THIS WEEK

DECEMBER 9, 1960

The first episode of Coronation Street was broadcast on ITV.

Now the world’s longest-running TV soap, there have been more than 9,700 episodes.

Still playing character Ken Barlow today, William Roache, 86, is the only original cast member.

DECEMBER 10, 1901

The first annual Nobel Prize ceremony was held in Stockholm, marking the fifth anniversary of the death of Alfred Nobel, the Swedish scientist who established the five prizes in 1895.

Rewarding the “greatest benefit on mankind” in physics, chemistry, physiology or medicine, literature, and peace, Nobel donated his enormous wealth to the prizes after reading a premature obituary that described him as “the merchant of death”.

DECEMBER 14, 1896

The first passengers took a trip on the Glasgow Subway, now the third-oldest underground metro system in the world.

Covering 6.5 miles in a loop, the Subway has 15 stations carrying roughly 39,980 people every day.

DECEMBER 12, 1915

Frank Sinatra was born in New Jersey.

Over the years, the iconic crooner had 33 UK Top 40 singles, spent eight weeks at No 1, and starred in more than 45 films.

He died on May 14 1998, after a heart attack.

DECEMBER 15, 1939

Gone With The Wind premiered in Atlanta, Georgia.

Starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable, the romance is the highest-grossing film of all time when adjusted for inflation.