Graeme Proctor
Encyclopedia
Graeme Proctor is a fictional character
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...

 in the 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...

. Portrayed by actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...

 Craig Gazey
Craig Gazey
Craig Gazey is an award-winning English actor.He attended Eggbuckland Community College up until 1998, where he attended City College Plymouth, studying a BTEC National Diploma in Performing Arts. He then went on to attend Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and graduated in 2005...

, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 18 April 2008.

The character is also noted for his eccentric behaviour and outlandish one-liners. After the character had only been part of the serial for a short period of time he became a firm favourite with viewers, with Gazey winning three "Best newcomer" awards and "Best Comedy Performance" for his portrayal. It was announced in January 2011 that he would leave during summer 2011. The character departed on 13 June 2011.

2008–11

After arriving on to Coronation Street, he first stays with former inmate and good friend David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd
Jack P. Shepherd
Jack Peter Shepherd is an English actor. He plays David Platt in the ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street. He joined the show in April 2000, taking over the role from Thomas Ormson.Shepherd was born in Pudsey, Leeds, West Yorkshire....

) but he eventually moves out. Graeme soon commits a crime when he steals a sports car on the day of his release and brings it back to the Platts' house to the indignation of David's girlfriend Tina McIntyre
Tina McIntyre
Tina McIntyre is a fictional character in the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Michelle Keegan, the character first appeared on screen during the episode airing on 7 January 2008...

 (Michelle Keegan
Michelle Keegan
Michelle Elizabeth Keegan is an English actress who currently plays Tina McIntyre in the soap opera Coronation Street.-Biography:...

). On 17 November 2008, Graeme, David and Tina break into the home of dodgy family, the Windasses, trash the kitchen and set fire to the fittings as the family had stolen working tools belonging to Tina's father Joe
Joe McIntyre (Coronation Street)
Joseph "Joe" McIntyre was a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character was portrayed by actor Reece Dinsdale. Joe was introduced as the father of Tina McIntyre, and made his first appearing onscreen during the episode that aired in the UK on May 26, 2008...

 (Reece Dinsdale
Reece Dinsdale
Reece Dinsdale is an English actor of stage, screen and television.-Acting career:He trained at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama from 1977 until 1980...

). Realising he needs to rid of the car he had earlier stolen he and David try to rid of it and in a twist of events the Windasses steal the vehicle doing them both a favour." Graeme continues supporting the Platts when the Windasses move next door to them in their ongoing feuding.
Graeme later goes on to secure a job at the local butchers Elliott and Sons Butchers run by Ashley Peacock
Ashley Peacock
Ashley Sibelius Peacock is a fictional character from the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Steven Arnold, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 1 February 1995.On 23 April 2010, it was announced that the character had been axed along...

 (Steve Arnold
Steven Arnold
Steven Arnold is an English actor best known for his role as Ashley Peacock in the long running hit show Coronation Street.- Early life :...

) after he is short staffed. Graeme's storylines to date have been for comedic effect. Graeme is paid by Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson
Simon Gregson is an English actor. He is known for being a cast member of the British soap opera Coronation Street in which he has played Steve McDonald since 1989....

) to punch him in the face so that he can disappear to court to help out Becky Granger (Katherine Kelly
Katherine Kelly (actress)
Katherine Kelly, is a British actress and recording artist who is most well known for playing Becky McDonald in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She has also starred in the film Mischief Night.-Early life and career:...

). Graeme punches Steve so hard that Steve crashes through the fencing of the Smoker's shelter.

It is later revealed that the character was to take on the speaking mannerisms of former butcher and character Fred Elliott
Fred Elliott
Frederick Handel "Fred" Elliott is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, played by John Savident from 1994 until 2006.-Development:...

 (John Savident
John Savident
John Savident is a British actor, best known for playing the part of Fred Elliott in the soap opera Coronation Street from 1994 to 2006. And also was a frequent guest on Soccer AM alongside fellow actor Jack 'The Rigger' Spooner....

) by using some of his famous sayings which he was noted for by the public. Fred's son Ashley becomes extremely annoyed by Graeme's eccentric behaviour and he is forced to apologise for his disrespectful behaviour.

Graeme then starts his own gardening business and later begins a window cleaning service.

During Teresa Bryant's
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...

 (Karen Henthorn
Karen Henthorn
Karen Henthorn is a British character actress who portrayed the role of Teresa Bryant in the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street. She appeared in the role briefly in 2007 and became a regular character in 2008. Her character was involved in major story lines. In late 2008, she left...

) 'Vicars and Tarts' party, Graeme arrives dressed exactly like Liz McDonald
Liz McDonald
Elizabeth "Liz" Jayne McDonald is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Beverley Callard, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 27 October 1989 and remained on the series until Callard opted to leave in 1998...

 (Beverley Callard
Beverley Callard
Beverley Jane McEwan is an English actress, best known for her role as Liz McDonald in ITV's Coronation Street, and Flo Henshaw in BBC Three's Two Pints of Lager and a Packet of Crisps.-Early life:Beverley Jane Moxon was born in Leeds on 28 March 1957 to Clive and Mavis Moxon...

