Posted: 15:37, 7 April 2022 | Updated: 16:15, 7 April 2022
Charlie Lawson was at the center of a heated debate on Thursday morning, which raised the issue that soaps are becoming a “box” exercise.
The former Coronation Street actor, who played jailed Jim McDonald, appeared on GB News with his former Weatherfield colleague Sherrie Hewson and Brookside Tina Malone.
And Charlie, 62, did not mince his words when journalist and broadcaster Dan Wootton sparked the “alert” debate, admitting he was “desperate” for the constant flow of new things you can not and can not do. you do”.
“The boxes are marked with such heavy black ink”: Corrie’s Charlie Lawson said he was “desperate” for the “vigilance” in the soap as he described his wheelchair depiction as “the best scenes you’ve ever seen in your life.” during an appearance on GB News on Thursday
He said: “We are wonderful at being a silent majority in this country for many things and I try not to be, to my detriment.”
“There are always new things you can not do and you can do and I despair and that permeates society in my humble opinion.”
The Northern Irishman claimed that the “box” makes the spectators “extinguish” and firmly believes that there are people who remain silent about what they want to see.
Soap Star: Former Coronation Street actor, 62, plays the infamous bank robber Jim McDonald, who was temporarily confined to a wheelchair during a 1998 story (photo with Beverley Callard – Liz McDonald – that year)
“I hope to God that Corrie and EastEnders or whatever, Emmerdale Farm will be out in 10 years, but I think people are starting to fade because the boxes are marked with such heavy black ink and that ‘s what I mean in the whole TV industry.
“There is a silent majority out there who just want to say, sorry my French, they want to say, ‘In this, I want to watch what I want to see,’” he said angrily.
Charlie’s Coronation Street character was temporarily confined to a wheelchair in 1998 after an altercation with his son, Steve, which resulted in him falling vertically from a scaffolding.
Speaking openly: The Northern Irishman claimed that “box-ticking” makes viewers “go out” and firmly believes that there are people who remain silent about what they want to see
Regarding the representation of a person with a disability – and how he considers it different from today – Charlie said: “I mean, the absolute thought that someone even in the old days would say, in a wheelchair “, because, you know, it’s just crazy.
“I was lucky enough to play Jim MacDonald and I was eight months in a wheelchair and these are the best scenes you have ever seen in your life.”
He continued: “Or when I had scenes with Elizabeth Bradley, they were well written and I do not think anyone left the violin lovers for the fact that the two actors could run and do whatever they wanted.”
Firm: “I was lucky enough to play Jim McDonald and I was eight months in a wheelchair and they are the best scenes you have ever seen in your life,” he said (October 2019 photo)
Charlie concluded: “It would be difficult for the character I played for a long time on Coronation Street to respond to someone who identified as a planter or whoever wanted to be identified.”
Tina, 59, meanwhile, said soaps should “reflect reality” and that does not automatically mean they are “awake”.
Charlie first hit the cobbles in 1989 and has been a regular for 11 years. He made brief returns between 2003 and 2018.
Debut: Charlie first hit in 1989 (pictured) and has been a regular for 11 years. He made brief returns between 2003 and 2018
