A long time ago we missed the 60th Anniversary of Coronation Street, which in 2010 became the world’s longest-running television soap, and aired its 10,000th episode in February 2020). Focusing on the everyday lives of working-class people living in a cobbled terraced street in Weatherfield (based on Salford) Manchester, England, when it started in 1960 it was novel, reflecting the rise of kitchen-sink drama. Over the years it has faced criticism and challenges from programmes like Brookside, Eastenders and Emmerdale, but it has still managed with its storylines and characters to grip a high percentage of the population, at one stage when channel choice was limited attracting 75% of the available audience. The series has won over the years nine BAFTA awards as the best soap & continuing drama and a Best Director Award for a live episode, also numerous awards at the British Soap Awards started in 1999 and the National Television Awards from 1995, which formerly was the Royal Television Society. Characters such as Stan & Hilda Ogden, and Jack & Vera Duckworth have become nationally renowned and some beginning their careers in the series have gone on to great careers, such as Anne Reid, Sarah Lancashire and Joanne Froggatt. Other stars from outside have taken small recurring roles such as Sir Ian McKellen, Dame Joan Collins, Honor Blackman, Stephanie Beacham, Martin Shaw, Arthur Lowe, Robert Vaughn and Dame Joanna Lumley, to name a few. The wedding of Ken Barlow (played by William Roache, one of the original cast and the longest-serving actor in the history of TV serials) married Deidre Rachid 17 million watched, whilst only 13 million watched the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla. When Deidre was imprisoned as part of a story, a “Free the Weatherfield One” campaign was launched and it was referred to in Parliament, The series was shot originally at Granada’s Quay Street home but in 2013 it moved to a multi-million 7.7 acre studio set in Trafford Wharf Road, though it has shot on location the first time being Blackpool in 1961 and has even been abroad to Majorca 1974, Torremolinos 1987, Normandy 1984 Amsterdam 1998 Paris 2000 & 2006 and Malta 2007. We believe it worthy of a match in celebration and hope you accept – if the numbers or ratings do not suit, then please make contact.
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