CHARLIE CONDOU - No.920

ON THE VERGE

skipnewton: @Charliecondou This is verging on bullying #HR

Charliecondou: @skipnewton it's not verging. It's actual bullying

skipnewton: @Charliecondou See you Monday , 3rd Floor , bring your solicitor #youmaybeleavingearlierthanyouthought

Charliecondou: @skipnewton are you sure you can manage all those stairs? I know things get tough at your age

colsonsmith: @Charliecondou @skipnewton Hahaha!

skipnewton: @Charliecondou I'm writing that one down too,   The list gets bigger ..

skipnewton: @colsonsmith @Charliecondou Careful Colson he will be having a go a Gingers next .

WORLD AIDS DAY

Charlie, Dr. Christian, Dan, Andy and Joe offer support for National HIV Testing Week

TV presenter Dr Christian Jessen, Erasure singer Andy Bell, comedian Joe Lycett, Coronation Street actor Charlie Condou and The Feeling frontman Dan Gillespie are among the famous gay men pledging their support for this year’s National HIV Testing Week (22nd – 29th November 2013).

Dr Christian Jessen, presenter of Channel 4’s Embarrassing Bodies, said: “I fully believe that one day, we will stop HIV in its tracks. Organisations like Terrence Higgins Trust are already doing great work in driving down undiagnosed infections, but they can’t do it on their own. Supporting National HIV testing Week is something every one of us can do to show we still care about HIV, and we still want to keep ourselves and others safe.”

Dan Gillespie, lead vocalist with The Feeling, said: "It's incredible how quick and easy tests are these days. They take a pin-prick of blood from your finger, and you have your results within minutes. You can even fit a test in to your lunch break. I'll be telling every gay man I know to get involved this November, and I hope you will too." Erasure frontman Andy Bell, who was diagnosed with HIV in 1998, said: "When I was tested for the second time and found out I was HIV positive, I thought my world was going to collapse and cave in but thankfully this test actually saved my life. The sooner you find out whether you are positive (or negative), the sooner you can start your combination therapy and get the virus under control and live your life normally." Actor Charlie Condou, who plays Marcus Dent in Coronation Street, said: “Knowing your HIV status is so important. If you’re positive, it means you can access the meds you need to stay fit and well, and if you’re negative, it’s a great way to get peace of mind. We each have a responsibility to keep HIV in check, and testing is just one thing we can do to keep fighting the virus.” Comedian Joe Lycett said: “I'm proud to support the very important National HIV Testing Week. If you're sexually active (lucky you!) it's so important to get tested for HIV. Most transmission is from someone who doesn't know they have it and the test is really quick and simple and will help stop the spread of this dreadful virus.” National HIV Testing Week runs from Friday 22nd – Friday 29th November, and coincides with the first ever European HIV Testing Week. Gay and bisexual men have already been making pledges of support for the week on a new section of the It Starts With Me website www.startswithme.org.uk , coordinated by HIV and sexual health charity Terrence Higgins Trust and HIV Prevention England.

ASDA RUINING WEEKENDS EVERYWHERE

maryphototweet: Birthday weekend is off to disastrous start. Turns out those @AmericanExpress ads about saving the day really just mean they apologise...

maryphototweet: My 40th birthday present from @Asda is, apparently, to not have any food at the party.

Charliecondou: Ruined my weekend too RT @maryphototweet: My 40th birthday present from @asda is, apparently, to not have any food at the party.

AsdaServiceTeam: @Charliecondou Hi Charlie, Sorry to hear about your 40th. Please DM me the details (& follow us so I can reply) & I'll look into it for you.
- 3 DAYS LATER -

maryphototweet: @Charliecondou Guess what, @asda didn't refund a single one of the items. So let alone getting it a day late, i paid for what we didn't get!

Coronation Street: Maria and Marcus will split up, confirms Samia Ghadie

"We've’ve been so obviously happy – almost too happy for a show like this. We need a bit of unhappiness and to see Maria crying again"

David Brown 

29 November 2013

Actress Samia Ghadie has revealed that Maria and Marcus’s relationship will come to a dramatic end in the new year. Speaking to RadioTimes.com at the unveiling of Coronation Street’s new set in Trafford, the 31-year-old commented: “We’ve had a quiet year, so it’s about time they split us up. We've been so obviously happy – almost too happy for a show like this. We need a bit of unhappiness and to see Maria crying again.”

Earlier this week, Charlie Condou – who plays Maria’s love interest Marcus – announced that he was leaving the ITV soap in summer 2014. His exit storyline will see Marcus question his feelings for Maria after recent returnee Todd Grimshaw (Bruno Langley) sets his sights on him. Of her co-star’s departure, Ghadie said today: “I kind of had a feeling that this would happen. Charlie had never planned to stay for years and years and he feels he’s done what he can with the character.”

But despite her on-screen romance coming to an end, the actress is in no hurry to see Maria paired up with another Street resident. “She needs to be on her own again. There aren't enough single mums on the show. And I think that, for a while, people won’t want to go near Maria. She’s just doomed. Plus, she’s pretty much had everyone!”

However, Ghadie’s enthusiasm for life in Weatherfield remains undimmed: “This move feels like a new era. It’s a new start for Corrie and it’ll be amazing. I've been there for 14 years now and it’s gone past in the blink of an eye. It’s such a special place to work and the length of time that people stay is testament to how lovely it is.”



SOME FANS JUST HEARING THE NEWS FOR THE FIRST TIME

MattTheTwat08: @Charliecondou Charlie wos this I hear you are Leaving Corrie 

catherinebehl: @Charliecondou Did I understand correctly that you are leaving Corrie sigh. My wish for you is all good things ahead and keep smiling.......you have a Brilliant Smile :-)

Above & below: More pictures of Charlie attending the Amy Winehouse Foundation gala and fundraiser at the Dorchester Hotel, London 20-11-2013.