Original subtitles

What countless shoes have worn these cobbles down?

Coronation Street has given us

some of the most memorable characters in television history.

Leave my husband alone. Leave him alone?

I wouldn't touch him with rubber gloves.

I mean he lives with you, don't he? Oh, you are dead common, you are.

You are known for it.

Folk have to wipe their feet when they come out of your house.

Listen, I wouldn't mind having a nibble at his taramasalata!

There is nowt as queer as folk.

Characters who have become so familiar,

they feel like part of the family. But every once in a while

a different kind of familiar face walks on the cobbles.

You're not gonna lead me around the houses, are you?

From rock stars... Merry Christmas, everybody!

to royalty.

Whether they've been in it for the long haul

or just passing through,

the list of Weatherfield's famous alumni continues to grow.

I've seen you somewhere before.

Oh, yeah, where would that be? In my dreams!

I can't cope without her!

What's this, then?

Street theatre production of Brokeback Mountain?

We look at some of the players, performers,

crooners and comedians who've set foot on the cobbles as we celebrate

Coronation Street's Famous Faces.

Coronation Street is the longest running soap opera on the planet.

Seen by millions and known for its ground-breaking storylines,

the Weatherfield cobbles are the place every actor

is honoured to tread.

Give the people what they want, hey, Audrey?

How do you think I got where I am?

Small leaks can turn into waterfalls afore you know it!

Some stay in the soap for decades.

That's just the kind of intelligent reaction I'd expect

from a loud-mouthed, beer-swilling moron like you.

Whilst others merely pass through

before moving on to stage and screen.

And it's your house, is it? No.

Oh, I see.

Well, you'd better give me the name of the owner, then.

How is she? Fine and perky and eating her lunch.

The doctor not been back?

He will be. Mr Langton,

if we thought that there was any cause at all for alarm,

do you think we'd be going on like this?

Hey, Gail, treacle toffee. Oh, yes, I'm not fussy at all.

My mate fancies you.

Belt up. What for?

I'm making friends and influencing people, aren't I?

And in 1973 we met a rising star

whose career would be forged away from the cobbles...

but she certainly left an impression on the street

and on one resident in particular.

I hear you are courting your boss's daughter.

She takes to you, does she?

You know, that is what I miss about this street.

The togetherness, the knowledge that you need never be burdened

with a problem you'll probably know before I do.

The boss's daughter was none other than '70's bombshell Joanna Lumley.

MUSIC: 'The New Avengers Theme'

At 27, she was about to embark

on an incredible career in television and film.

She became a household name in 1976

starring as Secret Agent Purdey in The New Avengers.

The thing now is to prove it.

I shouldn't let too many people see you doing that.

They might think you're talking through your hat.

But before the car chases and fancy gadgets,

she had a brief stint in Coronation Street.

I don't see your daughter, do I?

You don't, she's not put in an appearance yet,

but she will in her own good time.

And from the moment Ken's eyes met hers,

he was completely infatuated!

But winning over this intellectual beauty would be no easy feat.

What do you do for a living?

I've spent, what, not far short of 20-odd years

at school and university working my brains to the bone.

I get a degree. And a very good one I'm told.

Very. I mean, I've tried one or two things, but nothing grabbed me.

You're still very much an innocent abroad in the real world.

Oh, I wouldn't say that.

Over the course of eight episodes, the ladies man played every card

he had to win over Elaine.

Ah, now we are getting on to the...

Oh, Father, what's that awful phrase I promised not to use?

But despite the chasing...

The nitty gritty. That's it.

...this temptress was going to keep him on his toes.

Don't look so miserable, Ken. Cheer up.

I'm hilariously gay. You don't think I've been neglecting you, do you?

Oh, no, no.

Darling, you are the handsomest man here.

And you are the most... Oh, excuse me, darling.

I can just see Jack. I must go and talk to him.

I haven't seen him for ages.

Hilariously gay he may have been...

but that was all about to change.

Have you thought about what you're saying?

Oh, yes. I've thought about it. I've thought about lots of things.

That I love you.

Well, say something. Anything.

Thank you... But?

But, no, thank you.

Oh, Ken, I think it's a lost cause.

It's as simple as this, Ken. I don't love you.

Love never even crossed my mind.

Good night, Elaine.

Good night, Headmaster.

