Old viewers letters

[emm1978]

Found in the Sunday Mirror, from February 1964...

Doesn't matter how much viewers moan about the Street, or for how long... it's still here, and will be here forever!

But, I guess we shouldn't be too hard on viewers who only do the same thing now.

 

[Barbara Fan]

Corrie was a far better programme then compared to now - and better acting. Ive watched quite a few Annie Walker scenes C/o Dorris Speed fans on Twitter and they are priceless!

I wish they would show old 60/70/80s Corrie in the 8pm slot - dont see ITV 3 due to work

 

[emm1978]

I find it weird when people say things like, "oh it's not the same now, and wish it was the same as it was in the 1960s"

I should hope not!

Life isn't the same now, and people aren't the same now!

We already have Coronation Street that represents life in the 1960s... what is produced, and rightly, produced now is Coronation Street that represents life in the 2020s... hence, why, in recent years, there have been stories centred around contemporary issues such as social media, drones and other internet-related business.

Having checked the original TV listings from January 1964, those were indeed the storylines that were happening at the time Mr. Morris wrote the letter.

 

[Ome]

I find it weird when people say things like, "oh it's not the same now, and wish it was the same as it was in the 1960s

When someone has a different opinion to you, it’s not weird, it’s a different opinion.

I love Corrie old and new, and I it feels more contrived now than it’s ever felt in the past. I also find it more far fetched than ever before and sometimes it winds me up, but that’s just my opinion. I have characters that I despise and yet know many other love them. I have characters that o love and know many fans hate.

I’m thankful we are not all in agreement because that would be boring, what makes discussing a favourite show is reading comments that differ from mine.

 

[emm1978]

When someone has a different opinion to you, it’s not weird, it’s a different opinion.

I love Corrie old and new, and I it feels more contrived now than it’s ever felt in the past. I also find it more far fetched than ever before and sometimes it winds me up, but that’s just my opinion. I have characters that I despise and yet know many other love them. I have characters that o love and know many fans hate.

I’m thankful we are not all in agreement because that would be boring, what makes discussing a favourite show is reading comments that differ from mine.

There are some viewers, over the years, who have gone to extraordinary lengths to vent their anger over something fictional.

I recently found this newspaper article from 1990, which illustrates how actors playing fictional characters get physically and verbally assaulted, and even spat on, by viewers while they're out and about.

...and people wonder why I always speak out in defence of actors?

It's difficult enough for actors to secure regular work in the industry, without idiots like that making life hell for them!

You would think that these people weren't acting and actually doing it!

Emmerdale recently featured a rape scene, and not for the first time... and the first thing I did was take to Twitter to congratulate Ben & Karen who play Craig & Lydia on such an excellently "acted" scene... and, to my delight, although not surprise, they were both thankful for the words of praise.

Be kind, be caring... I always say, and find.

 

[Brian Kinney]

But, I guess we shouldn't be too hard on viewers who only do the same thing now.

That's why I stopped reading certain sites as Reddit about the TV shows I like. It's frustrating to read comments by people who seem to hate everything or who don't even watch something but complain about it anyway. I always thought it got worse with online forums but this thread is a reminder that the press played the same record decades earlier too.

 

[Ome]

There are some viewers, over the years, who have gone to extraordinary lengths to vent their anger over something fictional.

While there is a platform to air people’s views, there will always be ridiculous complaints. I I struggle with some of the complaints because It’s hard to believe some people can be that stupid.

During the first month of the lockdown back in 2020, people were writing in to complain that characters were entering the shop, cafe or oblivious without wearing masks. It got so bad, Corrie (& I think Emmerdale) put up a warning before each episode explaining that most of not all scenes were filmed before the country went into lockdown.

...and people wonder why I always speak out in defence of actors?

That’s fine, but not every complaint is as silly as you describe. Many complaints can be serious and if people didn’t give their views, good or bad, how does a show continue. As daft as sone of the complaints can be, there is genuine complaints.

 

[emm1978]

While there is a platform to air people’s views, there will always be ridiculous complaints. I I struggle with some of the complaints because It’s hard to believe some people can be that stupid.

During the first month of the lockdown back in 2020, people were writing in to complain that characters were entering the shop, cafe or oblivious without wearing masks.

I never complained about that!

Quite the opposite...

It got so bad, Corrie (& I think Emmerdale) put up a warning before each episode explaining that most of not all scenes were filmed before the country went into lockdown.


That’s fine, but not every complaint is as silly as you describe. Many complaints can be serious and if people didn’t give their views, good or bad, how does a show continue. As daft as sone of the complaints can be, there is genuine complaints.

The way some viewers complain these days though, you'd think that these people in the soaps weren't acting and actually doing it!

Like Stephen in Coronation Street, and Meena in Emmerdale a couple of years back...

From the amount of complaints generated, it's almost like those viewers think he/she really is a psychopathic serial killer, as opposed to simply an actor playing one.

 

[emm1978]

Emmerdale Farm was labelled "a load of misery" too, by a viewer in January 1989...

Coming from the Midlands, I expect they were still bitter about Crossroads being axed the year before.