With Bethany, Simon, Faye and Craig Corrie has nice little group of teens on the street, however they never interact with each other except for Craig and Faye. Do you think Corrie should get them all interacting with each other and do a real teen story? I know back in the day I loved Days of Our Lives teen group with Shawn-D, Belle, Phillip and Chloe. Maybe Corrie could do something similar, ti would also be a way to get younger viewers interested in the show.
Should Coronation Street do a proper teen story?
Might be a good idea but I find the age gaps quite consistent with what happens in real life.
Bethany wouldn't dream of hanging out with the younger more childish ones as she thinks she grown up.
Didn't Liam and Joseph sometimes play together ?
The age gaps are too much at the moment, I think.
Bethany wouldn't dream of hanging out with the younger more childish ones as she thinks she grown up.
Didn't Liam and Joseph sometimes play together ?
The age gaps are too much at the moment, I think.
Originally Posted by ForGodsSake:
“Might be a good idea but I find the age gaps quite consistent with what happens in real life.
Bethany wouldn't dream of hanging out with the younger more childish ones as she thinks she grown up.
Didn't Liam and Joseph sometimes play together ?
The age gaps are too much at the moment, I think.”
“Might be a good idea but I find the age gaps quite consistent with what happens in real life.
Bethany wouldn't dream of hanging out with the younger more childish ones as she thinks she grown up.
Didn't Liam and Joseph sometimes play together ?
The age gaps are too much at the moment, I think.”
Well, Simon and Faye are 13 and Bethany is 14 and Craig is what 16? that isn't much of an age gap. I do agree with you about Bethany she probably does think she is too grown for them but when school starts they could show them interacting at school.
Originally Posted by Mark_Washingto1:
“Well, Simon and Faye are 13 and Bethany is 14 and Craig is what 16? that isn't much of an age gap. I do agree with you about Bethany she probably does think she is too grown for them but when school starts they could show them interacting at school.”
“Well, Simon and Faye are 13 and Bethany is 14 and Craig is what 16? that isn't much of an age gap. I do agree with you about Bethany she probably does think she is too grown for them but when school starts they could show them interacting at school.”
yes but simon, faye and craig look their ages, bethany looks 10 yrs older
that being said some kind of party where she is forced to sit at the kids table would be quite entertaining
Faye bullied simon so its understandable he gives her a wide birth!
didn't simon just turn 11/12 he isn't fayes age? everyone forgot mini tracy (Amy)
god can you imagine mini tracy and bethany reeking havoc!
Originally Posted by soap-lea:
“yes but simon, faye and craig look their ages, bethany looks 10 yrs older
that being said some kind of party where she is forced to sit at the kids table would be quite entertaining
Faye bullied simon so its understandable he gives her a wide birth!
didn't simon just turn 11/12 he isn't fayes age? everyone forgot mini tracy (Amy)
god can you imagine mini tracy and bethany reeking havoc!”
“yes but simon, faye and craig look their ages, bethany looks 10 yrs older
that being said some kind of party where she is forced to sit at the kids table would be quite entertaining
Faye bullied simon so its understandable he gives her a wide birth!
didn't simon just turn 11/12 he isn't fayes age? everyone forgot mini tracy (Amy)
god can you imagine mini tracy and bethany reeking havoc!”
I think Bethany is meant to look older because she thinks she's grown. I thought Simon was 13 or 14? And you're right about Amy and Bethany, those two should be brought together in a story, maybe Bethany could start influencing Amy and get her involved in Callum's drug deals as well.
Originally Posted by Mark_Washingto1:
“I think Bethany is meant to look older because she thinks she's grown. I thought Simon was 13 or 14? And you're right about Amy and Bethany, those two should be brought together in a story, maybe Bethany could start influencing Amy and get her involved in Callum's drug deals as well.”
“I think Bethany is meant to look older because she thinks she's grown. I thought Simon was 13 or 14? And you're right about Amy and Bethany, those two should be brought together in a story, maybe Bethany could start influencing Amy and get her involved in Callum's drug deals as well.”
no it's because they want her to do adult storylines. but they didnt consider other kids on the street
so simon is 12 and Amy 11 according to corriepedia. so they are a bit young to hang with the teens
Aren't Craig and Bethany around the same age? Faye is near Simon's age but as someone mentioned she bullied him and didn't Amy make her cry by saying she saw her dead mum? What about Asha and Aadi are they near Simon's and Amy's age?
