Queer Corrie

[Cop]

Sparky has just emailed me this... I thought it might interest the Corrie Fans

Its at the Corner House in Manchester

Wed 9 May 20:20

Accompanies Queer Up North 2007

The queen of British soaps is queer to its very roots as illustrated by this scintillating collection of clips, chosen by Coronation Street's writers.

From the cafe to Canal Street, writers Tony Warren (also the creator of the show), Jonathan Harvey, Damon Ruchefort and (shooting schedule allowing) actor Antony Cotton guide us through those quintessential queer moments. The event will be hosted by T4 presenter Antony Crank, who is also presenting the ITV Soap Awards.

With thanks to ITV Productions, Sixth Floor Productions, Programming Planning (BFI Southbank).

Certificate 15, approximate total running time 120 mins.

IMPORTANT

Places for this event are strictly limited, advance booking is highly recommended.

PRICE£6 full / £4.50 concs

Cornerhouse

 

[Joanna]

Thanks, Cop. Actually heard about this a while back. Can't make it down, sadly, as it would have to be an overnighter as it's on so late in the day.

Think Damon is a new addition to the bill, as he wasn't mentioned on the Cornerhouse site previously or in any of the online articles on the event. Even the Queer Up North's page on it has only been updated with the info about Antony Crank hosting and so doesn't mention Damon at all.

And, lol, at the same time as Cornerhouse have completely altered their blurb on the event, they've also made it sound like a movie....

Certificate 15, approximate total running time 120 mins.

But Certificate 15.... ?

This debate is posing the question 'Is Corrie the queerest soap ever?', with those heading the debate apparently to argue that Corrie has been a pioneer in its treatment of homosexuality and gay issues. Well, that sounds like it'll make for an 'interesting' debate! For a start, in terms of Corrie and the number of gay kisses they've shown in the whole of their history, we've had Todd and Karl's 2 kisses (and those kisses were before their actual affair began!), Sean and Sonny's 'pretend' kiss (what you see in that still is all you get!), Todd 'brushing lips' with Nick, and....and....nope, that's it!

Caught a couple of recent episodes of Hollyoaks and there were more gay kisses (John Paul and Spike) in these than there has ever been on Corrie.

With Sean, we never get to see him being 'close' to another man, and even though the Todd and Karl storyline was so filled with chemistry and magic, it was all severely lacking in terms of any intimacy shown between them (and don't get me started on how Corrie 'ended' things between them...grrrr!). Thinking of what we get shown when a man and woman have an affair/relationship on Corrie, there isn't really anything to compare. There just isn't any equality.

From the snippets I've caught of John Paul/Craig/Spike on Hollyoaks, there appears (difficult to tell when you're only watching within a limited context) to be much more of a progression in terms of gay/straight equality. They, admittedly, still have a long way to go on the equality front (as do all the soaps), but they are still, for me, miles ahead of Corrie on this.

But, it has to be said, regardless of how Corrie treated them in the end, the most memorable gay characters in soap for me are still, thanks to Bruno and Chris's portrayals and some great 'moment' writing, Todd and Karl....

xx Joanna xx

 

[LovelyLaura]

Thanks Cop

Agh, I soooo wanna go to this, but I can't afford to go to Manchester again at the moment I think it'll be quite interesting to hear all the comments and opinions on "Queer Corrie". Great to hear that Damon Rochefort will be there too- he has to be my fave writer on Corrie since Daran Little left. Damon wrote a wonderful little scene a while ago where the Goddess that is Eileen was having a rather tearful convo with Todd on the phone- so well written by Damon and well acted by the wonderful Sue Cleaver too

Btw, can't you replace the Sean/Sonny pic with one of Todd/Karl instead?!

 

[LovelyLaura]

But, it has to be said, regardless of how Corrie treated them in the end, the most memorable gay characters in soap for me are still, thanks to Bruno and Chris's portrayals and some great 'moment' writing, Todd and Karl....

Yep, totally agree there! It was a wonderful storyline, although I don't think Corrie always treated it with the respect it deserved. It annoys me how gay relationships in Corrie still aren't treated the same as straight relationships. Thankfully though, Bruno and Chris had great chemistry as Todd and Karl so the storyline worked well, despite the fact that Corrie didn't treat their relationship the same as straight relationships on the street.

I do think though that Corrie took several step forwards with the Todd/Karl storyline, even if they didn't take it as far as they could have (oo-er! ). I feel now though that they have taken several steps backwards with what they have done with their gay characters since the Todd/Karl era. I mean, when is Sean going to get a long term boyfriend?! They seem to promise this every year but, apart from brief relationships lasting a couple of episodes, there's no sign of a long term relationship in sight And don't even get me started on Pal Aron's admission that he and Antony only pretended to kiss for the episode where Steve caught Sonny and Sean "kissing"!

