CHARLIE CONDOU - No.620

GO SAMMY GO

Charliecondou: Break a leg tonight @realsamia (not literally) and stop being so nervous! You much better than you think. Love you xx

realsamia: RT @Charliecondou: Break a leg tonight @realsamia (not literally) and stop being so nervous! You much better than you think. Love you xx @dancingonice

SAMMY GETS TO NEXT LEVEL

Charliecondou: That's my girl @realsamia yo! (I've been watching Breaking Bad)

caitlinmoran: @Charliecondou You're more Breaking Dad tbh

Charliecondou: @caitlinmoran Breaking Wind etc

brianfruity: @Charliecondou I am on train has she got through

Charliecondou: @brianfruity yup

SING-A-LONG

Charliecondou: RT @furquan: Guilty pleasure singing along to Jon Bon Jovi when it came on the radio whilst driving. By radio I mean iPod. And by Jon Bon Jovi I mean JLS

JUDGE DREDD

ToaLeonard: @Charliecondou I'm sure I've spotted you in Judge Dredd with Sly am I correct?


Charliecondou: @ToaLeonard you are

SUNDAY MIRROR IS FAR FROM THE TRUTH

‏cez29: Disgusted at the @sundaymirror making out there is a massive cast n crew divide at work they couldn't be further from the truth #teamcorrie 

Charliecondou: @cez29 I know! It's just you we all hate

cez29: @Charliecondou haha did u sell it ?

Charliecondou: @cez29 lol I've got to up my fee somehow

ShobnaGulati: @Charliecondou @cez29 I did ah ha ha ha coz I'm the most phobic person in the world innit ! #justsayin

UNA PALOMA FAITH 

Palomafaith: Tune in to the baftas tonight! I am opening the show! Yipppeeeeeeee

Charliecondou: @Palomafaith oooh, get you!

MARCUS & MARIA ARE UP FOR A SOAP AWARD 

The Baftas might be on TV tonight, but the biggest awards on the soap calendar are almost upon us. Yes, guys and girls, get ready for the 2013 All About Soap Awards! In a new fresh twist, this year we’re focusing solely on the jaw-dropping, explosive moments in Soapland that got you all talking. From dramatic deaths to wedding-day dramas, from spectacular stunts to sizzling romances, there’s something for everyone. And, boy, do we expect a battle for these gongs.

Soaps revolve around sexy relationships, and for our Forbidden Lovers award, voters will get to decide whether Hollyoaks’ Stendan, EastEnders’ Joey and Lauren, Corrie’s Maria and Marcus or Emmerdale’s Cain and Moira make the best match.
Voting for the awards opens on Tuesday, and all details can be found in the next issue of All About Soap magazine – on sale the same day. The power is in your hands, so visit  www.allaboutsoap.co.uk to  have your say. Follow the link to the Awards from Tuesday 12 February – and happy voting, guys! Winners will be announced next month…
The complete article can be found HERE

ANOTHER FAKE BITES THE DUST 

Charliecondou: RT @slongchambon: The account @longchambon isn't me,same name same picture but don't be confused

Dear Blog Readers,

I have resisted placing items on this blog which would support the notion that there is a rift between Corrie's Antony Cotton and Charlie Condou as my function here is to simply report on Charlie’s career and support his causes but I think that it’s time you saw some of the behind-the-scenes inflammatory Digital Spy Forum comments that were used recently by newspapers when they reported a rift had developed between Charlie and Antony. Fan gossip and rumour were reported widely as truth.

Tom Wynn in Oz - blog manager.

A FUNNY THING HAPPENED 

ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM

The following topic and comments are taken from the Digital Spy Forum HERE

Does Corrie need a new gay character?

vaslav37: With Sean as the worst advert for a gay man on TV and Marcus now living with a women - should Corrie cast a new gay male character? I really can't stand Sean and I hate to think he is the representative of gay men on TV

dublintvfan: why does there always have to be a gay person every time or represent the gay community? I'm straight and the straight characters don't represent me! I couldn't care what sexuality a character is but there's no point writing in a gay character just to have one if the story or character fits then write it in

FallingPiano: We need more murderers to represent the serial killer community.

