Coronation Street is not too gay for television
Brian Sewell's criticism of Coronation Street threatens to take us back to the bad old days
by
Charlie Condou
The Guardian, Thursday 7 July 2011
So, Brian Sewell writes in the Daily Mail that Coronation Street is too gay. Well, I don't know him, I'm sure he's a lovely man, but aside from the barely-veiled homophobia, he's just plain wrong.
There are only four regular gay characters in Coronation Street – I play Marcus Dent, who's in a relationship with Sean Tully (played by Antony Cotton), and there's also the young lesbian couple Sophie Webster and Sian Powers. That's it. Hayley Cropper was once a man, but she's been one of the show's most popular characters since she joined 13 years ago, the first transsexual ever in a British soap. There is a cross-dresser in Marc Selby, but he is straight and in fact has two women fighting over him. Gail's father, Ted, was gay – but he hasn't been in it for years. I wouldn't have thought four characters out of a cast of about 65 regulars was excessive.
Sewell seems to suggest there's something morally reprehensible in being gay, and that there's some kind of promotion of a gay agenda at work (led by a sinister-sounding "mafia"). But in fact you barely see a kiss from the gay characters, just like our heterosexual counterparts. It's not a "sexy" show.
And anyone who genuinely understands Coronation Street knows that it's driven by its characters; these people are engaged in storylines that have very little to do with their sexuality, they're just brilliantly-written, rounded people. Sean and Marcus are very different kinds of gay men – Sean is camp, loud, over the top, while Marcus is more down to earth and sensible. (I've had lots of letters from gay men saying it's nice to see someone on television who seems a bit like them.) Sean and Marcus are bringing up a child together and the problems they face aren't about their sexuality, but about suddenly having a child in their lives. All sorts of people can relate to that. OK, so Sally found out that her daughter was gay by finding her in bed with another woman. That happens. But since then they've all been getting on with their lives, in an ordinary way.
As for the idea that "all the characters are showered, prinked and perfumed – particularly the men" ... has Sewell ever seen Tyrone?
I have real faith in the writers. I've watched Coronation Street as a fan since I was a child and I'm always impressed with the interesting storylines they come up with. There are several gay writers, as Sewell says, and there always have been – it's quite a camp show. Look at Norris, who's incredibly camp and incredibly funny ... and definitely straight. The humour drives it forward, and British people obviously like it, since the show has been one of the most popular in the country for 50 years. When Hayley Cropper joined the show in 1998, and she'd been born a man, there was huge scandal at the time and nobody ever thought it would work. But now she comes top in all the popularity polls and is adored by the country. That doesn't sound like a population that would agree with Brian Sewell.
The way to encourage equality is through exposure – but not by ramming sexuality down people's throats. I think Coronation Street has succeeded in encouraging the acceptance of gay people since its inception, and in a gentle, straightforward way, and I'm very proud to be part of that heritage.
Sewell's article worries me because it seems to be part of a change in mood that reminds me of the Section 28 years, when everyone was shouting out that the gays were taking over. This week's news that Opera North had pulled the plug on Lee Hall's opera Beached over explicit references by a gay character to his sexuality has added to this. It feels like we're moving backwards, and I find that shocking.
Charliecondou: My response to Brian Sewell's Daily Mail article. Please feel free to post comments on the Guardian website gu.com/p/3vcmz/tw
ohthankyoudan: @Charliecondou Isn't Brian Sewell gay?
Charliecondou: @ohthankyoudan Apparently. Doesnt stop it being any less homophobic
semadivad: @Charliecondou Brilliant article, love. x
Charliecondou: @semadivad Ta x
PaulBurston: @Charliecondou Well said, that man. Px
Charliecondou: @PaulBurston Bless you x
kevcecil: @Charliecondou Nice article.
Charliecondou: @kevcecil Thanks very much!
jayrayner1: @Charliecondou good piece; i love the fact the Guartdian is inviting people to follow you.
Charliecondou: @jayrayner1 I love the fact that Im now a Guardian Contributer!
jayrayner1: @Charliecondou you dirty filthy troskyite
Wendy_Wason: @Charliecondou nice article. I didn't know you could read let alone write. Well done xx
Charliecondou: @Wendy_Wason Do you EVER check your Viber?
