In this week’s bonus episode, we take a deep dive into all things Coronation Street in 2024 - a year where the drama behind the scenes often rivalled what was playing out on screen! From the departure of producer Iain Macleod and the early releases on ITVX, to a wave of concerning press articles about the state of our beloved soap, it was certainly a bit of a challenging year to be a Corrie fan. But as always, there were plenty of moments that stood out for the right reasons. For every misstep - like the George and Glenda feud - there were episodes, stories, and characters that captured our imagination, including Paul's heartbreaking journey with MND and the chaotic antics at the Institute. We also had the multiple twists of the Joel and Lauren saga, the credulity-stretching reveal of Toyah’s baby, the undeniable charm of Dorin, and of course... #Swarla. In this episode, we’ll unpack everything we loved, everything that didn’t quite hit the mark, and everything in between. We hope you enjoy the ride!

On our first episode of the 2025, we chat about what went down in Weatherfield between the 30th December and the 3rd January (Episodes #11,454 - 11,460).

Swarla fans may not have got their Christmas Day pizza fest, but there was plenty of the pair on our screens this week to enjoy, including an impromptu declaration of love from Carla as the bells tolled midnight on New Year's Eve - but are her feelings reciprocated? Speaking of the Swains, Betsy's getting all loved up with Mason this week, but when he finds evidence that could get his brothers sent down for murder, he suddenly finds himself with a massive target on his back... Also this week, Evelyn gets fast tracked to uni, David declares war on Kit, and Tracy's determined to bring Cassie down.

Another slow news week this week, so after Street Talk, we just round things off with a bit of feedback before finishing.

Street Talk - 00:19:50

2024 was another exciting year for Coronation Street, and it's time to award those characters, stories and moments that we enjoyed the best! The Conversation Street Awards were voted by you, our followers and listeners, and now we reveal who you picked! 

Also available as a shorter, video version on YouTube here: https://youtu.be/Jl25QYP6DcM

Merry Christmas everyone! In our latest episode of the podcast, we chat about the festive - and not so festive! - goings on in Weatherfield between the 23rd and 27th December (Episodes #11,447 - 11,453).

Before we dive into our usual Street Talk segment, we've got a bit of a Christmas treat for you: an interview with new Corrie producer Kate Brooks! When we were at the recent press day, we were able to grab Kate for five minutes to ask her about her vision for the show now she's at the helm - tune in to find out what she had to say!

Up next on the podcast, it's business as usual with our recap of the week's episodes - and what a great week it was! The biggest event, of course, was Gail's departure from Weatherfield after 50 glorious years on the show. Did it manage to hit all the right notes, and what did we make of that very special cameo at the end of Tuesday's episode? Second billing this week went to the Battersby sisters, who came to blows in a Christmas Day punch up at the Bistro. As fans of both characters, we've decided that it's best not to pick a side here - we prefer to just sit back and enjoy the chaos unfold! Also this week, Shona admits to David she's been unfaithful, Mason tries his best to ingratiate himself to Carla and Lisa, and Daisy finds herself in the middle of her very own 'Who's The Daddy?' story!

Unfortunately, we had to cut the podcast short after Street Talk as we had a five hour drive ahead of us, so no news or feedback this week - hopefully, normal service will resume next episode!

00:15:17 - Kate Brooks Interview

After 50 years, Gail has finally bid a fond farewell to Weatherfield and headed off to a new life in the south of France. In this special tribute episode of the podcast, we bring you the A-Z of all things Gail, from Audrey to... well, you'll just have to wait and see how we managed to scrape the bottom of the barrel with the tail end of the alphabet! Focusing on the characters, stories, moments and even memes that make Gail an icon not only of Corrie but of television as a whole, this special episode of the podcast celebrates the life of one of the most enduring characters of our favourite soap.

Also available on YouTube, featuring around 300 photos of Gail during here time in the show! https://youtu.be/XRsO2unD5QE

On our latest episode of the podcast, we chat about what went on in Corrie between the 16th and the 20th December (Episodes #11,441 - 11,446).

