-
Coronation Street star Shobna Gulati has said that the soap will have a 24-style feel in its 50th anniversary week.
From December 6, the ITV1 show will mark its milestone by airing a special block of seven episodes, featuring an explosion at The Joinery, a tram crash and a live broadcast.
Speaking on Loose Women yesterday, Gulati revealed her excitement over the celebrations as she discussed what is in store next month.
The actress - who plays Sunita Alahan - explained: "The big 5-0 is shaping up really well. We're going to have a live episode on the 9th, between 8pm and 9pm - it's an hour long so I hope you're all going to tune in. And it's got live CGI, which is something to do with special effects!"
She added: "We've got a whole week of [the tram crash], so it's going to be a bit like 24 - all done in real time, culminating in this live episode. So keep watching!"
Gulati also hinted that she is expecting some surprises to feature in the programme's live edition.
She said: "We haven't had the script for the live, so we could be given any curveballs. So don't believe anything you've read in the papers."
-
Coronation Street star Alison King has admitted that she is still unsure of what to expect from the soap's forthcoming 50th anniversary episodes.
The actress, who plays troubled Carla Connor on the ITV1 show, confessed that she is only aware of how her character is involved in the milestone week and knows nothing about the other plotlines.
Speaking to What's On TV, King explained: "I'm actually looking forward to seeing the Corrie 50th episodes myself. I only know about my own storyline - I've got no idea what other people have been doing, so it will be really nice to see it all come together.
"I record the show and I always watch it - through my fingers, if Carla happens to be drunk!"
Meanwhile, asked whether viewers ever confuse her with Carla, King replied: "Yes. People think I am always glammed up, but I'm not. We've been doing such long days recently - I've been coming to work in my pyjamas and going home in them!
"Honestly, it takes me long enough to get my daughter Daisy dressed and out of the house. Doing myself up is the last thing I want to spend time on at the minute."
-
Coronation Street star Katherine Kelly has admitted that she is feeling both anxious and excited as she prepares for the soap's forthcoming live episode.
The Weatherfield drama will transmit live for the first time in ten years next month as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.
Speaking of the upcoming challenge, Kelly told the Glasgow Sunday Mail: "It's a mixture of nerves and excitement but I've done a lot of theatre in the past so I'm hoping that will help with the nerves. It's a real privilege to be a part of the show in its 50th year."
The actress - who plays fan favourite Becky McDonald - added: "We're all exhausted working on the night shoots for the [tram] crash but I'm sure the end product will be amazing as we've shot some really spectacular scenes.
"No-one knows who dies though as we've only got our sections of the scripts."
Coronation Street's live broadcast airs on Thursday, December 9 from 8pm to 9pm. The special episode is expected to focus on the aftermath of the show's tram crash stunt.
-
Coronation Street star Jane Danson has revealed details of what fans can expect from the soap's forthcoming tram crash stunt.
In a special week of episodes to mark the show's 50th anniversary, life in Weatherfield will change forever as an explosion rocks The Joinery and sends a tram careering off the street's viaduct, causing carnage and casualties on the cobbles below.
Earlier this year, official pictures showed how Danson's character Leanne Battersby will be among those in danger when the dramatic series of events takes place.
Speaking to the Glasgow Sunday Mail, Danson explained: "Leanne is a little close for comfort when the tram crashes. For that week's episodes - which cover one night's events - everyone's lives almost go into freeze frame and all the stories that have been brewing for weeks are blown apart whilst we wait to see who has been killed and who is okay. It is really exciting to see who will survive and who won't."
She added: "What you will see on screen took us nearly a month to film. We are all really excited about the outcome and can't wait to see it."
Corrie's 50th anniversary week begins on December 6.
-
Coronation Street legend Bill Roache has confessed that he is nervous about what could go wrong in the soap's forthcoming live episode.
The ITV1 show will broadcast live for an hour on Thursday, December 9 as part of its 50th anniversary celebrations.
In an interview with All About Soap, Roache - who plays Weatherfield's Ken Barlow - was asked whether he is looking forward to the special edition of the programme.
He replied: "No! It isn't something you look forward to. It is exciting, and it feels great when you've done it and it's all over, but beforehand the nerves are terrible. So much can go wrong!"
Meanwhile, asked how it feels to be the world's longest-serving soap actor after 50 years in the role of Ken, the star replied: "I'm very proud, and it makes all the hard work worthwhile. I'm lucky to be in a show that is so highly respected, and I appreciate the fact that I've had work for the last 50 years. As an actor, that consistency is extremely rare!"
