Corrie: Kieran Roberts (Part 1).

[Arti]

As promised, I wrote to Kieran Roberts (Creative Director on Coronation Street) regarding the perceived decline of the programme. I received a reply from him today. Here is Part 1. (It won't all fit in 1 thread). Please put comments in Part 2 thread.

Dear Arti

Thank you for your recent letter concerning your views and the sentiments of some Answerbank members regarding Coronation Street. I would not agree with you that Coronation Street "has lost its character, definition and direction" in the past six to eight months. In fact, during the period you've alluded to our fiftieth anniversary stories and episodes broke records for viewing figures and were critically acclaimed, both here in the UK and around the world. Viewing figures for the first few months of this year are also up by comparison with the same period in 2010 and, as I'm sure you're aware, we've just picked up nine awards at this year's British Soap Awards - more awards than all the other soaps put together.
In terms of the specific comments you make I am confident that we did adequately explain all of those character and story points: Carla's feelings for Peter go back many, many months and we've played that as an undercurrent to their 'friendship' for a long time; her drink problems are also well seeded and we don't forget to see her struggling with this regularly; Steve would much rather not spend time with Tracy (he is aware among other things that Becky would be furious) but he does so as it's the only way he can guarantee quality time with his daughter, Amy; Dev's money troubles were clearly explained as being a direct result of the recent recession and a single but significant mistake in failing to renew the insurance on his Weatherfield shop which was, of course, badly damaged by the tram;

[factor-fiction]

Thanks for the update, Arti