Originally Posted by soap-lea:
“no it's because they want her to do adult storylines. but they didnt consider other kids on the street
so simon is 12 and Amy 11 according to corriepedia. so they are a bit young to hang with the teens”
“no it's because they want her to do adult storylines. but they didnt consider other kids on the street
so simon is 12 and Amy 11 according to corriepedia. so they are a bit young to hang with the teens”
Well they had them interacting with Faye and her MIA friend Grace for awhile so it wouldn't be too much a stretch to see them involved with Bethany. I have a feeling you're right about Bethany, I think she will be sleeping with Callum before too long...which is why they cast someone older.
I really see your point here Mark!! One of the joys of Corrie in the 00's for me was the group of youngsters & all their interacting with each other as a group!! Admittedly they were more late teens but we had Candice & Sarah, Tyrone, Jason & Todd, Maria, Fiz, The Harris kids, David, even the two slightly older Battersby girls, alldifferent age groups but all interacted together & had their friendships, their feuds, in other words they were real people & a joy to watch!!
Contrast that with the current bunch of miserable angst filled loners, without a friend between them & we have the root of your problem!! Before, even the least likeable teens had a best friend to hang out with & play off but who would really want to be mates with Bethany, Simon, Amy or Faye, even Craig is an oddball, likeable as he is!!
I am really hoping that with the number of young kids around at the moment, the Alahan twins, Hope & Ruby, little Liam, Jack, Max & Lily, Jake (assuming he hasn't ceased to exist) that in a few years time, given some careful casting & vibrant imagiative writing we can once again emulate that group of diverse, real & watchable group of youngsters I enjoyed so much in the 00's in a few years time
.....or is that just another of my Corrie pipe dreams 
??
Contrast that with the current bunch of miserable angst filled loners, without a friend between them & we have the root of your problem!! Before, even the least likeable teens had a best friend to hang out with & play off but who would really want to be mates with Bethany, Simon, Amy or Faye, even Craig is an oddball, likeable as he is!!
I am really hoping that with the number of young kids around at the moment, the Alahan twins, Hope & Ruby, little Liam, Jack, Max & Lily, Jake (assuming he hasn't ceased to exist) that in a few years time, given some careful casting & vibrant imagiative writing we can once again emulate that group of diverse, real & watchable group of youngsters I enjoyed so much in the 00's in a few years time
.....or is that just another of my Corrie pipe dreams ??
Interesting thread.
As notdebbiedingle has so nicely explained, the late 90s and early 2000s was certainly Corrie's strongest ever period for younger characters.
The problem is that Coronation Street has always struggled with youngsters right from the very first episodes. Aside from Lucille Hewitt and the Barlow twins, there were practically no children on the Street from the mid-1960s until Tracy was born in the 1977. Even then, the children were always washing their hands or upstairs playing their tapes. Forget featuring in a storyline of their own - they were never even seen. The McDonald twins were the first true attempt at writing for younger characters, with them both being portrayed as individuals in their own right rather than an 'add on' to another more significant character (Jenny Bradley, for example, was really just 'tagged' onto the Rita and Alan Bradley story).
The strong teen ensemble that developed in the early 2000s was quite a revolution for Corrie. I was around the same age as the likes of Sarah, Candice and Todd at the time and they were all realistic, relatable characters. In fact, thinking back, people my age actually watched and enjoyed Corrie. The 2002-2003 period with Richard Hillman was must-see television and people talked about it at school and sixth form.
A slight aside, and I feel as though I say this a lot, but Candice was a brilliant character and it was a crime that Corrie let Nikki Sanderson's talents go unnoticed for so long.
As notdebbiedingle has so nicely explained, the late 90s and early 2000s was certainly Corrie's strongest ever period for younger characters.
The problem is that Coronation Street has always struggled with youngsters right from the very first episodes. Aside from Lucille Hewitt and the Barlow twins, there were practically no children on the Street from the mid-1960s until Tracy was born in the 1977. Even then, the children were always washing their hands or upstairs playing their tapes. Forget featuring in a storyline of their own - they were never even seen. The McDonald twins were the first true attempt at writing for younger characters, with them both being portrayed as individuals in their own right rather than an 'add on' to another more significant character (Jenny Bradley, for example, was really just 'tagged' onto the Rita and Alan Bradley story).
The strong teen ensemble that developed in the early 2000s was quite a revolution for Corrie. I was around the same age as the likes of Sarah, Candice and Todd at the time and they were all realistic, relatable characters. In fact, thinking back, people my age actually watched and enjoyed Corrie. The 2002-2003 period with Richard Hillman was must-see television and people talked about it at school and sixth form.
A slight aside, and I feel as though I say this a lot, but Candice was a brilliant character and it was a crime that Corrie let Nikki Sanderson's talents go unnoticed for so long.
