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00:00It's the world's longest-running television soap opera,
00:03with millions of fans across the globe,
00:05from Salford to Singapore...
00:08..mixing high drama...
00:11Get out, drink! Put it on us!
00:13I can't!
00:15Scenery is pretty lovely, wouldn't you say?
00:18Romance...
00:18Hey, steady on!
00:20..and bucket loads of comedy.
00:23It was a drink, Jack.
00:25So join me and raise a glass of Newton and Ridley's finest
00:28as we told some of the biggest and best moments
00:31that have kept us glued to our screens over the last 60 years.
00:35I'm waiting.
00:38These are the stories that grip the nation.
00:43There are all tiny cobs in the wheels of history.
00:47Yeah, there's nobody worth mentioning once, Seth.
00:52For six decades, the folk of Coronation Street
00:56have been part of our extended family.
00:59Births...
01:02Marriages...
01:02Everybody say, Gorgonzola!
01:05Gorgonzola!
01:05Oh, Blassom.
01:07She's not going to jump up at you, she's dead.
01:10And death.
01:11It's a ghost!
01:12We've been with them through it all.
01:14Fire!
01:15Fire!
01:16If I had my way, I'd just like to go like me mother did.
01:19See, that were a beautiful ending.
01:22Oh, lovely.
01:24She just sat up, broke wind, and died.
01:29We all having the same again, girls?
01:30I don't mind if I do.
01:35From the moment the first episode went live
01:38on 9th December 1960, Britain's love affair
01:42with Weatherfield started.
01:43You know how it is when you come to a new street,
01:45you don't know anyone or what to look out for.
01:47Oh, Coronation Street's all right.
01:49Mind us, some you'll have to watch.
01:51Working-class folk with regional accents
01:53on the small screen for the very first time.
01:55I'm Mrs Sharples.
01:56I'm very pleased to meet you.
01:58I'm a neighbour.
01:59Oh.
01:59Tough-talking women.
02:00Hey, Elsie.
02:01Just about ready for the knacker yard.
02:03Come on!
02:04Oh, shut up, you daft clown.
02:11And let's not forget
02:12their henpeck fellas.
02:14Why have it to be me
02:15that I have a son like you?
02:16I suppose you'd rather have me like
02:17Kenneth Barlow at number three.
02:19And by heck, they had a way with words.
02:21Techina Sharples.
02:23Now I reckon your friend
02:24has lap her up.
02:26My place of worship
02:27is the rovers' return.
02:28And I'll swap brown ale
02:29for me and book any day.
02:30Ha-ha, you see?
02:31Excuse me, has anybody...
02:3220 million were watching
02:33three times a week.
02:35But keeping the hungry viewers satisfied
02:37would need a clever diet
02:40of tragedy
02:44and death.
02:46How's it going?
02:46They're taking the...
02:48You bloody idiot!
02:49Get out of here!
02:51Audiences loved it
02:52and it kick-started
02:53decades of groundbreaking drama.
02:56Oh, heck.
02:57Which brings us
02:58to our first pit stop.
03:00Gripping the Nation in 1983,
03:01a love story
03:03that had 24 million of us
03:05on the edge of our seats.
03:06Hello.
03:06Hey, up.
03:07Did you enjoy your meal, then?
03:08No, it was awful.
03:09We first saw Ken
03:10work his intellectual magic
03:12on our young and innocent
03:13Specsavers beauty, Deirdre,
03:15in 1979.
03:17Do you know what Schopenhauer said?
03:19Who's he?
03:20When is it all?
03:20Well, he was a famous philosopher.
03:22He said that no man should marry
03:24until he's 35
03:26and then he should marry a woman
03:28at least 15 years younger than him.
03:30Whatever for?
03:31Well, amongst other things,
03:33they will both begin to lose
03:34their sexual urge
03:35at about the same time.
03:36Hey, what are you getting at?
03:39Don't pretend you didn't know
03:41what Schopenhauer meant, Deirdre.
03:43You've got yourself a deal.
03:45You should have got that deal
03:47in writing, Ken,
03:48because a decade-long fight
03:49for Deirdre was underway.
03:51Well, I thought he was calling for me.
03:53And here I am.
03:54You've not seen Ken, have you?
03:55Well, if I had,
03:56I wouldn't tell you.
03:57But what a charmer Mike was.
03:58Just like David Niven, isn't he?
04:00Where did you say the Jag was?
04:01Outside.
04:05Come again?
04:06I most certainly will,
04:07because I fancy the slim, sexy bird
04:09that works here.
