Original subtitles

It's the world's longest-running television soap opera,

with millions of fans across the globe, from Salford to Singapore.

Mixing high drama...

Help! The handbrake! Pull it up!

I can't!

The scenery is pretty lovely, wouldn't you say?

...romance... 'Ey! Steady on!

...and bucket loads of comedy.

Give us a drink, Jack.

So join me, and raise a glass of Newton & Ridley's finest,

as we toast some of the biggest and best moments

that have kept us glued to our screens over the last 60 years.

I'm waiting.

These are The Stories That Gripped The Nation.

LAUGHTER

We are all tiny cogs in the wheels of history.

Yeah, as nobody worth mentioning once said.

For six decades, the folk of Coronation Street

have been part of our extended family.

And push. Births...

GROANS ...marriages...

Everybody say gorgonzola.

ALL: Gorgonzola! Aw, bless 'em.

She's not gonna jump up at you, is she? She's dead.

...and deaths... ALL SCREAM

It's a ghost!

We've been with them through it all.

Liar, liar! No!

If I had my way, I'd just like to go like my mother did.

'Ey, that were a beautiful ending.

Oh, lovely.

She just sat up,

broke wind and died. Aw.

We all having the same again, girls?

I don't mind if I do.

From the moment the first episode went live on 9 December 1960,

Britain's love affair with Weatherfield started.

You know how it is when you come to a new street -

you don't know anyone or what to look out for.

Oh, Coronation Street's all right.

Mind, there's some you'll have to watch.

Working class folk with regional accents on the small screen

for the very first time.

I'm Mrs Sharples. I'm very pleased to meet you.

I'm a neighbour. Oh.

Tough-talking women...

'Ey, Elsie, you're just about ready for the knacker yard.

Boo! Oh, shut up, you daft clown!

You little... BOTH SHOUT

And let's not forget their hen-pecked fellas.

Ooh, why was it me that ended up with a son like you?

I suppose you'd rather have me like Kenneth Barlow at number three.

And by 'eck, they had a way with words.

Take Ena Sharples -

now, I reckon your friend would lap her up.

"My place of worship is the Rovers Return,

"and I'll swap brown ale for my hymn book any day." You see?

20 million were watching three times a week,

but keeping the hungry viewers satisfied

would need a clever diet...

There's a train through the fire door!

...of tragedy... Somebody dial 999, please!

...and death.

How's it going? GUNSHOT

You bloody idiot!

Come on, let's get out of here!

Audiences loved it,

and it kick-started decades of ground-breaking drama.

Oh, heck.

Which brings us to our first pit stop.

Gripping the nation in 1983,

a love story that had 24 million of us on the edge of our seats.

Hiya. Hi.

'Ey-up. Did you enjoy your meal, then?

No, it was awful.

We first saw Ken work his intellectual magic

on our young and innocent Specsavers beauty, Deirdre, in 1979.

Do you know what Schopenhauer said?

Who's he when he's at home?

Er, well, he was a famous philosopher.

He said that no man should marry until he's 35,

and then he should marry a woman at least 15 years younger than him.

Whatever for?

Well... amongst other things,

they would both begin to lose their sexual urge at about the same time.

'Ey, what are you getting at?

Don't pretend you didn't know what Schopenhauer meant, Deirdre.

You've got yourself a deal.

You should have got that deal in writing, Ken,

because a decade-long fight for Deirdre was underway.

I thought he was calling for me. And here I am.

You've not seen Ken, have you? Well, if I had, I wouldn't tell you.

Ooh, what a charmer Mike was.

Just like David Niven, in't he?

Where did you say the Jag was? Outside.

Thank you. Come again. I most certainly will,

because I fancy the slim, sexy bird that works here.

Despite Mike's best efforts, in the summer of '81,

Ken got that deal in writing after all.

I pronounce them to be...

man and wife together.

She even took her specs off for him. True love.

But Mike wasn't going to let

something like marriage get in his way.

I'll look after you, I promise. I, uh...

made a bit of money today. And you know what I think about money?

It's for spending.

I had a smashing night, Mike.

But it was when Deirdre accepted afters...

My place? Yeah. All right.

...that fans were up in arms.

The press ran opinion polls -

Britain didn't like seeing the affair play out behind Ken's back.

We're in love. You agree with that, don't you?

Yeah. I think we are.

'Boring?' 'It's as good a word as any.'

I'm boring?!

What about me?

What about my life?

Well, what else do you want?

Mike.

Audiences were glued to the screen to see how Ken would react.

Mike, it's better if you go! Go...

SHE GROANS Ken... don't...

Corrie had never felt so raw.

Was this the end of Ken and Deirdre?

Pack your bags.

And go to Baldwin.

It was reported that even the Queen

didn't want to miss the episode and had a tape flown overseas.

Just don't think that when you walk out of that door

that you're ever coming back. I won't!

DOOR CLOSES

SOBS

But then...

Ken...

I don't want to go.

Don't make me go.

I don't know what I'm doing anymore.

I couldn't go through the door, Ken, I couldn't.

