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Gay News: The gay boss of Coronation Street has denied an agenda to introduce more gay characters into the soap
By: Nigel Robinson
Gay characters Sean and Marcus
Phil Collinson was responding to recent criticisms by art critic Brian Sewell and others in the tabloid press that the long-running soap was experiencing a ratings slump due to the number of gay characters in the show.
Currently there are five gay characters on the street: Sean Tully and Marcus Dent, Sophie Webster and Sian Powers, and Ken Barlow’s grandson, James.
The soap also features the transsexual Hayley, and Collinson has recently introduced the character of transvestite Mark/ Marcia who is, however, heterosexual.
Speaking to ITV’s This Morning, Collinson, who is gay, said: “We have a very broad cast: sixty-five regulars and two gay couples. In the research that we do, Hayley, Sean and Sophie are among the most popular characters...
“Of course we are going to tell stories about our most popular characters. The audience wants us to tell stories about these characters. There is no gay agenda. There is no gay soapbox. We are telling stories about love.”
He went on to say: “The accusation is that because I’m gay – and I’ve never made a secret of that – I have an agenda to promote gay storylines and characters. I don’t. My agenda is simply to tell brilliant stories.”
He also repeated his views on the BBC’s Breakfast, and suggested that some of the criticisms aimed at the soap were homophobic.
Gay characters Sean and Marcus
"No gay agenda" in Coronation Street
13 July 20111
Phil Collinson was responding to recent criticisms by art critic Brian Sewell and others in the tabloid press that the long-running soap was experiencing a ratings slump due to the number of gay characters in the show.
Currently there are five gay characters on the street: Sean Tully and Marcus Dent, Sophie Webster and Sian Powers, and Ken Barlow’s grandson, James.
The soap also features the transsexual Hayley, and Collinson has recently introduced the character of transvestite Mark/ Marcia who is, however, heterosexual.
Speaking to ITV’s This Morning, Collinson, who is gay, said: “We have a very broad cast: sixty-five regulars and two gay couples. In the research that we do, Hayley, Sean and Sophie are among the most popular characters...
“Of course we are going to tell stories about our most popular characters. The audience wants us to tell stories about these characters. There is no gay agenda. There is no gay soapbox. We are telling stories about love.”
He went on to say: “The accusation is that because I’m gay – and I’ve never made a secret of that – I have an agenda to promote gay storylines and characters. I don’t. My agenda is simply to tell brilliant stories.”
He also repeated his views on the BBC’s Breakfast, and suggested that some of the criticisms aimed at the soap were homophobic.
