Coronation Street

Coronation Street is Britain's longest-running television soap opera, and the UK's consistently highest-rated show. It was created by Tony Warren and first broadcast on the ITV network on Friday December 9, 1960. The working title of the show was Florizel Street, but Agnes, a tea lady at Granada Television, Manchester, (where Coronation Street is produced) remarked that "Florizel" sounded too much like a disinfectant. Jubilee Street was another option considered.

Celebrity appearances

Celebrities who began or spent part of their career in Coronation Street include:

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• Amanda Barrie, who played Alma Baldwin, one-time wife of Mike Baldwin, was an early star of the Carry On series of British films.
• Honor Blackman played an ageing wife-swapper who wanted to swap with Norris and Rita.
• Music star Cliff Richard appeared in a scene, but he had his back to the camera. The main characteristics of him in the scene, which was shot in the Rovers, was that he had a black hair, and a jumper which had the words, 'Rock and Roll', across it
• Craig Charles, star of Red Dwarf as cab-driver Lloyd.
• Ex-Boyzone star Keith Duffy played Ciaran McCarthy, a Rovers Return barman.
• Graham Fellowes, the comedian-pop star who created the fictional personas Jilted John and John Shuttleworth, had a cameo role in one episode and later returned as truck driver Les Charlton, a regular at Gail's cafe.
• Roy Hudd played Audrey Robert's close friend - and professional undertaker - Archie Shuttleworth in 2002-2003, who assisted Audrey in trying to bring down the Street's serial killer, Richard Hillman.
• Davy Jones of The Monkees made an appearance before he became famous in 1961 as Ena Sharples's grandson Colin Lomax.
• Bolton comedian Peter Kay played a shopfitter in 1997 and made a cameo appearance over two episodes in January 2004.
• Ben Kingsley, who portrayed Mahatma Gandhi in Richard Attenborough's biographical film, Gandhi.
• Arthur Lowe, who starred as Captain Mainwaring in Dad's Army
• Joanna Lumley of Absolutely Fabulous and The New Avengers
• Sir Ian McKellen starred in 10 episodes in 2005 as dodgy novelist Melvin Hutchwright
• Peter Noone of Herman's Hermits
• Linus Roache, son of Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) who played Peter Barlow and went on to star in the film Priest.
• William Russell, regular companion in Doctor Who as Rita's second husband Ted Sullivan
• Status Quo, the legendary rock band, appeared as themselves on Friday 23rd September 2005, when they assaulted Les for an incident which involved him 20 years previous.
• The Prince of Wales, who played himself in a walk-on part (see below).
• Bradley Walsh, who has become Danny Baldwin, Mike's nephew.
• Norman Wisdom, comedian, played fitness fanatic Ernie Crabbe in one episode in 2004

Laurence Olivier once offered to take part in a scene on the Street, acting alongside Jean Alexander, whom he admitted was his favourite actress on the programme. However, scheduling conflicts between the Street and the film Marathon Man denied him the chance to act on his favourite TV programme. Michael Crawford and Robbie Williams have both appeared as extras, drinking in the bar of the Rovers.

Related Topics:
Laurence Olivier - Marathon Man - Michael Crawford - Robbie Williams

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On 8th December 2000, the show celebrated its fortieth year by broadcasting an hour long edition of the show, its first episode to be broadcast live in decades. Guest of honour in the show was the Prince of Wales, heir-apparent to the British Throne, who featured in a pre-recorded segment, a 'news bulletin report' of his being welcomed to Weatherfield by then-mayor Audrey Roberts, which was being shown on the TV in the Rovers Return at one point on the evening. (His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, has visited the Coronation Street set and met the cast on a number of occasions, even taking a drink with the cast in the Rovers Return.)

Related Topics:
8th December - 2000 - Queen Elizabeth II

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