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00:00Countless shoes have worn these cobbles down.
00:03Coronation Street has given us some of the most memorable characters in television history.
00:08Leave my husband alone.
00:09Leave him alone.
00:10I won't touch him with rubber gloves.
00:12I mean, he lives with you, doesn't he?
00:14Oh, you're dead common, you are. You're known for it.
00:17Folk have to wipe their feet when they come out of your house.
00:19Listen, I wouldn't mind having a nibble that is taramu's of out.
00:25He's now too square as folk.
00:26Look, characters who have become so familiar, they feel like part of the family.
00:32But every once in a while, a different kind of familiar face walks on the cobbles.
00:36You're not going to lead me around the houses, are you? It's only takes time.
00:38From rock stars...
00:40Merry Christmas, everybody!
00:41..to royalty.
00:44Whether they've been in it for the long haul...
00:48..or just passing through...
00:50..the list of Weatherfield's famous alumni continues to grow.
00:56I've seen you somewhere before.
00:58Oh, yeah? Where would that be?
00:59In my dreams.
01:01Can't go home without it!
01:05What's this, Sam?
01:07Straight to production of Brokeback Mountain.
01:12We look at some of the players, performers, crooners and comedians
01:16who've set foot on the cobbles as we celebrate
01:19Coronation Street's famous faces.
01:27Coronation Street is the longest-running soap opera on the planet.
01:32Seen by millions and known for its groundbreaking storylines,
01:35the Weatherfield cobbles are the place every actor is honoured to tread.
01:39Give the people what they want, eh, Audrey?
01:41Oh.
01:42How do you think I've got where I am at?
01:45Small leaks can turn into waterfalls, I'm all you know.
01:52Some stay in the soap for decades.
01:54That's just the kind of intelligent reaction I'd expect
01:57from a loud-mouthed beer-swilling moron like you.
02:01Whilst others merely pass through
02:03before moving on to stage and screen.
02:05And it's your house, is it?
02:07No.
02:08Oh, I see.
02:09Well, you'd better give me the name of the owner, then.
02:11How is she?
02:12Fine and perky and eating her lunch.
02:14Has the doctor not been back?
02:15He will be.
02:17Mr Langton, if we thought that there was any cause at all of her alarm,
02:20do you think we'd be going on like this?
02:22Hey, Gail, she could talk to you.
02:23Oh, yes, you're not a fussy child.
02:26My mate, Hans is you.
02:28Sure, Bill.
02:29What for?
02:30I'm making friends and influencing people, aren't I?
02:32And in 1973, we met a rising star
02:36whose career would be forged away from the cobbles.
02:39But she certainly left an impression on the street
02:41and on one resident in particular.
02:43I hear you're courting your boss's daughter.
02:46She takes you, does she?
02:47You know, that's what I miss about this street,
02:49the togetherness, the knowledge that you need
02:50never be burdened with a problem.
02:52You'll probably know before I did.
02:54The boss's daughter was none other than 70s bombshell,
02:58Joanna Lumley.
03:05At 27, she was about to embark on an incredible career
03:09in television and film.
03:13She became a household name in 1976,
03:16starring as secret agent Purdy in The New Avengers.
03:26The thing now is to prove it.
03:27I shouldn't let too many people see you doing that.
03:30You might think you're talking through your head.
03:32But before the car chases and fancy gadgets,
03:35she had a brief stint in Coronation Street.
03:37I don't see your daughter going.
03:39You don't.
03:40She's not put in an appearance yet,
03:41but she will in her own good.
03:42And from the moment Ken's eyes met hers,
03:45he was completely infatuated.
03:48But winning over this intellectual beauty
03:50would be no easy feat.
03:52Now, what do you do for a living?
03:53I spend, what, not far short of 20-odd years
03:56at school and university,
03:57working my brains to the bone.
03:59I get a degree.
03:59And a very good one, I'm told.
04:01Very.
04:01I mean, I've tried one or two things,
04:03but nothing grabbed me.
04:04We're still very much an innocent abroad
04:06in the real world.