Wendy_Wason: @Charliecondou what's Viber?
Charliecondou: @Wendy_Wason That app on your iPhone. Go and look luddite
nikishisler: @Charliecondou fantastic article Bubby. *proud sister face* xxx
Charliecondou: @nikishisler Thanks. I'll call you in a bit xx
Charliecondou: I didnt mention Ken Barlow's Grandson because A) He's left the show and B) he was never a regular character.
MaxSanna: @Charliecondou btw very well written response to that ridiculous mail article!
Charliecondou: @MaxSanna xxx
niall_odriscoll: @Charliecondou Good response in The Guardian Charlie. x
Charliecondou: @niall_odriscoll ta love x
pierrecondou: @Charliecondou Bravo and well written
Charliecondou: @pierrecondou merci papa
guy_interruptd: This time next week I will be sunning myself here! And yes, that's my mother's private pool :) #gloatingtweet http://yfrog.com/klg28zj
Charliecondou: @guy_interruptd private pool you say? Let's get married!
guy_interruptd: @Charliecondou you're already married. My earlobe feels cheated...
Charliecondou: @guy_interruptd Dammit!
guy_interruptd: @Charliecondou you're the earlobe adulterer!
sally_lindsay: @Charliecondou brilliant article Charlie..well done x
Charliecondou: @sally_lindsay thanks love x
KathViner: @Charliecondou you're second most read on cif!
Charliecondou: @KathViner cif?
KathViner: @Charliecondou you are second most read on comment is free! you are huge!
Jaddle: Sally didn't find out Sophie was gay when she caught her in bed, it was Claire wot told her at Hayley &Roy's wedding #corrie @Charliecondou
Charliecondou: @Jaddle that was meant to be changed!!
Jaddle: @Charliecondou tsk, Guardian sub-editors 'ay? (not that I work as one at The Guide or anything)
MatofKilburnia: @Charliecondou hang on a minute Charlie, you're gay?
Charliecondou: @MatofKilburnia don't be disgusting
talkitsingitsay: @Charliecondou a great response. I love Corrie, regardless of a character's sexuality. But you forgot to mention Ken's gay gran son= 5
Charliecondou: @talkitsingitsay He's not a regular cast member x
scouserachel: @Charliecondou nice one, condou. NICE ONE. x
Charliecondou: @scouserachel Im a Guardian CONTRIBUTOR!!!!
scouserachel: @Charliecondou you so are condou. Welcome to the club. Let's go and eat lentils together SOON.
AlPillay: @Charliecondou Ms Sewage, is,self loatheing hi faluteing pompous old arrogant thatcherite, its like Complianing THAT LIFE IS FAR TOO HUMAN?
Charliecondou: @AlPillay Thank you dear x
juliehes: @Charliecondou brilliant article Charlie. You is a legend! X
Charliecondou: @juliehes and so are you!!!
juliehes: @Charliecondou honestly though Charlie, you wrote with such good grace and sense, you did us all proud. X
jenniemcalpine: @Charliecondou Brilliant Guardian piece. Hear hear x
Charliecondou: @jenniemcalpine ta babezzz
LipSanders: @Charliecondou Crackin' article Charlie. Well said. (Although, bit gutted you couldn't slip 'schadenfreude' in somewhere)
Charliecondou: @LipSanders Bugger!
salihughes: @Charliecondou Top col. xxx
Charliecondou: @salihughes Thanks x
djy12345: @Charliecondou Get you and your journalistic ways! #phonetapper
Charliecondou: @djy12345 I want to write a book!!!
Confidential_CC: @Charliecondou @djy12345 erm, porn relies on pics mostly tho x
terryronald: @Charliecondou Fab piece in the guardian.... But you looked very serious when I just passed you in Soho! :)
Charliecondou: @terryronald haha jet lag!
MichaelLeVell: @Charliecondou nice piece pal very well put good on you .
