re if you wish to continue.

© ITV

Coronation Street's Stella Price will reportedly be left in a critical condition after she is knocked down by a drunk Carla Connor.

 

The plot will apparently be used by bosses to decide if the ITV soap will keep Michelle Collins on in the role of the new Rovers Return manager. The Sun claims that viewing figures have fallen since the former EastEnders star, whose fake northern accent has been criticised by some viewers, arrived on the Street.

 

If the scenes alongside actresses Jane Danson and Alison King do not win over viewers, the paper suggests that Collins faces the axe in a Christmas plot.

 

"This storyline is Michelle's last chance to win viewers over," a source said. "She will be mown down by Carla Connor, who drunkenly drives her car into Barlow's Bookies as a plea for help with her booze battle.

 

"Stella will be rushed to hospital and Leanne will realise she wants her mum to live and for them to have a relationship. If that doesn't get the figures up, there is no hope for her and they will kill her off at Christmas."

 

> 'Coronation Street' team deny Michelle Collins backlash

> 'Coronation Street' star eyes "meaty" Stella scenes

 

Meanwhile, it has also been suggested that producer Phil Collinson will leave the show next year, due to his position "fast becoming untenable".

 

Responding to the claims, an ITV spokeswoman commented: "Ratings for the first six months of 2011 are up year on year. We have also been the number one show across all channels more than any other programme so far this year.

 

"ITV are extremely pleased with the work of Phil Collinson and his production team. The channel is also delighted with audience reaction to Stella's arrival on Coronation Street and with the storylines planned in the coming months."

 

Is it just me or this been totally exagerated about Michelle, the press seem to have it in for her since she joined corrie, im not a regular corrie viewer but i will admit i have watched it more since michelle joined.

Michelle situtation is so exagerated. Michelle's encouraged ratings which has been proven. Although the story sounds epic regarding her fighting for her life. She will not get the axe and she's made me watch CS more, she's not a bad actress.

I think michelle is a good actress to, i think becuase she is the first soap actress to star in both the big soaps the press are trying to turn it against her.

I think michelle is a good actress to, i think becuase she is the first soap actress to star in both the big soaps the press are trying to turn it against her.

 

I agree. I find it boring and pathetic tbh. She's doing a good job. It's not been reported on DigitalSpy yet either just in things like dailymail, however if everything was true by Dailymail then Labour would have won the last election.

Michelle situtation is so exagerated. Michelle's encouraged ratings which has been proven. Although the story sounds epic regarding her fighting for her life. She will not get the axe and she's made me watch CS more, she's not a bad actress.

 

Everyone I know who watches it (including me) thinks Michelle and the story around her is good. However - I do agree on the accent thing. Its awful and you can see that its holding Michelle back from giving a really excellent performance. She's concentrating so hard on doing a northern accent it detracts from the script she's been given. Why the hell couldn't they just let her keep her own accent. If she'd left the north (to escape Les) and moved down south - then her northern accent after at least 30 years would have been easily absorbed by a southern one. I'm from Liverpool but haven't lived there since I was ten (at least ten years down south have all but obliterated my Scouse accent).

 

Kath

 

Just spotted (and corrected that terrible spelling mistake!!!!!!)

Edited July 12, 201114 yr by Kathyp

I agree about the accent, they should have left her with her own accent as people do actually move to areas they are not from, but that aside i also agree she is doing a good job and i hope the press lay off her, i think michelle could be an example for other soap stars who have had major roles in other soaps, they can go on and be in another big soap aswell. I was a huge Cindy Beale fan in eastenders and i have slowly come round to seeing michelle in her new role in corrie.

It's properly ridiculous that the press are focusing on Michelle/Stella (who is doing fine) and the ratings (which are fine) as reasons to rubbish the show when what they should be touching on are the utterly ridiculous storylines going on at the minute. An innocent woman jailed (not a year after Gail suffered the exact same thing); Kirk and Tyrone

kidnapping the leader of a drugs ring who Fiz meets in Prison

(?!?!); Carla to

drunkenly crash her car into the bookies and mow Stella down whilst she's at

. It's all so over-sensationalist. The Guardian have written a piece about how that's where the real problem with Corrie is; not in one character's accent but the plethora of un-Corrie stories coming mere weeks after John Stape not only survived that ridiculous fall but also escaped from the police and Jim tried to rob a bloody bank. It's literally as though they've tried to chuck two years' worth of OTT storylines into a six month time frame. Where's the kitchen sink drama that Corrie is famous for? For me the most exciting upcoming plot sounds like Julie opening a fruit and veg shop because it's plausible and is bound to provide some comedy.

 

The Guardian article is here if anybody's interested.

 

:lol: That Kirk/Tyrone spoiler is SO ridiculous and out of character for bother of them!

I love Corrie for it's comedy. I wish it would focus on that.

 

Michelle's arrival hasn't really done much tbh.

Ex-Corrie star Johnny Briggs slams 'dead comedy' soap

Thursday, July 14 2011, 09:04 BST

By Ryan Love, Entertainment ReporterRecommend7Tweet0

 

Email this storyJohnny BriggsPhil CollinsonMichelle CollinsSoapsCoronation Str…

© Rex Features

Former Coronation Street star Johnny Briggs has criticised the show, claiming that there is no "fun" in it anymore.

