Corrie Set For Fighting Christmas

It's not going to be a very Merry Christmas in Coronation Street - with no less than four fights and an attempted murder, reports The Sun.

Widow Maria Connor (Samia Smith) floors Tony Gordan (Gray O’Brien) — convinced he killed her husband Liam.

Twisted factory boss Tony, who has already throttled OAP Jed Stone warns Maria: “I wouldn’t ever, ever do that again. There’s still plenty of space next to your husband and baby in that graveyard for you to join them."

Meanwhile, teens Tina McIntyre and Rosie Webster get into a scrap. Gail invites the Websters for dinner but the two girls are soon at each others’ throats.

After seeing Tina flirting with young newcomer Gary Windass jealous Rosie calls her a “tart” and all hell breaks loose

Tina retorts, “I’m not the one who dated a kidnapper twice my age” — and hair extensions are soon flying. Then a violent scrap breaks out between Gary and Tina’s boyfriend David Platt after Gary tells David, “Your bird’s gagging for me mate. I’m going to have her and there’s nothing you can do about it.”

And Joe McIntyre settles an old score with Eddie Windass by showering him with Christmas dinner leftovers. A source said: “Gail is absolutely mortified.”
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Image: ITV

Baby Girl For Corrie Stars

Ex-Coronation Street star Tina O’Brien has given birth to a 7lb 1oz baby girl, reports The Sun.

The baby, her first with lover and former soap co-star Ryan Thomas, 24, was born at 8am yesterday.

A source close to the couple revealed Tina, 25, who played Sarah-Louise Platt, gave birth to the bouncing baby girl at Manchester General Hospital - after trying to induce herself by jumping on a trampoline.

The insider added, “She was desperate to hold her little girl and tried out all the tips to induce the birth. They are so pleased and relieved."

“Both mother and baby are doing very well. They haven’t told anyone the name yet and are keeping ideas close to their chests.”

Hayley To Return To Coronation Street

Julie Hesmondalgh will return to Coronation Street later this year.

The 38-year-old actress whoplays transexual Hayley Cropper was allowed a 12-month break due to exhaustion. Hesmondalgh said she wanted to spend more time with her husband Ian Kershaw and daughter Martha.

She will appear on screen again for the first time in September.

A source told The Mirror, "Julie just wanted to take time off and do normal things like take her daughter to school. Re-charging her batteries and being a mum was top of the agenda."

"Julie is such a popular member of the show that she really has been missed."

Corrie Cellar Plot To Go Ahead

Bookie Dan Mason nearly dies when he is locked in a cellar in a dramatic Coronation Street storyline, reports DigitalSpy.

The planned episodes had been thrown into doubt after Austrian father Josef Fritzl hit the headlines for keeping his daughter in his basement for 24 years.

Producers have now given the go-ahead and viewers will see Dan - played by Matthew Crompton - locked in the cellar of the Rovers with a punctured lung after a fight with landlord Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson).

Compton and co-star Jack Ellis, who plays his dad Harry, will leave the ITV1 soap in the autumn after being axed by producers last month.

Seven Characters Face Corrie Axe

Coronation Street bosses have axed seven characters from the ITV soap.

The Morton family - Kebab shop boss Jerry (Michael Starke) and children Mel (Emma Edmonson), Darryl (Johnny Dixon), Kayleigh (Jessica Bardon) and Finlay (Ramone Quinn) - will leave later this year after joining the cast last March.

Jack Ellis and Matthew Compton, who have played father and son bookies Harry and Dan Mason since December, will also leave in the autumn.

Ian Reddington, who plays Liz McDonald’s husband Vernon Tomlin, will also make his exit in September.

Producer Kim Crowther said, “Coronation Street has always had a tradition of characters who come into the show as catalysts to play out storylines alongside more established characters before moving on."

She added, “They are all very talented actors and we wish them well for the future.”

Rob James Collier Quits Corrie

Coronation Street actor Rob James-Collier has quit after just under two years with the ITV soap over fears of being "typecast".

The 31-year-old, who has played Weatherfield's Liam Connor since 2006, reportedly revealed his intention to leave only days before filming his on-screen wedding to Maria Sutherland (Samia Smith).

A source told the News of the World, "Nobody was expecting this and it's bad news because Liam has become hugely popular with fans. He won 'Sexiest Male' at the British Soap Awards and they had big things planned for him."