Charliecondou: @MichaelLeVell cheers bud x
Charliecondou: I saw @caitlinmoran at the Ivy today. She was clearly on a date
Derren_Litten: @Charliecondou I was at the ivy today. Did you ignore me? Hm.
Charliecondou: @Derren_Litten You bloody were not!!! I did a couple of circuits just to look for you* *Joan Collins
Derren_Litten: @Charliecondou I was only there between 11:45pm and 1pm. Oh, and I'm talking about the club. Silly me. X
Charliecondou: @Derren_Litten Haha you clicked your fingers in front of your face as you typed that didnt you
Derren_Litten: @Charliecondou I so did girlfriend.
Charliecondou: Sunday Sun anyone?
SmudgySmudge: @Charliecondou The Sun on Sunday.
TPOglesby: @Charliecondou Fantastic Piece in the Guardian today, brilliantly written with a perfect tone!
Charliecondou: @TPOglesby Thank you
Charliecondou: Hmmm, look where this redirects to: sunday.co.uk
Wolfie_Rankin: @Charliecondou I have a fair few journos on my end, happy to RT... although it's 2:34m here so urghh
Charliecondou: @Wolfie_Rankin Nice one x
Wolfie_Rankin: @Charliecondou Connect with @Colvinius and @katedoak (Aussies) I'm off to sleep, thanks.
Charliecondou: RT @danbarker: "TheSunOnSunday.co.uk" (& .com) reg'd on 5th July 2011: bit.ly/opL6km #notw
ChrisRay2: @Charliecondou the article is bang on! some people are just idiots, go on charl! #getagrip!
Charliecondou: @ChrisRay2 Ta x
Charliecondou: RT @robbiereviews: WE ARE ALL GETTING DRRIUUUUNKk
Charliecondou: Bloody Hell. Does this mean I've stopped trending? #NOTW
1Dev: @Charliecondou That's showbiz #chipwrapping
scouserachel: @Charliecondou oh charlie. twitter is such a fickle mistress.
Charliecondou: @scouserachel *Tweets cock-shots immediately*
scouserachel: @Charliecondou just remember the good times, fella.
Charliecondou: @scouserachel Can you find out which toilet George Michael will be in later? *Dons balaclava and fishnets. Sets up video*
djy12345: When were you trendy? “@Charliecondou: Bloody Hell. Does this mean I've stopped trending? #NOTW”
Charliecondou: @djy12345 Im in a magazine! AND on a list!! Im an A-Gay*I"ll have ou know!!!!! *C-Gay
rick_poppa: @Charliecondou just read ur attack on the daily mail!! Nice one! about time we were heard!! There is no room for Bigots in this society.
Charliecondou: @rick_poppa Very true x
paulmcgrathuk: @Charliecondou Just read your article mate,you put your point across very well, i'm a gay man too, good on you mate
Charliecondou: @paulmcgrathuk Thanks x
timlusher: Tomorrow in G2, exclusive extract from @gracedent's brilliant new book, How to Leave Twitter.
Charliecondou: @timlusher @gracedent If I could read I would SO buy that
lizzieroper: RT @Charliecondou: My response to Brian Sewell's Daily Mail article. Please feel free to post comments on th… (cont) http://deck.ly/~DqEAx
Charliecondou: @lizzieroper Thank you dear x
lizzieroper: @Charliecondou bloody great article. Thank YOU!!!
1coolz1: @Charliecondou did you ever take a job as a Zip Slide events helper? I know the questions weird but I think I saw you @ an event a year ago?
Charliecondou: @1coolz1 Nope, not me
Calendulafitz: @Charliecondou I LOVE all the actors in Corri and am regular viewer! Brian Sewell? NOT in my universe?
Charliecondou: @Calendulafitz Lol thanks x
drumillar: @Charliecondou just read ur reply, not original, as a straight guy I can say I thoroughly agree with u love the show keep up the great work
Charliecondou: @drumillar Cheers x
tinaob: RT @Charliecondou: My response to Brian Sewell's Daily Mail article. Please feel free to post comments on the Guardian website gu.com/p/3vcmz/tw
Charliecondou: @tinaob Thanks love x
Charliecondou: RT @Brian_Sewell: why so many new followers?
