Coronation Street fans are in for a treat as a second episode of the ITV soap, Coronation Street Icons, will air on Monday, September 13.
After 26 years on the programme, Malcolm Hebden and his character Norris Cole will be remembered in this episode. Sally Lindsay, who portrayed Shelley Unwin from 2001 to 2006, will narrate the programme for loyal viewers.
Corrie has become a fixture of British television and holds a particular place in the hearts of viewers throughout the country as the world’s longest-running soap opera.
But who were the first cast members and when were viewers of the serial first brought along Corrie’s cobblestones?
How long has it been since the first episode of Coronation Street aired?
On December 9, 1960, the first episode of Coronation Street aired.
There have been almost 10,420 episodes since then, and many notable faces have appeared on the programme, including Ken and Deirdre Barlow, Gail Platt, and Steve McDonald.
Corrie’s sixtieth anniversary was celebrated last year, and devoted fans were overjoyed to see the first episode of the drama shown on ITV to commemorate the milestone.
Florrie Lindley (Betty Alberge) acquired the neighbourhood Corner Shop from Elsie Lappin in the black-and-white episode (Maudie Edwards).
Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix) chastised her 18-year-old son Dennis Tanner (Philip Lowrie), who had just been released from jail for stealing.
Linda Cheveski (Anne Cunningham), Elsie’s daughter, came to tell her that she had separated from her husband Ivan Cheveski (Ernst Walder) and was planning a divorce, but she refused to say why.
Frank Barlow (Frank Pemberton) accused his 21-year-old son Ken Barlow (William Roache) of being too snobby and embarrassed by his working-class relatives at No. 3. Ken went to the Rovers Return Inn and made friends with Dennis.
The rest, as they say, is history.
Who were the first Coronation Street cast members?
William Roache as Ken Barlow and Pat Phoenix as Elsie Tanner are among the initial cast members.
Other members of the cast included:
Philip Lowrie as Dennis Tanner
Anne Cunningham as Linda Cheveski
Frank Pemberton as Frank Barlow
Noel Dyson as Ida Barlow
Alan Rothwell as David Barlow
Maudie Edwards as Elsie Lappin
Betty Alberge as Florrie Lindley
Violet Carson as Ena Sharples
Doris Speed as Annie Walker
Jack Howarth as Albert Tatlock
Patricia Shakesby as Susan Cunningham