Coronation Street VHS and DVD releases
Many selected episodes, and specially-produced episodes, of the British television soap opera Coronation Street have been released on video and DVD.
1980s
The Magic of Coronation Street
In 1982, a VHS video entitledThe Magic of Coronation Street - Distant Memories 1960 -1964" was released by Granada Video. Its running time was 172 minutes and it featured six episodes of the programme,together with specially shot sequences featuring Annie Walker, Elsie Tanner and Len Fairclough. Later, "The Magic of Coronation Street" was released as two separate packages, each containing three episodes, by Vestron Video''.
Episodes featured:
Part one: Episode 1 (9 December 1960); Gas Main Leak (9 February 1961); Christmas Day 1961
Part two: Elsie discovers that Bill Gregory is married (11 July 1962); This is Your Life (12 December 1962); Cinderalla (23 December 1964)
The Jubilee Years
In 1985, to celebrate the serial's 25th anniversary, two video tapes were released (again on Vestron Video), entitled "The Jubilee Years - Part One" and "The Jubilee Years - Part Two". These featured a previously unseen character Alice Hughes revisit the Street to recall characters like Ena and Elsie and catch up on 'current happenings'.
The Lives and Loves of Elsie Tanner
In 1987 The Lives and Loves of Elsie Tanner was released, with the characters of Mike Baldwin, Emily Bishop and Elsie's daughter, Linda, recalling Elsie's time on the Street. In this production it is hinted that Elsie has died, an event not referred to in the series proper. (Emily tells Linda that she was "sorry to hear AbOUT her mother"). Pat Phoenix, who played Elsie, had died the previous year.
1990s
30th anniversary set
In 1990, as a celebration for the serial's 30th anniversary, ten video tapes were released by Windsong Video Productions, each featuring four episodes from a specific year and introduced by someone who was close to the stories that year (for example, Betty Turpin's husband Cyril died in 1974, therefore Betty Driver hosted the 1974 tape). These tapes were initially distributed by Granada Video for viewing in the UK only, but were reissued on NTSC tape (a year later) for viewing in the US and Canada.
Year |
Host |
Episodes |
|---|---|---|
1961 |
William Roache |
The First Episode; Blackpool; Ida's funeral; Harry marries Concepta |
1962 |
William Roache |
Dennis' concert; Christine's breakdown; Ken marries Valerie; The Walker's Silver Wedding |
1964 |
Eileen Derbyshire |
Martha's death; Emily jilts Swindley; The Evacuation; Wrestling |
1968 |
Eileen Derbyshire |
Elsie and Len; Dennis marries Jenny; Hilda vs Elsie; Val's ordeal |
1974 |
Betty Driver |
Cyril's death; The Importance of Being Earnest; Majorca; Eddie's Christmas |
1977 |
Helen Worth |
The Community Centre Dance; Len marries Rita; Jubilee; The Ogden's second honeymoon |
1983 |
Johnny Briggs |
Ken, Deirdre, Mike; Car in Lake; Ogden's 40th; Len's Death |
1984 |
Thelma Barlow |
Elsie's departure; Street Olympics; Mavis jilts Derek; Stan's funeral |
1986 |
Sally Whittaker |
Peter and Susan Barlow's 21st; The Rover's Fire; The New Rovers; Kevin marries Sally |
1989 |
Barbara Knox |
Factory demolition; Alan's trial; The Tram; Christmas Eve |
Time Life releases
Many VHS tapes were made in the 1990s for the British market, from mail-order company Time-Life Distribution, with each tape consisting of a compilation of footage featuring a particular character (for example, Gail, Rita, the Duckworths). They were made only in PAL format and not distributed in the United States or Canada.
2000s
This Is Coronation Street
In 2003, a special DVD set called This is Coronation Street was released on Region 1 DVD. On the two-disc set is the 40 Years on Coronation Street one-off special as well as the first five episodes of the programme. In 2004, a Coronation Street: Secrets DVD box set of televised specials was released in both the United Kingdom and Canada, but not in the United States, despite a Region 1 release in Canada.
Network releases
Network DVD, in association with Granada, have released a series of DVDs for each decade of the programme, each featuring eight episodes from a specific year. They are all available in box sets of 10, with the 1970s available individually.
1960s
The 1960s box set was released on July 31, 2006.
Year |
Released |
Episodes |
|---|---|---|
1960 |
31 July 2006 |
Florrie Lindley moves in to the corner shop, and Ena Sharpels warns her about Elsie Tanner. May Hardman dies of a Brain Tumor. |
1961 |
31 July 2006 |
Albert Tatlock's neice Valerie move's in with him and she start's dating Ken Barlow. Ida Barlow get's killed after being struck by a bus. |
1962 |
31 July 2006 |
Ken proposes to Val Tatlock she say's yes and they get married later that year. Florrie Lindley has a mental breakdown Lucille Hewitt starts tormenting her Step-Mother, Concepta. |
1963 |
31 July 2006 |
Sheila's attempted [...] and Jerry and Myra's marriage. |
1964 |
31 July 2006 |
Florrie's shop rage and Stan's wrestling antics |
1965 |
31 July 2006 |
The destruction of one of the houses on 'The Street' plus the birth of Ken and Val's twins. |
1966 |
31 July 2006 |
Ena's encounter with louts and her alleged shoplifting. |
1967 |
31 July 2006 |
The infamous train crash involving some of your favourite characters. |
1968 |
31 July 2006 |
Val Barlow's hostage experience plus Ena's envy of Bobby the Cat. |
1969 |
31 July 2006 |
Minnie's gambling addiction plus the notorious coach crash that hospitalises Val and Minnie. |
1970s
The 1970s box set was released on 25 July, 2005.