Ken?

DOOR SLAMS

I'd say that there went a man who was crossed in love.

And the rest.

Oh, dear.

Kenneth is a man that needs his pride.

You didn't dent it, did you?

I rather think I did.

Oh, Joanna, such a dangerous breaker of hearts!

With 20 million regular viewers during the golden age of TV,

getting even a walk-on role

in the biggest soap in the world was big news.

Even Hollywood legends wanted a piece of the action.

And in 2005, a true Hollywood Wizard dropped into Weatherfield

and joined the soap for ten memorable episodes.

Burnley boy Sir Ian McKellen had often said

that it was his ambition to appear in Coronation Street.

After initially turning down a role as Elsie Tanner's long-lost nephew

because he was intimidated by the regulars,

he took on the part of literary con-man Mel Hutchwright.

Which of you charming ladies is Blanche?

The author of this exquisite letter.

Mel Hutchwright.

Oh, I say!

I wrote to him after we had that barney

over whether he were a man or a woman.

And I am here to reassure you that I am most definitely all man.

Sir Ian was already considered acting royalty

before he appeared on the street,

with roles such as Gandalf in Lord Of The Rings

and notorious metal-manipulating criminal Magneto

in the X-Men franchise.

But in Corrie the only thing he was guilty of

was some serious scene stealing!

Why don't we return to the snug?

This delightful evening has given me a raging thirst.

How did you get on?

I'm terribly sorry, but nobody around here

had even heard of absinthe.

Why am I not surprised? Plebs one and all.

I did manage to get the cigars, though, and the extra-strong lager.

Ah, excellent, so what do I owe you?

Ooh. The cigars were a lot, £12.45.

What on earth was I thinking?

A mentor doesn't offer something as vulgar as money.

He offers wisdom and you are going to get it, my friend.

Try writing in the nude, it breaks down one's inhibitions.

Under the pretence of writing his new novel,

he shacked up with Norris and Emily and began to swindle

the Weatherfield residents with his charm.

Show me your hands?

You what?

You can tell a lot about a man from his hands.

Oh, yes. These are the hands of a working man.

Full set of fingers and all. Not every butcher can say that.

Do you know, I think I've found

what I've been looking for all these years.

Pardon? My hero.

Steady on. I say, steady on.

A man whom women love and men admire.

The beating heart of his community.

I've been looking for a name for my hero, my underground Atlas.

And now I think I've found it... Fred.

My name immortalised as the hero of a great novel.

Fred Elliott, a giant among men.

Oh. Let me get you a drink.

A pint is it? Oh, no, thank you.

I... I prefer a brandy.

Large brandy coming up.

Well, that was easy.

Oh, I know.

Oh, yeah, it has come to me now.

What has? How I can repay your kindness.

What was the name of your late husband?

Alf. Alf.

Well, I'm going to put him in the book.

But it wasn't just the hospitality he was after,

as he attempted to con the Weatherfield Book Club

out of cash to self-publish his non-existent novel.

I don't trust him, Rita. OK, he knows how to cadge a freebie.

I'm going to find out the truth about Mel Hutchwright

if it's the last thing I do.

Ahhh.

Just like that.

So as Ken went all Agatha Christie, Mel's plot was consigned to pulp.

I'm so sorry, everybody, I always feel so drained after reading

so I need a little lie down.

Stay where you are... Lionel.

Lionel? You are right, he has gone doolally.

Lionel Hipkiss to give him his full name.

He said that Lionel Hipkiss was a publisher.

We wrote out our cheques to Lionel Hipkiss.

I didn't want to confuse you.

I just thought it would be simpler...

And he didn't want to confuse the Kings Lynn Readers,

the Deal and Dover Literacy Society and the Solihull Book Club.

They invested like you.

But no book ever saw the light of day.

To think that I had you in my home.

And I let you...

take me out to dinner.

All them double brandies...

gratis.

All those free breakfasts.

I haven't contacted the police. He deceived you, not me.

You can decide his fate.

I know I've let you down,

but if I inspired you to let loose your creativity...

And that's the biggest crime of all.

The fact is you were going to waltz out of that door with our money.

Talking of which...

Well, we can't let you do this again.

Go on, Roy.

Well, all right.

But you know a case like this will attract some local publicity

and I could paint some... pretty unpleasant caricatures.