04:07Oh, I wouldn't say that.
04:09Over the course of eight episodes,
04:10the ladies' man played every card
04:13he had to win over a lady.
04:14Ah, now we're getting on to the, um...
04:18Oh, Father, what's that awful phrase?
04:19I promise not to use.
04:20But despite the chasing...
04:21The nitty-gritty.
04:22That's it.
04:23That's where we're down to.
04:23This temptress was going to keep him on his toes.
04:30They look so miserable, Ken.
04:32Cheer up.
04:32I'm hilariously gay.
04:34You don't think I've been neglecting you, do you?
04:35Oh, no.
04:36No, no.
04:37Darling, you're the handsomest man here.
04:39And you?
04:40Oh, excuse me, darling.
04:42I can just see Jack.
04:43I must go and talk to him.
04:44I haven't seen him for ages.
04:47Hilariously gay he may have been,
04:49but that was all about to change.
04:51Have you thought about what you're saying?
04:53Oh, yes, I've thought about it.
04:54I've thought about lots of things.
04:56That I love you.
04:59Well, say something, anything.
05:04But?
05:05But no thank you.
05:07Oh, Ken.
05:08I think it's a lost cause.
05:10It's as simple as this, Ken.
05:12I don't love you.
05:13Love never even crossed my mind.
05:18Good night.
05:18Good night, Elaine.
05:20Good night.
05:20Good night.
05:20I must go.
05:22Ken?
05:26I'd say that there went a man
05:28who was crossed in love.
05:31And the rest.
05:33Oh, dear.
05:36Kenneth is a man that needs his pride.
05:39You didn't dent it, did you?
05:43I'd rather think I did.
05:46Oh, Joanna.
05:47Such a dangerous breaker of hearts.
05:51With 20 million regular viewers
05:53during the golden age of TV,
05:55getting even a walk-on role
05:57in the biggest soap in the world
05:58was big news.
06:00Even Hollywood legends
06:01wanted a piece of the action.
06:03And in 2005,
06:05a true Hollywood wizard
06:06dropped into Weatherfield
06:08and joined the soap
06:09for ten memorable episodes.
06:13Burnley boy Sir Ian McKellen
06:15had often said
06:15that it was his ambition
06:16to appear in Coronation Street.
06:19After initially turning down a role
06:21as Elsie Tanner's long-lost nephew
06:22because he was intimidated
06:23by the regulars,
06:24he took on the part
06:25of literary conman
06:27Mel Hutchright.
06:28Which of you charming ladies
06:29is Blanche,
06:30author of this
06:31exquisite letter?
06:35Mel Hutchright.
06:37Oh, say.
06:39I wrote to him
06:39after we had that Barney
06:41over whether he were
06:42a man or a woman.
06:44And I'm here to reassure you
06:45that I am most definitely
06:46all man.
06:48Sir Ian was already considered
06:50acting royalty
06:50before he appeared
06:51on the street
06:52with roles such as Gandalf
06:54in Lord of the Rings
06:54and notorious
06:55metal-manipulating criminal
06:57Magneto
06:58in the X-Men franchise.
06:59But in Corrie,
07:00the only thing he was guilty of
07:02was some serious scene-stealing.
07:04Why don't we return to the slug?
07:06This delightful evening
07:06has given me
07:07a raging thirst.
07:10Where did you get up?
07:11I'm terribly sorry,
07:12but nobody around here
07:14had even heard of Absinthe.
07:15Why am I not surprised?
07:17Plebs, one of all.
07:18You managed to get the cigars,
07:19though,
07:19and the extra-strong lager.
07:21Oh, excellent, sir.
07:22What do I owe you?
07:23Oh, the cigars were a lot.
07:25£12.45.
07:27What on earth was I thinking?
07:29A mentor
07:30doesn't offer something
07:31as vulgar as money.
07:33He offers wisdom,
07:34and you are going to get it,
07:35my friend.
07:39Try writing in the nude.
07:40It breaks down one's inhibitions.
