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"Episode 1", the first episode of the British television
soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
''
Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford. Ori ...
'', was broadcast live on ITV on 9 December 1960, and was broadcast in
black-and-white Black-and-white (B&W or B/W) images combine black and white in a continuous spectrum, producing a range of shades of grey. Media The history of various visual media began with black and white, and as technology improved, altered to color. ...
. Episode 2 was video taped shortly after the airing.


Plot

The series first introduces Florrie Lindley (
Betty Alberge Betty Alberge (22 January 1922 – 18 May 1991) was an English theatre, radio and television actress, with an extensive career which ran from the late 1930s to the 1980s. She was best known for playing Corner Shop owner Florrie Lindley in the s ...
), who has bought up the local Corner Shop from Elsie Lappin (
Maudie Edwards Elizabeth Maud Edwards (16 October 1906 – 24 March 1991), professionally known as Maudie Edwards, was a Welsh actress, radio broadcaster, comedian, dancer and singer, best remembered for having spoken the first line of dialogue in soap ...
), 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 No. 11,
Elsie Tanner Elsie Gregory (also Grimshaw, Howard and Tanner) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'', played by Pat Phoenix from the series' inception in 1960 to 1973, and again from 1976 until 1984. Elsie Tanner wa ...
(
Pat Phoenix Patricia Phoenix Booth (born Patricia Frederica Manfield; 26 November 1923 – 17 September 1986) was an English actress who became one of the first sex symbols of British television through her role as Elsie Tanner, an original cast member ...
) berates her 18-year-old son
Dennis Dennis or Denis is a first or last name from the Greco-Roman name Dionysius, via one of the Christian saints named Dionysius. The name came from Dionysus, the Greek god of ecstatic states, particularly those produced by wine, which is somet ...
(
Philip Lowrie Colin Philip Lowrie (born 20 June 1936) is an English former stage and television actor, best known for playing Dennis Tanner in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', from the programme's inception in 1960–1968, and again fro ...
), who has recently been released from prison. She wants him to find work, which is not easy for him because of his criminal record, but she accuses him of not trying hard enough. Because he went to prison for theft, she also accuses him of stealing two
shillings The shilling is a historical coin, and the name of a unit of modern currency, currencies formerly used in the United Kingdom, Australia, New Zealand, other British Commonwealth countries and Ireland, where they were generally equivalent to 1 ...
from her purse. Elsie tells Dennis that she wishes they were more like the Barlow family, who apparently do not argue all the time. At No. 3, 21-year-old student
Ken Barlow Ken Barlow is a Character (arts), fictional character from the Television in the United Kingdom, British ITV (TV network), ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', played by William Roache. He was created by Tony Warren as one of ''Coronation St ...
(
William Roache William Patrick Roache (born 25 April 1932) is an English actor. He is best known for playing Ken Barlow in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' since it was first broadcast on 9 December 1960. He is listed in the ''Guinness World Records' ...
) is eating dinner with his parents, Frank ( Frank Pemberton) and Ida (
Noel Dyson Elsie Noël Dyson (23 December 1916 – 29 June 1995) was an English character actress Dyson played a number of roles in theatre, television and films (including in telemovies) but is best remembered as a versatile character actress in TV seri ...
). Frank starts accusing Ken of being too snobbish and being embarrassed by his