Charliecondou: RT @scouserachel: nothing ever goes right for Imogen #SOsad RT @Imogen_Thomas: NOTW. I will miss Carole Malone x
MichaelLeVell: @Charliecondou has Carole Malone passed away pal?
Charliecondou: @MichaelLeVell NOTW closed down
hellosophie: Fuck yeah, Charlie Condou! guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/…
Charliecondou: @hellosophie ta x
hellosophie: @Charliecondou No, thank you for writing it! :)
sharonasx: How many gay+ people are there in #corrie Sophie, sophies gf, sean, marcus, kens gson, todd, todds bf, audreys mate, Hayley any more?
Charliecondou: @sharonasx kens gson is no longer in it,neither is Todd or his bf.Audrey's mate is straight & Hayley is transsexual.4 regular gay characters
sharonasx: @Charliecondou I saw the gson this week. Todds coming back. I'm not homophobic btw. #justsaying
Charliecondou: @sharonasx gson has left, his last ep is sometime this week or next. No plans for Todd's return. I didn't say you were, just misinformed :-)
Charliecondou : RT @djy12345: Oh god. Newsnight line up is like the Fellowship of the Ring
Charliecondou : RT @TobyBourne: Andy Coulson looks increasingly like a character played by Harry Enfield
alicearnold1: I love Shirley Williams...@Zebsoanes and I are fighting in the office about who loves her more. I want her to come to dinner.
clarebalding1: @alicearnold1 yes, yes, please can she come to dinner. I will cook.
Charliecondou: @clarebalding1 @alicearnold1 Can I come? (I don't like tomatoes or lamb)
alicearnold1: @Charliecondou @clarebalding1 Yes...all Guardian columnists are welcome!
Charliecondou: I have ARRIVED! RT @alicearnold1: @Charliecondou @clarebalding1 Yes...all Guardian columnists are welcome!
marcooth: @Charliecondou You don't like tomatoes?
Charliecondou: @marcooth not raw ones
marcooth: @Charliecondou You don't like raw tomatoes?
Charliecondou: @marcooth no. I don't
torbay1: @alicearnold1 I'll be listening. Can't get enough of this all. hat will you give Shirley for dinner? She might be veggie?
Charliecondou: @torbay1 @alicearnold1 we're not having tomatoes, I've already vetoed them
MargoJMilne: @Charliecondou It was a great column, Charlie! x
Charliecondou: @MargoJMilne thank you
Charliecondou: That eye make up isn't helping #BBC-QuestionTime
djy12345: @Charliecondou You look fine honest
Charliecondou: @djy12345 I'm breaking friends with you
djy12345: @Charliecondou *snorts like a horse*
elliot_jr: @Charliecondou it clearly effected her ability to form a coherent sentence.
Charliecondou: @elliot_jr it was probably very heavy
gretahughson: @Charliecondou Was just reading your Guardian article and thought I recognised you - did you volunteer at THTD?!
Charliecondou: @gretahughson I did!
gretahughson: @Charliecondou Congrats on the article - and the Corrie success! I love to see the alumni doing well. Boy done good! :)
Charliecondou: @gretahughson thanks so much. You well?
Charliecondou: RT @GavinJuniper: @Charliecondou when are they going to ask about Sewell and Corrie? Ffs #BBC-QuestionTime
Charliecondou: RT @torbay1: Hugh Grant completely right about MPs being frightened. Adam price said this months ago.
Charliecondou: Hugh Grant once told me a story about having his first prostate examination. That's all you're getting
scouserachel: @Charliecondou you're never going to trend again with that kind of material.
Charliecondou: @scouserachel I've had my moment on the sun. I'm happy
scouserachel: @Charliecondou plus you're getting a soap wedding. #trulyblessed
Charliecondou: @scouserachelTHAT'S NOT TRUE!!
scouserachel: @Charliecondou IS THIS A TABLOID LIE?!? *mind wanders from #BBC-QuestionTime*
Charliecondou: @scouserachel well if it's true, nobody's told me
scouserachel: @Charliecondou *puts away hat, sadly*
leejonathan: @Charliecondou how tall is he? hugh?
