For more than 50 years the nation has tuned in to Coronation Street to watch the trials, tribulations, joy and jubilations encountered by some of Manchester’s favourite families.
Many of us have grown up with the soap and probably know its residents better than we do our own neighbours.
Watching life unfold on the famous cobbles has undoubtedly seen many of us reach for the tissues or sit roaring with laughter.
From murder and betrayal to comedy gold and heart-wrenching goodbyes it is no surprise that it is one of the country’s favourite soaps.
Here MM takes a look back at The Street’s top five moments.
5. Mike Baldwin’s death (2006)
Appearing in the soap for the first time in 1976 as a boyfriend of then Rovers barmaid Bet Lynch, Mike Baldwin was to tread the cobbles for the next thirty years.
The undisputed knicker king of Weatherfield said a poignant farewell to the street as he died of a heart attack in the arms of his love rival Ken Barlow.
Suffering from Alzheimer’s, he escaped from hospital after being admitted for pneumonia and managed to escape and have one last final show down with his arch nemesis.
Confused Mike thinks he is back in the 1980s and reveals to Ken he is having an affair with Deirdre telling Ken his wife is going to leave him.
Corrie always deals with tragedy and goodbyes in a fitting manner but this scene was bittersweet with that all-important sprinkling of irony.
4. Alan Bradley killed by tram (1989)
Alan Bradley was undoubtedly one of Corrie’s greatest villains so in true soap fashion he paid for his crimes.
When Rita discovered that Alan had impersonated her dead husband, Len Fairclough, to get a mortgage to support his business he tried to kill her.
Not being able to stand living so close to him, Rita had a breakdown and ran away to Blackpool which led residents to believe Alan had murdered her.
Intent on clearing his name Alan went to Blackpool where he found her roaming the streets. He bustled her into a car from which she escaped and ran out in front of a tram – the tram narrowly missed Rita but Alan, who chased her, got his comeuppance when he was hit and died instantly.
A whopping 26.9 million people tuned in to watch evil Alan Bradley meet his grisly end.
3. Deirdre goes to jail and the free the Weatherfield one campaign begins (1998)
Deirdre has always been unlucky in love who knows why – maybe it’s the glasses? After falling for the charms of con man, Jon Lindsay she was falsely imprisoned for fraud while he walked free.
It was a media sensation with loyal fans being so outraged by the miscarriage of justice that incensed viewers clogged phone lines at Granada TV with complaints.
Newspapers called for the Weatherfield One to be freed with outraged viewers donning t-shirts and starting a campaign.
Even Prime Minister Tony Blair brought the subject up in Parliament and promised to help the fate of love-crossed Deirdre.
All was well in the end when she was released several weeks later when another of Jon’s victims came forward.
2. The tram crash (2010)
The street celebrated its 50th anniversary with a bang…literally. The build-up to the event was intense and it certainly lived up to expectation.
Death and destruction ruled as an explosion ripped through the joinery causing a tram to crash off the viaduct wiping out the corner shop and the Kabin.
Buildings in the street collapsed and lives were lost in the fiery carnage – it was a sad farewell to Ashley Peacock and young mother Molly Dobbs.
Not to forget the brilliant script-writing which saw murderer John Stape use the accident to disguise his killing of Charlotte Hoyle.
Pyrotechnics and special effects along with fantastic acting ensured that the event was one of the most spectacular in the show’s history.
1. Hilda Ogden says goodbye to Stan (1984)
The nation wept along with poor Hilda as she broke down after the death of her beloved husband Stan.
Opening a package of Stan’s belongings after he died tipped the usually strong woman over the edge and had viewers reaching for the tissues as they shared her sorrow.
We all know the pain of suffering the loss of a loved one and this scene depicts Hilda’s heartbreak in true iconic Corrie fashion.
While Corrie excels at drama-filled scenes full of explosive action often keeping it simple says more than anything else.
Image and videos courtesy of ITV via YouTube, with thanks
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