"He says that he doesn't want to be typecast."

A spokeswoman confirmed to DigitalSpy, "We've known for some time that Rob would be leaving at the end of his current contract. It's given the writers time to pen a really good exit storyline for his character, Liam.

"Rob will remain filming with us until around October and he will bow out on screen at the end of the year."

Rivalry On Ice (Queens)

The Sun reports that the rivalry between ex-Hear'Say singer Suzanne Shaw and Zaraah Abrahams is so bitter that show bosses have had to split them up in rehearsals.

An insider said, “It’s very icy between Suzanne and Zaraah. They are kept apart and we organised totally different practice times. They’re trying to outdo one another by doing bigger lifts.”

Shaw, 26, was way ahead of the female competition by scoring the top marks on the ITV1 show. But ex-Coronation Street actress Zaraah arrived on the scene last week to replace injured GMTV presenter Michael Underwood — and impressed the judges.

The 20-year-old got 18.5 from the judges last Sunday — despite coming into the competition two weeks late— and was told she had given a “true Week Three performance”.

Suzanne scored 20.5, but judge Jason Gardiner told her, “I was expecting better from you.”

The insider added, “The girls have a battle on.”

Ex-Corrie Actress Is Replacement On Ice

Former Coronation Street actress Zaraah Abrahams, 20 - who played factory girl Joanna Jackson - has replaced Michael Underwood in Dancing On Ice after the GMTV was forced to pull out of the competition when he broke his ankle.

Zaraah has been practising since November as a stand-in, reports Daily Mail.

That Antony Cotton Show Axed

ITV's That Antony Cotton Show has been axed and replaced by quiz shows, say reports.

Antony Cotton, who plays Sean Tully in Coronation Street, is unhappy to lose the show, because he was looking forward to making some alterations to the programme's format in the second series, claims The Sun.

"Antony was hoping to do another series with the show slightly tweaked," said a source. "But ITV don’t want that now."

"He’s still going to do other things aside from Corrie - there’s a quiz show idea on the table."
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Eastenders Is 2007 Most Watched

The EastEnders Christmas episode - when Max & Stacey's affair was exposed -was the most watched TV programme of 2007 with 14.38 million viewers.

BBC One had six programmes in the top 10, while ITV1 had four according to audience research body Barb.

The Doctor Who Christmas special was second, with 13.31 million viewers. ITV1's most watched show was the Rugby World Cup final, with 13.13 million.

Also featured in the top 10 was an episode of Coronation Street, The Vicar of Dibley, The X Factor, Concert for Diana, Strictly Come Dancing, Britain's Got Talent and Match of the Day.

In other ratings news, Vera Duckworth's exit from Coronation Street last night was watched by an estimated 12.5 million people.

End Of A (V)era

Liz Dawn, who has played one of Coronation Street's most iconic characters for 33 years and has appeared in 3011 episodes, took the decision to quit the soap due to ailing health conditions.

Vera Duckworth was a character who provided many laughs along with her hubby Jack - played by Bill Tarmey.

Of filming her exit, the 68-year-old said: "It was very emotional filming Vera’s death scenes but I do think it is the right decision for the character."

Three different versions of Vera's death were written and one was filmed on a closed set, reports Digital Spy.

Corrie Star Pregnant With First Child

Coronation Street star Julia Haworth has revealed that she is pregnant.

The actress, who plays Claire Peacock on the soap, is expecting her first baby with accountant husband Jon Wormold.

She found out the news in November but wanted to keep it quiet until her 12 week scan.

She told The Mirror, "We haven't stopped smiling. It's such a special time and I feel so lucky we're going to share it."

Haworth added that her character's postnatal depression following the birth of son Freddie had helped "prepare" her for being a mother.

She is due to give birth in July.

The 28-year-old married Wormold in May 2006 after a two-year romance.
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Source: Digital Spy

Hollyoaks Babe Urges Lesbian Corrie Plot

Hollyoaks star Zoe Lister has advised Coronation Street producers to write a lesbian storyline.

The actress, who plays Zoe Carpenter, revealed that she is proud to be part of a "saucy" soap and claimed that Corrie chiefs need to spice up their show.

"Hollyoaks is easily the sauciest. I love it. Emmerdale isn't too bad. They have sexed it up recently," Zoe told the Daily Star.

