Thursday, 6 September 2012, 8:30PM – 9:00PM
The Corrie Years returns for a second series, bringing viewers the untold stories behind some of the most unforgettable Coronation Street storylines of the last five decades.
This series the soap’s best-loved actors talk to the programme about Coronation Street scandals, feuds, stunts and kids. Plus the series looks at the special on-location episodes that took the characters away from the street and what happens to the actors after they say goodbye to the Weatherfield cobbles.
Narrated by Katherine Kelly, the series features interviews from a host of Coronation Street stars past and present, including William Roache, Julie Goodyear, Helen Worth and Simon Gregson.
Episode One – Scandals
The first episode of the second series looks at some of the scandals the Weatherfield residents have endured – from prostitutes to conmen and from illegitimate children to schoolgirl seductresses.
In 2007, Coronation Street saw the return of Leanne Battersby, who claimed to be running a lucrative property business. But her step-mum, Janice, was in for a shock when she visited her at work and discovered she was actually earning her money as a call-girl.
Actress Jane Danson tells The Corrie Years: “They asked me how I felt about Leanne becoming a prostitute and my jaw couldn’t fall to the floor quick enough. I was really surprised. It was almost like the hair, make-up and clothes turned her into something she wasn’t, and that’s how she dealt with it.”
Vicky Entwistle, who played Janice, tells the programme that Janice was broken hearted when she discovered the truth. Vicky says: “It still makes me cry when I watch it.”
It was 1970 when Bet Lynch became a permanent resident on Coronation Street and revealed that she had given birth to a son when she was just 16 and had given him up for adoption.
Actress Julie Goodyear reveals that she was shocked when she read the script. She says: “I couldn’t believe it when I read it because I was in that position. I know how she felt, but I had wonderful parents, so I could keep my son, Bet couldn’t.”
Julie talks about the emotional scenes when Bet discovered that her son was dead and almost committed suicide.
On Christmas Day 2007, Coronation Street was rocked by the news that teacher John Stape had been having an affair with his 16-year-old pupil Rosie Webster after she seduced him.
Actor Graeme Hawley tells The Corrie Years about the moment Rosie’s dad, Kevin found out and punched him on the street. He says: “We filmed it in November, it was freezing and I was down on the cobbles for about two hours.”
Nigel Havers fulfilled a lifelong ambition when he joined the Coronation Street cast as smooth-talking Lewis Archer. Lewis soon had the women of Weatherfield eating out of the palm of his hand, before he fleeced Peter Barlow’s bookies of £4000 and fled into the night, leaving Audrey Roberts broken-hearted.
Nigel talks to the programme about playing Lewis and admits: “I did get the odd pair of knickers sent through the post.”
And, The Corrie Years looks at one of the most shocking revelations ever made on the street when Maggie Clegg told her son, Gordon, that his real mother was Betty Turpin.
The Corrie Years explains that Betty had an affair with a married man, resulting in a pregnancy. To cover the scandal, her sister, Maggie, who was married but had no children, agreed to raise the little boy. But when his birth certificate turned up down the back of an old chest of drawers, the secret was out.
Bill Kenwright, who played Gordon, talks about the moment his character discovered who his real mum was, and the relationship he then formed with actress Betty Driver. He says: “It was a scandal when it came out. We had that kind of relationship off set – it was a whole new part of my life. We understood each other. It was an extraordinary event in my life that storyline.”