 

1999 Saying goodbye to Raquel in Millennium night episode

WORKING with Ken Morley may have provided the laughs for Kevin but it was acting alongside Sarah Lancashire that proved his most emotional Corrie moment. "It was a tremendous honour when Sarah and I were asked to do a whole episode on Millennium night," he says. "After all, it was the show that took Coronation Street into the new century. "It wasn't long after I'd come out of rehab and it was a very humbling experience - I was really touched by it."

Amanda comes out then goes in
21 May 2003 by Derek Robins
Gay ex-Corrie star Amanda Barrie was worried about the public reaction after she came out as a lesbian last year. The actress, who joins prison drama Bad Girls on Thursday, made her revelation in her autobiography in November and she tells TV Plus: "I thought people might throw stones at me because they thought I had an unconventional life. The opposite has happened — people have hugged me in the street, there hasn't been one wrong word."

She says she hated living a lie while she was playing Alma Halliwell in Corrie. The 67-year-old, who bowed out of the soap after 20 years in 2001, says: "I did not like lying about about my sexuality, but I kept quiet as I was in Corrie. I thought it wasn't compatible with my character. But now I don't think being a lesbian is a big deal. There seem to be more people out than in these days — I think I've started a fashion!"

She says fans may be shocked when they see her in Bad Girls, she's been transformed into a redhead. She and Stephanie Beacham join the cast as conwomen Bev Tull and Phyl Oswyn. They are in for five years for fiddling ex-pats in Spain. Amanda says: "I don't think anyone will recognise me — I look like Jane Asher's granny. I'm wearing half the make-up I usually have and I look awful. Bev's clothes are like a walking settee."

She says that landing a part in the prison series is a dream come true. She laughs: "I've got street cred which is very impressive. Bryan Park who was the Corrie producer contacted me and I was thrilled to be asked. "The shoot has been really enjoyable and the set isn't far from my home in London, so I could come home at night, unlike Corrie in Manchester. I didn't know much about the drama before but I watched quite a few episodes and became an addict. Stephanie and I have had a really good time. I met her years ago but we'd never worked together. "Bev and Phyl are a wicked team. Bev can be a bit vicious — she's terrible to Denny when she pretends to be a clairvoyant who can put her in touch with her dead lover Shaz. Then there are the booze and drug scams..."

Amanda says she has no regrets about quitting The Street. Her character Alma died from cancer and Amanda says: "I had wanted to go for a while but I put off leaving for three years. There was a worry that I might be too old to get other work. "I'm really glad I quit even though Corrie was very good for me. I guess I will always be remembered as Alma, hardly a day goes by when I'm not stopped in the street by fans."

Apart from Bad Girls, Amanda is back in a soap just two years after leaving Corrie. She has just finished filming two episodes of BBC1 daytime show Doctors. She says: "I'm playing the best pal of Christopher Timothy's character's wife. I turn up at a wedding, get drunk and ruin things." Next she is hoping there'll be a new run of Bad Girls and her unfulfilled ambition is to appear at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane near her London pad.

The prison part is the latest role for Amanda in a showbiz career which has spanned nearly 50 years. A real-life bad girl, she was expelled from two schools before she began working in London's Soho theatres. She then appeared as a hostess on 1950s gameshow Double Your Money but first shot to fame as Cleopatra in the 1964 movie Carry On Cleo. Then along came Alma in Corrie in the 1980s and the rest is history.

Corrie's Curly on the son he thought he'd lost
20 May 2003 by Jenny Johnston
MOST recovering alcoholics will tell you about the huge voids in their lives. The days, weeks, months and years lost to drink. The shattered relationships. The friendships that could never quite be repaired. Kevin Kennedy knows only too well how easy it is to lose track of the most important elements of life.

When his drinking was at its worst, he did something that he now regards as unthinkable - he turned his back on his own son. "I didn't see him for five years," nods the Coronation Street actor. "I couldn't. I was drinking heavily and nothing mattered to me but the drink. I didn't want him to see me like that. "Even when I got myself sober, I didn't dare get in touch. Ryan only lived a couple of miles from me, with his mother, but I never tried to contact him. I wasn't brave enough for that."

