The Prince of Wales has made a guest
appearance in a near flawless live episode of
Coronation Street, as part of the programme's
40th anniversary celebrations.
The special hour-long drama featured a
pre-recorded clip of him in a television news
bulletin meeting Councillor Audrey Roberts,
played by Sue Nicholls.
The prince, who visited
the programme's set in
Manchester on Friday
morning, was not the
only celebrity making a
cameo appearance -
70s rocker Noddy
Holder and Sir Trevor
McDonald also made a
visit to the Street.
After 40 hours of
rehearsals, the
36-strong cast showed
little sign of nerves and
there were only two or three hiccups during
the first episode not to be pre-recorded since
1961.
Minutes after viewers watched Weatherfield
residents crack open the champagne after a
victory for the Save Our Street campaign - to
save the famous cobbles from being tarmacked
- the cast were able to celebrate for real.
Granada television
bosses were expecting
millions of viewers to
have tuned in to watch
Vera Duckworth, played
by Liz Dawn, make a
miraculous recovery
after rumours spread
that she had died.
Earlier in the day, the Prince had laughed and
joked with actors and production staff as they
prepared for the live broadcast.
He told Ms Dawn: "All of the viewers would be
horrified if you don't wake up."
The Prince was also there to unveil a plaque to
commemorate the ITV show's anniversary.
The plaque was unveiled on a wall next to the
famous Rovers Return pub, but it will
eventually be moved to a green room where
cast members relax between scenes.
He took time out to
enjoy a scotch at the
bar of the Rovers
Return pub, where he
joked with actress
Denise Welch, who
plays landlady Natalie
Barnes.
Eighteen years ago the
Queen paid a similar
visit to the Street,
which broadcast its
first episode on 9
December 1960.
Prince Charles praised the show as "a
wonderful institution in this country".
He promised he would be watching the
episode.
"Having met everybody I understand why
everyone gets so involved in Coronation
Street," he said.
There have been more than 3,500 characters
in the soap since it began, as well as 25 births,
82 deaths and 51 weddings.
The soap began life as a live series but this
was replaced in favour of recordings a year
later.
Prince Charles also met the show's creator,
Tony Warren, and signed a copy of the script
for the live episode, which is being auctioned
next week to raise money for the Manchester
Christie cancer hospital.
Mr Warren said he had
also received a letter
of congratulations on
Friday from Prime
Minister Tony Blair.
Granada Television
spokeswoman Alison
Sinclair said the cast,
who normally film
scenes without
rehearsal, had
welcomed the
challenge of the live
episode.
She said: "Everyone has a real sense of being
involved in television history."
The cast of its BBC rival, EastEnders, sent a
bouquet to the cast of the Street, wishing
them luck for the live transmission.
But one character, Fred Elliot, was absent from
the special, as writers had to make last-minute
changes to the script following the stabbing of
actor John Savident last week.
~*~
Duke's daughters on Christmas card(Electronic Telegraph)
By Robert Hardman
THE Duke and Duchess of York have chosen a holiday photograph of their
daughters as the cover of their Christmas card this year.
Taken by the Duchess during last summer's South of France holiday with the
Duke, the photograph features Princess Beatrice, 12, and Princess Eugenie,
10, standing at the bow of a yacht at sunset. The yacht is believed to belong
to a friend of the Duchess, who captured the scene at the end of a day trip
during their August stay in the Var.
Four years after their divorce, the couple continue to live together, go on
holiday together and send joint Christmas cards. The message inside this
year's reads: "We all hope that the New Year will bring laughter in your heart
and joy in your soul."
The Duchess, an accomplished photographer, is in talks with publishing
houses over a book of her work. None of the photographs will involve royal
people or places. The proceeds will go to charity.