ITV has announced that Coronation Street is set to air a run of darker, post-watershed episodes at the later time of 9pm next week.
The long-running soap – which is set in the fictional Manchester-based suburb of Weatherfield – usually airs its episodes 7.30pm and 8.30pm episodes throughout the year, but during the Half Term week, things are known to turn a little darker.
Typically, the post-watershed episodes coincide with when the hit talent competition show, Britain’s Got Talent, airs its live semi-finals and final – but BGT was cancelled due to execution difficulties amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, and so will be replaced by a Masked Singer spin-off, Masked Dancer, which is airing every day apart from Wednesday.
On Wednesday, ITV will air England playing its World Cup Qualifying match against Austria in the same slot.
So, what storylines can Corrie fans expect to get their teeth stuck into next week then?
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According to ITV, the dramatic run of episodes sees a brutal shootout involving Gary Windass, as he manages to uncover the truth behind Sam’s kidnapping.
Jenny is horrified to discover Sharon’s involvement in Sam’s kidnap / Credit: ITV
Jenny is also onto Sharon Bentley – who was involved in organising Sam’s kidnap for her nephew Harvey, played by Will Mellor – but Sharon is aware that Jenny is onto them and realises that she needs to up her game, and so begin to quiz Toyah about Leanne’s latest visit.
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Meanwhile, Natasha ends up confronting Gary as she accuses him of being the one to hire the man with a van who kidnapped Sam, but Jenny is intrigued to find out that it was Sharon who hired it, and when Jenny voices her suspicions to Ronnie, he reveals that he overheard Sharon speaking to Toyah about Leanne.
Things take a turn for the worse when Jenny becomes worried and immediately tells Toyah and Imran that she suspects Sharon was involved in Sam’s kidnap.
Gary tries to hunt down Sharon / Credit: ITV
The events begin to materialise further and come to a head when Gary spots the van used for the kidnap outside the Kabin and forces it open, demanding that Rita phone the police as he goes after Sharon.
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Yet, the driver pulls out a gun and a shot is fired.
You can tune in to find out Gary’s fate next Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9pm on ITV.
Featured Image – ITV
TV & Showbiz
Loads of famous films are coming back to UK cinemas to celebrate their anniversaries
Emily Sergeant
Loads of famous films are heading back to cinemas across the UK this spring to celebrate their milestone anniversaries.
From coming of age classics, to legendary romcoms, action films, psychological thrillers, and more, Vue has announced that it’s bringing a roster of much-loved film favourites back to the big screen over the next couple of months.
Kicking things off this weekend (12 April) is the 40th anniversary screening of Stand by Me, a beloved coming of age gem which follows four boys who decide to go see the body of a boy that has died in their rural hometown, while also returning to the big screen is 80s classic, Top Gun, as well as a re-release of the sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, for a limited run.
A trio of classic female-led comedies will also be returning as part of the season.
Beginning with everyone’s favourite diarist in Bridget Jones’s Diary – starring Renée Zellweger in the titular role – which returns for its 25th anniversary from 17 April.
Loads of famous films are coming back to UK cinemas to celebrate their anniversaries / Credit: Universal Pictures | Columbia Pictures
Also celebrating 25 years since its initial release is the ultimate sorority-queen-turned-lawyer caper Legally Blonde starring Reese Witherspoon, returning 22 May, and an epic ensemble cast – including Kristen Wiig, Melissa McCarthy, and Rose Byrne – in Bridesmaids, which is returning 15 years after its initial release.
The iconic thriller The Silence of the Lambs returns from 24 April, and other highlights include the anniversary releases of the riotous comedy The Birdcage, the cult fantasy adventure Highlander, and the feel-good family favourite Space Jam.
Tickets for all the films are now available to book at Vue Cinemas across Greater Manchester – including the flagship Printworks location in Manchester city centre.
“At Vue, we know there’s nothing quite like experiencing a great film on the big screen,” commented Mike Anton, who is the General Manager of Vue Manchester Printworks, ahead of the films’ re-releases.
“This anniversary season gives audiences the chance to revisit some of their all-time favourites the way they were meant to be seen, on the big screen, while also introducing these iconic titles to a new generation of film fans.”
Tickets start from just £4.99 when booked online, with some of the later films on the roster only becoming able to book closer to the time, so keep your eyes peeled.
For more information and to book tickets, visit myvue.com.
Featured Image – Krists Luhaers (via Unsplash)
TV & Showbiz
AO Arena are hosting an ‘Evening 4’ Ricky Hatton in memory of the legendary Manchester boxer
Danny Jones
Manchester is set to host a night of remembrance and celebration in honour of the late, great, local boxer, Ricky Hatton.
Coming this summer, the AO Arena – where Hatton enjoyed so many of his iconic moments – will be holding the first-ever ‘Evening4Ricky’ later this year.
Held at the legendary sports and live entertainment venue just in time for summer, we still know very little about what the actual event will entail.
Sharing the news on social media, AO Arena said: “Join us for an unforgettable night of entertainment as Manchester comes together for Evening4Ricky.
“This will be a spectacular, unique celebration of the life, spirit and legacy of one of the city’s most beloved icons – Ricky ‘The Hitman’ Hatton.”
With seats priced at £25, fans are being encouraged to join the early bird sign-up to secure access to discounted tickets.
They go on to add: “Hosted at the legendary AO Arena, home to so many of Ricky’s big fights, featuring a superstar cast of legends from the worlds of boxing, music, comedy and entertainment.”
So, we do at least know there’ll be some famous faces coming along to help make it a memorable Manc moment, just a few months on from the city and beyond uniting for his public funeral procession.
Ricky was beloved not only by the Greater Manchester community but was a popular figure and friend to many in the sporting and showbiz industries.
The homegrown ‘Pride of Hyde‘ tragically left us on 14 September 2025 at the age of just 46, but his passing has once again helped reassert the importance of having more conversations around wellbeing, suicide prevention, and most specifically, men’s mental health.
You can find more information and see how to grab tickets right HERE.
This isn’t the only charitable in memoriam event happening across the region in the coming weeks, either, as Mancs will be gathering to pay tribute to another fellow inspiring sportsman.
Emily Sergeant -
26th May 2021 
