Machine turns

Soap far sew good!

Corrie borrows firm's 'Silver Sticher'

Firm's 'Silver Stitcher' in Corrie factory plot

It's sew good!

Corrie keep firm's 'Silver Stitcher'

Sew-p star!

Corrie

borrows

firm's

machine

as part of

'stitch-up'

plot in

factory

EAST Lancashire's reputation for providing Coronation Street with its stars has been well and truly sewn up.

But it isn't the region's rising young actors which have created the talking point this time...but a humble sewing machine.

And the machine, which sparked a go-slow at the soap's underwear factory, has had staff at a Blackburn company glued to the television...because it came from their shop!

The Silver Stitcher, bought by Danny Baldwin - nephew of Corrie's wheeler-dealer businessman Mike Baldwin - is really known as the Diamong 8500N-D3, supplied by Hobkirks Industrial Sewing Machines, based in Darwen Street, Blackburn.

Sales manager Mark Hobkirk said the company was approached by researchers from the soap - which pulls in about 13million viewers an episode - and asked to loan one of their newest machines.

"We weren't quite sure what it would be used for," said Mark, "because I don't really watch the soaps much. But I have been during the past few weeks."

The plot came to a head last week when staff at the factory - including characters Hayley Cropper and Fiz Brown, both played by East Lancashire actresses - were told to take part into a competition to see who could sew the most knickers on their old machines.

The winner would get the chance to use the Silver Stitcher, and earn more money as a result because they were sewing more knickers!

But staff reacted badly, and went on a go-slow to the point where Danny Baldwin decided to send the Silver Stitcher back.

Mark added: "We've been told they want to keep it on loan for longer so it might make an appearance again!

"It certainly hasn't come back to the shop!"

For Mark, the appearance of one of his appliances gave him the chance to walk the hallowed cobbles of Coronation Street, at Granada's TV studio in Manchester.

He said: "I spent the day there with the actors and crew installing the machine and training the operators so they knew what they were doing.

"We are thrilled to have helped Coronation Street with this storyline. We'll be looking out for it again!"

Several leading Corrie characters are played by East Lancashire celebrities. Janice Battersby is played by Vicky Entwistle, Norris Cole is played by Malcolm Hebden, Hayley Cropper is Julie Hesmondhalgh's character, while young Chesney Brown - who won best soap newcomer at an awards ceremony two weeks ago - is played by Rossendale lad Sam Aston. Jenni McAlpine plays his screen sister Fiz, while mum Cilla is played by Wendi Peters, also from this area.

EAST Lancashire's reputation for providing Coronation Street with its stars has been well and truly sewn up.

But it isn't the region's rising young actors which have created the talking point this time, but a sewing machine.

The machine, which sparked a go-slow at the soap's underwear factory, has had staff at a Blackburn company glued to the television, because it came from their shop.

The Silver Stitcher, bought by Danny Baldwin, nephew of Corrie's wheeler-dealer businessman Mike Baldwin, is really known as the Diamond8500N-D3, supplied by Hobkirks Industrial Sewing Machines, based in Darwen Street, Blackburn.

Sales manager Mark Hobkirk said the company was approached by researchers from the soap, which pulls in about 13million viewers an episode, and asked to borrow one of their newest machines.

"We weren't quite sure what it would be used for," said Mark, "I don't watch the soaps much, but I have been during the past few weeks." The plot came to a head last week when staff at the factory were told to take part into a competition to see who could sew the most knickers on their old machines.

The winner would get the chance to use the Silver Stitcher and earn more bonus money.

Mark added: "We've been told they want to keep it on loan for longer, so it might make an appearance again."

For Mark, the appearance of one of his appliances gave him the chance to walk the cobbles of Coronation Street at Granada's TV studio in Manchester.

He said: "I spent the day there with the actors and crew installing the machine and training the operators so they knew what they were doing. We are thrilled to have helped Coronation Street with this storyline. We'll be looking out for it again!"

Several leading Corrie characters are played by East Lancashire celebrities. Janice Battersby is played by Vicky Entwistle, Norris Cole is played by Malcolm Hebden, Hayley Cropper is Julie Hesmondhalgh's character, while young Chesney Brown - who won best soap newcomer at an awards ceremony two weeks ago - is played by Rossendale lad Sam Aston.