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Mike Baldwin's alzheimer's storyline


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Old 03-07-2015, 02:24
hyperbolic18
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Was this the first time a soap had given a long term character this storyline? Having had one grandparent go through dementia and now another grandparent in the early stages, I say well done Corrie for portraying the illness.
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Old 03-07-2015, 02:28
TeganRhan
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I think so yes in regards to Alzheimer's. At the time it was widely under represented and as such seemed like either 1- the funny old bat/man in the corner or 2- the scary thing no one saw any hope for. Yet we now know that although yes it's horrible and scary and sadly still terminal it's not AS scary with the right treatment as we all thought back then. It's not a case of over night lost hope.
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Old 03-07-2015, 03:02
GracieL
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Home and Away portrayed Alzheimers with Ross Buckton (Charlie's dad, also married Morag). I remember he killed the guy who raped Charlie when he was suffering.

Though it was nowhere as good as Mike's storyline as Ross was only a recurring character. There were so many twists in Mike's plot which it made it so good, like Danny and Leanne's chase for the will etc but above all it was fabulously portrayed and written with the perfect ending where Mike died in Ken's arms. Defiantly well done to the Corrie team for that.
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Old 03-07-2015, 04:45
hyperbolic18
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I agree and after 30 years service to the show I'm glad Johnny Briggs got a good exit storyline. There were funny/tragic elements to the plot such as Mike getting lost and chatting to a stranger, telling him about his business "Im in women's knickers" LOL, I liked the cast that were around at the time - Danny, Leanne, Jamie, Frankie. Deirdre and Ken were involved too.

Mike was always a charmer, one of life's winners and someone people looked upto, and to see the decline and him so vulnerable, lost, regressed to a childlike persona at times was upsetting viewing.
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Old 03-07-2015, 05:41
notdebbiedingle
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Johnny Briggs was brilliant in that storyline!! Don't know if he won anything for it but he should have done!!
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Old 03-07-2015, 07:33
Andybear
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I think so yes in regards to Alzheimer's. At the time it was widely under represented and as such seemed like either 1- the funny old bat/man in the corner or 2- the scary thing no one saw any hope for. Yet we now know that although yes it's horrible and scary and sadly still terminal it's not AS scary with the right treatment as we all thought back then. It's not a case of over night lost hope.
I disagree with it not being as scary with the right treatment as it was back then. The father of one of my friends has it now and it's very scary and there is no hope. My grandfather had it for a few years before he died so I have a lot of experience from then as well as my friend's father.
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Old 03-07-2015, 09:41
jiroos
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Johnny Briggs was brilliant in that storyline!! Don't know if he won anything for it but he should have done!!
He, along with Jane Danson & Bradley Walsh, were nominated for Best Storyline at the British Soap Awards 2006. He won a Lifetime Achievement Award that year.

Below is my favourite scene from what was a fabulous storyline. So cleverly written and brilliantly acted. This was when Corrie was Corrie:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cj8x9rYakBI
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Old 03-07-2015, 10:41
Creamtea
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Was this the first time a soap had given a long term character this storyline? Having had one grandparent go through dementia and now another grandparent in the early stages, I say well done Corrie for portraying the illness.
No. Mo Butcher in EE in the 90s.
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Old 03-07-2015, 11:33
StoryOfUs
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It was a really good storyline - one of the kind we should see some more of. My grandmother had dementia too and it's really underrepresented considering how many people are affected by it (compared to something like cancer which of course also affects millions but there are numerous cancer storylines). It's a heartbreaking, awful disease that's so tough on family as well as the sufferer. Would like to see EE do something on it too. Perhaps that could have been a better storyline for Pat to go out on?
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Old 03-07-2015, 14:29
Wyezed
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Was this the first time a soap had given a long term character this storyline? Having had one grandparent go through dementia and now another grandparent in the early stages, I say well done Corrie for portraying the illness.
Probably the first nationally watched one anyway.
BUT (honest question, I really don't know) does Alzheimers actually kill you? I don't think so, but could well be wrong.
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Old 03-07-2015, 14:41
hyperbolic18
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No. Mo Butcher in EE in the 90s.
Was she a long term character?
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Old 03-07-2015, 14:42
hyperbolic18
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Probably the first nationally watched one anyway.
BUT (honest question, I really don't know) does Alzheimers actually kill you? I don't think so, but could well be wrong.
No generally you regress and start to lose the ability to do anything, and the body starts to shut down. My nan died of pneumonia in the end
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Old 03-07-2015, 15:00
Harlowe
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I think River City has done one & Corrie did one recently with Eileen bloke's wife.
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Old 03-07-2015, 15:42
Wyezed
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No generally you regress and start to lose the ability to do anything, and the body starts to shut down. My nan died of pneumonia in the end
Thank you. So indirectly, it can.
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Old 03-07-2015, 15:59
Creamtea
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Was she a long term character?
Yes she was in it quite a while before she developed it. Think she was meant to be a replacement character for Lou Beale.
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Old 03-07-2015, 16:43
sunny day
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I think both times Coronation street have done the illness they have been so bad...they just kill people off..Mike Baldwin and the firemans wife...promised a groundbreaking storyline then killed her off.....it just isn't like that....
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Old 03-07-2015, 16:48
Creamtea
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I think both times Coronation street have done the illness they have been so bad...they just kill people off..Mike Baldwin and the firemans wife...promised a groundbreaking storyline then killed her off.....it just isn't like that....
Oh God Lesley!!! I'd managed to forget about her!!!
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Old 03-07-2015, 16:52
hyperbolic18
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To be fair I don't think many actors would want to play the story over years and years, it would be too much for them and viewers alike. He wished to leave and so they gave him this exit storyline.