Originally Posted by KornerKabin:
“Interesting thread.
As notdebbiedingle has so nicely explained, the late 90s and early 2000s was certainly Corrie's strongest ever period for younger characters.
The problem is that Coronation Street has always struggled with youngsters right from the very first episodes. Aside from Lucille Hewitt and the Barlow twins, there were practically no children on the Street from the mid-1960s until Tracy was born in the 1977. Even then, the children were always washing their hands or upstairs playing their tapes. Forget featuring in a storyline of their own - they were never even seen. The McDonald twins were the first true attempt at writing for younger characters, with them both being portrayed as individuals in their own right rather than an 'add on' to another more significant character (Jenny Bradley, for example, was really just 'tagged' onto the Rita and Alan Bradley story).
The strong teen ensemble that developed in the early 2000s was quite a revolution for Corrie. I was around the same age as the likes of Sarah, Candice and Todd at the time and they were all realistic, relatable characters. In fact, thinking back, people my age actually watched and enjoyed Corrie. The 2002-2003 period with Richard Hillman was must-see television and people talked about it at school and sixth form.
A slight aside, and I feel as though I say this a lot, but Candice was a brilliant character and it was a crime that Corrie let Nikki Sanderson's talents go unnoticed for so long.”
“Interesting thread.
As notdebbiedingle has so nicely explained, the late 90s and early 2000s was certainly Corrie's strongest ever period for younger characters.
The problem is that Coronation Street has always struggled with youngsters right from the very first episodes. Aside from Lucille Hewitt and the Barlow twins, there were practically no children on the Street from the mid-1960s until Tracy was born in the 1977. Even then, the children were always washing their hands or upstairs playing their tapes. Forget featuring in a storyline of their own - they were never even seen. The McDonald twins were the first true attempt at writing for younger characters, with them both being portrayed as individuals in their own right rather than an 'add on' to another more significant character (Jenny Bradley, for example, was really just 'tagged' onto the Rita and Alan Bradley story).
The strong teen ensemble that developed in the early 2000s was quite a revolution for Corrie. I was around the same age as the likes of Sarah, Candice and Todd at the time and they were all realistic, relatable characters. In fact, thinking back, people my age actually watched and enjoyed Corrie. The 2002-2003 period with Richard Hillman was must-see television and people talked about it at school and sixth form.
A slight aside, and I feel as though I say this a lot, but Candice was a brilliant character and it was a crime that Corrie let Nikki Sanderson's talents go unnoticed for so long.”
Excellent post. Giving stories to younger characters such as Sarah, Todd, Candice, Fiz, Maria etc was a brilliant idea. I remember Candice, Maria & Fiz moving into the flat above the salon which was good too see rather than them living at home with their parents. Before I left school the only soaps I ever talked about with friends were EastEnders & Hollyoaks. EastEnders for the thought provoking storylines, twists & shocks, Hollyoaks for the 'fit' actors. The only people who watched Corrie practically only watched it with their parents & never went out of their own way to watch it. My mother has stopped watching it now because she finds it boring. Even if I miss an episode I don't bother catching up at all. It's not really 'must see TV' anymore, whereas the other soaps are.
When SB leaves Corrie really needs a new producer to inject new life into the street much like Brian Park in 1997.
Originally Posted by KornerKabin:
“Interesting thread.
As notdebbiedingle has so nicely explained, the late 90s and early 2000s was certainly Corrie's strongest ever period for younger characters.
The problem is that Coronation Street has always struggled with youngsters right from the very first episodes. Aside from Lucille Hewitt and the Barlow twins, there were practically no children on the Street from the mid-1960s until Tracy was born in the 1977. Even then, the children were always washing their hands or upstairs playing their tapes. Forget featuring in a storyline of their own - they were never even seen. The McDonald twins were the first true attempt at writing for younger characters, with them both being portrayed as individuals in their own right rather than an 'add on' to another more significant character (Jenny Bradley, for example, was really just 'tagged' onto the Rita and Alan Bradley stor
The strong teen ensemble that developed in the early 2000s was quite a revolution for Corrie. I was around the same age as the likes of Sarah, Candice and Todd at the time and they were all realistic, relatable characters. In fact, thinking back, people my age actually watched and enjoyed Corrie. The 2002-2003 period with Richard Hillman was must-see television and people talked about it at school and sixth form.p
A slight aside, and I feel as though I say this a lot, but Candice was a brilliant character and it was a crime that Corrie let Nikki Sanderson's talents go unnoticed for so long.”
“Interesting thread.
As notdebbiedingle has so nicely explained, the late 90s and early 2000s was certainly Corrie's strongest ever period for younger characters.
