Former Coronation Street actress Amanda Barrie has expressed her disappointment with the ITV soap's increasingly dark storylines, comparing the show to a 'northern Midsomer Murders'.
Barrie, who played the beloved Alma Baldwin on the cobbles, shared her views in an interview with Best of British magazine. While she still watches the programme, she admitted being taken aback by the sheer number of deaths featured.
Barrie's Comments on the Show's Direction
She said: "We had some wonderful people on Corrie when I was in it, as they still do now. The trouble is they've had to make it more like a northern Midsomer Murders, which is sad, because the Street used to be a place where the viewers wanted to live and come and join us in the Rovers."
In recent years, viewers have witnessed several shocking murders in Weatherfield, including the stabbing of teenager Mason Radcliffe by his own brother, and a whodunnit plot centred on the killing of Theo Silverton.
Praise for Younger Cast
Despite her reservations about the darker storylines, Barrie praised the younger cast members and their demanding filming schedules. She added: "I still enjoy it and I'm amazed with the performances now, especially from the youngsters, who've never known what it was like to have rehearsals. It was very weird joining Coronation Street and seeing all those famous faces, it was like meeting cartoon characters that had come to life."
Fans have also recently praised actress Sydney Martin for her portrayal of Betsy Swain, who suffered a stroke after being strangled during consensual sex with her boyfriend Dylan Wilson. Viewers have watched Betsy attend speech therapy sessions as she recovers at home.
One fan wrote online: "Betsy acting the post stroke stuff is brilliant #Corrie." Another commented: "Sydney Martin's acting is incredible. She's really doing Betsy's stroke justice. Must be hard to speak like that. #Corrie". A third added: "#corrie Sydney's portrayal todsy was a complete masterclass in how to play a stroke surviver first class."
Coronation Street airs weekday nights at 8.30pm on ITV1 and ITVX.
