Are gays killing Coronation Street?

[sp1814]

It's been a quiet day on the Muslim front, so perhaps it's time to stir up a little anti-gay sentiments?

http://www.dailymail....s-gay-characters.html

Now...as far as I'm aware, Eastenders, Emmerdale and even The Archers feature prominent stories with gay characters and yet their ratings don't seem affected (even when the Daily Mail printed a made-up story about viewers' outrage at 'man-on-man' bedroom scene last month.

So what IS it with certain right wing papers?

[joeluke]

'Cast and crew have also questioned why producer Phil Collinson, who took the helm last year, has brought in so many gay characters.'

Er, because he's gay?

Let's just be thankful he's not a paedo

[Ric.ror]

I tell you what I think
Simons getting a bit too lippy

[supersuezy24]

There's a lot of poor actors and actresses in Corrie, Fizz, Kevin, Kylie, Sian, Sophie, Chesney, Marcus...

[plautus]

I agree. You feel you just want to give him a smack. I did read a comment from someone who works on the show that he is even more precocious in real life than he is on screen.

[joeluke]

Agree suezy.....squawky Sian and Sophie, psycho Becky and uber-camp Shaun in particular

[supersuezy24]

I just wanna throttle sian and sophie...screeching biatches!!!

[plautus]

I have to disagree about Becky. What a delightful, well-spoken lady she is in real life. She's only following the script.

[sp1814]

Oh dear - turns out that the Daily Mail is (hold your breath) lying!!!

It's comparing the ratings of last week to the ratings the show was getting during the week of Britain's Got Talent, which a) would have a huge 'on-going audience' and b) was broadcast in February, when viewing figures for all shows are a lot higher.

So the question is - is the Daily Mail stoking up anti-gay sentiments (again) cf: Melanie Philips / Jan Moir?

[Bobbisox]

very likely sp

[plautus]

I have met people like Shaun Tully in real life. They are generally very amusing and extremely popular with the girls.

[emmie]

I believe the argument if there was one, was over the amount of gays characters and Marc the crossdresser in corrie, and was centred on whether the producer had some sort of agenda as he is gay. Is that considered homophobic? the fact remains these shows go out before the watershed, are family viewing and some might consider that it would be more appropriate if they were shown a bit later in the evening.

[joeluke]

Let's give sp1814 the answer he's looking for - yes

But so what if they are?

[plautus]

Incidentally, does anyone think like me that Antony Coton's character name is deliberately contrived? I'm thinking that Shaun Tully could so easily sound like Chantilly, as in Chantilly Lace &c.

[TheTruthHere]

sp1814 do you know how they get their viewing figures ?

[emmie]

In proportion to the entire cast, and the small area they are supposed to inhabit would say they were overly represented, and Marc, Marcia is absurd, the actor looks very uncomfortable wearing a frock and that ridulous wig.

[Mick-Talbot]

Yes, definitely the gays, the serial murderer storyline was new and innovative. That really had me rive.................. ok i'm lying. The programme has just gone totally sh!t with stupid unreal storylines. Bring back....... Reg.

[emmie]

Sp, there's sian and sophie, Marc, ok he's the crossdresser, Sean and his bloke, can't remember his name, James the crook, Eileen's son Todd, and Gails dad, no they don't all appear at the same time, i would be more concerned how many of the cast have ended up in Prison. x

[Bobbisox]

em, it was more like a whitehall farce when he answered the door and then the couple who they met in the pub , he was like Les Dawson

[jackthehat]

4 gay people, i.e. 2 couples (5 if you count Kens grandson) in a character list of 70, or so........seems to be a complete *under* representation, statistically speaking.

[emmie]

Bobbiesox, Les Dawson and his chum forget the name, nora batty types...