Coronation Street: The First Episode
Encyclopedia
The first episode of the British soap opera Coronation Street
was broadcast live on the 9 December 1960. Episode 2 was video taped shortly after the airing.
At Number 11, Elsie Tanner
is shouting at her son Dennis Tanner
who has just got out of prison. She tells him to find himself work, but he cannot as he has just got out of prison. But she accuses him of not trying hard enough. She also believes Dennis stole money from her purse. Elsie tells him she wishes her family were more like the Barlows, because they are not rowing all the time.
At Number 3, a young 21 year old student called Ken Barlow is eating dinner with his parents, Frank
and Ida
. Frank starts accusing Ken of being too snobbish and being embarrassed of them, but Ken defends himself, and Ida tries to keep the peace. Ken states that he is taking his girlfriend, Susan Cunningham to the Imperial Hotel, which Frank angrily declines, as Ken's mother works there and he does not like it that she slaves away in the kitchens only for Ken to go throwing money back there. He tells Ken he will not be going there at all. Ken's brother, David arrives home from his work and tells his father he has got a puncture, which Frank is more than happy to help. David sits at the table and asks Ken what's wrong and Ken tells him about the recent incident, which David is not surprised about. The two brothers seem to get on fine despite their differences.
Ken heads to the Rovers Return Inn, run by Annie Walker
and her husband Jack. Ken orders cigarettes, while Dennis Tanner enters and orders a half of mild. Annie seems to approve of Ken more than Dennis Tanner. Dennis begins to wind Ken up about him being smart and being at university. When Dennis cannot afford cigarettes because of his drink, Ken gives him a pack, which Annie does not like and she tells Ken not to waste his sympathy on Dennis, as it is Elsie who they should feel sorry for.
with other episodes and specials. These include Corrie Controversies, The Stars Of Coronation Street; 50 Years, 50 Classic Characters; The First Colour Episode and the 40th anniversary live episode from 2000.
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
was broadcast live on the 9 December 1960. Episode 2 was video taped shortly after the airing.
Plot
The series first introduces Florrie Lindley who has bought up the corner shop from Elsie Lappin who has now retired after working there for many years. Elsie warns Florrie about the residents and stays around to show her the tricks of the trade.At Number 11, Elsie Tanner
Elsie Tanner
Elsie Tanner is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Patricia Phoenix from 1960 to 1973 and from 1976 until 1984. Elsie Tanner was one of the original core characters on Coronation Street and appeared in the very first episode...
is shouting at her son Dennis Tanner
Dennis Tanner
Dennis Tanner is a fictional character in British soap opera Coronation Street. He is played by Philip Lowrie. The character was created by writer Tony Warren and was introduced in the very first episode on 9 December 1960...
who has just got out of prison. She tells him to find himself work, but he cannot as he has just got out of prison. But she accuses him of not trying hard enough. She also believes Dennis stole money from her purse. Elsie tells him she wishes her family were more like the Barlows, because they are not rowing all the time.
At Number 3, a young 21 year old student called Ken Barlow is eating dinner with his parents, Frank
Frank Barlow (Coronation Street)
Francis "Frank" Barlow is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Frank Pemberton. As the head of the show's core Barlow family, Frank was one of the original twenty-one characters upon the show's inception in 1960, along with wife Ida and sons Ken and David .In...
and Ida
Ida Barlow
Ida Barlow is a fictional character from the UK television ITV soap opera Coronation Street, she was played by actress Noel Dyson between 1960 and 1961.-Casting:...
. Frank starts accusing Ken of being too snobbish and being embarrassed of them, but Ken defends himself, and Ida tries to keep the peace. Ken states that he is taking his girlfriend, Susan Cunningham to the Imperial Hotel, which Frank angrily declines, as Ken's mother works there and he does not like it that she slaves away in the kitchens only for Ken to go throwing money back there. He tells Ken he will not be going there at all. Ken's brother, David arrives home from his work and tells his father he has got a puncture, which Frank is more than happy to help. David sits at the table and asks Ken what's wrong and Ken tells him about the recent incident, which David is not surprised about. The two brothers seem to get on fine despite their differences.
Ken heads to the Rovers Return Inn, run by Annie Walker
Annie Walker
Anne "Annie" Walker is a long-standing fictional character in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She was played by actress Doris Speed from the series' first episode in 1960 until Speed retired from the role 23 years and 1,746 episodes later in 1983.The character of Annie has been noted as...
and her husband Jack. Ken orders cigarettes, while Dennis Tanner enters and orders a half of mild. Annie seems to approve of Ken more than Dennis Tanner. Dennis begins to wind Ken up about him being smart and being at university. When Dennis cannot afford cigarettes because of his drink, Ken gives him a pack, which Annie does not like and she tells Ken not to waste his sympathy on Dennis, as it is Elsie who they should feel sorry for.
