Coronation Street

The first episode of Coronation Street, the world's longest-running television soap opera, was broadcast in the United Kingdom on December 9, 1960. It was expected to last just 13 weeks.

Within six months of its start in 1960, Coronation Street was the most-watched program in the UK.

Research in 1997 showed that the mortality rates of Coronation Street characters are worse than those of oil rig divers or bomb disposal men.  New characters in their twenties had a 10 per cent chance of being killed off within five years.

The first licensees with their names over the door of the Rovers Return pub were Jim and Nellie Corbishley (1902-18). NO, Corrie wasn't broadcast back then but the Corbishleys were mentioned by Roy Cropper at the Rovers' centenary party in August 2002. 

The Rovers Return Inn in Coronation Street takes its name from the Rover’s Return in Withy Grove, Manchester, which was demolished in 1958.

The most watched episode was on Christmas Day in 1987, when 26.65 million viewers tuned in to bid a fond farewell to Hilda Ogden. Jean Alexander, who had played Hilda since 1964, was the first soap performer to ever receive a Bafta nomination.

William Roache has played Ken Barlow in Coronation Street since it was first started in 1960 by Tony Warren.

Many famous faces started their careers in Weatherfield, including Gandhi Oscar-winner Ben Kingsley, who made an early screen appearance as Ron Jenkins in 1966-67. 

Prince Charles made an appearance in Coronation Street, for its 40th anniversary in 2000.

The video of the 1984 Queen single "I Want to Break Free" parodied the show's female characters.

The current location of the set – in Salford Quays, Greater Manchester - opened in 2013, having relocated from the Granada Studios complex in central Manchester, which had been Corrie's home from the very first broadcast is 1960.

Sources Daily Mail, Daily Express