Coronation Street — Specials

Special installments of the series.

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  04 The Road to Coronation Street

  Sep 16, 201024m

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  06 Farewell Jack

  Nov 10, 201024m

  As Bill Tarmey prepares to bid farewell to Coronation Street after three decades playing Jack Duckworth, this special programme pays tribute to both the actor and the character. The show looks back at Jack's reinvention as Vince St Clair, the time he dressed up as a woman in order to join the ladies' bowling team and the moment when his long-suffering wife Vera served up his beloved pigeons to him in a pie. Friends and Coronation Street colleagues celebrate Bill's work and recall Jack Duckworth's life. With contributions from Tarmey, Liz Dawn, Julie Goodyear, William Roache, Nigel Pivaro, Roy Barraclough, Vicky Binns, Alan Halsall, Katherine Kelly, John Stevenson and Daran Little.

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  07 50 Years, 50 Moments - Part One

  Dec 7, 201024m

  First of two documentaries celebrating the greatest moments in the history of Coronation Street, to mark the show's 50th birthday. Earlier in the year, viewers had the chance to vote for their favourite moment from 50 nominations brought together by a distinguished panel of Corrie experts, including the show's creator Tony Warren and original cast member William Roache. Now the results are being revealed, and the programme will reveal the stories behind the clips - from the high emotion of teen mum Sarah-Louise Platt to the hilarity of Ken Barlow trying to teach French to Raquel Wolstenhulme and the national Free The Weatherfield One campaign. Featuring archive clips and interviews with the stars, writers, producers and directors who helped bring the show to the screen.

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  08 50 Years, 50 Moments - Part Two

  Dec 9, 201024m

  Second of two documentaries celebrating the greatest moments in the history of Coronation Street to mark its 50th birthday. Earlier in the year, ITV viewers voted for their favourite Corrie moment from 50 nominations brought together by a distinguished panel of Corrie experts, including the show's creator Tony Warren and original cast member William Roache, and the results will be revealed over the course of the show. Classic moments will be relived through a mix of archive clips and revealing interviews with the stars, writers, producers and directors who helped bring them to the screen.

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  10 The Unforgettable Pat Phoenix

  Jan 12, 201124m

  Profile of the actress who found fame in Coronation Street and whose life offscreen was as colourful as that of Elsie Tanner, the character she played for 21 years. Close friends and co-stars, including Julie Goodyear, Helen Worth, Tony Booth and Coronation Street creator Tony Warren, share their touching and hilarious memories of this larger-than-life, spirited woman.

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  11 The Corrie Years - Part 1

  Jul 20, 201124m

  New three-part documentary series looking at past dramatic storylines from Coronation Street which have become talking points for the nation. The first episode examines some of the plots which made front-page news, from the Weatherfield One to Sarah-Louise Platt's teenage pregnancy. The programme reveals the stories behind the stories and also includes previously unseen footage of a 1960s plotline which was so controversial it was cut after being leaked by the papers. Narrated by David Morrissey.

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  12 The Corrie Years - Part 2

  Jul 27, 201124m

  The Firsts. Episode 2. Documentary series exploring the impact of the hugely popular show Coronation Street. The second episode examines how Britain's longest-running soap has consistently broken new ground. The programme looks at some of Corrie's firsts, including the first live episode for nearly 40 years, the first specially written hour-long episode and the show's first transsexual character. There are also interviews with cast members past and present including Kevin Kennedy, William Roache and Alan Rothwell.

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  13 The Corrie Years - Part 3

  Aug 3, 201124m

  The Changing Face of Britain. Episode 3. Last in the documentary series about Coronation Street's rich history. Over the past 50 years, the soap has moved with the times and held up a mirror to an ever-changing world. This episode examines how real life and life on the Street have often gone hand-in-hand - from the strikes which closed Mike Baldwin's factory and forced Corrie off the air in the late Seventies to the eco-warriors who inspired a tree-top protest by Emily Bishop.

