Adam's Media Project

Coronation is one of the most popular British prime-time soap opera’s. Set in the fictional town of Weatherfield, Coronation Street is the longest running and most watched British soap opera. Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960, made by Granada Television (now ITV Studios).

Corrie was not initially a critical success. Granada Television commissioned only 13 episodes. Despite the negativity that surrounded the soap from the start, viewers were immediately drawn to the serial. Corrie played on its setting by including various “Northern” terms, such as “nowt” and “chuck”. Corrie pulled in the Northern housewife type to begin with, but have expanded to encompass much of the middle and working class audience now.

Early episodes told the story of student Kenneth Barlow, who had won a place at university and found his background something of an embarrassment. The character is one of the few to have experienced life 'outside' of Coronation Street, and in some ways predicts the growth of globalization and the decline of similar communities.

Early in 1961, a Television Audience Measurement (TAM) showed that 75% of available viewers (15 million) tuned into Corrie and by 1964 the programme had over 20 million regular viewers. Ratings peaked on 2 December 1964, at 21.36 million viewers.

Coronation Street had little competition within its prime time slot, and by the 1970’s, certain critics suggested that the programme had grown complacent, moving away from socially-viable story lines and again dated view of working-class life

Between 1980 and 1989, Coronation Street underwent some of the biggest changes since its launch. By May 1984, Ken Barlow stood as the only original cast member. The press predicted the end of Corrie. Writers drew on the show's many archetypes, with previously established characters stepping into the roles left by the original cast. In 1983, Shirley Armitage became the first major black character in her role as machinist at Baldwin's Casuals.

Ken Barlow married Deirdre Langton on 27 July 1981. The episode was watched by over 24 million viewers – more ITV viewers than the wedding of Prince Charles and Lady Diana two days later.

The arrival of Channel 4 and its new soap opera Brookside in 1982 was one of the biggest challenges for Coronation Street, as well as the BBC's new prime time soap opera, Eastenders in 1985. While ratings for Coronation Street remained consistent throughout the decade, Eastenders regularly obtained higher viewing figures. New pressures also saw the introduction of the third weekly episode on 20 October 1989, broadcast each Friday at 19:30.

The episode where Alan Bradley met his death under a tram gave Coronation Street it’s highest ever viewing figures of 26.9 million, and is still the 9th most watched UK broadcast of all time.

Producer Brian Park quit in 1998, after deciding that he had done what he intended to do; he maintained that his biggest achievement was the introduction of Hayley Patterson the first transsexual character in a British soap.

One of Coronation Street's best known storylines took place in March/April 1998, with Deirdre Rachid being wrongfully imprisoned after a relationship with con-man Jon Lindsay. 19 million viewers watched Deirdre being sent to prison, and 'Free the Weatherfield One' campaigns sprung up in a media frenzy.

On 8 December 2000, the show celebrated its fortieth year by broadcasting a live, hour-long, episode. Earlier in the year, 13-year old Sarah-Louise Platt had fallen pregnant and gave birth to a baby girl, Bethany. The episode where Gail Platt was told of her daughter's pregnancy was watched by 15 million viewers.

From 1999–2001, Coronation Street received harsh criticism from critics. Issue-led and controversial story lines were introduced such as Toyah Battersby's rape, Roy and Hayley Cropper abducting their foster child and Sarah Platt's Internet chat room abduction. Such storylines were unpopular with viewers and ratings dropped. Corrie continued to struggle in the ratings, with Eastenders introducing some of its strongest stories.

In 2002, another of Corries best-known storylines began, culminating in 2003. Gail Platt married Richard Hillman who would go on to leave Duggie Ferguson to die, murder his ex-wife Patricia, attempt to murder his mother-in-law, Audrey Roberts, murder Maxine Peacock and attempt to murder Emily Bishop. After confessing to the murder of Maxine and his ex-wife, Hillman attempted to kill Gail, her children Sarah and David, and her granddaughter Bethany, by driving them into a canal. The storyline received wide press attention, and viewing figures peaked at 19.4 million. To date, Hillman is still considered one of soap’s best villains and the storyline is still revered amongst the media.  

Todd Grimshaw became Corrie's first regular homosexual character in 2003.

In 2004, Coronation Street saw the return of the Baldwin family, a popular family in the show. Danny Baldwin and his wife Frankie moved to the area from Essex, with their two sons Jamie and Warren.

In 2007, several groundbreaking storylines took place on Coronation Street, such as Tracy Barlow murdering Charlie Stubbs and claiming it was self defense. The storyline saw viewing figures peaking at 13.3 million and at the 2007 British Soap Awards it won Best Storyline.

Much of the decade was spent on the family dramas of Gail Platt. The various problems of daughter Sarah-Louise occupied much of Gail's attention. Gail's son David Platt became increasingly unbalanced, with various plots and schemes.

2010 will be the 50th anniversary of Coronation Street.