The problem is that Coronation Street has always struggled with youngsters right from the very first episodes. Aside from Lucille Hewitt and the Barlow twins, there were practically no children on the Street from the mid-1960s until Tracy was born in the 1977. Even then, the children were always washing their hands or upstairs playing their tapes. Forget featuring in a storyline of their own - they were never even seen. The McDonald twins were the first true attempt at writing for younger characters, with them both being portrayed as individuals in their own right rather than an 'add on' to another more significant character (Jenny Bradley, for example, was really just 'tagged' onto the Rita and Alan Bradley stor
The strong teen ensemble that developed in the early 2000s was quite a revolution for Corrie. I was around the same age as the likes of Sarah, Candice and Todd at the time and they were all realistic, relatable characters. In fact, thinking back, people my age actually watched and enjoyed Corrie. The 2002-2003 period with Richard Hillman was must-see television and people talked about it at school and sixth form.p
A slight aside, and I feel as though I say this a lot, but Candice was a brilliant character and it was a crime that Corrie let Nikki Sanderson's talents go unnoticed for so long.”
You are right about Candice/ Nikki, with proper character development & some big storylines she could have been a real long term favourite but as things stood at the time the character had become somewhat one dimensional & I feel Nikki was right to leave when she did!! There is no one more delighted for her than I am that Hollyoaks has given her a chance to shine with some really meaty stuff!! Would love to see Candice return for a short stint but not as long as Stuart Blackburn & Kieran Roberts are in control!!
They've already done some stories with the younger members of the cast interacting - Amy bullying Simon, Faye getting pregnant and being supported by Craig to mention just two.
The problem is that child actors are limited on how much time they can work, they have to have schooling, as well as a chaperone. Backstage could get really crowded, confusing and difficult if they were all involved in one storyline for any length of time.
It used to be that they'd be sent upstairs to listen to their tapes to conform to the regulations. Now they just pretend they don't exist.
The problem is that child actors are limited on how much time they can work, they have to have schooling, as well as a chaperone. Backstage could get really crowded, confusing and difficult if they were all involved in one storyline for any length of time.
It used to be that they'd be sent upstairs to listen to their tapes to conform to the regulations. Now they just pretend they don't exist.
No, no, no.
There are enough teenage / kiddy stories as it is without adding anymore.
If you want to watch endless teenage problems best go watch Home and Away..
There are enough teenage / kiddy stories as it is without adding anymore.
If you want to watch endless teenage problems best go watch Home and Away..
Originally Posted by KornerKabin:
“Interesting thread.
As notdebbiedingle has so nicely explained, the late 90s and early 2000s was certainly Corrie's strongest ever period for younger characters.
The problem is that Coronation Street has always struggled with youngsters right from the very first episodes. Aside from Lucille Hewitt and the Barlow twins, there were practically no children on the Street from the mid-1960s until Tracy was born in the 1977. Even then, the children were always washing their hands or upstairs playing their tapes. Forget featuring in a storyline of their own - they were never even seen. The McDonald twins were the first true attempt at writing for younger characters, with them both being portrayed as individuals in their own right rather than an 'add on' to another more significant character (Jenny Bradley, for example, was really just 'tagged' onto the Rita and Alan Bradley story).
The strong teen ensemble that developed in the early 2000s was quite a revolution for Corrie. I was around the same age as the likes of Sarah, Candice and Todd at the time and they were all realistic, relatable characters. In fact, thinking back, people my age actually watched and enjoyed Corrie. The 2002-2003 period with Richard Hillman was must-see television and people talked about it at school and sixth form.
A slight aside, and I feel as though I say this a lot, but Candice was a brilliant character and it was a crime that Corrie let Nikki Sanderson's talents go unnoticed for so long.”
“Interesting thread.
As notdebbiedingle has so nicely explained, the late 90s and early 2000s was certainly Corrie's strongest ever period for younger characters.
The problem is that Coronation Street has always struggled with youngsters right from the very first episodes. Aside from Lucille Hewitt and the Barlow twins, there were practically no children on the Street from the mid-1960s until Tracy was born in the 1977. Even then, the children were always washing their hands or upstairs playing their tapes. Forget featuring in a storyline of their own - they were never even seen. The McDonald twins were the first true attempt at writing for younger characters, with them both being portrayed as individuals in their own right rather than an 'add on' to another more significant character (Jenny Bradley, for example, was really just 'tagged' onto the Rita and Alan Bradley story).