The fireman's wife was a different matter. It was clear she was introduced as a plot device as a character with Alzheimers. Another one which it just reminded me of was Rita's chap Anthony who had a wife with the disease, introduced with Alzheimers.
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Old 04-07-2015, 02:53
blatherskite
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Thank you. So indirectly, it can.
Exactly. Like, Mike technically died of a heart attack, but it was the Alzheimer's that caused his weakened physical and mental state.
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Old 04-07-2015, 04:17
hyperbolic18
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Yes she was in it quite a while before she developed it. Think she was meant to be a replacement character for Lou Beale.
I'm not familiar with the character (just a bit before my time) but I would be interested to see clips of Mo's storyline and how it was portrayed.
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Old 04-07-2015, 10:41
KornerKabin
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Rewatching some of the episodes it's really struck me what an incredible run of performances Johnny Briggs put in towards the end of his time of the show. To see the absolute decline of a character like Mike who had always been impeccably turned out, faster than fast with his tongue and a completely independent man is really quite painful.

Also, watching it back it's surprising some of the smaller details that make Mike's final episode so poignant - silent credits in particular with no theme tune and no continuity announcer. I also still get a feeling of goosebumps when Mike dies and Ken, Rita and Emily slowly gather round.

Every element of the story drew so strongly on Mike's history in the show. From him shouting for Alma to still thinking he was having an affair with Deirdre. His mutterings about denim and the original factory were a powerful link back to his first episodes back in the 70s. There was also the scene where he burst into No.5, thinking he still lived there. I don't think that Corrie has drawn on its history in a storyline since Mike's death - which was nearly 10 years ago. Just goes to show how slapdash Corrie is these days.
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Old 04-07-2015, 15:53
hyperbolic18
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It's unfortunate they couldn't hold onto the other Baldwins for much longer
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Old 04-07-2015, 16:36
KornerKabin
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It's unfortunate they couldn't hold onto the other Baldwins for much longer
I agree. They were a great ensemble ...even Warren!

The entire Baldwin clan was ruined by Frankie and Jamie 'getting it on'. I'm sure that Debra Stephenson really didn't like the story, which brought about her departure from the show. Jamie hung around for a while but soon left with a whimper.

To be honest though, their days were numbered once Danny and Frankie split up. Frankie hated Coronation Street and in spite of seemingly settling down it was quite true to the character that she would soon move away.
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Old 04-07-2015, 17:19
rapunzel4
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i clicked on and read this thread cos my mums had alzheimers for 3 years now. i watched the old episodes in the links and the acting from johnny Briggs was great

river city had a storyline with a character with it recently and the decline went on for a while with good and bad days and an eventual heartbreaking episode where he goes into care (more realistic that a heart attack or accident to be fair) it was very well done but is unlikely to get any recognition as its a smaller soap
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Old 04-07-2015, 17:49
notdebbiedingle
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I agree. They were a great ensemble ...even Warren!

The entire Baldwin clan was ruined by Frankie and Jamie 'getting it on'. I'm sure that Debra Stephenson really didn't like the story, which brought about her departure from the show. Jamie hung around for a while but soon left with a whimper.

To be honest though, their days were numbered once Danny and Frankie split up. Frankie hated Coronation Street and in spite of seemingly settling down it was quite true to the character that she would soon move away.
I agree with everything bar Warren

Who's awful, creepy idea it was to have Frankie & Jamie start a relationship wanted immediate dismissal!! Bradley Walsh & Debra Steohenson eere superb as Danny & Frankie, two of my all time favourite characters and Jamie was a good foil for them!! Warren, well...,,
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