Rita and Mavis languishing behind the brown melamine of the OG Kabin’s counter, surrounded by proper festive trimmings. Alarmingly there appear to be the chalk outlines of the tiny feet and calves of several slaughtered elves against the back wall, all of whom probably came a cropper at the extreme points of Rita’s polyester glamourwear.

The Ogdens expressing exactly how I felt when Len was mercifully killed off-screen, thus saving the viewer from a gruelling reappearance of the sore-bear of a Toby jug who portrayed him.

Possibly the most reductive whisper of storylines imaginable.

What a busy month!

Of course, December’s real #Corrie event was the wedding of Alf and Audrey on 23rd, but alas, by the time that glittering occasion was committed to the Weatherfield registry, my 1986 #CorrieCalendar was already wrapped up under the original owner’s tree. #ClassicCorrie #CoronationStreet

Jack in striped pyjamas, squirming whilst flanked by Vera and chest-jabby Our Terry, in October’s page in the 1986 Official Coronation Street calendar.

Big-collar era Mike Baldwin; floppy-fringed moustachioed early-eighties Kev; lovely Jerry Booth.

Mavis in full-siren mode, with The Man From The RSPCA.

I like to think Our Terry (seen here in his early, non-evil incarnation in my 1986 #CorrieCalendar) has just given Jack a painfully good old twist of the nipple. #CoronationStreet #Corrie #ClassicCorrie #TerryDuckworth #MavisRlikely #JerryBooth #Cctober #Autumn

September from 1986's official Coronation Street calendar, with a large photo of Bet Lynch and Betty Turpin looking exasperated by the obnoxious Gordon Lewis. Lewis was the temporary Rovers Return manager after Billy Walker scampered off back to Jersey with his beard, and before Bet's successful session with Sarah Ridley.

As is so often the case, Bet and Betty speak for us all. #Corrie #CorrieCalendar #Corrie1986 #September #CoronationStreet #ClassicCorrie #ClassicCoronationStreet #BettyTurpin #BetLynch #Becky

Ken Barlow, already middle-aged in 1973, appearing to gaze lecherously at the dressed-for-the-weather form of Joanna Lumley, in that role that media likes to tell us nobody knows she played.

Hilda (looking doggedly determined); Bet (looking nonchalantly glamourous); and Vera (looking as if she stinks of fags and Woolworths’s scent at ear-splatting decibels) on the starting line of the Rovers vs Flying Horse 1984 Olympic egg and spoon event, beneath banners and bunting.

Details of pre-1986 July Coronation Street storyline highlights. Mainly weddings, but also the death of poor old Renee.

Renee (whilst alive) and Ivy (dressed as a ‘tramp’) and Vera (similarly dressed, with the missing tooth you could blame nobody for knocking out).

Is it too much to hope that Glenda Shuttleworth has the same 1986 #CoronationStreet calendar as me, and we are soon to see Alya, Bernie and Evelyn lining up with eggs on spoons outside Audrey’s - ideally opposing The Bistro? #Corrie #CorrieCalendar #ClassicCorrie #HildaOgden #ReneeBradshaw #BetLynch

April in Coronation Street’s 1986 calendar, featuring a colour photo of Len Fairclough with Rita, at the bar in the Rovers. Slightly behind Rita is an at-peak Mike Baldwin (pre-tie era; very large lapels and pointy collars) who looks as if he may be sucking the edge of Rita’s wig. Also featured are some smaller black and white pictures, with anecdotes.

April. #CorrieCalendar #Corrie1986 #Corrie #ClassicCorrie #ClassicCoronationStreet #CoronationStreet #RitaLittlewood #RitaFairclough #MikeBaldwin #LenFairclough #DavidBarlow #ElsieTanner #MavisRiley

Coronation Street’s 1986 March calendar page, photographed with a slight bloom over Bet Lynch’s bosom.

Detail of Coronation Street’s 1986 March calendar page, showing Ken and Val Barlow restraining twins Peter and Susan at about seven months’ of age. Val is holding a startled looking Peter, while Susan, nestled on Ken’s lap (mercifully obscuring his crotch area, which can be a minefield in Ken snaps) is giving the photographer a mistrusting side-eyed look of disdain.

Annie Walker proffering what appears to be a wicker shopping basket to an unimpressed looking Fred Gee, while Bet Lynch looks on in malevolent glee. Mrs Walker is in a monochrome button through dress with accent collar; Bet has a blouse in floral shades of beige; and Fred is in an open-necked shirt bearing a fine criss-cross detail in brown.

#CorrieCalendar #ClassicCorrie #Corrie #CoronationStreet #March #March1986 #Corrie1986 #RoversReturn
#AnnieWalker #BetLynch #FredGee #ValerieBarlow #KenBarlow #TheirPeterAndTheirSusan #WithoutSoMuchAsAScottishAccent #PeterBarlow #SusanBarlow #DeidreBarlow #DeidreLangton #ReneeRoberts #AlfRoberts

Oh, what might have been! #Corrie #ClassicCorrie #CoronationStreet #CorrieCalendar #February1986 #FredGee

February 1986’s Coronation Street calendar, showing Eddie, Hilda and Stan, sitting in front of the mural, round the table in Number 13.

Detail from February 1986’s Coronation Street calendar, showing a 1963 confrontation between Elsie and Edna, while Minnie and Martha look on and Annie and Jack try to listen from behind the bar.

#CorrieCalendar #ClassicCorrie #Corrie #CoronationStreet #February #February1986 #Corrie1986 #HildaOgden #EnaSharples #MinnieCaldwell #MarthaLonghurst #RoversReturn #AnnieWalker #JackWalker #EddieYeats

Poor old Ernest. #Corrie #CorrieCalendar #CoronationStreet #ClassicCorrie #January1978 #OnThisDay #Ernie

Uncle Albert having a good old rofl,in spite of being clutched by Hilda and Rita, while youngsters Gail and Deirdre look on. At the back, Alf cranes his neck to try and get in shit.

Leonard looks pompous; Emily looks part-intimidated, part mummified (as anybody would be).

Seventies' wallpaper and brasses in The Rovers.

#CorrieCalendar #Corrie #January #January1986 #ClassicCorrie #CoronationStreet #Corrie1986