FOR some people, it may not be their favourite show – but Coronation Street is a national treasure all the same. This week, it reaches the staggering achievement of its 50th anniversary. It might be a celebratory week, with behind-the-scenes footage, a countdown of classic Corrie moments and a special celebrity quiz on ITV. However, it will be far from celebrations in the Street itself, as a devastating tram crash changes the lives of those on the cobbles forever.
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| BURNS: The Joinery fire starts a nightmare chain of events |
The action begins on the stag do of Peter Barlow (Chris Gascoyne). Peter is getting married to Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), unaware that she has been having a sizzling affair behind Peter’s back, with her former lover Nick Tilsley (Ben Price). Just as Nick is about to reveal all to Peter, an explosion rips through the Joinery bar, trapping Peter, Nick and Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold) in the rubble. This sets off a chain of events that puts the lives of many in danger.
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| TRAPPED: Mollie and baby Jack are flattened in the rubble |
The Joinery explosion sends debris flying to the ground, and leaves Leanne, Ken Barlow (William Roache) and Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in anguish, as they are blown off their feet by the blast. Also caught in the Joinery blast is Molly Dobbs (Vicky Binns) and her baby Jack, along with Sunita Alahan (Shobna Gulati), as Dev Alahan’s corner shop is devastated by the carnage. Seconds later, a tram from the viaduct above Weatherfield crashes off the track and smashes down onto the Street, leaving The Kabin collapses around beloved newsagent Rita Sullivan (Barbara Knox) and Fiz Stape (Jenny McAlpine). With Fiz six months pregnant, how much damage will it do to her unborn child?
The crash also sees flames rip through the Peacock household, with Jason Grimshaw (Ryan Thomas) braving his life to try rescuing the Peacock children and Simon Barlow (Alex Bain) from the blast. Corrie producers are keeping tight lipped about who dies on this fateful night, but there will be at least four of our favourites who will not survive. The aftermath will continue throughout the week, with Thursday night at 8pm, seeing the show have a one hour live episode to celebrate the anniversary. Can they outdo EastEnders outstanding job of their live episode back in February.
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| ICONIC: The Corrie Cat |
Coronation Street is the world’s longest-running soap and has gone from strength to strength as the years have gone on. Despite healthy competition from the likes of EastEnders and Emmerdale, the Street has always remained in the hearts of many worldwide, as it is broadcasted in over sixty countries. Whether it be the historic Rovers Return, the classic theme tune or the iconic Corrie cat, that has featured on the opening titles ever since 1976, all of us probably have a memory from its fifty years that we will never forget.
Some of its storylines are amongst the best to have ever graced the popular serial drama genre. First, there was the Ken/Mike/Deirdre love triangle in 1983 which captivated the nation. Vile Alan Bradley meeting his maker in 1989, being hit in Blackpool by a tram! How ironic is that! Katy Harris killing her dad Tommy with a spanner in 2004! Sarah Platt ending up pregnant in the year 2000 at the tender age of 13, and of course, Richard Hillman (a.k.a Tricky Dickie) and his killing spree in 2002/03 that had the nation gripped. He killed three people, tried and failed to murder Emily Bishop, then drove a car into the canal, with wife Gail and her kids into the water. We now know why David Platt turned out so evil then!
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| FREE: The 'campaign in 1998, even the PM was involved! |
It’s not just the tense, gripping plots – but the crazy characters and storylines that the Manchester soap has manage to achieve. Deidre’s crazy specs, two deaths via a fridge freezer and hairdryer, Gail’s constant moaning, Blanche Hunt’s statements, Sally Webster’s pushiness towards her kids, believable villains, Ken Barlow still around, as he was in episode one on December 8, 1960 and the free Deirdre campaign in 1998, that even had Prime Minister Tony Blair calling for her release, after being wrongly imprisoned for fraud.
After the first episode of Corrie was broadcast, the Daily Mirror ran a scathing review, claiming it was ‘doomed’ and would only run for three weeks! How wrong were they, as it is still going strong 49 years and 49 weeks later.
Happy birthday Coronation Street, here’s to the next 50 years!
CORONATION STREET IS ON ALL WEEK ON ITV1, WITH two episodes on Monday (7.30pm and 8.30pm), Tuesday (8.00pm), Wednesday (7pm), Thursday (8pm – The One Hour Live Episode) and two episodes on Friday (7.30pm and 8.30pm)
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