British TV series Coronation Street, the world's longest-running TV soap opera, is to mark its 50th anniversary this week in dramatic fashion.
Tomorrow night, millions of fans will tune into the Channel 3 (ITV1) show to watch a tram come careering off the viaduct at the end of the famous Manchester cobbled street after an explosion.
One carriage will crash into the street's Kabin shop, owned by kindly Rita Sullivan, and the other will crash into Dev's corner shop on the opposite side of the street at the end of the famous row of terraced houses.
She is one of several Corrie characters who fans will see lying unconscious and dead amongst smouldering rubble. Three characters are to be killed in the tragedy, but the show's bosses have left the identity of the three a secret.
Rita is one of the bookies favourites to be killed, along with Molly and the butcher Ashley Peacock.
On Thursday night a LIVE episode of Corrie will also be broadcast, with the cast performing in it at the exact moment that millions are watching them at home.
The £1 million stunt is said to be the most expensive in soap history. The plot mirrors a similar storyline from 1967 when a train crashed through the viaduct and Ena Sharples was feared dead under the rubble.
William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow and who is the only cast member to have been on the show, which is now a great British institution, since it started on 9th December 1960, said: "I had tears of pride. It's not only the best thing in Coronation Street ever, I think it's one of the best things on television ever."
Coronation Street: Who will survive the Corrie tram crash mayhem?
By Simon Boyle
4/12/2010
The Mirror
Will she die? Rita Sullivan in The Kabin moments after the disaster
Will he die? Butcher Ashley Peacock
A host of Corrie favourites lie among the flames and rubble after a tram crash brings devastation to the cobbles.
And the question on everyone’s lips is: “Who’s going to die?”
In the aftermath of the smash, some of the best-loved characters, including Rita Sullivan and Molly Dobbs, are left clinging for life.
Peter Barlow, dad Ken, Janice Battersby and Ashley Peacock are also among those caught up in the destruction. The horrifying scenes, which cost £1million to shoot, unfold on Monday night to mark the soap’s 50th anniversary.
The crash, caused by a blast at Nick Tilsley and Leanne Battersby’s new Joinery Bar, sets up a week of heartbreaking drama, capped off with an hour-long live episode featuring all 65 cast members on Thursday night.
William Roache, who has played Ken since Corrie started, described the crash as “the most incredible scene in British television history”.
Speaking at an exclusive screening of the anniversary episode, the 78-year-old said: “I’m incredibly proud and privileged to have been involved. Coronation Street has a history of amazing drama and tension, but this is on another level entirely.
“This is a fitting tribute to the last 50 years. Everyone is asking: ‘Who dies’.”
Co-star Michael Le Vell, Kevin Webster in the soap, added: “When we found out who was leaving it was very sad. But when people read the scripts, and realised the magnitude of what we were going to be involved in, everyone was excited, even those whose characters are going to be killed.
Co-star Michael Le Vell, Kevin Webster in the soap, added: “When we found out who was leaving it was very sad. But when people read the scripts, and realised the magnitude of what we were going to be involved in, everyone was excited, even those whose characters are going to be killed.
“This is a fitting tribute to the show. This is as good as a Hollywood film.”
Series producer Phil Collinson said: “The live show is very exciting and we’re hoping everything will go to plan. It had better not snow.”
Bookies are taking bets on who dies in the top-secret storyline.
Bookies are taking bets on who dies in the top-secret storyline.
Odds: Molly 1/50. Ashley Peacock 1/25, Rita Sullivan evens, Emily Bishop 6/4, Janice Battersby 6/4, Charlotte Hoyle 2/1, Sunita Alahan 2/1, Hayley Cropper 5/2, Nick Tilsley 3/1, Ciaran McCarthy 3/1, Norris Cole 4/1, Bill Webster 4/1, Dev Alahan 5/1, Ken Barlow 5/1, Kevin Webster 6/1.
Fave makes dying wish
By LUCY CONNOLLY
An explosion throws car mechanic Kevin Webster threw the air
A CORRIE favourite will make a last wish before dying on screen during the live episode.
The £1million tram crash, which causes three deaths, will see one of the cast act out the ultimate exit next Thursday.
A gas blast sets off the carnage on Monday, causing the tram to crash - leaving the Street littered with victims.
Cast weep at preview
STUNNED cast members were in tears after watching a preview of the tram crash episodes.
Corrie legend Bill Roache, who has played Ken Barlow since the first episode on December 9, 1960, said it was a fitting tribute for the 50th anniversary.
After the blast ... new landmarks on show
ITV/Rex Features
After the screening he said: "I had tears of pride. It's not only the best thing in Coronation Street ever, I think it's one of the best things on television ever."
Street creator Tony Warren said: "It's one of the happiest days of my life, seeing those episodes."
Fans' new view
The current Corrie opening credits
CORRIE fans will see beyond Weatherfield for the first time when Monday's episode shows streets behind the tram viaduct.
The computer-generated opening credits will be followed later in the week by a new view of the world at the other end of the Street.
Producer Phil Collinson said: "Viewers will be able to spot all sorts of landmarks."
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