ChateauMarmont: They had Aidan and he left quite quickly. When he split from Marcus he didn't have to move to London he could've just stayed. I think they need a female gay character. Sophie and Jenna just aren't quite working for me, and it's annoying how they think every gay character is automatically attracted to the only other gay character in the show

shanders: Norris could come out.

Shawn_Lunn: They could get rid of Sean and end this rubbish with Marcus and Maria, have them return to being friends and Marcus dating blokes like Aiden and things will be fine.

avon942: I'm glad Corrie has covered the Maria/Marcus storyline as it DOES happen in real life. I think it's been written and acted well. Only time will tell but for now Marcus seems happy to me.

BenKeil: What is this obsession with gay characters? What the hell does it matter what they are? Being gay isn't anything special, it's as normal and everyday as is being straight. Why the adoration?

aspijack: They should cast one called Ben Dover

shanders: Hugh Janus

WHERE THERE'S SMOKE
THERE'S CHIMNEYS

The following topic and comments are taken from the Digital Spy Forum HERE

Corrie : Antony Cotton and Charlie Condou fall out?

Pop Princess: Wonder if there's any truth to this. Obviously you don't get on with everyone you work with but at least it's not forcing Charlie out. Glad Charlie is staying. Be interesting I think to see where they take Marcus and Maria.... http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/c...harlie-1515370

madetomeasure: You never know what to believe but so pleased Charlie's staying for at least two years - really good decision that is. 

KornerKabin: There was a thread speculating about this months ago. If I remember rightly it was just a Forum Member making an observation about the two actors on Twitter and wasn't supported by any 'facts' - looks like there may be more to it. Interesting. Cotton has always (supposedly) held a lot of power behind-the-scenes. I remember rumours that Vicky Binns quit as Molly because she wasn't in favour with his 'clique'. 

madetomeasure: why on earth, if that's the case, does Cotton wield such power? I don't know what else they can do with his character now and he's certainly not iconic to me. 

KornerKabin: Here's the thread from back in October ... I think it's just gossip, I can't see how anyone could be so powerful. There's also been his perceived affinity with every executive producer, Phil Collinson in particular. 

Pop Princess: I think you might be right. There could be someone at Corrie who does not like Antony Cotton and leaking these stories out? There will probably be denials on Twitter from the actors soon. 

madetomeasure: Thanks for posting that thread KK - interesting read. Oh I can imagine Cotton is the type who would affiliate himself with the producers. There are people like him though aren't there - I know of a few in my life and they do have this habit of being manipulative, showing a lack of regard for other people's feelings. 

Vodka_Drinka: Antony Cotton can't act to save his life and his character probably ran its course years ago, yet he's still there? Then you have to take into account all the rumours about him being disliked behind the scenes on the show, allegedly one of the shows veterans refuses to do any scenes with him. There was another rumour that he was so disliked by the behind the scenes staff because of his diva like behaviour that they were going to give him fewer stories in the hope that he'd leave. All of this is of course Hearsay so I could be wrong, I know he's close to Jennie McAlpine and Catherine Tyldesley but it was very telling that when he did "I'm A Celebrity" not one of his fellow cast mates came out in support of him. 

madetomeasure: Yes, and even if true, how many would have the 'guts' to admit how they feel about him? 

Batman: Well if true you can't blame Charlie. Antony comes across a right tit and totally un-likeable 

RealityRocks: I, like many people, don't like Anthony Cotton, not because he's gay, not because he's a so-called 'showbiz' type, but simply because I really don't like his acting. I actually didn't know Charlie Condou was gay, and I didn't care (I only know because I read an excellent article he wrote about same sex parenting, he has two children.). It doesn't matter to me because I rate his acting…To be honest I think Cotton has had his day on Corrie, his character was never particularly well developed, and no-one really cares enough this late in the day to start now. 