Charliecondou: @leejonathan erm, I can't really remember
andrea_mclean: @Charliecondou that's not good enough mister *settles down for the night ready for more info*
Charliecondou: @andrea_mclean my lips are sealed. His clearly weren't
andrea_mclean: @Charliecondou ha ha!
Charliecondou: RT @caitlinmoran: There's no two ways about it - Jon Gaunt's in the Cunt Chair #BBC-QuestionTime
Charliecondou: RT @djy12345: Has anyone ever had a less accurately descriptive name than John Gaunt? #BBC-QuestionTime
clarkville: I missed the start. Who is the tit arguing with (my new hero) Hugh Grant? #BBC-QuestionTime
Charliecondou: @clarkville John gaunt
torbay1: Ooh @Charliecondou hello - meant to say how brill your Guardian piece was today.
Charliecondou: @torbay1 thank you kindly x
-----------------------------------------------------------
Below: Charlie Condou is trending all over the UK and on the west coast of America...with his article rebuking Brian Sewell 7-6-2011. Click picture to enlarge.
Coronation Street stars told not to plug products or companies in Tweets after rash of 'endorsements'
By JODY THOMPSON
6th July 2011
Coronation Street stars have been given a shot across the bows warning them not to use Twitter to earn extra money and freebies by plugging companies and products.
A company-wide email was sent to all cast members last week warning them against using Tweets to promote businesses outside of the show.
A spokesperson told Mail Online: 'Guidelines have been issued to all of the cast, because companies are starting to use them (members of the cast who Tweet) as a marketing tool.'
'It's as much to protect them. Some of them have been using it quite innocently, saying they've been somewhere or they've got something.
'But some of them are being taken advantage of and we have a duty of care to advise the cast to make sure they weren't inadvertently promoting products.'
'There's no suggestion that any of the cast have been making money from it or getting anything for free as a result.'
Online fans: Charlie Condou, left, and Anthony Cotton, right, are both keen Tweeters too, though there is no suggestion any Corrie cast members have been using Twitter for financial gains or freebies outside the show.
However, she added: 'It's not like we're going to be policing all of their Twitter accounts though. They're grown ups.
A show insider told Mail Online that Brooke Vincent, 19, who plays gobby lesbian Sophie Webster in Coronation Street, was just one of many who had overstepped the mark.
'She is just one of the most prolific Twitters,' they explained.
Brooke, who has 76,000 followers, had appeared to have been endorsing a range of brands on her account, including McDonald's, Domino's Pizza and Sienna fake tan by posting photos of them on her Twitter feed.
But the insider insisted that many other younger members of the cast had too, and no-one was being targeted specifically by the newly-issued guidelines.
It had been reported that Brooke had been given a 'stern talking to' after appearing to endorse a range of brands including McDonald's, Domino's Pizza and Sienna fake tan by posting photos of them on her Twitter feed.
However, this has been denied by show bosses.
organising the proverbial
misterhsk: I'll be playing The Brewery in Kendal tonight. Come along. I'll cook a curry. And try and organise a piss up. In The Brewery.
AWOLTom: @misterhsk and if you don't organise one, then you’ll be forever known as the man who couldn't organise the proverbial at the brewery....etc
misterhsk: @AWOLTom it's a pressure I surely don't need...
AWOLTom: @misterhsk well if it all goes horribly wrong drop to the ground clutching your heart...works for me when I can't deliver the goods x
misterhsk: @AWOLTom will bear that in mind...x
JUST FOR YOU
Confidential_CC: @stephen_hagan REVIEW OF CHARLIE CONDOU'S DAY - charlie-corrie-condou.blogspot.com
stephen_hagan: @Confidential_CC you're ok - I'll just ask him
Confidential_CC: @stephen_hagan aww and I spent hours typing it and everything just for you x
stephen_hagan: @Confidential_CC no you didn't girlfriend!
Confidential_CC: @stephen_hagan well I spent over 3 hours this morning and 2 hours last night typing...for you (and others) x
No comments:
Post a Comment