Down from 11 million last year, to 8.5 this, they say.
WHEN are they going to get some scriptwriters who care? They announced that Maureen Lipmann was joining. I hoped they'd be using her writing talents as well as her acting, but no. They are obsessed with story-lines, forgetting that dialogue is what counts.
Example: Janice and her illicit lover walk back into the street after running away together. They are confronted by Blanche, who unleashes a torrent of abuse. They trudge on, looking sad. Why didn't they have Dennis saying something like "Well, that went better than I expected!"

Not surprised at falling audiences but very sad. Watched all my life but have given up recently.
I got fed up with Corrie trying to compete with East Enders - dark, depressing storylines, too much violence, too sexy etc.

Corrie always thrived when it's stories were character based and led. Look back at the 1960s, 70s & 80s great characters, great character interplay. Weeks could go by and the storyline would hardly move as the characters were the main focus. As a result the story moved at a realistic pace and it was far more gripping when a major event did take place.

It's not too late for Corrie to get its act together - but until it does I just cannot be bothered.

I was an avid fan of corrie, but not now There used to be a lot of fun banter, with the Duckworths, Batteresbys, even Fred Elliot. Where's it gone.? If the viewing figures don't tell the producer and script writers something, then they shouldn't be doing the job in the first place.


One line I remember which had me in stitches, was Fred Elloit addressing Toyah, and calling her Toyota!! A gem that

It's true corrie was much better with the Character led stories rather than the issue-led ones. Just watch granada plus episodes from 1990- much better. I'm glad Corrie's decided to go back to its roots.

I agree, its really gone down hill. I just got back from America where I've been for 6 weeks and I cant believe Keith Duffy is in it. Most of the acting now is atrocious. I cant watch it. Its a shame....I feel like the writers are just trying to out-do eastenders (which isnt much better itself) and now all the soap producers care about are awards

I'm pleased that Corrie has decided to go back to its roots but I have seen little evidence for this so far.
Part of the problem is that a lot of the great characters have now gone - some were axed by producers trying to make a name for themseves ( Derek, Don, Liz ), others were lost for not being given proper contracts ( who can ever forget Reg Holdsworth), others left in protest at producers decisions ( the actress Thelma Barlow left in protest at the axing of her screen hubby if I recall correctly ), some left in protest at the work load ( the chap who played alec Gilroy) and so on

Surely one problem is that it is on too often- four times a week, it is no longer an "event"; plus all the storylines are leaked well in advance, when there's no surprise what's the point in watching....

My girlfriend loves it, won't miss an episode, but I find that I can miss a couple of shows and nothing has really moved on. Quality, not quantity....a fault all the soaps share. Predictable, not interesting scripts. tDidn't everyone realise ages ago that Kevin & Sally would be back together again! How about doing something RADICAL - marry one of them off, long term, to someone else, or move one of them out of the street....reflect real life!!

I agree with most of this. You are correct to say that there has been a direct relationship between the addition of the fourth weekly episode and the fall in programme quality.

i will second that agreement

And now ITV are adding a 5th episode for a few weeks! Si they want to dry the show up completly? If anything they should be cutting back to 3 times a week

I didn't know that - dry the show up completely is exactly right ! No one wants to make that sort of committment to a soap on the telly unless its for a special story line on a rare occasion. They are doing it all the time now because ITV have so few shows that can pull in large audiences.

I think the storylines are only part of the problem.

I personally still enjoy it, as it is more light-hearted and true to life than Eastenders (at least from my life experiences!)

The real problem is that the program schedulers are always screwing around with the times.

eg. If Emmerdale has a hour long special, Corrie is moved to later. The real straw that broke the camels back was last year with all the live football, and Coronation Street was finally shown at gone 11pm. Sod it, my sleep is far more important than any TV program.

If they want to increase the audience share, they should take the program more seriously, and not keep on messing with the schedule all of the time.

They are not adding a 5th episode they are making the Monday show an hour long.

Nope they r making a fifth ep becuase i heard it on pure soap and in a tabliod news paper and in the guardian as well. Oh dear, i think even the bbc would do a better job of Corrie then itv is now doing

I really can`t see why adding an extra episode to Corrie will up the ratings. If anything, they would lose more viewers. The plots would be watered down more than they are already and the actors would have to work harder for probably the same money as they`re on now. Not to mention morale would be at an all time low.
If anything, Corrie should go back to 3 times a week. Maybe then they can salvage the mess that Corrie has become lately. Its sad really.
The powers that be at Corrie should concentrate more on why they`re losing fans rather than concentrating on their obsession with viewing figures.
And while i`m at it, if they opened up the Corrie studios to the public more often they`d probably gain a lot more fans.
Just my observation

There are two episodes on Monday 7.30 and 8.30 with a break at 8pm for Trv and his Tonight programme. Therefore 5 episodes a week.

There is much talk of Coronation Street's fall in ratings lately and indicating that the programme is in decline. However no comment is made about eastenders fall in ratings. The ratings for both programmes vary very little. In fact if you look at the ratings from BARB as printed in the Times Coronation Street is currently top of the ratings (admittedly only just). So the ratings slump is not just connected to the one programme.

I believe that the Channels think because a programme is popular viewers want more. With the soaps 2 or 3 episodes a week is ample. The extra episodes and specials are killing these programmes.

Exactally. If corrie had stayed 3 times weekly, it would probabally still be good, but the extra episode, (and sometimes the 5th eps) accorss the last 6 years has used up what the show had left, and shortened its life.

What I dont get is Corrie is 22 minutes long - for adverts

So 4 times 22 = 88 minutes -Corrination Street ITV1
4 times 28= 112 minutes - Eastenders BBC1 - No advertising as it is paid by Liscense Fee

Even if Corrie had a 5th epiode thats 110 minutes but it lacks quality even with 3 or 4 episodes a week comapred to Eastenders!

We get adverts on EE in the US every 10 mins or so. The 4 episode omnibus edition is 2 and a half hours long. Actually its less than that because it finishes around 5.25 pm.
So BBC-A must do a lot of editing.

Really ! So 150 minutes on BBC America. 112 on BBC1 . Thats already 38 minutes advertsing!
I could be a bit wrong 28 minutes is the maximim it could be 25 minutes minimum so thats another 12 minutes of adverts whcih equals 50 minutes of adverts ! Phew!

50 minutes / 4 episodes = 12 1/2 mintues adverts pre epidode
So 4 and a bit adverts every 10 minutes.
BBC America viewers deserve a medal jsut for keeping up with the story line with all those adverts!

On the plus side, we get lots of breaks to go to the loo, make tea, balance our chequebook, , paint our nails yadda yadda yadda

i`m embarassed to admit it but I have been known to cook dinner inbetween EE breaks before now

Lol , I guess that is a few good reasons to have them especially over 2 and a half hours!

This week they`re changing the time and day for EE on us yet again....... it`ll now be on Saturday at 1-3.30pm

what was it befor?

Fridays at 3-5.30pm. From now on that day and time will be used as a re-run from the previous Saturdays omnibus.
And BBC-America wonder why we`re mad at `em!