Coronation Street has ALWAYS had its comic-characters - Minnie Caldwell, Mavis, Hilda, Vera, Blanche - bless them!
But they are simply maintaining the 'comedy' aspect (which has always been a winning formula!!) with Gail, Eileen, Norris and Mary to name but a few.
TBH if it wasn't a drama, it could make a great Sit-Com!

This is was what I was trying to say earlier, Corrie no longer feels like a drama, it's feel is definitely becoming slightly slapstick, and does have more of a sit com feel to it now as there are some characters who are just beyond the realms of reality.

When i think back to comedic characters to like Vera and Jack, they had such areas of light and shade. Vera was slightly OTT but she was sharp and had a wicked temper. But compare her to the likes of Mary, who seem to SOLELY comedy characters and its easy to see the difference in the value they add to the show as a whole. There are times where we see glimpses of Mary's human side, but it seems to be quickly hushed up and brushed over with a comedy outburst. It's infuriating.

Keen, quality posts here; I'm thunderstruck. Where have you all been over the years? Glad I was tipped-off & tuned in. Keep it going, one & all!

Just scanning through, it is amazing how long most of the posts are. This is an indicator of the passion people have for Corrie and their genuine sense of frustration and even anger when it is being devalued.

Maybe Gail isn't the most iconic character in Corrie history, but what has happened to her is the creative equivalent of a lobotomy. Where is the respect for continuity and the hard graft that Helen Worth has put in to slowly build a complex and interesting character? What about the viewers who have patiently watched her grow up in front of their eyes from a flirty young girl into a mature and engaging woman?

There is another problem which has been exacerbated by the unfortunate death of Anne Kirkbride. It is a very sad fact that in the not too distant future Gail will be the sole representative of long-term Corrie history. With Ken, Emily and Rita all now in their eighties, the rich decades-long legacy will be placed on the shoulders of Helen Worth. So how do the story team protect the single most vital asset they have in the entire cast? Oh yeah, turn her into a kitchen sink version of Goofy who the other characters treat like a genuine imbecile with no compassion whatsoever. Such a wise choice.

I would love this to happen. Gail used to own half of the cafe & it would be good to see her maybe go into partnership with Roy again or take over the Bistro. Or she could retrain & pursue a totally different career. It seems like the writers have very limited ideas for female characters - young ones are either maneaters or get pregnant or both & older women get turned into buffons.

So true Craig, corrie is more like a very bad OTT sitcom these days.

It pains me that they have turned Gail into this simpleton. The same thing was happening to Deirdre. I don't know why they are trying to undermine the credibility of these characters.

It will never happen under Blackburn, but Gail (like many characters) needs to undergo a rebirth. Her current circumstances would be a great opportunity for her to reevaluate her life, her bad choices and completely rethink her future.

I would actually find it believable for Gail to have a slight breakdown and use it as chance to grab her life and drastically alter it.

1. Give Michael the push and really tell him what she thinks of him (I'd actually love a scene where she breaks down hysterically laughing at how she married the pathetic cretin who robbed her house!!, Where she looks in the mirror in wonderment at the woman she's become and vows to pull herself back together).
2. Take a proper job, in Roy's or The Bistro.
3. Living with her family actually works for Gail, so she could use the bit of money she has left to turn the garage into a granny flat, giving her, her own space but still being an integral part of the family.
4. Leave her single, make her into a strong and independent (and I hate to use this word) matriarch, loved and respected by her family. Giving them what for when required and pulling them into line.

If the rumours about Bethany's upcoming story with Callum are true, I dread to think how 'buffoon Gail' is going to deal with it!!

Gail has gone from being very miserable to a figure of comedy which is a weird transformation to make. Why would anyone marry the person who robbed them?

Not sure Gail would have much to do with that as neither Bethany or Callum are her kids

I appreciate what you're saying but Gail has been very involved in this war between David and Callum, and even though she is a joke to them, she is still integral to her children's lives, so is bound to have at least a reaction to her granddaughters circumstances.

'Buffoon Gail' will probably not work out what's going on and will ferry Bethany between drop off points, effectively acting as her mule. We can expect a 'comedy' scene where 'Buffoon Gail' eats some of Bethany's 'smarties' whilst she waits for her in the car and ends up ripped off her nuts. When the truth about Callum is discovered 'Buffoon Gail' will scurry off in her tabard to the clean the gents at The Bistro looking sheepish with comic darting eyes.

Excellent prediction! Don't be giving The Hat ideas, this is actually a very plausible storyline for his writing team!!!

Well said.

I don't watch Corrie anymore but have to say this is a very cogent and Interesting thread! Some of you need to become writers!

The change in Gail from six years ago is astounding. Hate her simpering now.