Oldnjaded: Dear Antony, If you're reading this and looking for reassurance, really sorry but most of us are with Charlie all the way. Sorry. Best wishes. A fan of real actors x 

Stupid_Head: Well Charlie seems quite close to the guy playing David (going by twitter) and didn't he and Anthony also fall out? 

junnja: Anthony Cotton is one of those typical actors whose got ideas above his station. Along with a self-inflated opinion of himself. He's an actor in a soap FFS!!. And not a very good one either. That's all he'll ever be. There's a whole string of actors in soaps, not just Corrie, that will never go on to do anything else of any great substance. Some actors may be quite happy to remain in a soap for evermore. Like William Roache. And that's fine. But some get carried away with themselves. Martin Hancock, who played Spider Nugent was leaving to explore other things. Fair enough. Including, according to him, making a name for himself in America. Like it's his decision. He's done one or two things since. But he isn't a Hollywood Superstar. Tina O'Brien did a couple of things, but wasn't any great shakes. And now, surprise, surprise, she's coming back. Most soap actors don't cut it any other type of film and TV work. It's not until after they've left, they realise they're not that good at other stuff. How many soap actors do you know, who have left, and went on to do well in other things? Not many. Suranne Jones is one I can think of. But unfortunately IMO, she's been the same in everything she's done. Housewife, or police detective. The same. Cotton, along with all the others, is in a privileged position that a lot of people in the industry would like to be in. You can go from the top, to the bottom of the heap, in an instant. Wind your neck in Cotton!! If not, move aside. And let someone more appreciative have the job. It's a tired and vile character with nowhere left to go. It just appears to be Anthony Cotton playing himself. But maybe just a tiny bit nicer than he is in real-life. 

performingmonk: Cotton's only still hanging around like a bad smell cause he's best buddies with Phil Collinson. Hopefully Stuart Blackburn will see sense and ditch this odious bit of deadwood.

A HOSPITAL ROMANCE

The following topic and comments are taken from the Digital Spy Forum HERE
Antony Cotton & Charlie Condou - I don't think they get on in real life

BarrieT: Does anyone know if Antony Cotton & Charlie Condou get on in real life? I follow both of them on twitter and they spend every waking minute tweeting, but never ever have commented on each others tweets. Charlie follows Antony on twitter and has never made any comments about Antony's tweets, and Antony does not follow Charlie. Seems to me like they are not speaking. It seems unusual they are not friends as until recently Marcus only ever had scenes with Sean & Eileen so would have spent a lot of time on set together.

Lewis26: Im gay and love a bit of camp every now and again, there are funny camp characters on TV who I never have a problem with but I despise cotton as his character is the worst type of person, incredibly selfish and irritating and the actor is basically playing himself.

valtimmy: I agree. Does anybody like him?

Lousiana: who does get on with Antony Cotton? It's embarrassing to think he has been on Corrie almost ten years. Hardly a credit to the show, in the none too distant past the likes of Cotton would've been laughed out the casting room. I'm actually glad the likes of Doris Speed and Patricia Phoenix are no longer around to see what their show has been reduced to.

ANTONY RESPONDS TO UK MIRROR CLAIMS OF ANGRY HOMOPHOBIC JIBES

Antony Cotton responds to comments from the UK Mirror newspaper HERE

Corrie gay hate shock: Street stars warned about homophobic abuse

antonycotton: When I won the National Television Award for playing my character Sean in Coronation Street, I thanked the show and ITV for putting...

antonycotton: ...a gay character at the centre of the show. I felt nothing but love and support from the cast and crew in equal measure...

antonycotton: ....Almost ten years later, I feel no different. If you want to feel equal and included then Weatherfield is the place to be.