Kym Marsh hits out at Corrie critics

Kym Marsh has hit back at criticism of Coronation Street and claims that its ratings are declining.

The actress, who has played barmaid Michelle Connor since 2006, used her regular column in New! magazine to dismiss tabloid reports that Michelle Collins is to blame for a drop in the saga’s ratings. Collins made her debut as landlady Stella Prince in the soap earlier this year.

The actress also addressed criticism by former cast member Johnny Briggs – who played Mike Baldwin for 30 years – that the show has lost its way and its humour.

“Not only is it unfair to blame Michelle Collins for a fall in Corrie’s viewing figures, it’s also incorrect. As our producer Phil Collinson explained last week, a newspaper used an episode that was up against a Wimbledon match to illustrate a drop in figures. Big sporting events always affect viewing figures.

 

“I thought that former cast-member Johnny Briggs’s comments that there is no humour in Corrie were harsh, too – particularly as he admits he doesn’t watch the show!” – Kym Marsh in New!

Coronation Street has also been criticised by Brian Sewell of the Daily Mail who claimed that there were too many LGBT among the cast – with Sewell also targeting EastEnders.  Last week producer Phil Collinson appeared on shows such as Breakfast and This Morning to defend the soap.