04:12Despite Mike's best efforts,
04:14in the summer of 81,
04:15Ken got that deal in writing
04:17after all.
04:18I pronounce them to be
04:21man
04:22and wife
04:23together.
04:25She even took a specs offering.
04:26True love.
04:30But Mike wasn't going to let
04:32something like marriage
04:33get in his way.
04:35I'll look after you, I promise.
04:38I, er,
04:39made a bit of money today.
04:41You know what I think about money?
04:43It's for spending.
04:44Had a smashing night, Mike.
04:46But it was when Deirdre
04:47accepted afters...
04:48Oh, please?
04:49Yeah.
04:50All right.
04:51...that fans were up in arms.
04:53The press ran opinion polls.
04:55Britain didn't like seeing
04:56the affair play out
04:57behind Ken's back.
04:59We're in love.
05:00You agree with that, don't you?
05:02Yeah.
05:03I think we are.
05:07Boring.
05:08It's as good a word as any.
05:09I'm boring!
05:12What about me?
05:14What about my life?
05:16Well, what else do you want?
05:20Mike.
05:21Audiences were glued to the screen
05:23to see how Ken would react.
05:25I'm warning you.
05:25Get all this out of the room.
05:26I'll tell you, go!
05:27Go!
05:30Corrie had never felt so raw.
05:33Was this the end of Ken and Deirdre?
05:35Pack your bags.
05:37And go to Baldwin.
05:40It was reported that
05:41even the Queen
05:42didn't want to miss the episode
05:43and had a tape flown overseas.
05:46Just don't think
05:47that when you walk out of that door
05:48that you're ever coming back!
05:49I won't!
06:03But then...
06:08Ken, I don't want to go.
06:12Don't make me go.
06:14I don't know what I'm doing anymore.
06:18I couldn't go through the door.
06:20Ken, I can't.
06:21Please don't say I've got to go.
06:24I'll never see him again.
06:26I'll never see him again
06:28as long as I live.
06:37He said that you're staying here
06:38and you don't want to see me again.
06:40I'm sorry, Mike.
06:41But you can't be him.
06:42I'm sorry.
06:43All right, that's enough.
06:45OK, you've heard what you wanted to hear, all right?
06:48So in future, just stay away.
06:51Ken had won.
06:55And whilst the rivalry between Ken and Mike
06:58persisted for another 20 years...
07:00You started everything.
07:02That was the last night.
07:03And despite a divorce in 1990,
07:06Ken has always been the only one for Deirdre.
07:09Will you make me the happiest man in the world
07:12by becoming my wife?
07:13Yes!
07:15Of course I will!
07:18And they tied the knot again in 2005,
07:21nearly 24 years since their first big day.
07:24It gives me great pleasure
07:25to pronounce you husband and wife.
07:28I love a happy ending.
07:32But don't get too comfy.
07:35Living in Weatherfield should come with a health warning.
07:39The street can be a death trap.
07:42From fireballs and explosions
07:45to car crashes.
07:49You sit there, all right?
07:51Calm down, mate. Calm down.
07:53There's even been a couple of hostage situations.
07:57There is nothing that captivates us more than a disaster.
08:01You know, it's a funny thing.
08:02You're always yearning after excitement and adventure.
08:05When something like this happens,
08:06you can't wait to get back in your own little rut.
08:09So when Corrie hit its big 5-0,
08:12producers pulled out all the stops.
08:17In the build-up to a special live episode,
08:20the story everyone was talking about
08:22was Molly Dobbs and the secret identity
08:25of her baby's father.
08:26He's my flesh and blood, and he stays here, right?
08:28Except he's not.
08:31I told him he's not Jack's father.
08:33Only we knew he was Kevin's.
08:35I didn't say it was you.
08:37But the truth was about to come out.
08:39In a big way.
08:42Almost 15 million of us
08:44watched Leanne and Peter's stag and hendu
08:46strapped to our seats
08:47waiting for Molly's secret to be revealed.
09:11Carla!
09:12Carla!
09:13Wait!
09:36It was one of the most impressive and expensive stunts in the drama's history.
09:43But it was Molly, trapped and close to death, being supported by the woman who she betrayed, that produced a
09:54moment of pure Corrie drama.
09:56If I could put things right, with all my heart, I would.
10:07I won't leave you.
10:10It's the message.
10:13Anything you want to say?
10:16To Kevin.
10:18To tell her.
10:20We loved each other for a while.
10:28But he chose you.
10:32If Jack's not going to have his mommy, he's going to need his daddy.
10:40But nobody knows who Jack's dad is.
10:46He knows you.
10:52I can't.
10:56Molly.