"But Corrie needs some work. It needs some lesbian action. I reckon Samia Smith as Maria and Tina O'Brien as Sarah would have made a great gay couple."

"I'd definitely do a lesbian love scene in Hollyoaks," she added. "That would be a really good story."

Source Image: Maxim

Corrie Star Enjoying Sex Symbol Status

Coronation Street actress Alison King has revealed that she is hoping to hang on to her sex symbol status.

Alison, 34 - who plays Carla Connor on the ITV1 soap - admitted that she wants to carry on being a hit with male viewers.

"I'm thankful that people think I'm sexy, especially as I'm getting on a bit," Alison told the Daily Star. "But if they saw me first thing in the morning they may change their minds!"

Carla kissed her brother-in-law Liam (Rob James-Collier) earlier this year. Next week, viewers will see her struggle to cope with the news that Liam is engaged to his girlfriend Maria, played by Samia Smith.

"Carla and Liam have this spiky on-off relationship and that's what she loves," Alison explained. "I don't think they would ever work as a couple because Liam is the exact opposite of everything Carla goes for. But there's a definite sexual attraction there."
Source

Footballers Wives Star To Appear In Corrie

Former Footballers Wives actress Susie Amy is to appear in Coronation Street as a love rival to sexy factory owner Carla Connor.

Susie, 26, played the role of Chardonnay Lane-Pascoe in the OTT football drama .

But in Corrie she will take on the of Lindsey, wife Tony Gordon. Carla has taken an interest in Tony after seeing him at the factory.

Susie begins filming next week and will first appear on screen next month. She will be with the soap for three episodes, says the official Corrie site.

Shock In Store For Corrie's Liam

Coronation Street's Liam Connor will be left in shock when hairdresser Maria Sutherland tells him news that she is pregnant with his baby, reports Digital Spy.

Factory boss Liam (Rob James-Collier) has to decide whether he will stand by Maria (Samia Smith).

A source said of the storyline, "They're two of the best-looking people in the show and they seemed a perfect couple for this story. It has the usual many twists and turns."

Emmerdale Actress Ends Relationship

Roxanne Pallett has ended her relationship with former Coronation Street actor Richard Fleeshman (Craig Harris).

The actress, who plays Jo Stiles on Emmerdale, started dating Fleeshman after they both appeared on Soapstar Superstar last year.

The pair have very little time to see each other as Roxanne is filming in Leeds and Richard is in London working on his singing career.

A source told the News of the World, "She is completely devastated by the split with Richard. With him being absorbed in his music career in London, she felt she had no option but to end things.”

"She is heartbroken but trying to be strong. Her friends and family are all rallying round her."

Inside Soap Awards Pictures

Source: Daily Mail

Soapstar Admits To Shoplifting

Former Coronation Street star Adam Rickitt could be facing criminal charges after shoplifting from a supermarket in New Zealand.

The Shortland Street actor walked out of the store in Auckland without handing over any money, he was escorted to Henderson police station for questioning. Rickitt claims that he forgot to pay as he had other things on his mind.

A tearful Rickitt, who plays a serial murder suspect on Shortland Street, told the Herald on Sunday, "I have recently found out some very upsetting family news. I was feeling helpless to deal with it because of the distance. I was so stressed out that without realising, or thinking, during my weekly shop of $200, I failed to pay at the checkout for a jar of coffee, bottle of HP sauce and cheese.”

"But my actions were without malicious intent. I wasn't thinking straight at that moment. I can't apologise enough for what was a very embarrassing and uncharacteristic moment of stupidity.

"It was an honest mistake and I'm so sorry for any inconvenience that it has caused."

Rickitt is waiting to hear whether he we will end up in court, reports Digital Spy.

Coronation Street Wins Best Soap

Coronation Street won title of Best Soap at this year's Inside Soap Awards. The ITV soap won five out of the 14 awards available. Winners for Corrie included Jack P Shepherd who won Best Bad Boy for his role as David Platt and Rob James-Collier (Liam Connor) won the award for Sexiest Male and Best Newcomer.

Eastenders also won five awards including Best Actress for Lacey Turner (Stacey Slater) and Best Storyline for Stella's torment of Ben.

The Bill was named Best Drama and Emmerdale won two awards while Hollyoaks walked away with just one.
Image: Daily Mail