When new Coronation Street boss, Stuart Blackburn, revealed that there were exciting storylines coming up for the Cropper family, he wasn’t kidding!

And we are happy to report that, amidst all the doom and gloom all the other Weatherfield storylines are offering (apart from Flash the tortoise of course) this one is set to have you laughing so hard that tea will come out of your nose!

Sylvia Goodwin (Stephanie Cole), the ever-so-slightly eccentric and former gambling addict senile-delinquent mother of cafe owner, Roy Cropper (David Neilson), is about to embark on a new mission to cure all her friends’ ailments, by serving them cakes baked with cannabis!
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Coronation Street veteran Barbara Knox has revealed that although she enjoys the attention of the show’s fans, there are times when they can get a bit too friendly…

While appearing on Lorraine Kelly’s morning show, Barbara, who began playing the role of Rita in 1962, said, “People are very nice, they love the programme, they come up to you and they are so kind.

“They tell you what we should have done, what we might have done, and ‘Why didn’t you…?’

“It’s very nice, actually, because the programme hasn’t got stale. People still love it.

“I do go about and sometimes they grab my arm and say, ‘Come here, you!’ I don’t particularly like that, but I suppose it’s affectionate in a way!” Read more & comment »

It had begun to  look like things may  have finally settled down for Coronation Street’s Tommy Duckworth, but don’t hold your breath as the drama is set to return with a bang, well crash actually, in two weeks time.

Viewers of the award-winning ITV soap will know that in recent months Tommy’s (Chris Fountain) life was set in turmoil after his villainous father, Terry, returned to his life and left him a whole world of debt with some heavy loan sharks.
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As fans of Coronation Street will know, when Rita Sullivan marries Dennis Tanner on Monday 4th June, as is obligatory for a soapy wedding, things will run far from smoothly…

With the biggest bridal drama being the fact that evil Rick Whelan (Greg Wood) holds Rita hostage in order to force Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) to hand over his stash of cocaine.

You can read more about that here, but in the meantime, Barbara Knox, who of course plays bride-to-be Rita has been talking to the show’s official website about playing The Kabin owner, and of her finally being united with Dennis – who’s played by Phillip Lowrie – who Rita first had a relationship with back in the sixties.

Of working with Phillip again, who of course returned to the show in 2011, Barbara said, “It was like coming home. It’s amazing that the story brings these two together and it works… Read more & comment »

Despite being 78, and having been a regular cast member on Coronation Street for four decades, Barbara Knox, who plays Rita Sullivan – soon to be Rita Tanner – has no plans to retire.

In a rare interview with the Daily Mirror, Barbara said, “Retire? What a filthy word! I haven’t thought of retiring.

“I keep saying to everybody I know – don’t retire, just keep working. It’s so good for you – it certainly is for me.

“I know it’s hard and you’re tired and you don’t want to go in, but your brain is in action.

“And I do think the sheer discipline of work helps to keep you younger. So apart from loving the job, that is at the back of my mind.

“I’ve done it all my life and I enjoy it and I genuinely find it stimulating.”

Barbara, who’s also starred in A Family At War, Goodbye Mr Chips and Emergency Ward 10, went on to say that when she was written out of Corrie for 11 weeks, she realized then that she couldn’t possibly leave work permanently… Read more & comment »

It was reported a few weeks ago that Coronation Street’s latest bride-to-be Rita Sullivan was set to be kidnapped on the day of her wedding to fiancé Dennis Tanner (Phillip Lowrie) and for ages, we’ve been speculating who would want to abduct Kabin owner Rita…

But now we know; she’ll be taken hostage by evil loan shark Rick Whelan (Greg Wood) and used as a bargaining tool when Tina McIntyre threatens to end Rick’s drug operation.

The storyline begins when Tina (Michelle Keegan) finally learns that her boyfriend Tommy Duckworth (Chris Fountain) is paying off his dad Terry’s debt to Rick by stashing drugs in the cars he services at the garage.

Rick’s cronies later retrieve the drugs and sell them, so brave Tina intercepts a shipment and removes them from the car before calling Rick and telling him to meet with her… Read more & comment »

With the wedding of the year drawing ever closer, we have come across some spoiler pictures that suggest that, as in any soap wedding, the nuptials of Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) and Dennis Tanner (Philip Lowrie) will face a few trials before the couple can even think about saying I do in Coronation Street.
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Corrie sources have today hinted that Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) is set to become the new Mrs Tanner on the Street this summer when she weds her sweetheart Dennis Tanner, who is of course played by Phillip Lowrie.

Phillip starred in the show right from the first episode, in which he played the role of Elsie Tanner’s son Dennis. He came back to reprise the role last year.

Elsie was of course a stalwart on the Street, and was played by the late Pat Phoenix. EastEnders star Jessie Wallace played the role of Pat in last year’s docu-drama about the show’s early days, The Road To Coronation Street.

However, getting back to the story that Rita and Dennis are to marry, a show insider told the Daily Mirror, “Don’t rule out a summer wedding!”

And it seems that Rita and Dennis’s on-screen relationship may be extending to the lives of the actors who play them… Read more & comment »

Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) has had her share of bad ‘uns when it comes to men. Her one time fella Alan Bradley (Mark Eden) tried to kill her, and her ex-hubby Len Fairclough (Peter Adamson) cheated on her…

However, there’s a chance that love could once again be in the air for Rita with Weatherfield returnee Dennis Tanner (Phillip Lowrie).

In fact, it was as a friend of Dennis’s that we first met Rita back in 1964. She was an “exotic dancer” then, and had her eye on a romance with Ken Barlow (William Roache), but when that wasn’t forthcoming, she married Len.

Phillip, who made it into the Guinness Book of World Records this year for the longest gap between TV appearances in the same show – after returning to Corrie in May this year following a 43 year absence – has been talking to Inside Soap about the chances of Dennis and Rita sitting in a tree, K I S S I N G…

Mind you, they probably shouldn’t sit in a tree kissing. A fall from that height could shatter their hips… Read more & comment »

Coronation Street veterans Rita Sullivan and Emily Bishop, who have been the best of friends for decades on the cobbles, are set to become love rivals in a future storyline The Mirror has reported.

Tensions are set to rise after the surprise comeback of fellow veteran, Dennis Tanner, played by original actor Philip Lowrie, and he is said to be bookies favourite as the man in question to tear this friendship apart as the two ladies start to fight for his attention.

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Veteran Corrie stars Eileen Derbyshire and Barbara Know – who play Emily Bishop and Rita Sullivan respectively – have both revealed they’re delighted to have received MBEs.

76 year old Barbara told the PA, “I was absolutely shocked and delighted at the same moment.

“Such a wonderful honour and I’m grateful to all concerned, especially Coronation Street.”

And Eileen added, “I really feel this is thanks to the many unseen colleagues, as well as those in front of the camera, who work extremely hard on Coronation Street.” Read more & comment »