10:57Who is it?
11:00He's here.
11:02He's here.
11:04He's here.
11:05He's here.
11:06He's here.
11:06I'm sorry.
11:07He's here.
11:11He's here.
11:12Sally.
11:14Sally.
11:15Please.
11:17Please.
11:18Please.
11:18Don't.
11:20Please don't.
11:22Leave.
11:23Don't leave me.
11:30Sir.
11:31Sorry.
11:32It's me.
11:32Sir.
11:33It's me.
11:35Sir.
11:35It's me.
11:35It's you.
11:36Sir.
11:39No.
11:40Aaron.
11:41Three.
11:41Two.
11:42One.
11:42Hey.
11:43Hey.
11:43You're not supposed to do that.
11:45Oh, for goodness sake.
11:47Comedy is at the heart of Coronation Street.
11:50Did you see that?
11:52She's always been a common troller.
11:55It's kept us tuning in in our millions over the years.
11:58Who did that?
11:59I think we just had us leg pulled.
12:02Didn't we, Elder?
12:04Okay.
12:06Do something.
12:07One, two, one, one.
12:08I can't move this.
12:09There's water coming through.
12:12There's water coming through.
12:16But the strength of Corrie is how they can change the tone in a heartbeat.
12:22And tackle the toughest hitting storylines.
12:29And in 2018, the show took on a difficult taboo subject.
12:35And I've had warmer welcomes.
12:38Aidan Connor?
12:40After arriving on the street in 2015, Aidan Connor's world had fallen apart.
12:48Let's do things your way.
12:50You'll let me stay with Eva while you're in the air.
12:55Wow.
12:57Excuse me.
12:58You need to stop.
13:00This wedding's a total sham.
13:02There is my baby.
13:03I found out about you and Maria months ago.
13:05What?
13:06And I wanted to hurt you as much as you hurt me.
13:09An affair cost him his relationship.
13:11Factory's been cleared out.
13:12Even cleared out the bank account.
13:13He lost his business.
13:15Your plan worked.
13:16The factory's been cleaned out.
13:18And he felt he'd let everyone down.
13:21Dub on.
13:22Do you not think you've had enough?
13:23Get away from me.
13:23Get away from me.
13:34Aidan, has something happened?
13:35You're acting really weird.
13:36No.
13:37Promise?
13:39Cross my heart.
13:41Up to die.
13:43Working alongside charities, the Samaritans and Calm,
13:47the Coronation Street team wanted to put the spotlight
13:50on Aidan's secret struggle...
13:51You think I'm not depressed about...
13:52..with mental health problems?
13:54It was our family business.
13:56I'm your son.
13:57Oh, just listen to the self-pity.
14:00Those closest to Aidan didn't see what was happening.
14:03We both know I'm not half the man you are.
14:06I thought it might be a way that we could say our goodbye.
14:09Well, there's no music.
14:12It's fine.
14:13It's here.
14:14Neither did many viewers.
14:20It's still my favourite song.
14:24It's still my favourite song.
14:40It's amazing.
14:41We're meant to be really, really quiet.
14:42We sat around it.
14:43Then I was about to do so.
14:44I said there's something we could do back in front of us.
14:46Shall we open the body back in front of us?
14:48Shall we open the body back in front of us?
14:50After a silent struggle spanning 12 months,
14:53we were about to experience one of the most devastating endings
14:56to a Coronation Street storyline ever put to screen.
15:27Oh, God, no.
15:28No!
15:29No!
15:35Something has happened.
15:37It would appear that he's, er, taken his own life.
15:42In the aftermath of his death, the writing team wanted us to see the devastating impact suicide
15:47has...
15:48Oh, no!
15:49...on those left behind.
15:50What's happened?
15:51What's happened?
15:53What's happened?
15:53Oh, he's gone!
15:54I was with him last night.
15:55You've got that wrong.
15:57I'm sorry, Eva.
15:58Never.
16:00I don't know if I love you, you know.
16:03My lad.
16:05My boy.
16:07I'm telling you now.
16:09I'll never forgive Ariadne for doing this.
16:12Ever.
16:13Kate!
16:14You shut your mouth!
16:15Kate!
16:16I'm sorry, Dad.
16:17I'm just so angry with him.
16:20Millions tuned in, with many interacting online, reacting to the storyline, sharing experiences
16:26and raising awareness.
16:28Forty-odd years I've lived on this street.
16:31That same view every day.
16:35I like to think we look out for each other round here.
16:40Know what's going on in each other's lives.
16:43But you don't.
16:46I hope I'd have listened.
