Coronation Street and Rochdale

As soon as I was old enough, I darted out of my home town and went to live in the big city. The older I got though, the fonder I became of the place I grew up. That place is Rochdale in Greater Manchester – a former cotton town that was central to the industrial revolution. Nowadays, Rochdale is often in the news for all the wrong reasons, but I’ve recently spotted that the town has become a regular fixture for location filming on Coronation Street, particularly in and around the town hall. Rochdale has quite a few links to Corrie actually…

AIDAN’S INQUEST

Last Friday was the emotional final part of Aidan Connor’s story. The family gathered to hear and share details of his final hours. Much of Friday’s episodes were filmed at Rochdale Town Hall, both inside and out. Here you can see a stunning stained glass window inside the gothic building, which depicts the Kings and Queens of England and was reportedly admired by Adolf Hitler, who basically wanted to nick it:

BILLY IS STABBED

Billy’s graphic stabbing several months ago took place not far from the Town Hall next to Rochdale police station.

ROCHDALE POLICE STATION

MADISONS (ranked 19 of 325 restaurants in Rochdale)

ROSIE’S BACK

Shortly after Helen Flanagan returned to the Street, the Websters were spotted filming in and around Rochdale Town Hall. The Manchester Evening News reported them being spotted back in February 2017.

CURRENT CAST MEMBERS FROM ROCHDALE

Sinead Tinker is played by Katie McGlynn, who is from Rochdale. She actually went to the same high school as me but clearly benefited from the teachings of Drama head Mr Carroll more than I did.

Katie McGlynn

FORMER CAST MEMBERS FROM ROCHDALE

Michelle Holmes can currently be seen in old episodes of Classic Corrie on ITV3, playing Rovers barmaid Tina Fowler. Michelle was also in Emmerdale and most recently Hollyoaks.

Michelle Holmes

Emma Edmondson  played Mel Morton, part of the short lived Morton family in Corrie. She also went to Wardle High School in Rochdale and was in the year above me. Come to think of it, I’m starting to think Mr Carroll had favourites at that school. Although he did give me the part of Charlie Bucket in a production of Willy Wonka's Chocolate Factory and if I remember rightly, Emma was an Oompa Loompa. So I win.

Emma Edmondson, bottom centre right

Bob Mason, a writer from Rochdale, started his Corrie journey as character Terry Bradshaw (brother of Renee Roberts) in the seventies. Then in the eighties he became the soap’s first regular writer. According to Corriepedia he is one of only eight people to both write and appear in the show. Bob died in 2004.

Bob Mason

And of course the great Julie Goodyear, Corrie’s Bet Lynch is from Heywood just outside Rochdale. Last year Julie was awarded the Freedom of Rochdale, whether she wanted it or not.

Julie, who last appeared in Coronation Street in 2003 said of the gong: “I am honoured, delighted and thrilled to accept this award from Rochdale council. I was born in Heywood and lived here all my life and never wanted to leave and live anywhere else so this is a very special award from the council. Rochdale is one of the best-known towns in the country and some very famous people have come from here so it will be truly wonderful to be given this honour.”

Julie Goodyear with the Freedom of Rochdale

Aside from it’s stunning town hall and the founding of the Co-Operative movement, Rochdale is also famous for actor Anna Friel, singer Lisa Stanfield, the first global superstar Gracie Fields...and my legendary blogs. 

What's the Coronation Street connection to your home town?

@StevieDawson

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