On May 9th, Al and I boarded a plane to Manchester. We had plans to visit family & friends, tour around and perhaps do a few Coronation Street related things. We hoped to meet a few actors at the new studios, but heard it was much more difficult than the Quay Street Studios we were used to. We were hoping for at least one actor to stop! We also had plans to meet some of our Coronation Street friends.
Earlier this year it was announced that there would be tours of the old Coronation Street studios for 6 months only. We have been lucky and had tours in 1995. 2007, 2008, 2010 and 2012. We had no intentions to go again.........until we started seeing photos and hearing stories from friends who had already done the new tour. We weren't really bothered with inside the studios, but we wanted to roam on the actual street by ourselves taking our time taking photos. We booked our tour for May 12th at 15:50.
To read about our 2014 tour click here.
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The first week we went to the new studios in Salford and were very happy to meet more than one cast member. They were all wonderful.
(click on photos to enlarge)
(click on photos to enlarge)
*****The photo I am holding is what I got the cast members to sign this year. I am donating it to the Corrie Charity ping in Kingston on June 22nd for ALS. It is signed by the 14 cast members I met at the studios.
To find out more about the ping visit their facebook page here. *****
To find out more about the ping visit their facebook page here. *****
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May 18th, we took a coach trip down to the Dorset area. We were in Swanage and happened to walk by a 2p Coronation Street machine. We had to try it!!!
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On May 21st Al and I took the train to Manchester to meet up with our lovely friend, Coronation Street background artist Christine. Christine works in Underworld.
We had a great lunch at The Ox.
Christine made Al and I the most amazing tasting cake ever! It was one of her Chocolate Overload cakes. WOW!!! It was delicious. We were at a hotel that night, but we were happy to have a spoon each and dig in. :)
We had a great lunch at The Ox.
Christine made Al and I the most amazing tasting cake ever! It was one of her Chocolate Overload cakes. WOW!!! It was delicious. We were at a hotel that night, but we were happy to have a spoon each and dig in. :)
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The following evening May 22nd, we were in Leeds. It was press night at the West Yorkshire Playhouse Theatre for the show Enjoy. Earlier that day we'd been to pick up our tickets and who did I spot, but Reece Dinsdale....who played Tina McIntyre's dad Joe. Al had gone to the cafe and it was while I was waiting Reece passed me. Next thing Al appears and says 'guess who I saw''. We both said Joe at the same time so knew it had to have been him. He is alive and looking well!
At the intermission we walked out the theatre and I spotted Kate Anthony who played Corrie's Aunty Pam. I didn't go up to her then, but after the show I said hello. What a lovely lady!! Kate is currently working on a play which will be out later this year.
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At the intermission we walked out the theatre and I spotted Kate Anthony who played Corrie's Aunty Pam. I didn't go up to her then, but after the show I said hello. What a lovely lady!! Kate is currently working on a play which will be out later this year.
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It was a rainy day on May 23rd. We decided to go and have lunch at Annies, which is owned by Jennie McAlpine (Fiz). We were there last year for afternoon tea and loved it so thought we'd try a meal this time.
Al and I both had the cottage pie and it was delicious!!!
Al and I both had the cottage pie and it was delicious!!!
We would definitely recommend a visit to Annies!
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We didn't do as many Corrie related things as in previous years, but we were happy with what we did do. We had a great holiday with family, friends, travelled around..........plus met a number of actors and walked the old cobbles one final time.
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We didn't do as many Corrie related things as in previous years, but we were happy with what we did do. We had a great holiday with family, friends, travelled around..........plus met a number of actors and walked the old cobbles one final time.