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  14 Farewell Liz

  Apr 20, 201124m

  A tribute to Coronation Street favourite Liz McDonald - landlady of the Rovers and queen of the miniskirt - who is leaving Coronation Street after more than 20 years. In this special programme, friends and Corrie colleagues applaud the work of Beverley Callard, who plays Liz. The show reveals how Beverley made the character of Liz her own after arriving on the soap in 1989 and established Liz as the leader of the McDonald clan. It explains how the family was created and how Beverley had a part to play in casting her two onscreen sons. Plus there is a look at how Liz worked her way through a string of unsuitable men - and a wardrobe of unsuitable clothes.

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  16 The Big 50

  Dec 10, 201024m

  Paul O'Grady celebrates 50 years of Coronation Street by hosting a quiz show consisting of four celebrity teams (three teams of famous faces from the show, one team of 'superfans').

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  17 Gary's Army Diaries

  Jan 31, 201124m

  Special spin-off episode of Coronation Street focusing on Gary Windass's experiences in Afghanistan. Gary relives the horrors of Afghanistan with Izzy. She wants to help him move on, but can he ever truly forget?

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  18 Goodbye Blanche

  May 10, 201024m

  Blanche Hunt was one of Coronation Street's most popular characters and entertained millions. Maggie Jones, the actress who played her, died last year. She first stepped into the role in 1974 and went on to make the part her own, establishing Blanche as the mother-in-law from hell, with her outrageous one-liners aimed at son-in-law Ken's failures and daughter Deirdre's disastrous personal life. Her friends and colleagues pay tribute to Maggie and recall Blanche's best moments.

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  19 Farewell Vera

  Feb 3, 200824m

  This special pays tribute to the 33 years and 3,011 episodes in which actress Elizabeth Dawn played Vera Duckworth on Coronation Street. When Vera first appeared in the Street in 1974, Harold Wilson was Prime Minister, The Osmonds were at No 1 in the British charts with Love Me For A Reason, and Annie Walker was landlady of the Rovers Return. Among the famous faces in the documentary are a host of Liz Dawn's Coronation Street co-stars, including Nigel Pivaro, Johnny Briggs, Julie Goodyear, William Roach, Jenny McAlpine, Antony Cotton, Alan Halsall, Vicky Binns and, of course, Bill Tarmey, her long-suffering on-screen husband Jack. Liz Dawn, now 69, had to leave Coronation Street after her chronic (and incurable) lung disease emphysema worsened, the legacy of a lifetime of smoking. She kept her on-set struggles largely secret.

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  20 The Jubilee Years

  Aug 30, 198524m

  Britain's best-loved TV serial started life on December 9, 1960. Granada Video now invites you to celebrate Coronation Street's Silver Jubilee with Ena Sharples, Elsie Tanner, Annie Walker, and many other known and loved residents of the street. Alice Hughes, born in Coronation Street in 1952, left for a new life in Australia. Now she returns for a fleeting visit with her daughter and joins Betty Turpin, Hilda Ogden, and Ken and Deirdre Barlow, in their reminiscences of The Jubilee Years. 1) The Blackpool Illuminations - October 1961 2) Elsie's Anonymous Letter - November 1961 3) The Viaduct Train Crash - May 1967 4) The Fancy Dress Party - December 1966 5) The Ogden's Second Honeymoon - November 1977 6) The Marriages of Ken Barlow - August 1962, October 1973, July 1981 7) The Barlow/Baldwin Love Triangle - February 1983

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  21 The Coronation Street Years

  Dec 3, 199524m

  This documentary delves into the archives to uncover how the Street and the nation have faced social change together, matching scenes from the programme with news footage spanning the sexual revolution, the growth of mass unemployment and Thatcherism.

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  22 Spectrum: Coronation Street Special

  Sep 6, 197224m

  Spectrum looks back at Coronation Street, 12 years after the start of the soap. Featuring interviews with Violet Carson (Ena Sharples), Doris Speed (Annie Walker) and Bill Roache (Ken Barlow). UTV's long-running culture programme takes a look back at the first 12 years of Britain's best loved soap... Little did they know it would still be running 38 years later...