Cast
- Pat PhoenixPat PhoenixPatricia "Pat" Frederica Phoenix was an English actress who became one of the first sex symbols of British television through her role of Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street.-Early life and career:Born in Ireland to Anna Maria Josephine Noonan and Tom Manfield, but moved to Manchester before...
as Elsie TannerElsie TannerElsie Tanner is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Patricia Phoenix from 1960 to 1973 and from 1976 until 1984. Elsie Tanner was one of the original core characters on Coronation Street and appeared in the very first episode... - Philip LowriePhilip LowrieColin Philip Lowrie is an English television actor. He played Dennis Tanner, the son of Elsie Tanner in Coronation Street, from 1960 until 1968. On 25 January 2011, it was announced that he would return to the role, reappearing on screen later in the year...
as Dennis TannerDennis TannerDennis Tanner is a fictional character in British soap opera Coronation Street. He is played by Philip Lowrie. The character was created by writer Tony Warren and was introduced in the very first episode on 9 December 1960... - Anne Cunningham as Linda Cheveski
- Frank Pemberton as Frank BarlowFrank Barlow (Coronation Street)Francis "Frank" Barlow is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Frank Pemberton. As the head of the show's core Barlow family, Frank was one of the original twenty-one characters upon the show's inception in 1960, along with wife Ida and sons Ken and David .In...
- Noel DysonNoel DysonNoel Dyson was an English actress. Dyson appeared in a number of films but is best remembered as a versatile television actress who became a very familiar face to British viewers in a career spanning almost 50 years...
as Ida BarlowIda BarlowIda Barlow is a fictional character from the UK television ITV soap opera Coronation Street, she was played by actress Noel Dyson between 1960 and 1961.-Casting:... - William RoacheWilliam RoacheWilliam Patrick Harry Roache MBE is a British actor, best known for his role as Ken Barlow in the soap opera Coronation Street...
as Kenneth Barlow - Alan RothwellAlan RothwellAlan Rothwell is a British actor and television presenter. He was born in Oldham, Lancashire. He first came to fame in 1960, playing the character David Barlow in the then new ITV soap opera Coronation Street. He remained in this role in 1968, and the character was killed off two years later...
as David Barlow - Maudie EdwardsMaudie EdwardsMaudie Edwards was a Welsh actress and singer, now best remembered as a member of the original cast of Coronation Street....
as Elsie Lappin - Betty AlbergeBetty AlbergeBetty Alberge was an English actress best known for her soap opera roles as cornershop owner Florrie Lindley in Coronation Street and as Edna Cross in Brookside...
as Florrie Lindley - Violet CarsonViolet CarsonViolet Helen Carson OBE was an English actress, best known for playing Ena Sharples, one of the original characters in the British soap opera Coronation Street.-Early life and career:...
as Ena SharplesEna SharplesEna Sharples is one of the original characters from the British soap opera Coronation Street, and was played by Violet Carson.-Development:... - Doris SpeedDoris SpeedDoris Speed, MBE was an English actress, best known for her role as snooty Rovers Return landlady Annie Walker on Coronation Street, a role she played from 1960 to 1983.-Early life and career:...
as Annie WalkerAnnie WalkerAnne "Annie" Walker is a long-standing fictional character in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She was played by actress Doris Speed from the series' first episode in 1960 until Speed retired from the role 23 years and 1,746 episodes later in 1983.The character of Annie has been noted as... - Jack Howarth as Albert TatlockAlbert TatlockAlbert Tatlock is a fictional character on the British television soap opera Coronation Street. Albert was played by actor Jack Howarth from 1960 to 1984...
- Patricia ShakesbyPatricia ShakesbyPatricia Shakesby is an English actress, best known for her role as Polly Urquhart in Howards' Way....
as Susan Cunningham
Subsequent showings
The episode is often aired when the soap reaches an important milestone in its history. In this regard it was broadcast in December 1990 when the soap reached its 30th anniversary. The first episode was shown again at 7:00pm on 9 December 2000 on the evening of the show's 40th anniversary, then once again in the week of the programme's 50th anniversary celebrations on 6 December 2010. The episode has also been made available to download from iTunesITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
with other episodes and specials. These include Corrie Controversies, The Stars Of Coronation Street; 50 Years, 50 Classic Characters; The First Colour Episode and the 40th anniversary live episode from 2000.