07:46Under the pretense
07:47of writing his new novel,
07:49he shacked up
07:50with Norris and Emily
07:51and began to swindle
07:52the Weatherfield residents
07:53with his charm.
07:54Show me your hands.
07:56You what?
07:57You can tell a lot
07:58about a man
07:59from his hands.
08:01Oh, yes.
08:03These are the hands
08:04of a working man.
08:06Four set of fingers and all.
08:08Not everybody
08:08can say that.
08:09Do you know,
08:09I think I've found
08:10what I've been looking for
08:11all these years.
08:13Pardon?
08:14My hero.
08:16Steady on.
08:16I say steady on.
08:17A man whom women love
08:20and men admire.
08:21The beating heart
08:22of his community.
08:23I've been looking for a name
08:25for my hero
08:26and my underground atlas.
08:28And now,
08:29I think I've found it
08:31Fred.
08:32My name.
08:35Immortalised
08:36as the hero
08:37of a great novel.
08:38Fred Elliot.
08:40A giant among men.
08:43Oh.
08:43Oh, let me get you a drink.
08:45A pint, is it?
08:45Oh, no, I'm sorry.
08:47I prefer a brandy.
08:49Large brandy coming up.
08:51Well, that was easy.
08:53Oh, I know.
08:55Oh, yes, come to me now.
08:58What has?
08:58How I can replay
09:00your kindness.
09:01What was the name
09:03of your laden?
09:05Alf.
09:06Alf.
09:08Well, I've got to put him
09:09in the book.
09:10Oh.
09:10But it wasn't just
09:11the hospitality he was after,
09:13as he attempted to con
09:14the Weatherfield book club
09:15out of cash
09:16to self-publish
09:17his non-existent novel.
09:18I don't trust him, Rita.
09:20OK.
09:21He knows how to
09:22catch your freebie.
09:23I'm going to find out
09:24the truth about Mel Hodge,
09:25right?
09:25It was the last thing I do.
09:27Ah!
09:31So, as Ken went
09:32all Agatha Christie,
09:34Mel's plot
09:34was consigned
09:35to pulp.
09:36I'm so sorry, everybody.
09:37I always feel so drained
09:39after reading,
09:40so I need a little
09:41line down.
09:42Stay where you are,
09:43Lionel.
09:44Lionel?
09:45You're right.
09:46He has got to be lovely.
09:47Lionel Hipkiss,
09:48to give him his full name.
09:51He said that
09:52Lionel Hipkiss
09:53was a publisher.
09:54We wrote out
09:55our checks
09:56to Lionel Hipkiss.
09:58I didn't want
09:59to confuse you.
10:00I just thought
10:00it'd be simply...
10:01And he didn't want
10:01to confuse
10:02the King's Lynn readers,
10:04the Dillon Dover
10:06Literary Society
10:07and the Solihull
10:09Book Club.
10:10They invested,
10:12like you,
10:13that no book
10:14ever saw
10:15the light of day.
10:16To think
10:17that I had you
10:18in my home
10:19and I let you
10:22take me out
10:23to dinner.
10:24All them
10:24double brandies
10:25gratis.
10:27All those
10:27free breakfast.
10:28I haven't contacted
10:29the police.
10:30He deceived you,
10:32not me.
10:32You can decide
10:33his fate.
10:34I know I've
10:35let you down.
10:36But if I
10:37inspired you
10:39to let loose
10:39your creativity...
10:41And that's
10:41the biggest crime
10:42of all.
10:43Fact is,
10:44you were going
10:45to waltz
10:46out of that door
10:47with our money.
10:49Talking of which...
10:51Well,
10:52we can't let
10:53you do this again.
10:55Go on, Roy.
10:56All right.
10:58But you know
10:59a case like this
10:59will attract
11:00some local publicity
11:01and I could paint
11:02some pretty unpleasant
11:04caricatures.
