No, Coronation Street is not dead. Here’s why it’s as strong as ever and will continue to be

By Duncan Lindsay, Soaps Editor and Assistant Communities Editor.

Wednesday 24 Jan 2018 12:53 pm

Coronation Street has certainly stepped up a gear in recent months. With an extra episode in our week and a growing cast and set, the storylines are also coming at us thicker and faster than ever before. Today, whispers are circulating that the beloved staple of British TV is in trouble, with dramatic claims even suggesting that it could be the end of the show.

Of course, a show that is not only a national institution but still manages to claim an average consolidated viewership of 9 million viewers, making it the most watched soap in the UK, is not going anywhere.

In the age of social media, it is of course easier than ever to share your opinions on TV shows and typically, for all shows, the slant of people reacting instinctively on Twitter or Facebook is to show negativity. XX story has gone on too long, sack the writers, axe this actor because I don’t like them, this would never happen in real life, booooooorrrrred, who even watches this anymore, how is this even news? These are comments you will find under a discussion of just about any programme.

Does this apparently overwhelming view that everyone hates soap therefore mean it’s a dying medium? Well viewing figures and the fact that people are still passionate and engaging in any way would say otherwise. And it’s always worth mentioning that out of the millions and millions who watch, those who engage regularly about it on social media are a comparatively small sample so not always representative of the entire view.

Of course, that’s in no way to undermine the power and the legitimacy of social media fanbases. Even when the comments are negative, these are people that really care about the show and often the criticism is insightful and worth listening to, born from their love of the soap.

However, it is ALWAYS subjective. And the trap that we can fall into is seeing a collection of comments saying the same thing and then viewing it as fact. We can never say ‘the fans think this’ or ‘everyone is saying…’ because that is never true. When 9 million people watch, it will never be the case that every single one will hold the same view.

The Phelan issue

Take the very divisive Pat Phelan. I regularly see calls for the story to end from people who have had enough but at the same time, the character has actually quite a heavy fanbase, with plenty of people wanting his reign to go on and on. If there were Twitter back in the early 2000s, would people have complained that Richard Hillman had dragged on? Quite possibly but we won’t know.

Of course, Phelan is someone who is now a ticking timebomb. It’s tempting to give in to the calls for him to get his comeuppance now but the show undoubtedly have a spectacular ending lined up that will make his downfall all that more worth the wait. And all of the dastardly deeds and the people who have been fooled or done wrong to will play a party. The intricate pieces are all there for a reason and the more he does wrong, the more impact it will have when he is brought down and the bigger feeling of justice.

Food tastes much better when you’re hungry, after all.

ITV are not going to drop Corrie or be worried about its state any time soon. It is the top rated soap (and one of the top rated shows) on TV which in an age of Netflix and catch up is no small feat. ITV have just invested in an extra episode and a brand new set. And the show pulls in high engagement from fans, positive and negative, and is still winning awards and critical acclaim. Yes, even several times Best Villain winner Phelan.

Is Corrie too dark? Or are there just more storylines?

Corrie has changed. It’s a show that’s heading towards being 60 years of age and the world has altered a huge amount in that time. So has television and the expectations of viewers. So while we do get nostalgic for the Corrie of old and there is a real magic to watching the repeats currently running from the 80s, it’s not a fair comparison to make.

A serial drama, when there is so much competition out there, can not survive and will not be watched based on everyday conversations between people on a street. As much as Corrie of old is golden television and a selection of us would love nothing more than to try and revisit that, it wouldn’t go down well with a modern audience and nor would it be a realistic representation of how conversation works in the modern world anyway. Moreso, it would feel like Corrie was trying to parody itself and shows much largely look to the future if they are to survive rather than dwelling too much on the past.

EastEnders tried it – storylines of bin collections and Denise struggling to make ends meet with a cliffhanger of her cooking cheap pasta did not get welcomed by fans. Corrie has to change with the times. If the show is not engaging fans with gripping storylines as well as everyday occurrences, then their audience will just hit up Netflix and stream Line Of Duty, Doctor Foster or Game Of Thrones, which pack that punch and cliffhanger over and over.