Coronation Street's 50th anniversary week begins on December 6, when a tram crash will change life on the cobbles forever. Subsequent episodes - including the live transmission - will focus on the aftermath of the devastating accident.
-
Coronation Street bosses have placed a ban on cast members making any bets on the upcoming 50th anniversary live episode.
According to The Daily Star, younger cast members were planning a studio sweepstake to see who would slip up first during the live broadcast.
However, producers have stepped in to ban the idea to avoid any connection to possible TV fix scandals.
The cast will also reportedly be prohibited from drinking alcohol in the 24 hours before the live episode, and must make sure they get plenty of sleep.
Referring to possible guest stars for the episode, a source said: "The guest list for the live episode is top secret. For the 40th live episode they got Prince Charles, so it is unlikely he will make a comeback."
"But they'd love Wills and Kate (Prince William and Kate Middleton) as that would be a tremendous coup. With the couple living on Anglesey in North Wales, they are just down the road from the Manchester studios."
-
The dramatic storylines keep soap fans on the edge of their seats, but the high rate of explosions, fires and crime in Coronation Street and EastEnders' Albert Square would see insurance claims of 10 times more than average, according to a study.
Britain's favourite soaps have racked up more than £1 million of damage in the last three years, with Corrie claiming a £315,620 bill - ten times more than an average street in Manchester, the study for Esure found.
An analysis of plotlines in Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks showed explosions were the biggest cause of soap damage (£311,000) followed by fires (£208,420) and car crashes (£173,550).
The Street's David Platt was television's biggest insurance nightmare. In one storyline he left a £10,000 trail of destruction when he vandalised windows and vehicles with a metal pole.
And Corrie also had the most expensive single incident, with the siege, fire and explosion at Weatherfield's Underworld knicker factor this summer causing an estimated £150,000 of damage.
Meanwhile, EastEnders had the highest crime rate with £70,145 worth of criminal damage.
In Hollyoaks the characters suffered 32 thefts and five muggings.
Nikki Sellers, head of home insurance at esure, said: "The storylines that we see on TV soaps add up to a fortune in damage to cars, property and individuals.
"We may find them unbelievable but real life incidents are often not that far from fictional storylines - the exception being the extraordinary number of major explosions and incidents of wilful 'trashing' by enraged characters.
"Clearly there are some soap residents that no insurer would consider touching because of the trail of damage they have left in their wake. We're on the edge of our seats ahead of Corrie's dramatic tram crash disaster - and only hope the fictional characters have the ample building and home contents insurance they may need to cover any damage costs."
-
Rehearsals for Coronation Street's forthcoming live episode are expected to begin tonight as the soap's cast prepare for the ambitious 50th anniversary event.
The special live transmission - airing on Thursday, December 9 - is expected to focus on the aftermath of the devastating bar explosion and tram crash which will cause death and destruction on the cobbles.
According to The Mirror, the show's stars will spend all of this week and most of next in run-throughs for the hour-long live broadcast.
Corrie producer Phil Collinson has reportedly sent a memo to the team which reads: "What we are trying is huge and momentous... I wish you the best of luck and you have my thanks and admiration for what you are attempting."
A Weatherfield insider added: "The first full dress rehearsal will not be until the eve of screening. That'd be cutting it fine."
Katherine Kelly (Becky McDonald) and Bill Roache (Ken Barlow) are among the cast members who have spoken of their nerves over the live episode.
-
-
Simon Gregson has revealed his excitement over Coronation Street's forthcoming live episode, admitting that he would like to play a significant role on the night.
The actor - Steve McDonald in the Weatherfield soap - was among the cast who took part in the show's last live broadcast back in 2000.
In an interview with the News of the World, Gregson explained: "I did the last live episode ten years ago, for the 40th birthday. But I only had one line so it wasn't much of a stretch. Hopefully I'll be a bit more involved this time but I'll have to wait and see."
He continued: "It'll be an amazing night whatever happens - and it's a real buzz as an actor. Last time we went for a drink after the show and we were all hammered after one drink because the adrenaline rush was so huge. It'll be even madder this time because we've got the big 50th party the day after."
Corrie's hour-long transmission will air on Thursday, December 9, focusing on the aftermath of the show's upcoming tram crash disaster.
Rehearsals for the episode are expected to begin tonight.
