Quite simply the world's most successful television drama series.
Quite simply the world's most successful television drama series.
Thelma Barlow, Corrie's Mavis Wilton, has decided to leave the programme. She has played her character for 26 years, but now feels the time is right to try out other acting roles. She has asked The Street's bosses not to kill-off her character, so that she could return if she wanted to. Thelma will leave the programme in September.
However, Peter Baldwin, who played her ex-'screen-husband' Derek, said that he thinks there could have been another reason for her decision - the fourth episode. He said that many of the Street's most popular stars are unhappy about the fourth episode, as it has wiped-out rehearsal time.
It has also emerged that Sherie Hewson (Maureen), Peter Armitage, (Bill), and Nick Cochrain (Andy) are also to leave the show when their contracts end in October! A Granada spokesperson said that the exodus would keep the soap fresh with "pacier drama"...
You were asked: "Would you be willing to sacrifice the fourth episode of Coronation Street in order to keep the stars happy????"
The results are in, and the poll is closed. A summary of the results will appear here shortly...
Coronation Street won a special Lew Grade Award at this year's BAFTA ceremony,(The British Oscars).
The award was for "continuously popular series"...!
Coronation Street was first transmitted at 7pm on Friday, 9th December, 1960. For the last thirty-six years, the drama has gone from strength to strength. It can now been watched on every continent of the globe.The programme holds two world records - "Biggest Ever TV Sale" - 1,144 episodes were sold to CBKST Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, in 1971. And "Longest Running Domestic Drama" - over 4,000 episodes have now been made. That means, if you were to watch every episode ever made, non-stop, back-to-back, it would take you over three months to get through them all!
In Britain, it is shown at 1930 on Sundays, Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays on ITV. 'Classic' episodes from the mid-seventies can be seen on Granada Plus every weekday.
Coronation Street has a huge web-presence, including it's own extensive website. For more information, try the links below...
The Unofficial Granada Television Website...
Email: coronation.street@granadatv.co.uk