Coronation Street plans live episode for ITV’s 60th anniversary

Doing their bit to mark sixty years of ITV the cast and crew of Coronation Street will deliver a live episode later this year.

Coronation Street - Rovers Return Inn

The special episode will mark the first time the saga has screened live to the nation from its new home at MediaCity in Salford. Previous live editions were broadcast from the now-defunct Granada studios in Quay Street, Manchester.

“We’re delighted to be marking ITV’s 60th anniversary with a live episode from Coronation Street’s brilliant new studios and set. We’re immensely proud of our new home and it’s been the most amazing first year of production.  The cast, writers, and production team are exhilarated by the prospect of a live broadcast as the programme’s 50th anniversary episode was received so brilliantly by the audience.” – Executive Producer Kieran Roberts.

This year’s live edition will be screened in September 2015 and will ensure viewers are ‘tantalised by storylines reaching a dramatic climax’ ITV say.

Corrie boss Stuart Blackburn, who was across Emmerdale’s live special to celebrate the drama’s 40thanniversary in 2012, will mastermind the episode whilst continuing to oversee regular editions of the soap.

“It’s an honour to be at the helm as Coronation Street goes live once more. We’ve a reputation to uphold after the success of the tram crash and I’m going to enjoy working with the storyliners and writers as we plot stories for our live episode in 2015. We’ll be doing all we can to eclipse what’s gone before. – Show boss, Stuart Blackburn

Coronation Street previously aired live instalments in 2000 and 2010 for its 40th and 50th anniversaries respectively and was aired ‘as live’ when it first launched in 1960. EastEnders is also planning to air a live episode next year.

Coronation Street celebrates forty years on-air with a live edition in 2000.