16:47He was just trying to say goodbye and I didn't realise.
16:52I wish...
16:54I just didn't know how he felt.
16:56I wonder when he did it.
16:59Was I sleeping?
17:02Safe?
17:03In here, with the double glazing and the central heating, thinking our problems are bigger than
17:10everybody else's.
17:12And we've all been sleeping, ma'am.
17:20Next, we're back to 1998.
17:23Deirdre, now not dating Ken or Mike, keep up, had a new love.
17:27Get to Nairobi.
17:28An airline pilot.
17:29As soon as we land.
17:30Oh, I'm gonna miss you.
17:33Fly carefully.
17:35It's a long way to Nairobi.
17:37Nairobi.
17:40The closest he got to international travel, selling ties out of Manchester airport.
17:45Can I help you madam?
17:47Fair play to him though.
17:48Hello.
17:48He wasn't half convincing.
17:50John, you sound a bit funny.
17:54A time delay on international calls.
17:57It's always worse from Nairobi for some reason.
17:59This is starting to sound serious to me, Deirdre.
18:03I'm in love.
18:05And after a tip off from Ken, things really were about to get serious.
18:10For John, that is.
18:11Here we are madam.
18:12Thank you very much.
18:16Yes, can I...
18:18Go on then.
18:20Lie your way out of this one.
18:22Listen, Deirdre, I was going to tell you...
18:24No.
18:25On second thoughts, don't.
18:26I don't want to hear another word.
18:28Ha!
18:29Serves you right, John.
18:30That's the last we'll hear from you.
18:35Let's get married, John.
18:38Oh, Deirdre.
18:40There you go.
18:41£5,000 for the deposit.
18:44Based on the real life experience of someone close to the show's executive producer,
18:48this storyline would span for months.
18:51Deirdre Rashid.
18:51And we were left helpless as Deirdre unwittingly got sucked into the con man's fraudulent plans.
18:57I put you down as the other signatory.
18:59Oh, John.
19:01Not to mention her constant ability to be fooled by John's dodgy, dodgy phone calls.
19:06I'm on the train to York.
19:08Any news?
19:09So what I've...
19:10Hang on.
19:13My other half never falls for the old extractor fan trick.
19:17Yeah, sorry about that.
19:18We were all shouting at the telly when he proposed.
19:21Will you marry me?
19:22Full of surprises, old John.
19:24Just wait here for me, please.
19:26As Deirdre was about to find out.
19:31The already married John wasn't going to get away with it this time.
19:37Yes?
19:38You don't know who I am, do you?
19:41Who on earth is it calling at this time of night?
19:43Hello, John.
19:45Hello, John.
19:45I'll tell you who I am.
19:47I'm the woman who doesn't exist.
19:51But our collective sigh of relief...
19:54What's she on about?
19:56...was quickly followed by gasps as John's cash swindling saw Deirdre end up in the dock facing time for a
20:03crime she didn't commit.
20:06Pray, Amela, I haven't stopped.
20:10Deirdre and Rashid, you are clearly the orchestrator of this serious fraud.
20:16You ensnared a vulnerable married man.
20:20I have no option but to pass on you a custodial sentence of 18 months.
20:27It will begin immediately.
20:29I didn't do any of it.
20:34The miscarriage of justice stunned the nation.
20:40Fans started a free the Weatherfield One campaign.
20:44Campaigning for the release of Deirdre Rashid, jailed for a crime she didn't commit.
20:48One fan took the storyline so much to heart that she sent £5,000 to the campaign to have Deirdre
20:53released.
20:54Deirdre!
20:56We'll get you out. Don't worry, we'll do everything we can.
20:59It was picked up by the tabloids.
21:03Viewers wanted Corrie to do the right thing.
21:06I shouldn't be here.
21:09I haven't done anything.
21:11Even the Prime Minister had something to say when Deirdre Rashid was wrongly jailed for a crime she didn't commit.
21:21Well, go on then.
21:22Justice was eventually served.
21:25John's ex-wife came forward proving Deirdre was innocent and she was released.
21:29The writers may say they always had it worked out.
21:32You should like it in there, John. It's directly beneath the flight path to the airport.
21:37But I like to think it was us.
21:39That people power made the difference and cemented this as one of the most memorable storylines of all time.
21:46She's here!
21:47Yay!
21:49I thought you were hiding away!
21:52Right, come on, drink a champagne!
21:54Oh, look who's here again.
21:55I'm just pleased I was there to help.
21:58I don't know what else I can say.
22:01Just, thanks.
22:02Oh, Deirdre.
22:05Oh, Deirdre.