Please don't say I've got to go.

I'll never see him again.

I'll never see him again as long as I live.

He said that you're staying here and you don't want to see me again.

I'm sorry, Mike. But you can't be!

I'm sorry... All right, that's enough.

OK, you've heard what you wanted to hear, all right?

So, in future, just stay away.

Ken had won.

♪ I get knocked down But I get up again... ♪

And whilst the rivalry between Ken and Mike

persisted for another 20 years...

Oi! You started everything!

That was for last night.

And despite a divorce in 1990,

Ken has always been the only one for Deirdre.

Will you make me the happiest man in the world by becoming my wife?

Yes! Of course I will!

BOTH LAUGH

And they tied the knot again in 2005,

nearly 24 years

since their first big day.

It gives me great pleasure to pronounce you husband and wife.

I love a happy ending.

But don't get too comfy.

Living in Weatherfield should come with a health warning.

The street can be a death trap.

From fireballs and explosions...

SIREN BLARING

...to car crashes.

Just sit there, all right?! Calm down, mate, calm down!

There's even been a couple of hostage situations.

There is nothing that captivates us more than a disaster.

You know, it's a funny thing.

You're always yearning after excitement and adventure,

and when summat like this happens,

you can't wait to get back in your own little rut.

So, when Corrie hit its big five-oh,

producers pulled out all the stops.

In the build-up to a special live episode,

the story everyone was talking about was Molly Dobbs

and the secret identity of her baby's father.

He is my flesh and blood,

and he stays here, right? Except he's not.

I told him he is not Jack's father.

Only we knew he was Kevin's. I didn't say it was you.

But the truth was about to come out,

in a big way.

Almost 15 million of us

watched Leanne and Peter's stag and hen do, strapped to our seats,

waiting for Molly's secret to be revealed.

EXPLOSION

ALARM BLARING

Carla! Train!

TRAIN HORN BLARES

SCREAMING

SCREAMING AND SHOUTING

It was one of the most impressive and expensive stunts

in the drama's history.

But it was Molly, trapped and close to death...

BREATHING HEAVILY I'm d... I'm dying.

...being supported by the woman who she betrayed...

He chose you.

...that produced a moment of pure Corrie drama.

Listen...

...if I could put things right...

with all my heart, I would.

I won't leave you.

Is there a message?

Anything you want to say?

To Kevin.

To Tyrone.

We've loved each other...

f.. for... a while...

...but he chose... you.

If Jack's not gonna have his mummy,

he's gonna need his daddy.

MOLLY WHEEZES

But nobody knows who Jack's dad is.

He... knows.

You... know.

I don't.

Oh...

Molly! Who is it?!

It's... It's Kevin.

Don't.

It's Ke... I'm sorry.

It's... Kev...

It's Kevin.

Sally...

pl... please don't...

Sally!

Please don't. Please... don't leave me.

Sal! Sally, it's me!

Sal! Sal, it's me!

Is she out?

Sal!

No!

Right, test firing. Three, two, one.

Hey! Hey! You're not supposed to do that!

Oh, for goodness' sake!

Comedy is at the heart of Coronation Street.

Did you see that? She's always been a common trollop.

It's kept us tuning in in our millions over the years.

Who did that?!

I think we just had us leg pulled, didn't we, Hilda?

MUSIC: 'Common People' by Pulp

Ken! Do something!

Oh, Mavis, there's... there's water coming through.

SCREAMING

There's water all over the place!

But the strength of Corrie is

how they can change the tone in a heartbeat...

...and tackle the toughest-hitting storylines.

And in 2018, the show took on a difficult taboo subject.

Well, I've had warmer welcomes.

Aidan Connor!

After arriving on the Street in 2015,

Aidan Connor's world had fallen apart.

Let's... do things your way.

You'll let me stay with Eva while you and me, er...

Wow.

Excuse me! You need to stop.

This wedding is a total sham.

There is no baby. I found out about you and Maria months ago.

What? And I wanted to hurt you

as much as you hurt me. An affair cost him his relationship.

The factory's been cleared out. Even the bank account.

He lost his business.

Your plan worked. The factory has been cleaned out.

And he felt he'd let everyone down.

Double. Do you not think you've had enough?

Get away from me!

Aidan, has something happened? You're acting really weird.

No. Promise?

Cross my heart,

hope to die.

Working alongside charities, the Samaritans and CALM,

the Coronation Street team wanted to put the spotlight

on Aidan's secret struggle...

You think I'm not depressed...

...with mental health problems.

It was our family business.

I'm your son. Oh, just listen to the self-pity.

Those closest to Aidan didn't see what was happening.

We both know I'm not half the man you are.

I thought it might be a way that we could say our goodbye.

Well, there's no music.

It's fine. It's here.

Neither did many viewers.

MUSIC: 'Cosmic Live' by Florence + The Machine

It's still my favourite song.

♪ A falling star

♪ Fell from your heart And landed in my eyes

♪ I screamed aloud... ♪

CHATTER, SONG CONTINUES

After a silent struggle spanning 12 months,

we were about to experience one of the most devastating endings

to a Coronation Street storyline ever put to screen.