 

[Joanna]

Btw, can't you replace the Sean/Sonny pic with one of Todd/Karl instead?!

View attachment 99

xx Joanna xx

PS: Sorry, Chris...

 

[LovelyLaura]

Hehehe, thanks Joanna! *sigh* brings back memories

I think that the "tongue" piccy would have been a better choice though! (might have embarrassed Chris though hahaha )

 

[Joanna]

I think that the "tongue" piccy would have been a better choice though!

Ooh, I am tempted, but, then, after all, you did only ask for the one pic!

(might have embarrassed Chris though hahaha )

Take another look at the piccy above your post!

xx Joanna xx

 

[LovelyLaura]

Take another look at the piccy above your post!

Awww, that's a sweet pic....nowt embarrassing about it at all!

 

[Joanna]

No, you're right...It's not embarrassing at all! How can it be 'embarrassing' when it's true?

xx Joanna xx

 

[Strawbs]

Thanks, Cop. Actually heard about this a while back. Can't make it down, sadly, as it would have to be an overnighter as it's on so late in the day.
Think Damon is a new addition to the bill, as he wasn't mentioned on the Cornerhouse site previously or in any of the online articles on the event. Even the Queer Up North's page on it has only been updated with the info about Antony Crank hosting and so doesn't mention Damon at all.

And, lol, at the same time as Cornerhouse have completely altered their blurb on the event, they've also made it sound like a movie....

Certificate 15, approximate total running time 120 mins.

But Certificate 15.... ?

This debate is posing the question 'Is Corrie the queerest soap ever?', with those heading the debate apparently to argue that Corrie has been a pioneer in its treatment of homosexuality and gay issues. Well, that sounds like it'll make for an 'interesting' debate! For a start, in terms of Corrie and the number of gay kisses they've shown in the whole of their history, we've had Todd and Karl's 2 kisses (and those kisses were before their actual affair began!), Sean and Sonny's 'pretend' kiss (what you see in that still is all you get!), Todd 'brushing lips' with Nick, and....and....nope, that's it!

Caught a couple of recent episodes of Hollyoaks and there were more gay kisses (John Paul and Spike) in these than there has ever been on Corrie.

With Sean, we never get to see him being 'close' to another man, and even though the Todd and Karl storyline was so filled with chemistry and magic, it was all severely lacking in terms of any intimacy shown between them (and don't get me started on how Corrie 'ended' things between them...grrrr!). Thinking of what we get shown when a man and woman have an affair/relationship on Corrie, there isn't really anything to compare. There just isn't any equality.

From the snippets I've caught of John Paul/Craig/Spike on Hollyoaks, there appears (difficult to tell when you're only watching within a limited context) to be much more of a progression in terms of gay/straight equality. They, admittedly, still have a long way to go on the equality front (as do all the soaps), but they are still, for me, miles ahead of Corrie on this.

But, it has to be said, regardless of how Corrie treated them in the end, the most memorable gay characters in soap for me are still, thanks to Bruno and Chris's portrayals and some great 'moment' writing, Todd and Karl....

xx Joanna xx

I don't quite get what you're so angry about.

Is it the quality of the writing or just the lack of man on man action?

Strawbs

 

[LovelyLaura]

Is it the quality of the writing or just the lack of man on man action?

As Joanna quite clearly states that the storyline had some great writing, but comments quite a few times about the lack of equality between straight relationships and gay relationships in Corrie, then I think it is obvious why she is so annoyed.

 

[Strawbs]

As Joanna quite clearly states that the storyline had some great writing, but comments quite a few times about the lack of equality between straight relationships and gay relationships in Corrie, then I think it is obvious why she is so annoyed.

Joanna mentions kissing 5 times and the writing just once. I still don't quite get what it is she's so angry about that's all. It's only a bloody soap.

Strawbs

 

[angel clare]

Yep, totally agree there! It was a wonderful storyline, although I don't think Corrie always treated it with the respect it deserved. It annoys me how gay relationships in Corrie still aren't treated the same as straight relationships. Thankfully though, Bruno and Chris had great chemistry as Todd and Karl so the storyline worked well, despite the fact that Corrie didn't treat their relationship the same as straight relationships on the street.
I do think though that Corrie took several step forwards with the Todd/Karl storyline, even if they didn't take it as far as they could have (oo-er! ). I feel now though that they have taken several steps backwards with what they have done with their gay characters since the Todd/Karl era. I mean, when is Sean going to get a long term boyfriend?! They seem to promise this every year but, apart from brief relationships lasting a couple of episodes, there's no sign of a long term relationship in sight And don't even get me started on Pal Aron's admission that he and Antony only pretended to kiss for the episode where Steve caught Sonny and Sean "kissing"!

