The soap, in the past few weeks, has faced a wave of criticism over the casting of Michelle Collins, declining ratings and the number of LGBT characters amongst its cast. Now former cast member Johnny Briggs, who left the soap in 2006 after 30 years, has joined the chorus of criticisms claiming the soap has lost its way and its humour.
“There’s no laughter or humour. The Duckworths have gone, Hilda Ogden is gone, the comedy and drama is dead. People were once happy in the soap. There is no one in it I recognise now. I watched the 50th anniversary episode [in December] but could only stand five minutes before I flicked over to the golf. There is no fun in the show any more. The writers have lost their way by bringing in all these unknowns and trying to make it interesting by introducing different characters.
I haven’t watched it recently so I don’t know about the new gay characters, but my philosophy is: if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. It’s so sad to learn the ratings have gone down. It’s heartbreaking. It used to be a great show – it was an old friend to me. Now I can’t bring myself to watch, what a terrible shame.” - Johnny Briggs quoted in The Mirror
The actor was involved in some of Coronation Street’s most memorable storyline such as the Mike/Ken and Deidre love triangle of the early 1980s. It was that love triangle that sparked the long running feud between Ken (William Roache) and Mike. In 1986 that feud reached a high point when Mike married Ken’s daughter Susan (Wendy Jane Walker) but the marriage lasted less than a year. Another love triangle, of sorts, developed between the two and Alma (Amanda Barrie) later but ultimately the cafe owner married the factory owner and not Ken. The actor bowed out of the soap over five years ago when Mike Baldwin was killed off but the actor has suggested, once or twice since, he could make a “sensational” return to the soap.
The actor’s criticisms come after producer Phil Collinson appeared on several shows, such as This Morning and Breakfast, to defend the soap in light of the negative press stories. He also wrote on the soaps official website addressing many of the criticisms aimed at the soap. Appearing on Breakfast earlier this week Collinson denied there was a “gay agenda” and claimed such jibes wouldn’t have been made if he weren’t gay himself.
Source: atvtoday
