Nobody could have foreseen the huge success the TV soap opera Coronation Street would turn out to be when it first aired on Granada Television in December 1960.
In November 2010 it officially became the longest-running TV soap opera in the world. The series is set in the fictional town of Weatherfield, which is based on the real city Salford in Greater Manchester. The dramatic story lines are what keeps the show going. From love affairs, teenage pregnancy and murder – it has all happened in Weatherfield.
The audience has grown to love some of the most popular characters including Ena Sharples, Steve McDonald, Rita and Norris. After 53 years of filming at the Granada Studios in Manchester the show is now moving to MediaCityUK in Greater Manchester.
As an official partner of Corrie, Gala Bingo are celebrating this move to the new street with a range of featured events and promotions. They have also put together a list of the greatest Coronation Street moments throughout the show’s 54 year history…
Martha Longhurst’s heart attack
The episode of Martha’s death aired in 1964. After spending the last few days looking forward to a holiday in Spain with her grandchildren, Martha finds herself at a party in the Rovers thrown by Frank Barlow. She starts feeling ill, which goes unnoticed by the other guests.
She sits down in the ‘Snug’ and takes a look at her passport, which she has shown around with pride earlier, before collapsing. The other guests eventually find her and when they realise Martha has died there is an eerie silence. Even the end credits ran without the signature tune.
Ernest “Ernie” Bishop being shot
Ernie died in an episode in 1978 while working at the factory ‘Baldwin’s Casuals’ as a wages clerk. While making up wage packets two men come in to rob him and one of them points a shotgun at Ernie. Then Mike Baldwin enters the room unaware of what is happening and knocks the gunman’s arm, who accidentally shoots Ernie.
It is the suddenness and needlessness of his death that was so shocking to the audience.
Hilda’s breakdown
Despite a rather rocky marriage, Hilda has been with her husband Stan Ogden for over 40 years. When the actor who played Stan, Bernard Youens, fell ill and died in 1984, his character was also killed off. Hilda received a phone call saying that Stan had died in hospital of gangrene. When she opens the parcel containing his belongings she breaks down crying.
No theme tune is played at the end of this episode, making this scene even more heartbreaking.
Fire at the Rover
In 1986 a faulty electricity box starts a fire in the pub, which destroyed the entire interior. At the time Bet Lynch is asleep upstairs but she is rescued by Kevin Webster. After the fire, the layout of the pub was altered.
And finally, there is Sarah-Lou’s Pregnancy: In 2000, Gail’s 13-year-old daughter Sarah-Lou finds out that she is pregnant after having had a one night stand. She eventually gives birth to a little girl called Bethany. This storyline was highly controversial as some people thought it romanticised teenage pregnancy.
In its long running history Coronation Street has brought some great entertainment to our living rooms and the list by Gala only covers a small portion of it. Let’s hope the new set brings even more drama to the streets of Weatherfield.
Did your top Corrie moment make the Top 5? Let us know below…