Secrecy surrounds Coronation Street’s anniversary plot

 

Secrecy surrounds Coronation Street’s 50th anniversary storylines as producers for the ITV soap are keen to keep viewers in suspense about who will survive and who will die in the forthcoming tram crash.

Secrecy surrounds Coronation Street’s 50th anniversary storylines as producers for the ITV soap are keen to keep viewers in suspense about who will survive and who will die in the forthcoming tram crash. The crash is part of the soaps plans to celebrate 50 years on-air with a live episode also to mark the occasion. When the soap celebrated its 40th anniversary ten years ago a live episode was produced and in its early days on air episodes went out live. The possibility of Corrie producing another live episode this year was raised following the hugely successful live episode of EastEnders in February to mark its 25th anniversary – over 18 million tuned in for the episode which marked the climax of the Who Killed Archie? Storyline.

 

Producers on Coronation Street are so keen to keep details of the plots for the anniversary safe that actors are now only being issued with there scenes and not entire episodes. Actor Keith Duffy, who plays barman Ciaran, told BBC News that the cast can also expect to get scripts just days before shooting instead of the usual week. The tram crash is to the centre of the soaps anniversary and will reportedly result in several cast members being killed off but producers want to keep viewers in suspense over it and don’t want tabloid newspapers spoiling the surprise – hence the secrecy.

Filming on the anniversary storylines is due to begin on Monday. A party for cast and crew to celebrate the anniversary was held on the set earlier this week. It tied in with the soap being named, in the Guinness World Records Book, as the world’s longest running soap. Coronation Street now holds the title following the finale of American series As The World Turns last week after 54 years on-air and last year the finale of fellow American soap Guiding Light after 72 years on-air. Original cast member William Roach, who plays Ken Barlow, has also been listed in the book as the longest serving soap actor.