For the first time since 2000 Coronation Street broadcasts a live episode (as part of the shows 50th anniversary celebrations and airing on the exact same date – 9 December – that the very first episode aired on) and in the special episode there are some major upheavals in the air as secrets and lies come out into the open, including the truth about Molly’s baby, Nick and Leanne’s affair, Carla and Peter’s possible romance and Steve’s desperate search for the missing Max. The storylines all come together as the aftermath of the Tram crash hits home (in the episode which aired on Monday 6 Dec an explosion in the Joinery caused a tram to leave the rails over the viaduct crossing and crash into the street!)
All high octane stuff of course and not something that is easy to pull off in a non live show never mind a live environment. There are so many storylines and plot threads coming together. The crash and its aftermath resonated across the weeks, the biggest thing though is the loss of so many leading characters all at the same time. As the episode opened Ashley Peacock was confirmed dead, meanwhile Peter was at death’s door in hospital but pulled through enough to marry Leanne. Molly Dobbs also died but not before revealing to Sally that Kevin is the father of her son.
The first 24 episodes of Coronation Street were all broadcast live and in 2000 (to celebrate the shows fortieth anniversary) there was another live special which featured guest appearances from Charles, Prince of Wales and Noddy Holder.
production details
UK / ITV1 Network / 1×60 minute episodes / Broadcast Thursday 9 December 2010 @ 8.00pm
Episode Number 7, 487
cast
JANE DANSON as Leanne
BEN PRICE as Nick
VICKY BINNS as Molly
ALISON KING as Carla
CHRIS GASCOYNE as Peter
KATHERINE KELLY as Becky
SIMON GREGSON as Steve
GRAEME HAWLEY as John Stape
