I love Coronation Street but the latest death storyline was abysmal – the soap could be in serious trouble
WHAT sort of way do Coronation Street bosses view the legacy of the street?
There is a reason why the serial drama has lasted so long on ITV screens and it’s not just the time it’s shown on television.
Coronation Street has been beloved by fans for decades for the mixture of human interest storylines mixed with the fantastic stunts.
I have loved to see the multiple fires over the years engulf the Rovers Return and I am looking forward to the forthcoming Platt house fire.
But more than that, at the very heart of a soap opera are the beloved characters.
These faces are the people who we tune into watch more than three or four days a week.
Over the years, viewers become invested in every intimate detail about their lives and personalities.
Les Battersby played by Bruce Jones, 71, was one character in Weatherfield that fans simply adored over the years.
We loved to see him give his fellow Salford residents a tongue lashing when they deserved it and we all have a fondness for his outspoken opinions.
His rows with Cilla (Wendi Peters) and Janice (Vicky Entwistle) will forever remain etched in my memory.
Fans of the soap couldn’t help but have a soft spot for the man when he would continuously declare his love for band Status Quo.
Who could forget when the rockers popped in for a drink at the Rovers after their concert? The answer is nobody.
This was a legendary character on the street who was beloved by millions of viewers across the country and deserved a proper exit.
Instead, he was randomly killed off-screen, a whole 17 years after his last appearance.
But the way producers wrote his exit was just shocking, and all for the wrong reasons.
Police came knocking after a “workplace accident,” and the reaction of his daughters was less than what we would expect.
Coronation Street's 2024 shock exits
Corrie has said goodbye to several cast members this year. Let's break down who's left the famous soap:
Eliza Woodrow (Savannah Kunyo) has said farewell to Corrie to start a new life in Germany.
The youngster moved to live with her dad Dom Everett, who went back on the £10,000 bribe Eliza’s grandfather Stu had offered to keep him out of her life.
Paul Foreman (Peter Ash) will bow out of the soap this summer when he loses his fight with motor neurone disease (MND) in tragic scenes.
After being diagnosed last year, the fan favourite was devastated to learn he only had months left to live.
Viewers know he is planning to take his own life to end his suffering.
Summer Spellman (Harriet Bibby) departed the cobbles after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to study in America.
Though she struggled to decide with her stepdad Paul’s impending death from MND, she was convinced she had to live her life to the full.
Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) has struggled with the sudden departure of his father Peter from the cobbles.
The Weatherfield legend left his family and loved ones behind on Boxing Day, 2023, when his wife Carla Connor encouraged him to travel around the world with a friend.
Simon’s been on a downward spiral ever since and his exit could end in tragedy.
Alya Nazir is set to leave the cobbles as actress Sair Khan prepares to go on maternity leave ahead of the birth of her first child.
It looks likely she’ll be heading to Dublin after securing a lucrative new job, leaving her colleague and fling Adam Barlow behind.
Show stalwart Sue Cleaver, who plays Eileen Grimshaw, is taking a break to star in the Sister Act The Musical UK tour. She will be back filming in May once her dates on the tour come to an end.
Her character left the Street after her son Jason broke his back after falling off a moped in Asia.
Although they didn’t necessarily have the best relationship, the fact that Leanne (Jane Danson) is more concerned by her drive for revenge than any post-death arrangements is just shameful.
Yes, there is the court case with Rowan Cunliffe (Emrhys Cooper), but Leanne actually seems more preoccupied with getting Nick (Ben Price back into her life.
This will of course means she simultaneously gets back at her sister Toyah (Georgia Taylor) for her earlier betrayal.
The death of a legendary character, who may still have had potential for a comeback, was simply used as a plot device.
The way producers wrote his exit was just shocking, and all for the wrong reasons.
It shows that the writers at the moment do not care about the legacy of the iconic street, one that goes back over 60 years.
No, they would be more than willing to discard a legendary face in favour of short term advancement of a storyline which is on the road to nowhere.
Corrie was previously known for inserting humour and comedy into scenes, but the writing is what’s laughable now.
I would not ever want to drive down cobbles, but if this standard continues then ITV may be in for a bumpy ride of their own.
Coronation Street continues on ITV1 and is available to stream on ITVX.