14/05/2014 - Coronation Street Fans Head North
Bakers Dolphin trips to show set
West Country soap opera fans have a chance to walk down Britain's most famous street this month with regional coach operators Bakers Dolphin taking people to see the set of Coronation Street.
The long-running soap moved to a new location in December last year with Weatherfield being rebuilt in Trafford, Manchester with all the buildings scaled up to make them look more realistic.
This week the former set was opened to the public for the first time and Coronation Street fans in the region can travel by coach from their own town on Saturday May 17 to have their photographs taken by the Rovers Return and get revealing insights into the way the programme is made.
Amanda Harrington, Sales and Marketing Director at Bakers Dolphin said: "The former set has been where unforgettable stories and magical memories have been created for the last 53 years. The sets are open for six months and there is huge demand from people all over the country.
"Our excursion for £52 includes coach travel from the South West to Manchester and that will include walking on the famous cobbles, seeing inside the stars' former dressing rooms and seeing some of the insider secrets of how the programme is made. "
The exterior street that is being opened up to the public has been in use since 1982. The 1982 set was opened by the Queen. She was greeted by Julie Goodyear, who played Bet Lynch in a pair of Charles and Diana earrings: "See? I even know which side of the bed they sleep on!" the actress told the monarch.
The very first set was built in 1960 in a now disused studio on the Quay Street site. Due to size restrictions, the street was constructed in two halves, so shots of the whole terrace were impossible.
The pavement and cobbles were painted onto the studio floor. Despite the limitations, some complex scenes were filmed there, including the collapse of No 7 in 1965 and the 1967 crash when a train careered off the viaduct and Ena Sharples was trapped under rubble.
Coaches are leaving from Taunton, Burnham-on-Sea, Bridgwater, Weston-super-Mare,. Clevedon, Gordano Service and Bristol for the tour on May 17. Bookings can be made online at www.bakersdolphin.com or by telephone 01934 415000.