The Road to Coronation Street (2010)

The story of how the 22-year-old Tony Warren conceived, wrote and fought for the record breaking UK TV series Coronation Street (1960).

Director:

Charles Sturridge

Writer:

Daran Little

Stars:

Ann Aris, Lynda Baron, Steven Berkoff

3 wins & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Ann Aris	...	Nita Valerie (as Anne Aris)
Lynda Baron	...	Violet Carson
Steven Berkoff	...	Sidney Bernstein
David Dawson	...	Tony Warren
Sophia Di Martino	...	Josie Scott
Shaun Dooley	...	Derek Bennett
Henry Goodman	...	Cecil Bernstein
Michelle Holmes	...	Brenda
Jane Horrocks	...	Margaret Morris
Celia Imrie	...	Doris Speed
Christian McKay	...	Harry Elton
Tara Moran	...	Edna Walker
Phoebe Nicholls	...	Mrs Simpson
Malcolm Raeburn	...	Board Member
James Roache	...	William Roache

Storyline

In 1960 a former child actor with writing ambitions,Mancunian Tony Warren begins submitting television scripts for 'Shadow Squad' to progressive Canadian producer Harry Elton,who wants to nurture local talent. Tony,however,is keen to sell a drama he has written about real Northerners,called 'Florizel Street',after a picture of Prince Florizel in his office. Harry is supportive but Granada studio boss Sidney Bernstein is lukewarm,feeling it is seedy and unglamorous. Fortunately his brother Cecil sees the virtue in cheaply made studio drama with local actors and,with writer Harry Kershaw and director Derek Bennett on board,the street's residents are cast. Thirteen episodes are commissioned but the pivotal character of battle-axe Ena Sharples is proving impossible to cast until Tony brings in a cantankerous old actress from his radio days - Violet Carson. She is perfect. Less perfect is the title,which the tea lady says sounds like disinfectant. A new title must be found quickly - and so...

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Plot Keywords:

television script | 1960s | character says break a leg | ends with text | acting | 

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Genres:

Biography | Drama | History

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Certificate:

Not Rated

Did You Know?

Trivia

Phoebe Nicholls (Mrs Simpson) is the wife of the director Charles Sturridge.

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Goofs

The door commissionaire at Granada TV is wearing the British and UN Korean War medals, but is far too old, as seen in 1960, to have been involved in a war just 7 to 10 years earlier.

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Quotes

Tony Warren: When I was twelve you threatened to smack my bottom.
Violet Carson: The way I remember it, I *did* smack it.
[grimly, but smiling]
Violet Carson: And don't think I couldn't do it again.

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Crazy Credits

Closing-credits statement: "Within six months Coronation Street was the most popular programme on British television".

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Connections

Features Shadow Squad (1957)

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Soundtracks

Rock the Bop
(uncredited)
Written by Wayne Walker and Mel Tillis
Performed by Brenda Lee

User Reviews

Timeless.

I have watched this drama many times and it never gets old. I love the way it sets the scene straight away of 1960 Manchester and the excitement of new regional TV. The performances are superb all round and the characters we knew and loved so well reappear before our very eyes. The build up to the series finally getting approval for it's initial run was wonderfully tense even though we knew the outcome. Great entertainment. I look forward to watching it again.

Details

Country:

UK

Language:

English

Release Date:

16 September 2010 (UK)

Also Known As:

Corrie: The Road to Coronation Street

Filming Locations:

Manchester, Greater Manchester, England, UK

Company Credits

Production Co:

ITV Studios

Technical Specs

Runtime:

75 min

Sound Mix:

Stereo

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.78 : 1