11:04The vain pub
11:06landlord,
11:07the anorak
11:08cafe owner,
11:10the lonely
11:11crimper,
11:12so easily flattered
11:13and not forgetting
11:14the chattering
11:15crone and the
11:15improbably
11:16coiffured
11:17newsagent
11:18and her
11:18Walter
11:19Mitty
11:19assistant,
11:20scurrying back
11:21to the burnt offerings
11:22from Eleanor
11:23Rigby's kitchen
11:24and at the head
11:25of this sorry band,
11:27Billy Lyre himself,
11:28lying every time
11:29he says to himself
11:30that he made
11:31the right choices,
11:32village intellectual
11:33and village idiot
11:34rolled into one
11:35and, oh,
11:36it could make
11:36some really unpleasant
11:37reading,
11:37couldn't it?
11:38it's all anathema
11:39to me,
11:40you know,
11:40because if you don't,
11:41just get out!
11:42Oh, yes.
11:43Oh, sling you,
11:44Paul.
11:47I'm sorry,
11:48but once a storyteller,
11:49Paul was a storyteller.
11:51Good luck with your book.
11:53Just go.
11:54Adieu,
11:55Norris.
11:58Alpha.
12:04And so it was
12:06that Sir Ian McKellen's
12:07chapter on Coronation Street
12:09came to an end.
12:10Still to come,
12:12Corrie and comedy collide.
12:18And we look at
12:20the stars
12:21who've crossed
12:22the soap divide.
12:35Welcome back
12:37to Coronation Street
12:38Famous Faces.
12:39From rising stars
12:41to superstars,
12:42this is a celebration
12:43of the familiar faces
12:45who have graced
12:46the cobbles
12:46throughout the years.
12:47And there isn't
12:48anyone more famous
12:49than the Queen.
12:50And Her Majesty
12:51has long declared
12:52herself a fan of Corrie.
12:54Royalty was even
12:55featured in the show
12:56when Prince Charles
12:57appeared in a
12:5840th anniversary special
13:00in December 2000.
13:01Lady Maris,
13:03the prince then
13:03moved on to Weatherfield
13:04for the opening.
13:05Oh, look!
13:06No.
13:07No, it's Audrey.
13:08I'm the news.
13:09Oh, no.
13:10We'll never hear the
13:11last of this.
13:12Oh, she leaked
13:13from the thread.
13:13I bet she loved it.
13:15What's she saying to him?
13:16I don't know
13:16what she's giving him.
13:18And speaking of royalty,
13:20it's safe to say
13:21that soap operas
13:22are the jewel
13:23in the crown
13:23of British television.
13:24And two of the biggest,
13:26Corrie and Emmerdale,
13:27have shared
13:28more famous faces
13:29than you think.
13:30Here are some
13:31to have ventured
13:31across the M62.
13:33Right,
13:34we'll have to get in touch
13:35with your parents.
13:36Are they on the phone?
13:37No.
13:38Well, can they be
13:39contacted at work?
13:39Do you know that?
13:40I don't know.
13:42But you do know
13:43what you've done
13:43is wrong,
13:44don't you?
13:46Do you know anything
13:48about chocolate money,
13:48missus?
13:50Chocolate money?
13:52Yes, I...
13:53Actually, I do know
13:55about that.
13:57So,
13:57so if I said
14:01gnome
14:02and ransom note,
14:04would that mean
14:05anything to you?
14:08Four facts about Chile.
14:10Home of the Andes,
14:11the first country
14:12to democratically elect
14:13a Marxist government,
14:15the world's leading
14:16exporter of copper
14:18and the guinea pigs.
14:20No way.
14:20It is true.
14:21They don't.
14:22It is true, actually.
14:23Did you eat one?
14:24Yeah, I did.
14:25I had to, in fact.
14:27Anyway,
14:27it was all part
14:28of the experience
14:28of being there.
14:30Even the Queen
14:31of the East End,
14:32Doc Cotton,
14:33started off up north
14:35back in 1970
14:36before venturing south.
14:37We're on the same side.
14:39We both want the best
14:40for the lad,
14:40at least I hope we do.
14:41I'm sure we do,
14:42Mrs Sharples,
14:43but that doesn't necessarily
14:44put us on the same side.
