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For Coronation Street fans . . . .
Is, Bettys 'Hot-Pot' heading for the chop???????
Up to five of the Street's longest serving actors - such as William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, and Barbara Knox, who stars as Rita Sullivan - could be gone by the end of the year, the Sun reports. It seems that every actor has been asked to meet new producer Kim Crowther to discuss their future in Weatherfield. According to the paper, the long-running show is hoping to shave the salaries of its established characters and bring in a younger cast.
A Corrie insider reportedly said: "There is a feeling the show needs a younger and sexier feel. "The recent stars have been younger characters like David Platt, but many of the older characters are on huge money and are hardly involved. Everyone is very edgy, especially the greyer stars." Basically, it's all about taking on EastEnders and because of that, viewers can expect juicier storylines as the soap tries to take the edge in the ratings war. Ratings soared with the return of Rickaaaaaaay and Bianca and Corrie needs to take 'Enders on sooner rather than later. For that reason, some of the older cast are under threat. "It's not only them," the insider said. "Some of the very new characters are who have not worked out will also get the boot."
As you all know, this blog has a little feature called 'Gus Watch' - so named because the binman was hardly ever in EastEnders and even when he was, he might as well have not been for all the contribution he made. And what's happened? He's leaving 'by mutual consent'. Not so long ago, I said that Corrie needed a clear out and I listed all the stars that need to go. And what's happened? Now we hear that the knives are being sharpened. Are the powers that be reading this blog? How funny would that be!
However, I don't think the answer is as simple as just getting rid of the oldies - some of them are very good: I love Blanche Hunt, for example; she cracks me up. And if you have Blanche, you need Deirdre and Ken so that she can annoy them. So the cull shouldn't necessarily be with the oldies only - especially as it's the newer characters that aren't working. The kids in the kebab family (sorry Sinbad/Jerry) are a waste of space and the boring bookies feel like a bit of stunt-casting rather than real characters (pity cos I like Bad Girls' Jim Fenner - actor Jack Ellis - but his son is just plain awful).