The strong teen ensemble that developed in the early 2000s was quite a revolution for Corrie. I was around the same age as the likes of Sarah, Candice and Todd at the time and they were all realistic, relatable characters. In fact, thinking back, people my age actually watched and enjoyed Corrie. The 2002-2003 period with Richard Hillman was must-see television and people talked about it at school and sixth form.
A slight aside, and I feel as though I say this a lot, but Candice was a brilliant character and it was a crime that Corrie let Nikki Sanderson's talents go unnoticed for so long.”
Spot on. I think it's too easy to look back at that era and point to the Richard Hillman storyline as the reason Corrie was so successful then, and that's exactly what happened judging by the number of serial killers we've seen since then. The truth is more complicated, and I truly think this was a huge factor.
Originally Posted by Janet43:
“They've already done some stories with the younger members of the cast interacting - Amy bullying Simon, Faye getting pregnant and being supported by Craig to mention just two.
The problem is that child actors are limited on how much time they can work, they have to have schooling, as well as a chaperone. Backstage could get really crowded, confusing and difficult if they were all involved in one storyline for any length of time.
It used to be that they'd be sent upstairs to listen to their tapes to conform to the regulations. Now they just pretend they don't exist.”
“They've already done some stories with the younger members of the cast interacting - Amy bullying Simon, Faye getting pregnant and being supported by Craig to mention just two.
The problem is that child actors are limited on how much time they can work, they have to have schooling, as well as a chaperone. Backstage could get really crowded, confusing and difficult if they were all involved in one storyline for any length of time.
It used to be that they'd be sent upstairs to listen to their tapes to conform to the regulations. Now they just pretend they don't exist.”
That's true about the limited time but other shows have done Teen stories with actual teens so that really is no excuse for Corrie.
As already pointed out Corrie did the teen age group best in the early 00's, with the young ones (David, Craig, Rosie), the teens (Sarah, Candice, Todd) and the older ones (Tyrone, Fiz, Maria, Toyah, Jason).
Didn't Simon used to hang out with Dev's twins all the time and something happened at a sleepover when Sophie was supposed to be looking after them?
I think it's more realistic at the moment with the age gaps for them not all to interact and I could understand why Bethany certainly wouldn't interact with the rest of them as she has only just come back to the area anyway. Simon and Amy would interact with each other anyway as they are cousins.
As notdebbiedingle pointed out the next chance of creating a kids/teens group lies with the current toddlers. Ruby, Jake and Lily would all be in the same school year. Hope and Jack would be as well and their parents are best mates (Kevin and Tyrone).
Didn't Simon used to hang out with Dev's twins all the time and something happened at a sleepover when Sophie was supposed to be looking after them?
I think it's more realistic at the moment with the age gaps for them not all to interact and I could understand why Bethany certainly wouldn't interact with the rest of them as she has only just come back to the area anyway. Simon and Amy would interact with each other anyway as they are cousins.
As notdebbiedingle pointed out the next chance of creating a kids/teens group lies with the current toddlers. Ruby, Jake and Lily would all be in the same school year. Hope and Jack would be as well and their parents are best mates (Kevin and Tyrone).
Originally Posted by David the Wavid:
“Spot on. I think it's too easy to look back at that era and point to the Richard Hillman storyline as the reason Corrie was so successful then, and that's exactly what happened judging by the number of serial killers we've seen since then. The truth is more complicated, and I truly think this was a huge factor.”
“Spot on. I think it's too easy to look back at that era and point to the Richard Hillman storyline as the reason Corrie was so successful then, and that's exactly what happened judging by the number of serial killers we've seen since then. The truth is more complicated, and I truly think this was a huge factor.”
To be honest I wasn't that bothered about the Hillman s/l, it was all a bit too OTT for me!! It was always more about the fact that Corrie had suddenly managed to reflect life as I knew it by bringing in the younger cast members & giving them proper storylines as opposed to, like KK says, just having them tacked onto the grown up's scenes as part of the furniture, or not seen at all!! Suddenly the show had gone from being just the same old people pottering on with their lives( which don't get me wrong worked brilliantly with the great iconic characters of the 70's & early eighties), to being a refreshed & revitalised community with all the characters interacting with each other & just seemed more to reflect life in the new millenium somehow!!
It's hard to put into words but one of the biggest problems with current Corrie to me is that they have lost that interaction with all the characters & everyone seems to be boxed up into their own little worlds, just concerned with their own s/l's!! I put that down to just too big a cast & also the cast rotation system they seem to have, where you get these intense weeks for certain characters, then they disappear for a few weeks, meaning by the time you pick up the story again all the impact has been lost!!
I seem to have drifted away from the point a bit but no, the Richard Hillman s/l will not go down as one of my favourite things about 00's Corrie!!
