British TV soap, ‘Coronation Street’, turns 60

The world’s longest-running TV soap opera ‘Coronation Street’, will celebrate 60 years on screen on Wednesday.

To celebrate the anniversary, Salford Cathedral – which is located close to where the show films – will ring its bell for two minutes, in memory of the show’s late creator Tony Warren.  

The Royal Mail has also issued stamps depicting classic scenes.

Revolving around a corner shop and pub in a fictional town in northern England called Weatherfield, the series first aired on December 7, 1960 and since then, has retained its place as one of the highest rated shows on ITV.

Known as “Corrie” among fans, the show is beloved for its fierce matriarchs, cobbled streets and trumpet-led theme music. 

John Whiston, the head of ITV in the North, has described Coronation Street as “a guide to humanity with a little bit of comfort blanket thrown in along with a little bit of sharp, northern wit,” reported AFP. According to him, the show’s specialty is “strong women and feckless men”. 

While traditionally English in its setting and mannerisms, the show has an international audience too, particularly in Canada, where it has reportedly aired on CBC since the 1960s.

“Generations of Canadians have grown up with Corrie in their homes,” said Sally Catto, CBC’s general manager of entertainment, factual and sports programming, as per AFP reports.

Despite the fact that audiences of the show have reduced in past decade, critics have often praised its groundbreaking storylines, including the portrayal of Hayley Cropper, the first trans character in a British soap opera, in the late 1990s.

The soap was forced to stop production from March to June due to the COVID-19 pandemic, after which it began production with social distancing measures in place. Camera tricks were used to make characters appear closer.