Classic Corrie - 2003 begins! Maxine’s met a sticky end, but dear old Emily’s on the mend, and Maria’s betrayed her dearest friend

[WomanStanleyWoman2]

Place your bets for how many years out of date the storylines in the title will be by the end of the thread… 😁

Yes and Mike! I loved him with alma and then
the Linda storyline. Also working with angie in the factory. Feels like he’s not got much going on now though.

Ahhh Bet, Raquel, Alma. Great characters, brought to life by the actresses who played them.

I watched a couple of eps of CS a few months ago and whilst it was great to see Jenny, Spider, Audrey, Gail, Ken, Rita et al, some of the newer characters were not compelling at all. The Rovers bar staff, for example. Nothing like as strong as their predecessors. Chesney’s wife’s mother (don’t know their names) shoehorned into the cafe and seemingly with Dev, who in reality would not look at her twice. Nick’s long lost son was fab though!

what I’ve found interesting about watching years and years of classic Corrie, is that the characters I really remembered and thought were really good characters, really aren’t as good as previous ones. Karen McDonald is a good example, I remembered her as being fab but now not so much. For me, the 2000’s Corrie aren’t anywhere near as good as the 90’s. For me nothing can beat the era of racquel and des/curly, alma and Mike, early sally and Kevin, and bet and Alec. Brilliant. Steve and Karen McDonald are just annoying me now

I’m with you on Alec. He’s one of the characters I really didn’t appreciate until I saw him again in Classic.

Karen McDonald is a good example, I remembered her as being fab but now not so much

This! I remembered her being fiesty but a great character. Watching the old episodes she's just totally OTT & unlikeable

I caught up with last week's Corrie yesterday, just highlights what a crock of shit it is compared to classic Corrie

Janice went a bit too far on Maria didn’t she? Full Liam Neeson a la Taken! But much!

Does anyone remember is this the last we see of Toyah until she comes back as Peter Barlows secret girlfriend? or does she pop up from time to time?

I don't think Toyah reappears until 2016 when she is with Peter. In true soap style she is probably never mentioned in any conversation or invited to any event.

Didn't she go off to train as a doctor? 😁

A counsellor! She’s a bit rubbish when she comes back. Dresses in curtains and weeps and wails after Peter Barlow.

No, I meant in Holby City!😄
Before presumably retraining as a curtain-clad counsellor and returning to the cobbles...

She was a lawyer in Law and Order for a bit too 😁

Maria’s dalliance with John is actually mentioned when Toyah returns in 2016.

That’ll be the last I see of Toyah then, because I’ll probably stop watching Classic before we get to 2016. It’s a shame, she’s a favourite character of mine, but more recent CS is so poor not even my preferred characters can lift it.

Wish they’d show eps from the 1960s - 1970s.

Totally agree with this, I like the older characters much better this time round and the younger ones not so much, although Maria has always irritated me with her one note expression.
It's not too far off from when I started to watch occasionally rather than every episode. I think after Tracy clubs Charlie Stubbs.

I hope once they catch up they will be kind and rewind back to early episodes!
I do wonder at my brain...I remember passing incidents and forget very important issues. I wish Keith Duffy would return.

Yes to the “one note expression” of Maria’s. It’s the sneer and the little snort that irritates me.

Also the angry tearing at a piece of toast with the teeth when someone upsets her at breakfast.

She was great with Alan Halsall though, lots of chemistry I thought.

"Tracy clubs Charlie Stubbs" - looks like the start of the thread title for when we get to those episodes! 😁

@TheFifthTellytubby we'll be waiting a while for the next thread but glad to be of assistance 😊

Absolutely cannot WAIT for tomorrow 😀😀

Will miss Brian Capron! Such a good actor.

I remember these scenes reflecting how talented Helen, Tina and Jack are, too. They all nailed it.

Some trivia - Bethany is portrayed by identical twins, and Tina is godmother to one of them. What a nice touch, asking your child’s onscreen mum to be godmother!

So many people going to be eating an awful lot of humble pie. I remember this story the first time around, still just as shocking today though when he admitted it to Gail.

Seeing the episodes so close together, I don't get why Richard suddenly changed and confessed.
I know Gail was starting to question but I bet he voukdce talked her round

I can’t remember how it all plays out but I got the feeling from todays brief admission, that he is losing it a bit and felt that his honesty would make it ok, that Gail would stand by him. Delusions I guess

Brilliantly pieced together - Gail listening to Steve talking about Richard claiming the bracelet. Was a bit worried Martin was going to blab about Ashley not being Jodhua’s father, therefore giving him a motive.