Year |
Released |
Episodes |
|---|---|---|
1970 |
25 Jul 2005 |
Ena and Minnie ask Cyril to help get Albert out of his house but they didn't realise that he would do it by breaking into the place! Bill tells Elsie that Phyllis is dead and he is buying a bar in Portugal. He asks her to marry him. |
1971 |
25 Jul 2005 |
The maisonettes burn down after Val electrocutes herself the night before she and Ken are to leave for Jamaica; Stan finds out that Ray Langton was the one who got him nearly sacked at the Yard; Ray pretends Irma is his French girlfriend on a business date, which backfires when the girlfriend of Ray's partner is actually French; Emily gets drunk after trying to pick the best wine in a Street contest; Ernest and Emily get engaged; Annie and Ernest celebrate their birthdays, and Ernest gives Emily her engagement ring; Ena refuses to go to Blackpool with Minnie and Dave, causing Minnie to call Ena a bigot; When Annie leaves for a day, Lucille and Bet go-go dance on top of the bar for the regulars. |
1972 |
19 Sep 2005 |
Emily and Ernest's wedding; Billy attempts to sell the Rovers behind Annie's back; Len, Elsie and Rita enjoy a night on the town; Stan is accused of peeping on ladies undressing; Alf's feelings for Maggie are complicated after the death of his wife; Stan drinks in the pub Olympics despite having alcohol poisoning; Rita gets into a fight at the Capricorn after a woman calls her a [...]; Elsie realizes Alan is developing an addiction to alcohol as the residents perform a Christmas show in the Select. |
1973 |
19 Sep 2005 |
|
1974 |
7 Nov 2005 |
|
1975 |
7 Nov 2005 |
|
1976 |
16 Jan 2006 |
A man attempts to keep Gail hostage in her flat until Emily and Tricia call the police and have the man arrested; Stan attempts to hide his unlicenced TV and breaks it, just as Hilda returns home with the licence; Stan and Albert are locked in the Rovers cellar and have free drinks; The gossip on the Street is that Deirdre is pregnant — until she sets the busybodies straight; Ernest and Emily's financial troubles are exacerbated when he is refused a loan by the bank; Ernest agrees to play musical accompaniment to a stripper and Emily walks in whilst she is practising her routine; Len threatens to give Rita the sack and she hits him, knocking him unconscious; Handel returns to the Street and informs Ena that Minnie will be living at Whaley Bridge permanently, whilst Hilda curses her husband and their miserable lives after finding that Stan stole part of the Christmas money. |
1977 |
16 Jan 2006 |
|
1978 |
6 Mar 2006 |
|
1979 |
6 Mar 2006 |
Despite Eddie's well-meaning help, a rat in the café causes Gail distress and Emily customers, and whilst Annie and Deirdre are discussing knitting patterns in the back room, a lorry crashes into the Rovers (and presumably a pram carrying little Tracy); Fred buys a toupée, and Alf lashes out at Annie as a result of his injuries following the lorry crash; Brian marries Gail |
1980s
The 1980s box set was released on 14 November 2005.
Year |
Episodes |
|---|---|
1980 |
Elsie Tanner sets fire to her living room; Gail Tilsley has a baby. |
1981 |
After Emily reports Arnold to the police, he wants them to commit [...] together; Stan, Eddie and Hilda search for their laundry; After spending a night at another man's house, Elsie finds that she has been robbed; Eunice bosses everyone around at the Rovers while Beattie accuses Ken of abandoning Uncle Albert; Hilda suspects Stan has been cheating on her again; Mike is upset that Deirdre is marrying Ken, but does not stop them; Annie is horrified when Bet commandeers the Mr. and Mrs. Rovers contest; Mike no longer has a denim buyer, Audrey infuriates Eunice by letting her know that she thinks Fred is attractive. |
1982 |
Betty Turpin is mugged; Eddie Yeates and Marion get engaged |
1983 |
Deirdre Barlow has an affair with Mike and Ken finds out; the Ogden's 40th wedding anniversary; Len Fairclough dies in a car accident |
1984 |
Elsie's departure; Stan Ogden's funeral |
1985 |
Tracy Barlow runs away; Alf marries Audrey |
1986 |
Rovers fire; the new Rovers; Ken has a punch-up with Mike; Kevin marries Sally |
1987 |
Gail gives birth to Sarah Louise, who is premature; Mavis fears Alan is taking over the Kabin just as he is doing to Rita, and Alan tells Derek and Mavis to mind their business; Mike's new neon sign for the factory keeps everyone awake at night; Susan returns to Mike whilst Alan is shocked to find Alf, Audrey and Mavis intent on stopping his registry-office wedding to Rita; Bet Lynch marries Alec Gilroy; Jack attempts to clean his chimney himself, covering Vera in soot; Ken and Mike nearly come to blows about Susan; Hilda leaves the Street on Christmas Day |
1988 |
Mavis marries Derek; Don marries Ivy; Deirdre's constant council work worries Ken when she cancels a shopping excursion with Tracy; A destitute man holds Deirdre hostage and she escapes into the night |
1989 |
Alan tries to [...] Rita; Alan is killed by a Blackpool tram; Ken Barlow has an affair |
Straight to video
Granada has also produced a number of straight-to-video spin-off productions, which were screened on television only after having been available in shops for some time, as an incentive to buyers. The first "exclusive" tape, released in 1995 featuring a storyline aboard the QE2, caused a legal controversy when it was later broadcast. Subsequent releases have included carefully worded statements concerning future television broadcasting.
Further releases have included a crossover with Emmerdale, and a United States-set special, Viva Las Vegas!, released on VHS in 1999 and screened on ITV the following year. Written by Russell T. Davies (Queer as Folk, The Second Coming, Doctor Who), the special featured a guest cameo from actor Neville Buswell, who was then living in America, briefly reprising his role as Ray Langton.