ITV will dramatise the very moment that gave birth to Coronation Street in a special new telly campaign ahead of the soap’s 60th anniversary next month.
Tony Warren, creator of the Manchester-based serial drama, was on the late train from King’s Cross to Manchester with BBC Producer Olive Shapley in 1959.
The young man woke Olive in the early hours of the morning to reveal that he had a great idea for a show about ‘ordinary people on an ordinary street.’
Olive famously knocked him back, telling him ‘how boring’ and ‘go back to sleep!’.
Viewers can witness the legendary showdown themselves, as — ahead of Corrie’s 60th anniversary next month — ITV has produced a campaign to capture the nation’s heart, which relives the very moment Tony announced his bright idea.
With the sounds of the train staff and ticket officer echoing in his head, Tony sits back with a smile firmly fixed on his face — almost as if the he knows his idea is definitely the right one!
With 60 years of incredible stories, iconic characters such as Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix) and Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls), and over 10,000 episodes, it’s safe to say that Tony’s idea most certainly was the right one.
Created by ITV Creative, and directed by Dee Koppang O’Leary (The Crown, Bridgerton), the celebratory campaign has a synergy all of its very own, as Tony is played by Harry Chalmers Morris—the latest recipient of the Tony Warren Bursay.
Harry said: ‘Only when I was playing Tony did I realise the magnitude of his contribution.
‘His sheer force of will helped break what seemed like an impenetrable glass ceiling as the thought of giving working class voices air time was unthinkable. I have so much gratitude for Tony for paving the way for actors from the north west’.
Director, Dee Koppang O’Leary commented: ‘It was a total joy to be part of creating a film paying tribute to such an iconic British TV series & its creator – Tony Warren.
‘Filming with Harry was a delight, and it felt like true serendipity with Tony’s legacy giving a helping hand to an up & coming actor. Happy 60th Coronation Street!’
The ITV soap’s origin story was also bought to life in feature film The Road to Coronation Street, which premiered on BBC Four in 2010.
The campaign will premiere ahead of the new series of I’m a Celebrity get Me Out of Here on Sunday November 9 at 9pm and will run on ITV until Corrie’s anniversary on Wednesday December 9.
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