9 December: Coronation Street

On this date in 1960 The first episode of Coronation Street was shown. Set in the fictional town of Weatherfield, as of 17 September 2010, it's the longest running soap opera in the world, affectionately known to its fans as "Corrie" and to its cast as "The Street".

1. Creator Tony Warren was 23 when he came up with the idea, inspired by a children's dialogue song called "Bowtons Yard" in which the storyteller speaks about his neighbours. He speaks of each one in turn, from number one to number 12. He heard the song when he was working as an actor, during a break in transmission when it was performed for children in the studio. Playing and singing the song was none other than Violet Carson, who went on to play one of the most famous characters in the show - Ena Sharples.
2. The working title was Florizel Street, but that was ditched after someone commented that it sounded like a disinfectant. According to the fictional history of the street, it was built in 1902 and named in honour of the coronation of King Edward VII.
3. It may win shed loads of TV awards now and be one of the most popular programmes ever, but the first episode wasn't all that well received. Warren had a battle on his hands to even get the show produced in the first place, but station bosses were eventually persuaded to give it a 13 episode trial. Daily Mirror critics didn't like it at all. "The programme is doomed from the outset ... For there is little reality in this new serial, which apparently, we have to suffer twice a week," they wrote. The viewers, however, loved it. The first words spoken on the show, incidentally, were “Now the next thing you’ve got to do is get a sign writer in,” said to the new owner of the corner shop.
4. The theme tune was written by Eric Spear and features a cornet accompanied by a brass band, Clarinet and double bass, reminiscent of northern band Music. The identity of the cornet player wasn't revealed until 1994 - it was a musician from Surrey called Ronnie Hunt, who was paid £6, which was apparently well earned as Eric Spear made him do many takes before he was satisfied with the sound. In May 2010, when the series went HD, a new version of the theme was recorded. A reggae version of the theme tune was recorded by The I-Royals and released by Media Marvels and WEA in 1983. The original title sequence was filmed in Archie Street, Salford. However, it's not possible to go there, because it was demolished in 1971.
5. At time of writing there have been 42 births, 103 marriages and 169 deaths on the show. The first death was May Hardman in episode seven. The first birth was Elsie Tanner's grandson Paul Cheveski, born in June 1961. The first wedding was that of Gordon Davies and Joan Walker in March 1961. The brides of street weddings usually have several wedding dresses, so they can look clean and new throughout the filming schedule lasting a couple of weeks. Tina O'Brien, who plays Sarah-Louise Platt had five - because hers had to be torn and have red Wine spilled on it. More than 5,000 characters have appeared in Coronation Street. There have been 50 pets, including Minnie Caldwell's Cat.
6. Several actors in minor roles on Coronation Street have gone on to become mega famous. They include Prunella Scales, Beryl Bainbridge, Ben Kingsley, Patrick Stewart, Patricia Routledge, Martin Shaw, Joanna Lumley, Anna Friel and Scary Spice Mel B. Others have made a career out of being in Coronation Street, most notably William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, and is the only original cast member still remaining. A close second is Eileen Derbyshire, who plays Emily. Perhaps less well-known is Ann Aris, who holds the record for playing the most different characters. She has played 12 different characters: including Kay Miller in 1976 and most recently, the judge at Becky Granger’s trial for vandalism in 2008.
7. Coronation Street consistently tops the ratings, but the most-watched episode of all time was Christmas Day 1987, when Hilda Ogden left Weatherfield. It drew a massive 26.65 million viewers. Hilda was one of the most famous soap characters ever. In 1982, the character was voted the fourth most recognisable woman in Britain, beaten only by the Queen, the Queen Mother and Princess Diana. Corrie had even beaten the royals the previous year when 24 million viewers watched Ken and Deirdre's wedding, more than the number tuning in to the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana two days later.
8. The booze served in the Rover's Return pub isn't real. The beer is a very weak shandy. It's very sweet and not to everyone's taste. Bill Ward (who played Charlie Stubbs from 2003 to 2007) appeared on screen grimacing as he drank it. The Gin and Tonic is made from fizzy water, with a splash of Lime juice to give it the right consistency. Since the soap started in 1961, the Rovers has served over 2 million pints of Beer and over 250,000 G and Ts. The Rovers Return has had 13 landlords and landladies, 12 temporary managers, 51 barmaids, 4 barmen, 17 potmen and 10 cleaners.
9. The Street has its fair share of celebrity fans. Cilla Black recalled watching the inaugural episode. Her dad was in the front room mending a puncture on his bike at the time. Other famous fans have included Michael Parkinson, Julie Walters, Victoria Wood, Julie Walters, Cheryl Cole, Snoop Dogg and Sir Anthony Hopkins. Cliff Richard gave up eating lunch in 1964 after he heard Minnie Caldwell say he was "chubby".
10. It takes 66 hours to make 5 episodes of Coronation Street – they're working six days a week, 52 weeks a year. Every month the make up department use 50 boxes of tissues, 20 packs of make-up wipes, ten Lipsticks, five powders, six eyeliners, four blushers, six eye-shadows and 15 large cans of hairspray, and there's a constant demand for costumes. Which presumably means there's a team of people paid to go clothes shopping every day. Sometimes the actors have been known to use their own things. Roy Cropper's shopping bag is one example. The bag belonged to actor David Neilson's late mother and he uses it as a tribute to her. Not only does it go everywhere his character goes, but he uses it off set to carry his scripts around in. 

New!

Jack Ward, President of Innovia, owes his life twice over to the enigmatic superhero, dubbed Power Blaster by the press. No-one knows who Power Blaster is or where he comes from - and he wants it to stay that way.

Scientist Desi Troyes has developed a nuclear bomb to counter the ever present threat of an asteroid hitting the planet. When Ward signs the order giving the go ahead for a nuclear test on the remote Bird Island, he has no inkling of Troyes' real agenda, and that he has signed the death warrants of millions of people.

Although the island should have been evacuated, there are people still there: some from the distant continent of Classica; protesters opposed to the bomb test; and Innovians who will not, or cannot, use their communication devices.

Power Blaster knows he must stop the bomb from hitting the island. He also knows it may be the last thing he ever does.

Meanwhile in Innovia, Ward and his staff gather to watch the broadcast of the test. Nobody, not even Troyes himself, has any idea what is about to happen.

Part One of The Raiders Trilogy.

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