working class The working class (or labouring class) comprises those engaged in manual-labour occupations or industrial work, who are remunerated via waged or salaried contracts. Working-class occupations (see also " Designation of workers by collar colo ...
family, but Ken defends himself, and Ida tries to keep the peace. Ken states that he is taking his
middle class The middle class refers to a class of people in the middle of a social hierarchy, often defined by occupation, income, education, or social status. The term has historically been associated with modernity, capitalism and political debate. Co ...
girlfriend, Susan Cunningham (
Patricia Shakesby Patricia Shakesby (born 6 November 1942) is an English actress and playwright, best known for her role as Polly Urquhart in ''Howards' Way''. She is also notable for being an original cast member of ''Coronation Street'', in which she played S ...
), to the Imperial Hotel, which Frank angrily forbids, as Ida works as a cleaner in the kitchens there and he does not like the thought of Ken spending money in the same establishment where his mother works hard to earn it. Ken's younger brother
David David (; , "beloved one") (traditional spelling), , ''Dāwūd''; grc-koi, Δαυΐδ, Dauíd; la, Davidus, David; gez , ዳዊት, ''Dawit''; xcl, Դաւիթ, ''Dawitʿ''; cu, Давíдъ, ''Davidŭ''; possibly meaning "beloved one". w ...
( Alan Rothwell) arrives home from work and tells his father that his bicycle has got a puncture, which Frank is more than happy to repair. David sits at the table and asks Ken what is wrong and Ken tells him about the argument between him and Frank, 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 (
Doris Speed Doris Speed, MBE (3 February 1899 – 16 November 1994) was an English actress, best known for her role as landlady of the Rovers Return Inn Annie Walker on ''Coronation Street'', a role she played from the programme's first episode in 1960 u ...
). Ken orders cigarettes, while Dennis enters and orders a half pint of mild. Annie seems to approve of Ken more than Dennis. Dennis begins to wind up Ken about him being smart and being at university. When Dennis cannot afford cigarettes because of his drink, Ken gives him a pack. Annie disapproves of this, telling Ken not to waste his sympathy on Dennis, and that it is Elsie she feels sorry for. Meanwhile, Elsie's daughter
Linda Cheveski ''Coronation Street'' is a British television soap opera , soap opera/serial, initially produced by Granada Television. Created by screenwriter Tony Warren, ''Coronation Street'' first broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV on 9 December 1960. The ...
(
Anne Cunningham Anne Margaret Cunningham (born 1937) is an English actress, best known for her role as an original cast member of ''Coronation Street'', in which she played Linda Cheveski, daughter of Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix). Early life Cunningham, an onl ...
) comes to inform her that she has separated from her husband Ivan (Ernst Walder) and is planning a divorce, but refuses to explain why. Elsie decides to let Linda stay at No. 11. At the Corner Shop, Florrie serves her first customer,
Ena Sharples Ena Sharples (née Schofield) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', played by Violet Carson. She appeared in the first-ever episode, broadcast on 9 December 1960, and stayed with the show until 2 April ...
(
Violet Carson Violet Helen Carson, OBE (1 September 1898 – 26 December 1983) was a British actress of radio, stage and television, and a singer and pianist, who had a long and celebrated career as an actress and performer during the early days of BBC Radi ...
), the live-in caretaker of the nearby Glad Tidings Mission Hall, who fiercely questions her about her background and religious values. Ken goes to Number 1 to visit his friend, pensioner Albert Tatlock ( Jack Howarth). Ida comes to inform Ken that Susan has arrived at No. 3. They go home, where Ken is relieved to find out that Susan likes his family.