I do not think that Jp and Craig on Hollyoaks would have been possible without the groundwork laid by Todd and Karl. Jp and Craig really does appear in a context where there are lots of relationships in Hollyoaks, some of them a bit off the straight and narrow, some of them just er. . . . straight. The trouble is that the context of that soap is not that great. Even if the storyline is (it is).

Corrie seems to have been rather scared off gay relationships since Todd and Karl, except for relatively harmless ones, and for jokey little ones. This is a very great pity because, while soaps are not merely a matter of life and death; they are much more important than that. They reflect where we are at in our society and where the boundaries are.

And how wonderful for young people to have such great role modelsm as Bruno, James and Guy, and obviously Chris. Yeh Chris is a great role model.

Kev

 

[Strawbs]

I do not think that Jp and Craig on Hollyoaks would have been possible without the groundwork laid by Todd and Karl. Jp and Craig really does appear in a context where there are lots of relationships in Hollyoaks, some of them a bit off the straight and narrow, some of them just er. . . . straight. The trouble is that the context of that soap is not that great. Even if the storyline is (it is).
Kev

What about Bazz on Hollyoaks...10 years ago? Or Nick(?) just a few years ago. I might not watch Hollyoaks these days but back when it was worth a view they did have gay characters way before Todd and Karl in Coronation Street. The current storyline - though I haven't seen it myself having not watched Hollyoaks for years - probably has very little if not nothing to do with the Todd and Karl storyline of 3 years ago.

Strawbs

 

[angel clare]

I just found during a clear out an Attitude magazine from 2002 which features various gay characters in soaps etc. from the time and it includes Baz. Yeh, sure Hollyoaks has had loads of gay characters, but they really were not very good. The current gay storyline does indeed owe a lot to Todd and Karl, because it is being made under the jurisdiction of Carolyn Reynolds and Tony Wood, ex-Corrie, Hollyoaks producers, and also Bryan Kirkwood is one of the producers: he produced some of Todd and Karl. So they are bound to be aware of what went on before. They have not improved on T and K. But there are obvious references: such as the white tee-shirts.

Anyway Todd and Karl was iconic; it will influence gay characterisation on soaps for a very long time to come.

Vive Todd and Karl.

Kev

 

[Strawbs]

I just found during a clear out an Attitude magazine from 2002 which features various gay characters in soaps etc. from the time and it includes Baz. Yeh, sure Hollyoaks has had loads of gay characters, but they really were not very good. The current gay storyline does indeed owe a lot to Todd and Karl, because it is being made under the jurisdiction of Carolyn Reynolds and Tony Wood, ex-Corrie, Hollyoaks producers, and also Bryan Kirkwood is one of the producers: he produced some of Todd and Karl. So they are bound to be aware of what went on before. They have not improved on T and K. But there are obvious references: such as the white tee-shirts.
Anyway Todd and Karl was iconic; it will influence gay characterisation on soaps for a very long time to come.

Vive Todd and Karl.

Kev

Oh bejesus, two men wearing t-shirts. Homage of the century, that is.

Whatever next? Talking on the phone, eating in an resturant, having a cup of tea and a chat?

Strawbs

 

[Cop]

Trust Strawbs to spice up a thread like this

 

[Strawbs]

Trust Strawbs to spice up a thread like this

I am agent provocateur - freelance

Or accidental, whichever way you look at it.



Strawbs

 

[angel clare]

The white tee-shirt has long been used to er. . . spice up male eroticism in film and stage. The reference goes back to Marlon Brando's perforamnces on Broadway in about 1946, possibly in the play version of A Streetcar Named Desire; which was later used by him in the film. In fact, in those days the tee shirts were vests, which I am old enough to remember were worn by most men under their shirts until about 1970. Todd and Karl in their white shirts could be seen as a gay claiming of that image.

References to cups of tea go back to Boy George of course, who is a sweetheart but was never an icon of male sexiness (though each to his/her own I guess). But he never was.

The image is clear: when Todd and Karl wore their white tee-shirts the message was clear: gay men in soaps can be sexy. And JP and Craig have just developed this.

As an oft-published writer myself, and something of an academic expert on gay matters I know all too well that authors reference past authors out of respect to them. White tee-shirts were iconic on Queer Corrie, and while I would agree that sometimes a tee-shirt is only a tee-shirt, here they were much much more, rooted in our glorious homosexual past.

Kev

 

[Strawbs]

Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha and so on.

Strawbs