14:46Now, the point
14:47I want to make
14:48is this.
14:49However sincere
14:50you may be,
14:52I am Tony's mother
14:53and the ultimate
14:54responsibility
14:55is mine.
14:55But at least
14:56Coronation Street
14:57has always preserved
14:59its northern sense
15:00of humour.
15:00Never feel
15:01Mary's here.
15:05I'm being re-arranted.
15:07And it's no surprise
15:08that there have been
15:09a whole bunch
15:10of comedians
15:11appearing on the street
15:12over the years.
15:13Let's finish our dinner.
15:14We can't.
15:17There are more things
15:18in heaven and earth,
15:19Horatio,
15:20than I've dreamt of
15:21in your philosophy.
15:24That's it.
15:24Stick between the palms
15:26and rub, lad.
15:27Rub, rub.
15:27That's it.
15:28Let's try a different
15:29tack, shall we?
15:30Let's see what I can do
15:31with this flinter.
15:32A flint?
15:32King of flames,
15:33my backside.
15:34Head of marketing,
15:35Newscope,
15:36Manchester,
15:37Planet Earth,
15:38the universe.
15:39Really?
15:39I say higher
15:40and you say lower.
15:42Then I say higher,
15:43only lower.
15:44Comic genius.
15:47I'll get you, sir.
15:49Erm,
15:51I'm here about the gas leak.
15:52I've just got to get
15:53some stuff out of the...
15:54Kylie!
15:54Take anything you want.
15:55Just please,
15:57don't hurt the kids.
15:59And one of the most memorable
16:00was when Peter Kay
16:01appeared as Eric Gartside
16:03in 2004.
16:05But it was seven years earlier
16:06when a fresh-faced
16:07and unknown Peter
16:08had a small role in Corrie,
16:10playing a shop fitter
16:11hired by Fred Elliott
16:12to refurb the corner shop.
16:14You up, Grandma.
16:15I'm not your grandma.
16:17Up, up, get up, up.
16:20Hey,
16:21mind my fish.
16:22You've got to watch there.
16:23If that gets stuck down there,
16:24you'll soon know about it.
16:26If she hangs around here
16:27much longer,
16:28box her in.
16:30Ah, Mr. Elliott,
16:31come out here
16:31and I want to show you this sign.
16:33And don't touch out.
16:39Just put this on it, yeah?
16:41And there you go.
16:42Your front unit's complete.
16:44Champion is that.
16:45Right.
16:46Fast forward to January 2004
16:48and Peter was back,
16:50this time as awkward
16:51Eric Gartside
16:52taking Shelley out
16:53on a date
16:53she'd never forget.
16:54Good evening.
16:57Eric,
16:57you look like a different bloke.
17:00And you?
17:01Shall we go?
17:02Not so fast.
17:03Have a drink here first
17:04on me.
17:05Mum.
17:06I can't believe you're Shelley's mother.
17:07You look far too young.
17:08Oh, thank you.
17:09You can't be looking close enough.
17:11Oh, you're right.
17:12The neck.
17:13I can see the neck now.
17:14That's the giveaway.
17:15Well, I'll see you later.
17:17Since he first appeared
17:18on The Cobbles,
17:19Peter Kaye's career
17:20had reached super stardom,
17:22selling out tour after tour
17:23as well as creating
17:24and starring in TV classic
17:26Phoenix Nice.
17:27Hello, me.
17:29Oh, thank you.
17:30Don't get many doors open for me.
17:32Well, you should.
17:33You know what they say?
17:34Manners maketh a man.
17:36It shows you what kind of men
17:37I go out with.
17:37After producers contacted him,
17:40Peter thought some light relief
17:41for Shelley after a split
17:42from Bigamist Peter Barlow
17:44would go down a treat.
17:45I'll do this myself.
17:46Thanks.
17:50If you don't mind me saying,
17:51I'm a bit surprised.
17:53What do you think I'd tell you?
17:54The bus station cafe?
17:55No, but what if I'd known
17:57I'd have done my hair or something?
