Coronation Street has announced their first ever black family who will make their debut in June, led by Doctors legend Lorna Laidlaw, who recently left her role as receptionist Mrs Tembe. The Bailey clan will also include a brand new LGBTQ+ character who will be involved in a footballer homophobia storyline.
As it stands, James (Nathan Graham) hasnt come out to his family – mum Agatha, builder dad Edison (Trevor Michael Georges) who buys the builders yard and his brother Michael (Ryan Russell).
The Bailey family soon make themselves at home in Weatherfield and while initially they may rub a few people up the wrong way theyre soon firm favourites in the community.
Show boss Iain MacLeod told us: I am really excited to introduce this new family – the audience is going to love them! Theyre funny, warm and will pull together through thick and thin in the storylines weve got lined up for them.
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On why it has taken Corrie this length of time to introduce a full black family: I dont know to a degree its before my time I wouldnt presume to speak of others motivations. In the past new families come in one at a time I find that a harder way to do it which is why they all turn up you get the dynamic. Short answer I dont really know. Manchester has a large proportion of black residents, it did feel sort of overdue we did this and represented modern Manchester a bit more accurately. As to why its taken until now I dont know.
The North West and Great Britain as a whole is a big melting pot of people from different backgrounds and ethnicities and the more representative we can make Corrie of Manchester and Britain, the better really, so it was a no-brainer.
But as with anything on Coronation Street it was the characters that came first and they were just instantly likeable; I could picture them all in my head from the moment the writer described them. It was led by character but it felt like the right time to introduce this family.
Living in No.3, the former home of Emily Biship and Norris Cole, the clan will initially clash with their neighbours, the Barlows. But will then become firm friends.
Iain smiled: What we learn quite early on is Aggie doesnt back down from a fight. They do, in a fairly British, polite way, rub the neighbours up the wrong way a little bit when they arrive and then Aggie takes offence at something one of her neighbours says and it becomes a little bit of a tit for tat war.
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It is the residents of number one. Basically, on one side of the wall youve got Aggie, noisily playing Chopsticks whilst Michael uses a power saw, and on the other side of the wall, youve got Claudia blasting War of the Valkyries while Amy screeches through a violin.
It becomes a noise war, essentially. At that point of the proceedings, Edison and Ken come back from where theyve been and open their front doors. Both men shut the doors and say – shall we go to the pub and leave them to it?
Aggie will befriend Eileen and Liz while Michael is set to hang out with the Streetcars gang – Steve, Tim and Peter. James on the other hand soon builds a close relationship with Bethany Platt – who will get the wrong impression as she starts to develop feelings for him.
Iain confirmed there are plans for a full time Norris return and, while the show is constantly in discussion with Eileen Derbyshire, there are no current concrete plans for Emilys comeback.
Meet the Baileys!
Aggie
Lorna said: Shes quite a vivacious character – absolutely the head of the family. She has the loudest voice – shes an absolute driving force and very proud of her children and in love with her husband. And the love between them is so important to show and the dedication to her sons as well.
Ed
Trevor said: Hes a builder, a construction worker – a very determined man who likes to get what he wants the right way. Like everyone on the Street, he has has own shade of crazy – he gets a tad psychadelic as time goes on!
Michael
Ryan said: Im the eldest son. My character is a bit of a dreamer, a self proclaimed entrepeneur – he has his fingers in a few pies to try a better life for himself and hRead More – Source
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