Coronation Street 60th anniversary week aerial photographs

ITV Studios Coronation Street has kicked off its Anniversary week by releasing two stunning bird's-eye views of its present 'home' next to a photo of the studio it all started in sixty years ago this Wednesday (9th December).

Showing what is now 'the biggest single television production site in the world' - the 7.7 acre site in Trafford, MediaCityUK, is a TV phenomenon and home to the 400 plus people it takes to make a single episode of the nation's favourite soap.  

Now sixty years, 10190 episodes, sales to over 130 countries, tens of millions of viewers on - the programme's home is an impressive site standing proudly in the shadow of the cities of its birth with the Salford and Manchester skylines, and Pennine hills beyond.

It's also quite a home for a show where the original cast of just 12 were filmed in Studio 2 at Granada Television.  Where one wooden set represented the street and the now infamous cobbles were painted onto the studio floor with actors pretending to 'step up' on to an imaginary kerb.

'Corrie' has been situated on the canalside at MediaCityUK since 2014. Further developments were completed in 2018 with the Victoria Street extension and another two studios, leading to a total of six dedicated studios for the programme.  

ITV to suspend production of Coronation Street and Emmerdale

Press release from ITV

“ITV has sadly taken the decision to suspend production of the soaps Coronation Street and Emmerdale with effect from Monday 23 March 2020.

We’ve been doing our best to carry on filming, whilst adhering to the Government’s latest health guidelines, to ensure we’ve episodes of both soaps airing on ITV until at least the early summer.

However, the health and well-being of the production teams, actors, crew and their families is of paramount importance to us and we now feel that the time has come to stop filming.

We’d like to thank our viewers for their support and hope they continue to enjoy both soaps in the coming months.“

Coronation Street - Two Weddings and a Funeral

Coronation Street’s Autumn season is about to well and truly kick off when two weddings and funeral rock the cobbles next month.

In a dramatic week of episodes, due to transmit from Monday 8th October, secrets and lies threaten to overshadow the romance of the occasion, but can love conquer all? 

As the morning of Tracy (Kate Ford) and Steve’s (Simon Gregson) wedding arrives, Tracy can barely believe her dream day is finally here. But dogged by doubts over Steve’s confusion about the ‘free pass’, a suspicious Tracy ends up accusing Steve of a fling with Abi (Sally Carman). As Tracy goes on the warpath, Steve sets about trying to convince his bride-to-be of his innocence. But Steve isn’t that innocent, having slept with ex Leanne (Jane Danson). Can Steve talk Tracy into going ahead with their wedding or will the truth out?

Daniel (Robert Mallard) is planning a romantic wedding of his own as he plans to surprise pregnant girlfriend Sinead (Katie McGlynn) with a beautiful fairytale ceremony in the urban garden. But as Daniel gets down on one knee, Sinead’s thrown into turmoil as she’s hiding a secret of her own from Daniel, one which could shatter their dreams. Sinead has just been told she may have cervical cancer but as her friends and family look on expectantly will she go ahead with the wedding or confide her fears in Daniel?

Meanwhile the Connors are facing their own hell. Since Ryan’s (Ryan Prescott) involvement in Cormac’s death, his drug dealer dad Ronan (Alan McKenna) has been out for revenge. With Ryan having been beaten up while in police custody, and Ronan stalking the family, Michelle (Kym Marsh) feels they have no choice but to flee Weatherfield. Ronan’s onto them though and the Connors find themselves embroiled in a terrifying car chase which leaves one person dead, two fighting for their lives, and a secret that will overshadow the family for years to come.     

And as the week comes to a close the shock return of Nick Tilsley (Ben Price) sends further ripples through the street. Nick is back for Leanne, the pair have unfinished business, but what has Nick been up to in his years away from Weatherfield?

TV: Coronation Street: Who Kills Tina

On May 27th we'll see the moment Coronation Street barmaid Tina McIntyre plunges to the cobbles from the balcony of the builders' yard after a dramatic confrontation with her killer.

The heart-stopping scenes will end months of speculation about the identity of Tina's murderer.

And in the run up to 'Murder Week' viewers will have the chance to watch four alternative showdowns between Tina and the four possible killers on the official Coronation Street website.