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  23 Farewell Becky

  Jan 24, 201224m

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  24 Deirdre and Me - 40 Years on Coronation Street

  Nov 1, 201224m

  Anne Kirkbride celebrates 40 years of playing the well-loved character of Deirdre in Coronation Street this year. This hour-long documentary special looks at the woman behind those famous glasses, taking the cameras backstage as she discusses everything from her cancer diagnosis to her battle with depression. She also tells of her close relationships with fellow cast members and how she met her future husband on set, and talks us through the highs and lows of her Corrie career, including the storyline which rocked the Street almost 30 years ago when Ken discovered Deirdre's affair with Mike Baldwin. Featuring appearances from cast members past and present, including William Roache, Michelle Keegan, Chris Gascoyne and Johnny Briggs.

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  25 Tram Crash Documentary

  Dec 12, 201024m

  Behind the scenes of the 50th anniversary episodes.

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  26 Ken and Me

  Jan 3, 200124m

  As the UK's (and probably the world's) longest serving soap actor, William Roache has seen many highs and lows during his forty year stint as Coronation Street's Ken Barlow. This documentary charts his career, including his thoughts on his character and details of the infamous suit against the newspaper which called him "boring"

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  27 Peter Barlow Exposed

  Jan 1, 201024m

  The inside story of the Street's bigamous love cheat Peter Barlow, including interviews with actor Chris Gascoyne.

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  28 McDonald Family Album

  Sep 8, 200424m

  This episode is about The McDonalds, about their lives and based mainly on the characters: Liz, Jim, Steve, Andy, & Karen

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  29 Jack & Bill

  Jul 15, 200124m

  Documentary

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  30 Baldwin Family Album

  Jan 1, 200124m

  A look back at the members of the Baldwin family

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  31 Battersby Family Album

  Jan 8, 200124m

  A look back at the Battersby Family

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  32 Duckworth Family Album

  Jan 1, 200624m

  The highs and lows of the Duckworth family

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  33 Barlow Family Album

  Jan 1, 200924m

  The Highs and lows of the Barlow family

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  34 Platt Family Album

  Jan 1, 200824m

  The highs and lows of the Platt family

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  35 The Street Undressed

  Nov 21, 200324m

  The cutting edge of Coronation Street fashion comes into focus as we take a look at the handbags and the gladrags that have graced the Weatherfield cobbles over the past 40 years. Ena's hairnet, Hilda's rollers, Bet's beehive, Deidre's glasses and Liz McDonald's minis are all here. We go behind the scenes in wardrobe with today's young cast and take a trip back in time with some of the Street's greatest fashion icons.

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  36 Corrie Controversies

  Apr 12, 200424m

  Controversial storylines that have featured on the soap over the years, including transsexuals, bigamists, arranged marriages, rape, teenage pregnancies and homosexuality. With contributions from Tina O'Brien, Bruno Langley, Shobna Gulati, Helen Worth, David Neilson, Julie Hesmondhalgh and Georgia Taylor

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  37 Farewell Mike

  Apr 7, 200624m

  A look at the colourful street life of Mike Baldwin played by Johnny Briggs from 1976 to 2006.

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  38 Tracy Barlow Exposed

  Oct 21, 200324m

  Who would have thought that Corrie's whining teenager - Tracy Barlow - would grow up into soapland's public enemy number 1? When the Street's ""girl next door"" returned, she was transformed into a beautiful man-eater, bedding a string of men, including her Grandmother's boyfriend. But she took wickedness to new levels with her deception of resident odd couple, Roy and Hayley.

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  39 When Karen Met Steve

  Oct 28, 200324m

  The couple that married for a bet, and staged a sham divorce now plan a remarriage on a scale only previously seen in Hollywood. We talk to Jonathan Wrather about his role in their divorce and Anne Kirkbride talks about the shock of a blood tie with the MacDonald clan.

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  40 The Stars of the Street: 50 to 25

  Dec 10, 201024m

  A countdown from 50 - 25 of the best characters on the street

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  41 The Stars of the Street: 25 to 1

  Dec 10, 201024m

  A countdown from 25 - 1 of the best characters on the street.