), as he expresses a lot of interest in dressing up that way, he particularly enjoys the 'freedom' in wearing a skirt. Liz is then upset after seeing Graeme realising that Teresa has asked guests to dress in her style.

When Rosie Webster
Rosie Webster
Rosie Webster is a fictional character in the British television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 24 December 1990. Originally portrayed by actress Emma Collinge from her birth until December 1999, the character has since been...

's (Helen Flanagan
Helen Flanagan
Helen Joyce Flanagan is a British actress best known for playing Rosie Webster in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street.Flanagan has played Rosie Webster in Coronation Street since 2000, when she was ten years old....

) modelling career involves skimpy outfits, this immediately catches Graeme's eye. He begins incessantly pursuing her, much to her annoyance, though she turns to him when she feels the need, e.g. getting her drinks or covering up an embarrassing poster of her. He explains to David that he cannot stop thinking about Rosie, much to David's amusement at the idea. He also attempts to woo hairdresser Natasha Blakeman
Natasha Blakeman
Natasha Blakeman is a fictional character from the British ITV1 soap opera Coronation Street, played by Rachel Leskovac. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 12 May 2008...

 (Rachel Leskovac
Rachel Leskovac
Rachel Leskovac is an Olivier award-nominated British actress best known for playing hairdresser Natasha Blakeman in the British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...

), but to no avail.

After the death of Joe McIntyre in February 2010, Graeme helps Tina through her grief. Tina sees his devotion to her and in June 2010 they mutually agree to start a relationship. Tina's ex boyfriends Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw
Jason Grimshaw, is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Ryan Thomas, the character first appeared during the episode airing on 25 December 2000, when he comes looking for mother Eileen at the Battersbys' home.Jason is very much the...

 (Ryan Thomas
Ryan Thomas
Ryan James Thomas and is an English actor who is currently starring as the character, Jason Grimshaw on ITV's Coronation Street.-Career:...

) and David react very negatively to their union and Graeme falls out with former best friend David. After a brief re-kindling of the friendships between David and both Tina and Graeme, they all fall out again when Tina tells Graeme that she thought David was on the brink of raping her during a confrontation. Graeme reacts very angrily to this news as he is very protective of Tina, but she suggests they just ignore David in future. However, David, mows Graeme down while driving his grandmother Audrey Roberts
Audrey Roberts
Audrey Roberts is a long-standing fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actress Sue Nicholls, the character first appeared during the episode aired on 16 April 1979....

 (Sue Nicholls
Sue Nicholls
Susan Frances Harmar Nicholls is an English actress, best known today for her long-running role as Audrey Roberts in British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...

)'s car. Graeme is rushed to hospital with broken ribs, punctured lungs and doctors tell Tina that his chances of survival are small. Graeme awakens from the coma and Tina is overjoyed, however, when David comes to visit him in hospital, Graeme promises him that he will do whatever it takes to send him to prison and that he hopes the police will throw away the key. In a further twist it emerges that David actually had an epileptic fit at the wheel, therefore not purposefully setting out to kill Graeme.

Tina is later relieved in December 2010 when Graeme turns up safe and well after a tram crashes on to the street and he subsequently helps with the rescue. Graeme is upset when he later finds out that his boss and close friend Ashley was killed in the disaster.

In February 2011, he and Tina go to a restaurant for Valentine's Day and meet Tina's friend Xin Chiang (Elizabeth Tan
Elizabeth Tan
Elizabeth Tan is a British actress of Chinese descent. Known for a number of BBC television series, she was cast to appear in the long-running ITV Soap Opera, Coronation Street, as the show's first regular Chinese character, making her first appearance in February 2011. She departed the show in...

) who is upset as she cannot pay her bills. Tina offers Xin the spare room in the flat but landlord Dev Alahan
Dev Alahan
Devendra 'Dev' Alahan is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Jimmi Harkishin, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 10 November 1999.-Character development:...

 (Jimmi Harkishin
Jimmi Harkishin
James "Jimmi" Harkishin is an actor best known for his role as shop owner Dev Alahan in Coronation Street. He also featured in the film East is East and also Bhaji on the Beach....

) tells them they will have to pay an extra £200 so Xin changes her mind. In March 2011, the flat is finished and Dev tells them to move back into it. In April 2011, Xin tells Graeme and Tina that her visa has expired and she will have to leave the country if she doesn't get a new one. Tina suggests that Graeme marry Xin so she can stay in the country - after initial reluctance, he agrees. On the morning of the wedding Norris Cole
Norris Cole
Norris Benjamin Cole is a fictional character in the UK television ITV soap opera, Coronation Street. Portrayed by actor Malcolm Hebden, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 11 March 1994 and remained until his departure on 14 April 1997, only to return on 1 December...

 (Malcolm Hebden
Malcolm Hebden
Malcolm Hebden is an English television and stage actor best known for his role as Norris Cole in the long-running ITV soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life:...

) is shocked to find Graeme and Tina kissing and threatens to reveal the truth, whilst in the church Tina begs Norris not to reveal anything and he agrees to keep quiet with disgust.

