More From 1989

"Well Pleased" has written to say that he/she is ... er ... well pleased with our 1989 visit. "More please!" says he/she!

My pleasure! Above, you'll see the building works in progress, Reg Holdsworth alarming Curly Watts, Jack and Vera Duckworth exulting over their swanky new stone cladding, Audrey Roberts sulking because she's been forced to move into the Corner Shop flat, Andy and Steve McDonald in the shop, the 1989 shop staff, Kevin and Sally Webster being told by Alf Roberts the news of Brian Tilsley's tragic and untimely death, Liz and Jim McDonald sussing out their new neighbours, and Mavis Riley and Emily Bishop enjoying a drink in The Rovers.

Uttered In The '80s - Part 4...

Newcomers Liz and Jim McDonald (Beverley Callard and Charles Lawson) popped into The Rovers Return to suss out their new neighbours in 1989...

Liz took a good, long squint at Mavis Wilton (Thelma Barlow) and Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire):

Jim: "What are you looking at?"

Liz: "Those two plain Janes at the bar, quietly knocking it back."

Jim: "Free country, isn't it?"

Liz: "Yeah, I know, but I didn't think they were the type."

Jim: "You're enjoying yourself, aren't yer? Standing here putting labels on everybody."

Liz: "I love it!"

Liz on Ken Barlow (William Roache): "Now, here's a mystery man!"

Jim: "Why?"

Liz: "He's too smooth for round 'ere, a bit too 'shiny-shoed'. I bet even his wife don't see him in his vest and underpants."

Jim: "Eh, now listen, I quite fancy his wife."

Liz: "Well... she's not plain."

Jim: I know, I could... er... breathe on her glasses."

Of course, at that point in time, Deirdre (Anne Kirkbride) was unaware that Ken was indulging in a spot of heavy breathing with Wendy Crozier (Roberta Kerr).

And there was so much else going on.

Jim and Liz little realised just what a fascinating street they'd moved to...

1983: Beverley Callard Down On Emmerdale Farm

I've just published this article on The Beckindale Bugle, one of my other blogs, but I believe it is also of interest here!

Beverley Callard (then Beverley Sowden) made her soap debut in Emmerdale Farm in 1983. She played Angie Richards, a chip shop cashier, who was briefly Jackie Merrick's girlfriend. She had big hair. She wore pixie boots... and she was a little too modern for Beckindale.

The relationship was doomed to failure, the couple had nowhere to be alone together, and soon Angie was calling the whole thing off. This led to an altercation at the local disco: as True by Spandau Ballet played in the background, jealous Jackie almost came to blows with Angie's new boyfriend.

Jackie cooled it, and Angie disappeared from his life.

In 1984 Beverley Callard made her Corrie debut as June Dewhurst.

In 1989, Beverley became Liz McDonald, wife of big Jim, and mother of Steve and Andy - and more permanent soap stardom was hers.

Happy New Year And Coming Soon!

Happy New Year when it comes - here's hoping you won't be spending the end of 2008 and the beginning of 2009 like Hilda in our picture! Whatever you're doing (even if it's just watching the telly), have fun!

Coming soon... here's a very big-haired Liz McDonald - except it isn't. This is Beverley Callard in her first soap role - as Angie Richards, chip shop cashier of Emmerdale Farm in 1983. Angie has just had a wonderful (!) evening out with Jackie Merrick (Ian Sharrock) in The Woolpack.

Beverley debuted in Coronation Street in 1989, and in those days Liz was very much an '80s fashion victim - just as Angie was in '83!

For years in the 1990s, lovely Liz's fashion sense strayed towards the 1980s, but these days her style is far more eclectic - bearing traces of the '60s, 70s and '80s, and often being positively indescribable! If it's bad taste, Liz will wear it!

In 1983, Angie Richards was into pixie boots, smart jackets with noticeable shoulders and skin tight, colourful trousers. We'll be taking a look at Beverley's early '80s soap debut in 2009. Angie liked Jackie, but the trouble was there nothing to do and nowhere to be alone together. The relationship was not to last...

We have the details - please stay tuned!