60 Years Of Coronation Street-1978/1979

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In December this year, serial drama/soap Coronation Street will celebrate 60 years on British TV. I have been watching it from the late 70's and remain a big fan. Between now and December I will be looking at the best bits from the Corrie years. This time I'm looking at my ten favourite storylines/episodes from 1978 and 1979.

1978

1) The Murder of Ernie Bishop
Wages clerk Ernie is held up at gunpoint by criminals but tragedy strikes when Mike, unaware of the robbery barges in and the gunman accidently shoots Ernie, who dies later in hospital. This was a very sad episode as I really liked Ernie and poor Emily was distraught.

2) Ray Langton's affair
Despite being married to Deirdre and having a young child, Ray starts an affair with the new waitress Janice Stubbs in the cafe, to Emily's disgust. Ray is soon found out and tries to persuade Deirdre to start again in Holland but at the last minute she changes her mind and refuses to go, ending her marriage.

3) Alf Roberts marries Renee Bradshaw
Alf and Renee were a great pairing and it was great to see them get together and run the corner shop. I loved when Alf thumped Renees stepfather at the wedding for insulting her! Len is also arrested at the stag do after Rita refuses to let him in the house for being too drunk! This was a fun wedding has has plenty of ups and downs.

4) The Strike at Baldwin's Casuals
Mike the miser sacks Hilda when she wants a new brush to clean the floor with. The factory girls come out on strike in support of Hilda and things turn nasty when Mike tries to defy the strikers by bringing in non union labour. Hilda does get her job back and ironically has to turn down a better job that she was offered.

5) The opening of Dawson's Cafe
As an event in its own right it wasn't that exciting other than the owner trying to put an end to food being sold at the Kabin and nearly being thumped by Len (surprise), but this was the cafe that in later years is run by Alma and Gail, before being sold to Roy Cropper so I thought it deserved a mention.

1979

1) The Rovers Lorry Crash
Deirdre leaves Tracy's pram outside the Rovers and is convinced her daughter is dead when a Lorry crashes through the front of the pub. In fact, a disturbed woman has taken Tracy and the police and locals search for her while Deirdre considers suicide. Alf is bady injured in the crash but survives.

2) The romance of Gail Potter and Brian Tilsley
The young lovers face the wrath of Ivy Tilsley who doesn't want her son married outside the Catholic faith and will use any trick to split them up, to the horror of her good natured husband Bert. It brings Audrey Potter to the Street for the engagement and the couple are married later that year, where Ivy admits defeat.

3) The revenge of Ray Langton
Ken has to fight for Deirdre who is being pursued by old flame Billy Walker but he wins her hand. When Len tells Ray, who is still in Holland, that Deirdre is seeing Ken Barlow, he decides to cite her in a divorce case naming Ken for adultery as he wants to remarry. Ken's attitude of demanding to be kept out of it and caring little for Deirdre's pain splits them up for a while

4) Alf Fancies Bet?
With Renee away and Bet as his lodger, Alf gets tired of the teasing about an affair between him and Bet and is angry that she is encouraging the gossip. Alf decides to trick Bet and starts coming on to her, scaring her witless. This was really funny though Renee fails to see the funny side when she returns!

5) Fred's wig
Fred's vanity comes out to play and he decides to get a wig. Of course it looks totally stupid and the Rovers regulars are in shock when they see it. Annie Walker tells them not to mention it to Fred so the plonker honestly thinks it looks natural...until Albert decides to put him right! Oh I laughed at this! It's the kind of story that Corrie does so well.