Graeme's relationship with Tina begins to deteriorate as he and Xin keep up the pretence of being a genuine couple. In early June 2011, Graeme and Xin become increasingly attracted to each other and finally after a heated argument, they give in to their feelings and sleep together. Xin tells Graeme to choose who he wants to be with, her or Tina. At first Graeme tells Xin he wants a divorce. As Xin prepares to move away to Edinburgh, Graeme realises he cannot face life without her. He breaks up with a furious Tina, and he and Xin go to stay with David, after Tina kicks them both out of the flat.

Xin and Graeme prepare to move to London after Tina threatens to report them to the immigration authorities, however, she eventually forgives Graeme and tells him that she could never hate him. She watches as the couple leave the street in a cab.

Casting

The character first appears in April 2008 as the cellmate for the character of David Platt
David 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...

 in the detention centre, and is a permanent feature in the character's scenes in the centre. He then last appears in June when David is released. After the character impressed bosses the character Graeme returned on November 10, 2008 on a permanent basis.

Craig Gazey won the part in an audition. The actor was not given a script until his first day of filming. Gazey did not know he was to become a permanent member of the cast until after his first stint was completed, as he confirmed in an interview with website Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....

 saying "It was never on the cards, but everyone was so supportive of me and my character. On my last day of filming of my first ever block, the crew gave me a clap to say goodbye and they all said 'goodbye Craig', while a couple of them added 'for now' on the end." He told female first that he had to throw himself back into the role as being a member of the cast is like being on a 'fast train'. Gazey has also talked about the impact his character has made with his popularity with the public stating: "It's all quite overwhelming, really. I've seen that there's been a bit of a buzz about Graeme. I think a lot of it's down to the writing, though." In early 2010 Gazey announced that he signed a contract that would see him portraying the character into March 2011.

Personality and Identity

Graeme's character often provides comic relief through his eccentric behaviour and the many outlandish one-liners he accidentally comes out with. Gazey said, "He's a bit of a mentalist. I'd say he was eccentric, too. I call him a fantasising scally. He's always going off on these little rants. He's quite switched on, though. Just a bit mad and playful." Graeme believes that the worst thing the Romans did was to invent central heating, and has a weakness for setting fires. He set the Windass kitchen on fire, and planned to do the same to his stolen car.

It was later revealed that the character was to take on the speaking mannerisms of former Butcher and character Fred Elliot using some of his famous sayings which he was noted for by the public. ITV also spoke about the character wanting viewers to know that he has a soft side stating: "Graeme will not be an out-and-out bad lad. He'll just be easily led and confused between right and wrong. He'll definitely have a soft side"

In mid 2009 Gazey spoke out once more about how his character's want of a better life and the storyliner's ideas to send his character in a different direction away from David Platt. Of this it was said: "Graeme's developed quite a lot. The big difference between then (2008) and now is the fact that he's settled down and become more grounded. We've got some scenes coming up soon where he says to David that he's really wanting a normal life and that he doesn't want to get into trouble. He wants to keep his job and wants to do well in what he's doing. And not start any more fires…" Gazey also made it clear from an early point that his character would not develop into one of Weatherfield's bad guys. Also commenting that: "Graeme was quite dark at the beginning, a bit mental, but he's a loveable rogue really."

In 2010 Gazey explained his character's laid back attitude to whom he spends time with stating, "It's great that he bobs in and out of situations - you can put him anywhere and he's unfazed by anyone or anything. You can put him with the oldies like Betty, then you throw him with the young ones and he just fits." Going on to talk of how his then, inpending storyline involving a new love interest would impact on his unfazed attitude he said: "It's time to see him out of his depth. That's probably where the love interest will help. He's relatively new to the relationship scene - I don't think he's ever had anything like that before. To see him not feel as comfortable as he is usually - to faze the unfazed."

Reception

Actor Craig Gazey won an awards in the 'Best Newcomer' categories at the British Soap Awards and The Inside Soap Awards in 2009, he won "Best Comedy Performance" at the 2010 British Soap Awards. Kris Green of media website Digital Spy
Digital Spy
Digital Spy is a British entertainment and media news website. According to Alexa Internet traffic statistics, as of February 2011, Digital Spy is the 93rd most popular website in the United Kingdom, with an overall Alexa ranking of 2,088....

commented about the fact that the character had become a firm Weatherfield favourite and the character's eccentric behaviour and outlandish one-liners ooze classic Corrie comedy. On his character's popularity Gazey commented that his main fanbase for the character are "Young, chavvy girls love him, but mums and grans adore him too." At the 2010 National Television Awards Gazey was nominated in the category of Best Newcomer, which he subsequently won. Inside Soap
Inside Soap
Inside Soap is a weekly UK magazine, released every Tuesday. It covers current and future storylines in soap operas shown in the United Kingdom....

commented on Graeme stating: "Graeme was the oddball neighbour, trying to bag any girl in sight and failing miserably .. but the butcher is everyone's hero (not to mention the viewers secret crush) and now he's living with the hottest girl in soap".
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