17:59You see, you're doing
17:59what that waiter did now,
18:00aren't you?
18:01Am I?
18:02You saw us coming in here,
18:03cheap clothes,
18:04me uncomfortable in a tie,
18:05you dolled up to the nines,
18:07too much slap, mutton,
18:08our money's just as good as theirs.
18:10Not that I'm a socialist, mind.
18:11I don't want you thinking that.
18:13Anyway, let's just keep politics
18:14out of it tonight.
18:15I'm religion.
18:17Are you Catholic?
18:18Never mind,
18:18I don't want to know it.
18:20No, no, not a good start.
18:22Let's see what the main course brings.
18:24Oh, pie, yes.
18:25You don't get much, do you?
18:26It's very well presented, though.
18:28Aye, so's blue pizza.
18:30I've got leaves.
18:31Leaves on me plate.
18:32Leaves.
18:33Chef's left back door open.
18:34Must have blown on.
18:35Leaves.
18:36Look at this.
18:37What are you looking for?
18:39Me meat.
18:39I need a magnifying glass.
18:41What's it on?
18:45What?
18:46Nothing.
18:46You know, I've never heard you laugh much before.
18:49Saying that, I suppose you'd not have much for laugh about,
18:51have you?
18:51Being married to a bigamist.
18:54It's humble,
18:55but it's home through here.
18:56Despite Eric's terrible chats...
18:58Yeah.
18:58I put a fire on as well,
18:59it's not so hot.
19:00Shelley agreed to go back for coffee.
19:02Come on!
19:03There you go.
19:04What do you think, though?
19:05Ah.
19:07I keep meaning to decorate,
19:08but you know how it is.
19:09How long you lived here?
19:11All my life.
19:11All my life.
19:12It's very nice.
19:13It's cosy.
19:14Eric?
19:15Is that you?
19:17Who's that?
19:18It's my mum.
19:21Hiya, mum.
19:21I thought you were at Jazzercise.
19:23It got cancelled.
19:24Marley's got groin strain.
19:25Stick kettle on.
19:26I'm up now.
19:28Yeah.
19:34Northern comic Janice Connolly
19:36was about to spoil the party
19:37as Eric's overbearing mother, Dolly.
19:43This is nice.
19:52Shelley married a bigamist, mum.
19:54Whatever did she do that for?
19:56I didn't...
19:57I didn't know he was a bigamist
19:58when I married him.
19:59She didn't know.
19:59Oh, well, that's like my sister.
20:02Pat's like your auntie Pat.
20:03She didn't know her husband
20:05was a vegetarian
20:06till the reception.
20:07That night.
20:09That'll be me taxi.
20:11Well, it's been nice.
20:12That's it.
20:14We started to root for him,
20:15but sadly,
20:16it wasn't to be
20:17for Eric and Shelley.
20:19Shelley?
20:21Yeah, I had a lovely night tonight.
20:23A great winter.
20:25Maybe we could do it again sometime.
20:27Do you fancy Monday?
20:28I don't think so.
20:29Why?
20:29Don't you like me?
20:31You're very sweet.
20:33Sweet?
20:34But I thought you liked me.
20:36I thought...
20:37It's not you.
20:39Is it the house?
20:40No.
20:41Has she gone yet?
20:42That's what it is.
20:46Thank you for the meal.
20:48It was lovely.
20:52You'd better get off to bed, Eric.
20:54Your electric blanket's been on
20:56for over an hour.
20:58Yes, Mum.
21:00Gin up, Eric.
21:01At least the bed's nice and warm.
21:02So there you have it.
21:04From silver screen
21:05to Her Majesty the Queen,
21:07Coronation Street continues
21:09to attract stars
21:10from around the globe.
21:11Who knows where
21:12our current cast will lead us
21:14or who will be next
21:15to tread on those
21:16famous old cobbles?
21:19Fame, make your man
21:22take things over.
21:24Fame, let him loose
21:27heart to swallow.
21:30Fame, put you there
21:32where things are hollow.
21:35Fame.
21:40Shame.