Mel Morton
Encyclopedia
Melanie "Mel" Jade Morton is a fictional character
from the long-running UK television ITV
soap opera
, Coronation Street
. The character was portrayed by Emma Edmondson
from the character's inception into the episode airing on 18 March 2007 until her departure on 3 October 2008.
revealed in an interview with Digital Spy that she kept being called back into each stage of auditioning where hopefuls had to audition as sets of twins. Emma constantly met fellow actor Jonathan Dixon
who plays her onscreen brother Darryl Morton
. In the final audition, the two were paired up and went on to be cast as twins Mel and Darryl.
developing a crush on Mel, but she stood him up. To get his revenge, he spread gossip that he had slept with Mel, but was forced to apologise by his mother.
In February 2008, Mel became WPC Morton, joining her friend Abi Sharpe in the police force where she began training to become a full time Police Constable. At the time, the storyline also saw her onscreen grandfather put his obituary
into the local paper, thinking that Mel’s chances of joining the police force would be improved if the local police thought he was no longer alive to get involved in dodgy dealings.
Mel later argued with her mother Teresa Bryant
upon her return in May 2008, portraying the rocky relationship between mother and daughter. After Mel returned from holiday in August 2008, she discovered that Teresa had been lying in a deliberate attempt to lengthen her stay in the house. This prompted Mel to make her father choose between herself and her mother. When Jerry chose her mother, she went to stay at Abi's.
It was later announced that the character of Mel would be involved in a controversial storyline that would depict the violence that is currently on the streets of Britain
. More so, that the storyline reflected an attack that happened in Rochdale
when thugs booted an unconscious man in the head. In the soap opera, the latter was depicted happening to fellow character Abi Sharpe, who came to Mel's assistance during the fight.
The episode was screened on September 3 2008. Mel and Abi went out on the town to celebrate the end of their police training. Outside the bar, they witnessed a gang of girls fighting on the street. Abi called the police and told Mel to stay out of it as they were both off duty but she intervened. Upon seeing her friend being punched and kicked by the girls, Abi attempted to break up the fight but sustained a blow to the head from a glass bottle and received blows to the head after being stamped on. Before the episode where Mel's scenes aired, there was public backlash and complaints to Ofcom
, stating they are giving the youngsters of today ideas. The attackers could not be charged due to lack of evidence, seeing Mel trying to take the law into her own hands.
Later in the week, Mel tried to seek revenge on the girls but instead she was confronted by Teresa and they reconciled. Later, she got the revenge she needed as Teresa went behind her back and followed one of the girls into the ladies toilets in the bar where the attack happened. Teresa gave her a blow to the head with a heel of her shoe. Teresa and Mel later fell out yet again after Mel discovered Teresa's scheme and arrested Teresa for attempted murder. Mel was furious when Jerry refused to back up her story, which not only freed Teresa, but damaged Mel's reputation on the force.
Jerry, Kayleigh and Finlay left the street on September 29 for Spain
; however, Mel didn't want to go as she had only just qualified in police force. She departed on October 03 when she saw Darryl bringing a drunken Teresa back to the house. Unable to cope with the situation, she left to stay with Abi.
Various blog sites ran polls to get the public's opinion over who was the best character in the Morton clan, Corrie Blog writer stated that Mel was the character with most potential comparing her to former teenage characters Katy Harris, Lucille Hewitt, Jenny Bradley.The review centre said that Mel and her family were full of wooden actors.
Fictional character
A character is the representation of a person in a narrative work of art . Derived from the ancient Greek word kharaktêr , the earliest use in English, in this sense, dates from the Restoration, although it became widely used after its appearance in Tom Jones in 1749. From this, the sense of...
from the long-running UK television ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
soap opera
Soap opera
A soap opera, sometimes called "soap" for short, is an ongoing, episodic work of dramatic fiction presented in serial format on radio or as television programming. The name soap opera stems from the original dramatic serials broadcast on radio that had soap manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble,...
, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
. The character was portrayed by Emma Edmondson
Emma Edmondson
Emma Edmondson is a British television actress, best known for playing Mel Morton in Coronation Street.She is currently appearing in Manchester-based soap opera Coronation Street playing one of the members of the Morton family, Mel Morton. She joined the soap in March 2007...
from the character's inception into the episode airing on 18 March 2007 until her departure on 3 October 2008.