The vain pub landlord.

The anorak cafe owner.

The lonely crimper so easily flattered

and not forgetting the chattering crone

and the improbably coiffured newsagent

and her Walter Mitty assistant

scurrying back to the burnt offerings

from Eleanor Rigby's kitchen. And at the head of this sorry band,

Billy the Liar himself.

Lying every time he says to himself that he made the right choices.

Village intellectual and village idiot rolled into one.

Oh, it could make some really unpleasant reading, this,

and it's all anathema to me.

Just get out. Oh, yes.

Sling your hook.

Thank you.

I'm sorry, but once a storyteller always a storyteller.

Good luck with your book.

Just... Just go. And you, Norris.

Alpha? Ha.

LIONEL CHUCKLES

And so it was that Sir Ian McKellen's chapter

on Coronation Street came to an end.

Still to come.

Corrie and comedy collide.

By heck, you don't get much, do you? It's very well presented though.

Aye, so's Blue Peter.

And we look at the stars who've crossed the soap divide.

When's this lad of yours coming on, then?

Oh, there are quite a few before Tony.

Oh, well, then he's not doing badly, is he?

He's on just before the interval, he does two pieces.

That's a good place to be, isn't it?

Welcome back to Coronation Street Famous Faces

From rising stars to superstars,

this is a celebration of the familiar faces

who have graced the cobbles throughout the years.

And there isn't anyone more famous than the Queen.

And Her Majesty has long declared herself a fan of Corrie.

Royalty was even featured in the show when Prince Charles

appeared in the 40th Anniversary Special in December 2000.

'The Prince then moved on to Weatherfield.'

Oh, look. No. No. It's Audrey. On the news.

Oh, no. We will never hear the last of it!

Ah, she looks lovely. I bet she loved it.

What's she saying to him.

What's she giving him?

And speaking of royalty, it's safe to say

that soap operas are the jewel in the crown of British television.

And two of the biggest, Corrie and Emmerdale,

have shared more famous faces than you think.

Here are some to have ventured across the M62.

Right, we'll have to get in touch with your parents.

Are they on the phone? No.

Well, can they be contacted at work? Do you know that?

I don't know.

But you do know what you've done is wrong, don't you?

Do you know anything about chocolate money, missus?

Chocolate money?

Well... Yes, I...

Actually I do know about that.

So... So, if I said,

...gnome

and ransom note...

would that mean anything to you?

Four facts about Chile.

Home of the Andes.

The first country to democratically elect a Marxist government.

The world's leading exporter of copper.

And they eat guinea pigs.

No way. It is true.

They don't? It is true, actually.

Did you eat one? Yeah, I did.

I had to, in fact.

And anyway, it was all part of the experience of being there.

Even the queen of the East End, Dot Cotton,

started off up north back in 1970 before venturing South.

We are on the same side. We both want the best for the lad.

At least, I hope we do. I'm sure we do, Mrs Sharples.

But that doesn't necessarily put us on the same side.

Now, the point I want to make is this,

however sincere you may be,

I am Tony's mother

and the ultimate responsibility is mine.

But at least Coronation Street

has always preserved its northern sense of humour.

Never fear. Mary is here.

HORN, CRASH

Oh! I've been rear-ended.

And it's no surprise that there have been a whole bunch of comedians

appearing on the street over the years.

Lets finish our dinner. We can't.

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio...

Than I dreamt of in your philosophy.

That's it, stick between the palms, and rub, lad, rub.

Rub. That's it. Let's try a different tack, shall we?

Let's see what I can do with this flint, eh?

A flint? King of Flames, my backside.

Head of marketing, Newsco,

Manchester, planet Earth, the universe!

Really?

I say higher then you say lower.

Then I say higher, only lower.

Comic genius.

I'll get Lily settled.

I'm here about the gas leak.

Just got to get some stuff out of the van. Kylie!

Take anything you want. Just please, don't hurt the kids.

And one of the most memorable

was when Peter Kay appeared as Eric Gartside in 2004.

But it was seven years earlier when a fresh-faced

and unknown Peter had a small role in Corrie.

Playing a shopfitter hired by Fred Elliott to refurb the corner shop.

'Ey up, Grandma, can you move, please?

I'm not your grandma. I'll put t'kettle on.

'Ey, mind my fish. You wanna watch that.