 

The 75-year-old actor appeared in the ITV1 soap as Underworld boss Mike Baldwin for 30 years. Briggs's criticism comes after producer Phil Collinson hit back at claims that ratings have fallen dramatically.

 

Briggs told The Mirror: "There's no laughter or humour. The Duckworths have gone, Hilda Ogden is gone, the comedy and drama is dead. People were once happy in the soap. There is no-one in it I recognise now.

 

"I watched the 50th anniversary episode [in December] but could only stand five minutes before I flicked over to the golf. There is no fun in the show anymore."

 

> 'Coronation Street' boss refutes 'gay agenda' claims

> Johnny Briggs: 'Corrie has no one star'

 

Briggs continued: "The writers have lost their way by bringing in all these unknowns and trying to make it interesting by introducing different characters.

 

"I haven't watched it recently so I don't know about the new gay characters, but my philosophy is, 'If it ain't broke, don't fix it'. It's so sad to learn the ratings have gone down. It's heartbreaking. It used to be a great show - it was an old friend to me. Now I can't bring myself to watch, what a terrible shame."

 

However, Briggs claimed that he would return to the Manchester serial, if storyliners could find a way to bring him back - despite Mike dying on screen in 2006.

 

"I might have to come out of retirement to return to the Street," he said. "I would seriously consider going back if they paid me the right money. I was the JR Ewing of Weatherfield – and that's what the show lacks, another great villain, a big star."

 

Executive producer Kieran Robertson and cast members including William Roache and Michelle Collins have all spoken out in defence of the show this week.

 

 

He's right about the comedy but he also sounds a bit bitter/delusional.

Again i would say some of it is mis quoted, this is the first time i have seen the press hound on coronation street, one of my gripes with corrie in the past is it relied on name and got away with murder at times when the soap was in the slums, in contrast the press hounded eastenders the whole time. However, i think alot of what is been said is blown out of proportion but at the same time i dont think it will corrie any harm as all press is good press and may remind a few extra to watch the show.

Johnny Briggs should thank his lucky stars that CS came along - because he was (I remember him in No Hiding Place) an awful actor at the start of his career and his performances seemed to have gradually got worse).

 

I agree though that he's probably been mis-quoted. On the 'missing comedy' however - I may be alone here - but I didn't find the Duckworths or Hilda Ogden very funny anyway - even for the time I found them dated. Give me Steve McDonald any day of the week.

 

Kath

Edited July 14, 201114 yr by Kathyp

Thats the thing with soaps, the opinion varies, i would agree with him that the comedy that hilda ogden and the duckworths had was great and is miles on the comedy the street delivers today. Im sure we will know have some former cast members speaking out, some in favour and some against and again probably mis quoted. All the soaps get a battering like this although its probably one of the few times corrie has got it, but it will fade away and the press will move onto their next victim.

 

Have to say that mark guy that is with deirdre does my head in, his voice alone grates me, in strak contrast roy's mother is brilliant, she is the next best thing to blanche although blanche was a legend.

Edited July 14, 201114 yr by Aphrodite

rnrnSt Georges st went from hospital St to Hampton st. As there seem to be more numberas than houses in the street, I am not absolutely sure of which is "Back 20"given in the 1900 kellys as the home of Richard Moore.sawdust dealer, but think its probably the row of houses in red on the map

nMikernrn

rnrnSt Georges st went from hospital St to Hampton st. As there seem to be more numberas than houses in the street, I am not absolutely sure of which is "Back 20"given in the 1900 kellys as the home of Richard Moore.sawdust dealer, but think its probably the row of houses in red on the map

nMikernrn

 

That's wonderful dear, but what is your opinion on lace wigs?

Have to say that mark guy that is with deirdre does my head in, his voice alone grates me, in strak contrast roy's mother is brilliant, she is the next best thing to blanche although blanche was a legend.

 

Don't you mean with Audrey?

 

I don't think Stephanie Cole is going to work out to be honest (if we're looking for a replacement for Blanche). The only bit I've liked so far is the developing relationship between Roy and his mother (particularly noted when he asked Becky not to speak to her in a particular way). There was a look between them that said perhaps it wasn't too late to make amends and have a mother / son relationship.

 

If they're looking to somehow fill the void that has been left by Blance - then they should continue doing what they're doing with the Deirdre character and give her the funny lines and asides that Anne Kirkbride seems to love.

 

Kath

Edited July 25, 201113 yr by Kathyp

I think Stephanie Cole has been hilarious, I hope she sticks around for a long time :wub:

I think Stephanie Cole has been hilarious, I hope she sticks around for a long time :wub:

 

I like her and I like the character - I just don't want the writers to go down the route of making her out to be the new Blanche - when that responsibility is just to heavy to burden on a newer cast member. Deirdre is the natural successor - she's long been one of the funnier characters in the show. I found that Anne Kirkbride and Maggie Jones had an excellent double act going on when the two of them were in scenes together.

 

Don't get me wrong - I want Stephanie Cole to stick around for a good while - but I want the relationship between her character and Roy Cropper to develop rather than the writers (and the viewers) seeing her as a Blanche replacement because it isn't fair.

 

Kath

Nobody should be 'the new' anybody. Characters should be unique if that's at all possible.

 

Bill Roache and Anne Kirkbride meet their waxworks:

 

http://i1.cdnds.net/11/30/550w_soaps_roach_kirkbride.jpg