Corrie is now six episodes – that was not a decision of the show but one of ITV catering for an audience that is still there for it and filling their schedules with what people want to watch. It’s not Corrie’s job to decide schedules or episode counts but to make the best of it.

Six episodes a week means that the show has to have more storylines than when the show aired only three a week. Corrie has always had dark storylines so is it the case that the show has become darker – or is it more the case that as the show now has to have more storylines, that there is bound to be more of these types of plots?

There’s no denying that Corrie has dealt with some dark issues of late – from Bethany’s sex ring ordeal and Phelan murdering Andy through to an upcoming rape plot for David Platt. But dealing with dark matter is not new territory for Corrie.

Some of Corrie's darkest storylines

• The shooting of Ernie Bishop at point blank range in a factory robbery
• The moment which saw Richard Hillman murder Maxine and hit pensioner Emily Bishop on the head with a crowbar while she slept
• The domestic abuse suffered by Sally Webster at the hands of Greg Kelly
• Stalker Don Brennan who drove Alma Baldwin into a river before trying to kill Mike and then being blown up in a car crash.
• The supermarket siege which saw policewoman Emma shoot dead Dean Sykes after an intense hostage situation.
• A tram crash which flattened half the street and killed Ashley Peacock and Molly Dobbs.
• The murder of Charlotte Hoyle, who was hit over the head with a hammer by John Stape.
• The rampage of Maya Sharma, who blew up several shops and held Dev Alahan and Sunita Parekh hostage.
• Sarah Platt being groomed by an internet paedophile.
• The violent rape of Toyah Battersby in a dark alley.
• Tina McIntyre bludgeoned to death by Rob Donovan.
• The suicide of Kevin Webster’s wife Alison after she ran in front of a lorry.
• The murder of Tommy Harris which led to his daughter Katy’s suicide and the imprisonment of his wife Angela.
• The rape of Carla Connor at the hands of Frank Foster, who was then murdered by his mum Anne.
• The killing of Liam Connor by Tony Gordon, who then held an armed siege at Underworld before an explosion killed him.
• The domestic abuse of Tyrone Dobbs at the hands of his partner Kirsty Soames.
• The death of Sunita Alahan, who was left to burn in a fire started by Karl Munro, which also killed firefighter Toni Griffiths.

Alongside the darkness, Corrie maintains comedy and romance. The partnership of Steve and Tracy, the efforts of Norris dressed as Batman, Eva and Maria’s wedding fountain fight, Brian and Cathy’s antics, Dev and Gina’s afternoon delight, Tim and Sally’s bickering, Amy’s acerbic one liners, Gail getting drunk, David and Shona’s genuinely touching romance and the relationship of Colin and Moira are all very recent examples of Coronation Street’s light hearted side.

Additionally, the show continues to win awards for its comedy, with Dolly-Rose Campbell’s Gemma Winter and the double act of Mary and Norris being highly cited successes of the show.

Corrie is a mix and the dark has to come with the light – and it’s the same with every soap. The dark stories not only keep us gripped but also manage to make a huge difference in the world – with a platform of over 9 million, it is a responsibility of Corrie to sometimes utilise this to make an impact and raise awareness of serious issues, not to mention helping to give a platform or encouragement to those affected.

What else?

Corrie has recently rebuilt the core family of the Barlows, introduced a host of new characters and is spreading the stories across the cast more than ever, with everyone getting a turn in the limelight in stories of varying length, darkness and significance.

Old faces have returned, interactions have improved and sagas such as Bethany’s story, Kate and Rana’s affair and Carla’s return have triggered huge discussions and interest among fans.

Far from being dead in the water, Corrie is firing on all cylinders and doing everything a soap should do. It’s using its cast, its got plenty of stories and it is challenging viewers, dividing viewers, inspiring discussion, gripping us and also making us laugh and feel for the characters.

Of course, no soap is perfect and there are many areas where Corrie could improve or do more/less but again, this is simply subjective based on the individual taste of each and every very different viewer.

To suggest that Corrie is on the rocks however couldn’t be further from the truth – and I reckon it will outlive us all.

MORE: Coronation Street spoilers: Rana confesses, Phelan attacked and Carla sex twist

MORE: Coronation Street spoilers: Sick Phelan targets Bethany Platt with evil jibe

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