Characters and cast

*
Pat Phoenix Patricia Phoenix Booth (born Patricia Frederica Manfield; 26 November 1923 – 17 September 1986) was an English actress who became one of the first sex symbols of British television through her role as Elsie Tanner, an original cast member ...
as
Elsie Tanner Elsie Gregory (also Grimshaw, Howard and Tanner) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'', played by Pat Phoenix from the series' inception in 1960 to 1973, and again from 1976 until 1984. Elsie Tanner wa ...
*
Philip Lowrie Colin Philip Lowrie (born 20 June 1936) is an English former stage and television actor, best known for playing Dennis Tanner in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', from the programme's inception in 1960–1968, and again fro ...
as
Dennis Tanner Dennis Tanner is a Character (arts), fictional character from the Television in the United Kingdom, British ITV (TV network), ITV soap opera, Coronation Street, played by Philip Lowrie. The character was created by writer Tony Warren and was in ...
*
Anne Cunningham Anne Margaret Cunningham (born 1937) is an English actress, best known for her role as an original cast member of ''Coronation Street'', in which she played Linda Cheveski, daughter of Elsie Tanner (Pat Phoenix). Early life Cunningham, an onl ...
as
Linda Cheveski ''Coronation Street'' is a British television soap opera , soap opera/serial, initially produced by Granada Television. Created by screenwriter Tony Warren, ''Coronation Street'' first broadcast on ITV (TV network), ITV on 9 December 1960. The ...
* Frank Pemberton as Frank Barlow *
Noel Dyson Elsie Noël Dyson (23 December 1916 – 29 June 1995) was an English character actress Dyson played a number of roles in theatre, television and films (including in telemovies) but is best remembered as a versatile character actress in TV seri ...
as Ida Barlow *
William Roache William Patrick Roache (born 25 April 1932) is an English actor. He is best known for playing Ken Barlow in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' since it was first broadcast on 9 December 1960. He is listed in the ''Guinness World Records' ...
as Ken Roache Barlow * Alan Rothwell as David Barlow *
Maudie Edwards Elizabeth Maud Edwards (16 October 1906 – 24 March 1991), professionally known as Maudie Edwards, was a Welsh actress, radio broadcaster, comedian, dancer and singer, best remembered for having spoken the first line of dialogue in soap ...
as Elsie Lappin *
Betty Alberge Betty Alberge (22 January 1922 – 18 May 1991) was an English theatre, radio and television actress, with an extensive career which ran from the late 1930s to the 1980s. She was best known for playing Corner Shop owner Florrie Lindley in the s ...
as Florrie Lindley *
Violet Carson Violet Helen Carson, OBE (1 September 1898 – 26 December 1983) was a British actress of radio, stage and television, and a singer and pianist, who had a long and celebrated career as an actress and performer during the early days of BBC Radi ...
as
Ena Sharples Ena Sharples (née Schofield) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', played by Violet Carson. She appeared in the first-ever episode, broadcast on 9 December 1960, and stayed with the show until 2 April ...
*
Doris Speed Doris Speed, MBE (3 February 1899 – 16 November 1994) was an English actress, best known for her role as landlady of the Rovers Return Inn Annie Walker on ''Coronation Street'', a role she played from the programme's first episode in 1960 u ...
as Annie Walker * Jack Howarth as Albert Tatlock *
Patricia Shakesby Patricia Shakesby (born 6 November 1942) is an English actress and playwright, best known for her role as Polly Urquhart in ''Howards' Way''. She is also notable for being an original cast member of ''Coronation Street'', in which she played S ...
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, on the evening on the 50th anniversary celebrations on 6 December 2010, then once again on
ITV3 ITV3 is a British free-to-air television channel owned by ITV Digital Channels, a division of ITV plc. The channel was first launched on Monday 1 November 2004 at 9pm, replacing Plus (Granada). ITV3 is the sixth-largest UK television channel b ...
in the week of the programme's 60th anniversary celebrations on 7 December 2020. The episode is available commercially via digital download from
iTunes iTunes () is a software program that acts as a media player, media library, mobile device management utility, and the client app for the iTunes Store. Developed by Apple Inc., it is used to purchase, play, download, and organize digital mu ...
and DVD. The complete first seven episodes, all from 1960 including a bonus 1961 episode, as only seven episodes were aired in the debut year, is also available on Region 2 DVD, included in Network's ''Coronation Street'': The Best of 1960–1969, a 10 disc box set released on 31 July 2006 and subsequently reissued on 5 September 2011. The episode was also included on the ''50th Golden Anniversary'' DVD boxset by
ITV Studios Global Entertainment ITV Studios is a British multinational television production and distribution company owned by the British television broadcaster ITV plc. It handles production and distribution of programmes broadcast on the ITV network and third-party broadca ...
included 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.


References


External links

* {{Coronation Street 1 1960 British television episodes Black-and-white television episodes British television series premieres