It may be the season of goodwill an' all, but sorry, we just can't bring ourselves to feel all that charitable about the Lauren story this week, which reared its head again with a fresh batch of misery for the terminally tragic teen. This time, Frankie's being diagnosed with aplastic anaemia - will Dee-Dee step in to help, even if it means keeping her own unwanted baby? Also this week, the word's slowly starting to get out that Daisy was the one who caused Shona's injury last week - though that's nothing compared to the hot gossip that Sally picks up on Friday when she sees Carla and Lisa kissing on the cobbles! Meanwhile, preparations for Gail and Jesse's wedding are in full force, though is Audrey right about her making a massive mistake?

Up next, it's The Kabin, and we chat about Lorna Laidlaw's recent appearance on another podcast talking about her time on Corrie, and we round off the show with some more of your feedback.

Street Talk - 00:09:23

The time has come once again to cast your votes in the annual Conversation Street Awards, now in its 13th year! This year's Corrie has seen a cult, a couple of whodunnits, some blossoming romances and more secrets and lies than you can shake a stick at, but which stories and characters do you think deserve to come out on top? Voting for the awards is now open, so head over to the link below to pick your favourite characters and stories of the year, but if you need a bit of help in making your decision, in this episode we discuss every single nomination. Vote here! https://forms.gle/3GGACMKe6EfcnRYG9

On our latest episode of the podcast, we chat about what went on in Corrie between the 9th and the 13th December (Episodes #11,435 - 11,440).

It may have made things a bit tricky when we were writing out the notes for the episode, but there was quite a bit of criss-crossing over of stories this week, which we always enjoy - and even better when drama with the Platts is at the centre of it! Gail and Jesse's wedding plans, Max taking his eye off the ball with Frankie and getting him whisked away by the Deerings, and, of course, all the intrigue surrounding Shona's accident on Monday night made for another explosive week on the cobbles, and we had a great time chatting about our reaction to it all. Not only that, but we also had Daniel and Daisy getting closer again, some brilliant scenes with Evelyn and even a new actor playing little Harry - great stuff!

Not really very much in terms of news this week, so we skip over The Kabin section again and finish off with more of your feedback.

Street Talk - 00:17:01

Our bonus episode this week is a character profile of Stu Carpenter, who left Weatherfield for pastures new a couple of months ago after three years on the cobbles. After strumming his way onto the street in 2021, the guitar-playing vagabond-turned-Speed Daal chef has been involved in a handful of big stories over the years, most notably when we found out about the truth behind his wrongful imprisonment that saw him serve nearly thirty years behind bars. But how will Stu be remembered - as a lively breath of fresh air or an underused character who never quite reached his potential? Join us for a look back at his time on the street in our latest podcast!

On our latest podcast, we chat about the episodes of Corrie shown in the UK between the 2nd and the 6th December (Episodes #11,429 - 11,434).

Christmas time is nearly here, and as an early present, Corrie gave us a reprieve from all the police stories (well, mostly..) and instead focused on two of our favourite families of the Street: the Platts and the Battersbys. They may have been at each other's throats or otherwise ready to fall to pieces, but what's a soap Christmas without a family bust-up, eh? Leanne's plan to get revenge on her disloyal sister was delicious, and although we're always on the side of David and Shona staying together, we can't deny we were hooked by the mystery of what she got up to on Wednesday night... Meanwhile, you've got classic Corrie callbacks aplenty with Les' funeral, Rowan's on trial, plus there's plenty of Debbie Webster and even a rare Gail appearance... all in all, a lot to sink our teeth into!

After Street Talk, it's The Kabin, and we couldn't not discuss the front page news about the reasons behind Sean Wilson's axing. Plus, the Christmas TV schedules are out, so when can we expect to see the festive Street drama over the festive fortnight? We round off the show as always with some of your feedback.

Street Talk - 00:16:34