September dawns and Coronation Streeet is back with a bang; what a phenomenal set of episodes tonight.

I was worried about the show last week but caught up tonight and wow - what a sudden jolt.

Roy and Hayley's story is making soap history and tonight's episodes will be in compilation shows in 20 years time. David Neilson and Julie Hesmondhalgh were impeccable tonight as Hayley found out she was going to die. The characterisation was spot on: Roy, the deeply emotional, inhibited, good man, struggling to remain strong while his own rock falls apart; and Hayley, stoic to the point that it took my breath away, faltering only for the briefest of moments.

Yet the pain and sorrow of the diagnosis left me not feeling depressed, but alive. There was an underlying message in tonight's episodes, one which resonated through every scene, even the others unrelated to the storyline: good will prevail eventually, love conquers all.

As the episode drew to a close, we saw Hayley asking Roy to write down that he needs to learn to drive. A classic reference to it always having been Hayley who did the driving; a symbolic reference to the fact that he is going to have to learn when she has passed. As Roy dutifully went to the notebook, he found the wedding ring he was sure he had lost while Hayley was in theatre. He found the token of their love, the symbol of their two marriages and beautiful story.

The sorrow from Fiz as she heard the news (with a beautiful performance from Jennie Mcalpine) served as a reminder of the true brilliance of this couple who will surely be remembered as one of the all time bests, up there with the likes of Jack and Vera, Stan and Hilda.

The fear in the characters as they waited to discover news, how much time remained, where the land lay, spurred me to consider life and what it means to make the most of it. Hayley's death will not defeat the enduring love of this couple; it will, if anything, provide a beautiful stage for the final act of the most phenomenal, understated story to play out. And doesn't it make you wonder what life is all about?

Life is short. Life is cruel. Love while you can.

We will see a real goodbye, planned out to perfection in true Roy and Hayley style, beautiful sights, a community coming together, dreams fulfilled and lessons learned. And Hayley will no doubt ensure she has prepared Roy, himself, for when she's gone - by ensuring he learns to drive, for instance.

Soaps have always been a cultural checkpoint, a reminder of a sort of life, but mainly messages, little messages and lessons to learn. Tonight, we learned a lesson about life, living it to the full, and loving with all your might while you can.

While evil Karl begins to unravel, he is still on top of things for now; the perfect juxtaposition to the angelic purity of the cancer storyline. We know though that he will eventually be caught, through Dev and Jason's suspicions and his sinister intimidation of Craig.

Evil seems to be on top for the time being. Karl gets away with murder, Hayley is dealt a horrific blow. But the love and happiness the Croppers have had and will have until their story's end is something Karl will never, ever have; and he has the rest of his life to find that out. After all, good does always overcomes evil, and that's what Corrie has always shown so well.

We will cry and we will laugh at this storyline but as it takes hold we will surely come to consider what life is all about, and that reminder is a beautiful thing for anyone.

Remarkable stuff, Corrie. Stuart Blackburn's first glimpses of brilliance, after a rough start.

Everything you said... absolutely!

I watched tonight's episodes through tears, which is tantamount to the awesome acting of all the characters involved in Hayley's storyline.

I'm in tears now reading your wonderful interpretation of it.

It is sadly beautiful xx

exactly this.. & what fantastic acting

Everything you said. Can you review every episode?!

When Hayley looked at the clock that brief moment and still carried on talking, while digesting it...heartbreaking. Then when Roy held Hayley and started to cry, it just set me off. And I agree about Fiz, Jennie McAlpine doesn't get enough credit.

It's not often a character affects so many. Just reeling off the characters you'd expect to attend the funeral, it's practically the entire cast.

An absolutely beautiful set of episodes. I left the TV with tears in my eyes and had a strange feeling of sorrow, for Roy and for Haley.

Very moving stuff.

Very moving episodes, and brilliantly acted.

Amazing post OP.

Just like Corrie tonight - AMAZING

Really do not like Jennie McAlpine's screeching and whiny form of acting especially throughout the John Stape saga, a compete ham.

Here, it was scaled back and under played. Much better results and I have to give credit where it's due, she was fantastic. Hopefully, she'll continue with subtler approaches when it comes to the serious side of things.

Are you a writer OP? If not, you should be. Your post was just about the best review I have ever read, I was in tears. You summed up the episode so well, the acting was absolutely superb. Please post more.

Sorry, but don't agree with that at all.

I saw it as a depressing reminder that life can be so horrifically cruel and some people experience what must be a living hell for them.
The acting from Julie and David is absolutely superb but I just wish this storyline wasn't going ahead. Cancer is sadly such a common issue that we all know of someone who has been affected by it, that I don't think we need to see it played out on screen in such a harrowing manner.
I watch Corrie for escapism but this storyline is just so morbidly depressing that it actually affected my mood for the whole night afterwards
But I guess that is just me.

Yes, good acting all round but it is going to be a very difficult few months to watch

agreed, the acting was superb and the emotions portrayed were spot on.

Perfect post James.

I agree with this actually. Not to take anything away from it, but I agree with you. We didn't have the 2nd episode on, my girlfriend watched a repeat of Downton Abbey and I did the ironing instead

Far too depressing for me.

Whilst I found the acting impeccable, especially the consultant who I found it hard to believe was actually an actor and not a real doctor, I found the scenes very hard to watch. I had cancer several years ago and it brought back very painful memories as I'm sure it will for others who have gone through it or are currently in this position.

The phone call to fizz was very good. Just telling fizz No spoke volumes and no other dialogue was needed at that point. Love Roy, the actor is brilliant.

This storyline is a very good one from a drama sense of view, but Hayley and Roy are dearly loved characters. I suppose the story wouldn't have as much of an emotional impact if it was happening to people who'd been in the show only a year or so. It's painful to watch them suffering like this, especially Roy's reaction. And to see Fiz crying on the telephone, too. It was heartrending, but none of it was sensationalised. It didn't need to be.

Reading James' review brings tears . I deliberately hid behind my hobby and didn't watch,...I only listened. But even that was heartrending.
The writing, acting and also therefore the production were all amazing last night. This sort of situation is being faced by thousands of us every day and it's good to know how others cope.

James, what a wonderful post - summed up perfectly!!!

It was beautifully done, and thanks James for your post which showed just how good it was. Hayley and Roy underplayed it so well - you knew just how much they loved one another and how hard it was for them without them needing to show it. Roy's phone call to Fiz was heartbreaking.

It proves that what lies at the heart of good soap drama is human emotion.

This episode and the actors deserve awards. BIB, this was very moving. OP your review was well written, I'm looking forward to more from you.

You're a hunk AND you do the ironing? Lucky girlfriend!

Why are we Corrie fans being put through this? Cancer affects so many people so who, in all honesty, wants to see a character from a soap condemned to die from this awful disease? We know that the actress playing Hayley wanted to leave, so why couldn't she have been despatched quickly by having a fatal accident rather than the viewers being expected to watch weeks/months of tear jerking storylines?