If that gets stuck behind there you'll soon know about it!

If she hangs around here much longer, box her in!

Ah, Mr Elliott, come out here, I want to show you this sign.

And don't touch owt!

Just put this on here and there you go, your front unit is complete.

Champion is that. Aye.

Fast forward to January, 2004.

And Peter was back, this time as awkward Eric Gartside,

taking Shelley out on a date she'd never forget.

Good evening.

Eric, you look like a different bloke.

Thank you. And you...

Shall we go?

Not so fast.

Have a drink here first on me. Mum.

I can't believe you are Shelley's mother.

You look far too young. Oh, thank you.

You can't be looking close enough. Oh, you're right,

The neck. I can see the neck now, that's the giveaway.

Well, I'll see you later.

Since he first appeared on the cobbles,

Peter Kay's career had reached superstardom.

Selling out tour after tour as well as creating

and starring in TV Classic, Phoenix Nights.

Allow me. Oh, thank you.

I don't get many doors opened for me.

Well, you should. You know what they say.

Manners maketh the man.

Shows you what kind of men I go out with.

After producers contacted him,

Peter thought some light relief for Shelley after her split

from bigamist Peter Barlow would go down a treat.

I'll do this myself. Thanks.

Thank you.

If you don't mind me saying, I'm a bit surprised.

Where did you think I'd take you, the bus station cafe?

No, but, if I'd known I'd have done my hair or something.

You see, you are doing what that waiter did now.

Am I? He saw us coming in here, cheap clothes,

me uncomfortable in a tie.

You dolled up to the nines, too much slap. Mutton.

Our money is just as good as theirs.

Not that I'm a socialist, mind. I don't want you thinking that.

Anyway, let's just keep politics out of it tonight.

And religion. Are you Catholic?

Never mind. I don't want to know.

No, no, not a good start.

Let's see what the main course brings.

By heck, you don't get much, do you?

It's very well presented, though.

Aye, so's Blue Peter. I've got leaves, leaves on my plate.

Leaves. Chef's left back door open and they must have blown on.

Leaves. Look at this.

What are you looking for? My meat.

I need a magnifying glass. Where's he gone?

What? Nothing.

You know, I've never heard you laugh much before.

Saying that, I suppose you've not had much to laugh about

have you, being married to a bigamist.

It's humble, but it's home. Through here.

Despite Eric's terrible chat...

I'll put t'fire on as well, it's not so warm.

...Shelley agreed to go back for coffee.

Come on! What do you think?

SHE LAUGHS Ah.

I keep meaning to decorate, but you know how it is.

How long have you lived here? All my life.

All my life. It's very nice. It's cosy.

WOMAN: Eric, is that you?

Who's that? It's my mum.

Hiya, Mum.

I thought you were at jazzercise? It got cancelled.

Marlene has got a groin strain. Stick t'kettle on.

I'm up now. Yeah.

Northern comic Janice Connolly

was about to spoil the party as Eric's overbearing mother Dolly.

TEETH BRUSHING

ERIC GARGLING

This is nice.

Shelley married a bigamist, Mum?

What ever did you do that for? I didn't...

I didn't know he was a bigamist when I married him.

She didn't know. Oh, well, that's like my sister Pat.

It's like your Auntie Pat.

She didn't know her husband was a vegetarian until the reception.

That night. HORN HONKS OUTSIDE

That will be my taxi. Well...

It's been nice. Has it?

We started to root for him,

but sadly it wasn't to be for Eric and Shelley.

Shelley, I had a lovely night tonight.

It were great, weren't it?

Maybe we could do it again sometime. Do you fancy Monday?

I don't think so. Why, don't you like me?

You are very... sweet.

Sweet? But I thought you liked me.

I thought...

It's not you. Is it the house?

No. Has she gone yet?

That's what it is.

Thank you for the meal.

It was lovely.

You'd better get off to bed, Eric.

Your electric blanket has been on for over an hour.

Yes, Mum.

Chin up, Eric. At least the bed's nice and warm.

So there you have it. From silver screen to Her Majesty the Queen,

Coronation Street continues to attract stars from around the globe.

Who knows where our current cast will lead us

or who will be next to tread on those famous old cobbles?

MUSIC: 'Fame' by David Bowie

Subtitles by ITV SignPost