CHATTER, SONG CONTINUES

♪ I'm always in this twilight

♪ In the shadow of your heart... ♪

SIREN BLARING

JOHNNY: Oh, God, no. No! No!

No!

SIREN BLARING

ROY: Something has happened.

It would appear that he's... er...

taken his own life.

In the aftermath of his death, the writing team wanted us to see

the devastating impact suicide has...

No, no! ...on those left behind.

What's up? What's happened? It's Aidan!

What do you mean? What's happened? He's gone!

I was with him last night. You've got that wrong.

I'm sorry, Eva.

I don't half love you, you know...

...m... my lad... my boy.

I'm telling you now,

I'll never forgive our Aidan for doing this.

Ever. Kate! Will you shut your mouth!

I'm sorry, Dad, I'm just so angry with him!

Millions tuned in, with many interacting online,

reacting to the storyline, sharing experiences and raising awareness.

40-odd years I've lived on this street.

That same view every day.

I like to think we look out for each other round here.

Know what's going on in each other's lives.

But you don't.

I hope I'd have listened.

He was just trying to say goodbye, and I didn't realise.

JOHNNY: I wish...

...I'd asked him how he felt.

GAIL: I wonder, when he did it,

was I sleeping?

Safe, in here,

with the double glazing and the central heating,

thinking our problems are bigger than everybody else's.

Happen we've all been sleeping, Mam.

Next, we are back to 1998.

Deirdre, now not dating Ken or Mike - keep up -

had a new love - an airline pilot.

As soon as we land. Ooh. I'm gonna miss you.

Fly carefully. It's a long way to Nairobi.

Nairobi?

The closest he got to international travel -

selling ties out of Manchester airport.

Can I help you, madam? Fair play to him, though.

Hello. He wasn't half convincing.

Jon, you sound a bit funny.

A time delay, on international calls.

It's always worse from Nairobi for some reason.

This is starting to sound serious to me, Deirdre.

I'm in love.

And after a tip-off from Ken, things really were about to get serious.

For Jon, that is.

There we are, madam. Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Yes, can I...

Go on, then. Lie your way out of this one.

Listen, Deirdre, I was going to tell you...

No. On second thoughts, don't.

I don't want to hear another word.

Ha! Serves you right, Jon.

That's the last we'll hear from you!

Let's get married, Jon.

Oh, Deirdre!

There you go. £5,000.

For the deposit.

Based on the real-life experience

of someone close to the show's executive producer,

this storyline would span for months.

"Deirdre Raschid." And we were left helpless

as Deirdre unwittingly got sucked into the conman's fraudulent plans.

Here, I put you down as the other signatory.

Oh, Jon!

PHONE RINGS Not to mention her constant ability

to be fooled by Jon's dodgy, dodgy phone calls.

FAN BLOWING I'm on the train.

Any news? 'So, what I've... Hang on.'

Yeah, thank you.

My other half never falls for the old extractor fan trick.

Yeah, sorry about that.

We were all shouting at the telly when he proposed.

Will you marry me?

Full of surprises, old Jon...

Just wait here for me, please.

...as Deirdre was about to find out.

The already-married Jon

wasn't going to get away with it this time.

Yes?

You don't know who I am, do you?

Who on earth is it calling at this time of the night?

Hello, Jon. I'll tell you I am.

I'm the woman who doesn't exist.

But our collective sigh of relief...

What's she on about?

...was quickly followed by gasps,

as Jon's cash swindling saw Deirdre end up in the dock,

facing time for a crime she didn't commit.

Pray, Emily.

I haven't stopped.

Deirdre Ann Rachid,

you are clearly the orchestrator of this serious fraud.

You ensnared a vulnerable, married man.

I have no option but to pass on you

a custodial sentence

of 18 months.

It will begin immediately.

I didn't do any of it!

The miscarriage of justice stunned the nation.

Fans started a "Free The Weatherfield One" campaign.

'..campaigning for the release of Deirdre Rachid,

'jailed for a crime she didn't commit.'

'One fan took the storyline so much to heart

'that she sent £5,000 to the campaign to have Deirdre released.'

Deirdre!

We'll get you out.

Don't worry. We'll do everything we can.

It was picked up by the tabloids.

Viewers wanted Corrie to do the right thing.

I shouldn't be here!

I haven't done anything.

'Even the Prime Minister had something to say

'when Deirdre Rachid was wrongly jailed

'for a crime she didn't commit.'

Well, go on, then.

Justice was eventually served.

Jon's ex-wife came forward,

proving Deirdre was innocent, and she was released.

The writers may say they always had it worked out...

You should like it in there, Jon.

It's directly beneath the flight path to the airport.

...but I like to think it was us,

that people power made the difference

and cemented this as one of the most memorable storylines of all time.

She's here!

CHEERING

I thought you were hiding away!

Right, come on, get us champagne...

Oh, look who's here again.

I'm just pleased I was there to help.

I don't know what else I can say.

Just... thanks.

Oh, Deirdre!

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