Coronation Street, 1960-1985: 25 Years

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

The British soap opera Coronation Street is tremendously popular in Canada. In most areas it can be seen on CBC-TV every weekday, and it draws a huge following.

In 1985 the program celebrated its twenty-fifth year of continuous production, to become the world’s longest-running television series. Generations of English and Canadian viewers live vicariously through the televised joys and sorrows of this fictional Manchester community. The impact of Coronation Streetis such that both the Queen and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher are said to be fans, and a former prime minister, Sir Harold Wilson, always closed cabinet meetings in time to catch the telecast. It’s been said that Coronation Street is reality and Britain the soap opera.

The book is a colorful, detailed, professionally packaged review of the history of the program. It covers the founding of the series, the key people involved in its launch, the actors, the set design, the “landmark” events in the continuing saga of life in a typical English working class neighbourhood.

Of special interest is a copy of the script for the first program. Tens of thousands of devoted fans have been clamoring for this.

Trivia buffs will appreciate the miscellaneous facts section and the Coronation Streetquiz.

The book is lavish with photos, many in color, and the text treats the subject with respect, almost awe. For anyone hooked on “the Street,” this book will be a valued possession.