Luckily for Kevin, his only child didn't have such qualms. When he was 11 - five years after he had last seen his dad in the flesh - the little boy pedalled around to Kevin's house, determined to stage his own reunion with the man he now knew only as Curly from the TV.

Kevin has never spoken before about his amazing reconciliation with Ryan, his son from his first marriage, which ended in 1993. The teenager is now 16. "It was one of those moments you never forget. You only get a few in every lifetime. And this was definitely one. I call it my redemption. He came looking for me, and I was sober when he did it. I can't tell you what that meant.

"I remember I'd just got home from work and a neighbour came across to say a little kid had been looking for me. "My heart leapt. I knew it must be Ryan, and I went straight inside to call his mum, Dawn. I was shaking. "I said, 'I think Ryan has been here'. Of course, she was worried. Not that Ryan had tried to make contact with his dad, that dreadful drunk. "But because he'd been out on the road on his own, and he was really too young for that."

There may not exactly have been a tearful doorstep reconciliation, but that's how it feels. "It wasn't a case of me opening the door and seeing him and us both falling into each others arms," admits Kevin. "But in my head it is. It meant that much. "I hadn't seen him at all for five years. There is no excuse really. I'd used the fact that he was living with his mother ... it was easier not to face him. Dawn is a great mother. She's doing a terrific job of bringing Ryan up and that gave me an excuse to stay away."

How you go about rebuilding a relationship with the child you haven't seen for five years is not something Kevin can easily answer. He is reluctant to talk too much about his re-entry into his son's life. In many ways, the pair are still getting to know each other. "We took it really slowly at first," he explains. "I went round and had a chat. I took him for breakfast at aa Little Chef. Then we went out for the day. Then to the footie."

He breaks into a huge smile. "I'm a mad Man City fan, and he supported United, but he is coming round to my way of thinking. I told him I would sew the other leg back on for him." The jokes and the footie appear to be what holds the relationship together. "Our whole relationship is based around football. I take him to all the away games. It isn't really a father-son thing. We are mates. I take the p*** out of him and we banter, "And it is great. We are making up for an awful lot of lost time. He's a great kid."

Of course, both have missed out on a lot during those five years without contact. "There were no winners," he says. "But the fact that Ryan came looking for me meant a lot. I have talked to him about those years. I've told him what I was going through, and that I'm not doing that any more. "To be honest, he hasn't made it difficult. You don't need to go into the ins and outs with children. They understand."

Since he came out of rehab, Kevin Kennedy has done a lot to put right the relationships in his life. Yesterday, he talked movingly of how he had to almost start again with Clare, the PR executive he married in 1998. Today, he admits that his problems put unbelievable strains on their marriage. "Those pressures continued even when I had stopped drinking. If anything, it was harder then because my sobriety came first, second and third in our relationship. "This sounds awful, but I didn't have the capacity to worry about what my wife was going through. Clare wasn't allowed to have her own problems. I wasn't there for her."

It is only in the past couple of years that he has become a proper husband. "A little while ago she had a go at getting into television. She did a few shows, but was disappointed when the jobs ended. "For the first time, I was actually there for her, providing some sort of emotional support. "I've had to learn how to do that. It sounds really basic, but that's what I mean about starting again." "I'm still not brilliant at sharing my emotions. I can be a moody git. There are days when I just want to dive under the covers and say: 'I hate the world'. But I'm learning, and Clare is helping me. "I'm well aware of how much I owe her. If she'd refused to come back to me, I would have had to go through the rehab myself, but having her there certainly smoothed the way."

With first-hand experience of living with an alcoholic, Clare is now training to be a counsellor, determined to advise other people on how to survive the sort of pressures she and Kevin endured. "She is amazing," he admits. "She has been stronger than I will ever be. She must have felt like such a failure when she realised exactly who I was. No one wants to be married to a drunk. "But she believed in me when I didn't even believe in myself."

Now, Kevin is quietly confident about his future, despite admitting that he doesn't know where his career - or his life - will take him. "If all this has taught me anything, it is that the only thing you can rely on in life is change. And change is good." He and Clare have discussed having children of their own. "I have been broody for some time," he admits. "That's just the way I am. It's not just babies, it's puppies too - anything can set me off. "Being a dad on screen has made me terribly broody. Ben is a wonderful baby and we have a real chemistry. "He has been on the set since he was just two weeks old. His