CORRIE: BIGGER THAN EVER!
Weatherfield’s finest introduce us to their new surroundings…
It’s an exciting time to be part of Coronation Street, judging by the grinning stars who welcomed Inside
Soap to their home in Salford for a sneak peek at the soap’s extended new set!
Cobbles favourites Tina O’brien (Sarah), Jack P Shepherd (David), Sue Nicholls (Audrey) and Lucy Fallon (Bethany) were thrilled to be flying the flag for the Platts as they officially unveiled the addition to Victoria Street – a wider area that includes shops, restaurants, a tram stop and a police station.
“The Victoria Street extension represents a thrilling chapter in
Corrie history: an amazing new stage, full of dramatic potential,” grins series producer Kate Oates. “Our amazing design team have created everything from scratch – but there’s also a feeling of these sets having always been there, just around the corner. It feels very northern, very true to Corrie and as if it has been here forever.”
Poignantly, a specially commissioned memorial bench will take pride of place in an urban garden, to honour
Corrie superfan Martyn Hett and all those who lost their lives in the Manchester
Arena bombing last year.
“When the tragedy happened, we knew straight away that we should do something that shows we stand with the people of Manchester,” explains Kate. “Obviously Martyn being such a big superfan and a huge personality, it felt right that we should mark him here as well. The bench is a character in itself. There are 22 flowers on it, so everybody is represented. It will be here as long as Corrie is, which will hopefully be forever.”
With other landmarks to include a snooker hall and a tattoo parlour, viewers can look forward to double the drama for the Street’s inhabitants.
“I’m tempted to go big [when filming commences on the new set] – it’s going to be very exciting!” enthuses Kate. “We started storylining for it months ago, and the extra space gives our stories room to breathe in a whole new precinct…”
Viewers will see the new set on screen from Friday 20 April.