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  42 I Am Ken Eternal

  Dec 10, 201024m

  Ken in his first music video!!

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  43 Coronation Street: A Moving Story

  Mar 6, 200324m

  Special programme following the Street's move from its 53-year-old base at Granada Studios. With contributions from Tony Warren, Barbara Knox, Julie Goodyear and many more.

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  44 Farewell Tina

  Jun 6, 201424m

  As Michelle Keegan leaves the cast of Coronation Street after six eventful years, this documentary tells the story of the Salford-born actress who achieved stardom by playing the feisty, funny but ultimately fallible character of Tina McIntyre. For the very first time, the off-screen stories behind the dramatic on-screen plotlines are revealed, with contributions from Helen Worth and Jack P Shepherd. There is home video footage of Michelle in a school production playing Sporty Spice and a chance to watch her reaction to her original Coronation Street audition tape from 2007. Michelle's parents reveal that she was a plain but rebellious teenager - not so very different from the character she would go on to play. Behind the scenes on the Corrie set Tina's last appearances are filmed - watched by Michelle's fiancé Mark Wright. Other cast members sharing their reminiscences include Chris Gascoyne, Beverley Callard, Ryan Thomas and Paula Lane.

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  45 Gail and Me: 40 Years on Coronation Street

  Jun 9, 201424m

  Documentary tribute to Helen Worth, whose character Gail has been a major figure in Coronation Street since 1974. Forty years ago, Helen was brought in as a glamorous young character to freshen up the Street with Cheryl Murray, who played Suzie Birchall. Amanda Barrie, who played Alma Halliwell, meets up with Helen in the Street's cafe and actor Brian Capron, alias Gail's former husband - and serial killer Richard Hillman - returns to the cobbles to recall the storyline that rocked a nation. The programme tracks Gail's disastrous love life and marriages, examines her relationship with son from hell David and focuses on one of the Street's greatest rivalries - Gail and Eileen. Sue Nicholls reveals how Helen sends her a mother's day card every year, and there are contributions from other cast members past and present including Jack P Shepherd, Paula Lane, Sue Cleaver, Ben Price and Tina O'Brien, and crew Stuart Blackburn, Kieran Roberts and Martin Sterling. Narrated by Thelma Barlow.

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  46 Stories That Gripped the Nation

  Jul 6, 202023m

  We look back at pivotal storylines that captured the public's imagination, including the tram crash of 2010 and the Mike, Ken and Deirdre love triangle of 1983.

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  47 Weddings

  Jul 13, 202023m

  A celebration of the most memorable weddings in Weatherfield. There have been 130 weddings over the decades and viewers will get to see some of the best.

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  48 Villains

  Jul 20, 202022m

  A look back at some of the most notorious baddies to ever walk the streets of Weatherfield. You'll be on the edge of your seat all over again as we remember the likes of Richard Hillman, Charlie Stubbs, Maya Sharma and Pat Phelan.

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  49 Partnerships

  Jul 27, 202023m

  We celebrate the classic Corrie pairings and comedy double acts that have kept us entertained over the years including Stan and Hilda, and Fred and Ashley.

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  50 Scandals

  Aug 1, 202022m

  We turn back the clock and remember Sarah Louise Platt's teenage pregnancy and the Baldwin's tangled family affairs, among other classic storylines.

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  51 Battleaxes

  Aug 10, 202023m

  Coronation Street was founded on its dominating matriarchs and Northern working- class battleaxes. This episode will celebrate the best of them, including Ena Sharples, Ivy Tilsley, Vera Duckworth, Blanche Hunt and Evelyn Plummer.

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  52 High Days and Holidays

  Aug 17, 202023m

  The residents of Weatherfield love a change of scenery, but holidays very rarely go to plan. We revisit the first episode filmed entirely on location in 1967.

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  53 Famous Faces

  Sep 7, 202022m

  A celebration of some of the many famous faces that have graced the street over the years including Sir Ian McKellen, Joanna Lumley and comedy legend Peter Kay.