Casting
During the casting for the character of Mel Morton different actresses were called in for auditions for the role. Actress Emma EdmondsonEmma Edmondson
Emma Edmondson is a British television actress, best known for playing Mel Morton in Coronation Street.She is currently appearing in Manchester-based soap opera Coronation Street playing one of the members of the Morton family, Mel Morton. She joined the soap in March 2007...
revealed in an interview with Digital Spy that she kept being called back into each stage of auditioning where hopefuls had to audition as sets of twins. Emma constantly met fellow actor Jonathan Dixon
Jonathan Dixon (actor)
Jonathan Dixon is a British television actor, best known for playing playground bully Matthew "Mooey" Humphries in long-running CBBC show Grange Hill....
who plays her onscreen brother Darryl Morton
Darryl Morton
Darryl Morton is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by former Grange Hill actor Jonathan Dixon, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 18 March 2007.-Background:...
. In the final audition, the two were paired up and went on to be cast as twins Mel and Darryl.
Background
Mel was the more responsible member of her roguish family, and ITV described her as 'gobby, serious-minded but sensible.' During Emma Edmondson's interview with the media website Digital Spy she said the same of her character's personality:Departure
On April 26 2008 it was announced that the character of Mel, along with most of the Morton family, was axed by new producer Kim Crowther, but the character would play some dramatic plots to fill the storyline arc before leaving. Actress Emma stated that her hopes of getting more 'gritty storylines' had been granted..Storylines
Some of the character's earlier minor storylines involved David PlattDavid Platt (Coronation Street)
David Daniel Platt is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 26 December 1990 and is portrayed by actor Jack P...
developing a crush on Mel, but she stood him up. To get his revenge, he spread gossip that he had slept with Mel, but was forced to apologise by his mother.
In February 2008, Mel became WPC Morton, joining her friend Abi Sharpe in the police force where she began training to become a full time Police Constable. At the time, the storyline also saw her onscreen grandfather put his obituary
Obituary
An obituary is a news article that reports the recent death of a person, typically along with an account of the person's life and information about the upcoming funeral. In large cities and larger newspapers, obituaries are written only for people considered significant...
into the local paper, thinking that Mel’s chances of joining the police force would be improved if the local police thought he was no longer alive to get involved in dodgy dealings.
Mel later argued with her mother Teresa Bryant
Teresa Bryant
Teresa Bryant , is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Karen Henthorn. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 28 March 2007...
upon her return in May 2008, portraying the rocky relationship between mother and daughter. After Mel returned from holiday in August 2008, she discovered that Teresa had been lying in a deliberate attempt to lengthen her stay in the house. This prompted Mel to make her father choose between herself and her mother. When Jerry chose her mother, she went to stay at Abi's.
It was later announced that the character of Mel would be involved in a controversial storyline that would depict the violence that is currently on the streets of Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. More so, that the storyline reflected an attack that happened in Rochdale
Rochdale
Rochdale is a large market town in Greater Manchester, England. It lies amongst the foothills of the Pennines on the River Roch, north-northwest of Oldham, and north-northeast of the city of Manchester. Rochdale is surrounded by several smaller settlements which together form the Metropolitan...
when thugs booted an unconscious man in the head. In the soap opera, the latter was depicted happening to fellow character Abi Sharpe, who came to Mel's assistance during the fight.
Ofcom
Ofcom is the government-approved regulatory authority for the broadcasting and telecommunications industries in the United Kingdom. Ofcom was initially established by the Office of Communications Act 2002. It received its full authority from the Communications Act 2003...
, stating they are giving the youngsters of today ideas. The attackers could not be charged due to lack of evidence, seeing Mel trying to take the law into her own hands.
Later in the week, Mel tried to seek revenge on the girls but instead she was confronted by Teresa and they reconciled. Later, she got the revenge she needed as Teresa went behind her back and followed one of the girls into the ladies toilets in the bar where the attack happened. Teresa gave her a blow to the head with a heel of her shoe. Teresa and Mel later fell out yet again after Mel discovered Teresa's scheme and arrested Teresa for attempted murder. Mel was furious when Jerry refused to back up her story, which not only freed Teresa, but damaged Mel's reputation on the force.
Jerry, Kayleigh and Finlay left the street on September 29 for Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
; however, Mel didn't want to go as she had only just qualified in police force. She departed on October 03 when she saw Darryl bringing a drunken Teresa back to the house. Unable to cope with the situation, she left to stay with Abi.
Reception
Ian Wylie of Manchester Evening News said upon the axing of the Morton clan he had become to like the character, even though she and her onscreen family 'failed to fit the Weatherfield jigsaw'.Various blog sites ran polls to get the public's opinion over who was the best character in the Morton clan, Corrie Blog writer stated that Mel was the character with most potential comparing her to former teenage characters Katy Harris, Lucille Hewitt, Jenny Bradley.The review centre said that Mel and her family were full of wooden actors.