Seeing The Set

[RitaLittlewood]

Anyone been, either the old studio tour or from the Museum of Science and Industry behind (before they blocked the view)? Post your pics and tell your stories here.

I finally managed to get to Manchester in September 2000 when I attended a Dr Who convention. Didn't realise it at the time but Granada was no more than 15 mins walk away from the Palace Hotel where I was staying. So in 2002 I talked Graham into coming with me and we went exploring because it was the most boring convention EVER. Course being a weekend everything was shut. It was pissing down on the Saturday and the only half decent pic which came out was this one:



The Sunday Graham and I had 3 hours in the afternoon where we were doing nothing so returned to the museum. Across the road in the other part, it said in the booklet, was a Dr Who exhibition. That was a waste of time. LOL! Much better weather.









So that's mine. I didn't go back to catch the cast on the Monday morning because I couldn't be bothered. I had to be at the bus station not long after 9am and so breakfast and stuff was more important.

Patsy

[sallywebster]

Well ive been to Manchester 9 times in total now with the last visit being on 2 days ago

First time was August 1994 and I went on the Granada Studio tour with my sister. I was 13 at the time and so excited to set foot on those famous cobbles. I remember we went in the Rovers return, got a backstage tour and saw some of the sets like the cafe and the websters (although these were just replicas for the tours), but the highlight was walking down the street itself and phoning my mum from the phone box in the street. Two years later in October 1996 we went again and had another great day. I remember getting a couple of the Corrie videos (and other Corrie items like keyrings, pens) from the Coronation Street shop which was situated where the medical centre is now.

Didnt visit Manchester again until 2005 - went twice that year in March and August. In March I took some pics from the science museum but they didnt come out very well - I took more in the August and they came out better. Here are some;





Also here is where the cast come out of the studios - you can see the Street set and the museum behind in the distance.



My next visit in July 2006 was when I first met a member of the cast - Betty Driver was the very first member I met.

I really hope one day Granada start the tours again but I think its very unlikely.

[RitaLittlewood]

Blimey that's more than I've been to Coventry (5). They were building flats opposite the studio when I was last there. Building something anyway. That poor plastic paper lad is still outside the Kabin. LOL!

I do like thes pics. Shatters the illusions.

Patsy

[sallywebster]

Yeah they had finished them by the time I went a year last January and finally re-opened the road down past where the plaques are on the wall. 2002 you were last there wasnt it? In the Aug 2005 pics you can see the building work was still going on. It was a right mess there for a few years. Apparently Antony Cotton lives in one of those new flats now but im not sure if thats 100% right - just what a fan said outside.

LOL! True.

Talking of the plaques I do like them as well - a nice tribute to the cast sadly no longer with us.

[RitaLittlewood]

Wouldn't surprise me. But does he greet the paupers?

I like the plaques too. Just a shame mine were a bit blurry. It's damn dark there. Is it worse now with those flats?

Patsy

[Nick]

i think I have told you about when I went in 1982...it was just after the new set had been built and first used on screen..myself and 2 friends (Richard and Janet) went along and saw the set from the street...then we just followed the road round..there was no gates and no security we just walked onto the street ..we stood by the lampost outside what is now the health centre and Cheryl Murray (Suzie Birchall) and Veronica Doran (Marion Yeats)were filming a scene the camera was on a track going down the street filming Cheryl as she walked down the street with a box of cakes to take to the corner shop and Marion Yeats came out of number 11 (when we saw it broadcast about 6 weeks later she was taking them back because they had gone off)

sadly i didnt get any pics..as it was just on the off chance we got in

[sallywebster]

WOW that must have been so cool Nick. So if you were by what is now the health centre which direction did you walk onto the set from? Amazing to think there was no security in those days - in the last few years they have had extra CCTV cameras installed.

[RitaLittlewood]

You jammy sod. Better memory than seeing a load of of buildings from crappy windows.

Patsy

[Nick]

We first saw the set from Quay Street by the main Granada building..then we walked along the back of the viaduct turned right down behind what was then the community centre and Baldwins casuals and Right again and walked onto the set on Rosamund street where Victoria Street and Roys Rolls is now (there was nothing there then it was just open ground)...we ummed and ahhed a bit..then decided to be bold and just walked in..Mikes red jag was parked at the side of the factory set (which was just a frontage)

[CG Wendy]

You lucky lot. I`d give up my new flat screen monitor for a chance to go and see the set - even at a distance.
Na...on second thoughts I probably wouldn`t be allowed in Manchester the amount of times I`ve slagged off certain actors. And I wouldn`t be able to get close to 'Liam' as Nick and Jez would elbow me out of the way LOL
;D

[CG Wendy]

Jez...what are all those cranes for?....(the ones close by the Granada studios in the pic you posted) To pick up Reets hefty paycheque or to pick up 'Tony Tulley'? My word he`s put on a few pounds lately. When he was running after Vi and Jamie on Friday as they were leaving, his flab was flying everywhere. I almost lost my supper.

[CG Wendy]

I think he`s auditioning for a remake of 'Home Alone'. And I thought black was supposed to be slimming

[RitaLittlewood]

They were clearly more lax back then, Nick. Wasn't the age of nutjob stalkers like now. Well there were a FEW obviously like nut DW fans but I expect the vast majority they encountered were politeness personified.

Bit of both, CG. Reet's paycheque when she's actually there and Ms Cotton all the time!

Black slimming? That's what Colin Baker always says and he still looks pregnant. Doesn't work on Reet either. Maybe if there was a black background as well no one would notice.

LOL! Macauley Culkin he ain't!

Patsy

[sallywebster]

blanche said:

We first saw the set from Quay Street by the main Granada building..then we walked along the back of the viaduct turned right down behind what was then the community centre and Baldwins casuals and Right again and walked onto the set on Rosamund street where Victoria Street and Roys Rolls is now (there was nothing there then it was just open ground)...we ummed and ahhed a bit..then decided to be bold and just walked in..Mikes red jag was parked at the side of the factory set (which was just a frontage)

Amazing to think only 25 years ago you could just walk on like that without anyone batting an eye lid. One of the times I was outside by the gates someone stepped a few yards inside and the security immediately told them to get back.

During the Mid 1990s when I went on the studio tours the area where Roys Rolls etc is now was a replica of Baker Street as Sherlock Holmes was also a Granada show I believe. They also had the outside of the shop shown in kids show "Sooty and Co" which I used to watch when I was little as again that was made by Granada. I think that was the real one they actually used for filming though. The main tour took place in the big warehouse building immediately behind the health centre. I went in that building in 2006 when I was in the studio audience for a Granada show.

[sallywebster]

ritalittlewood said:

Wouldn't surprise me. But does he greet the paupers?

I like the plaques too. Just a shame mine were a bit blurry. It's damn dark there. Is it worse now with those flats?

Patsy

I dont think its any worse but its still a very dark area on those steps as the big Granada building shades you. Handy in summer when its really hot and you can escape the sun for 5 minutes!

Jez...what are all those cranes for?....(the ones close by the Granada studios in the pic you posted) To pick up Reets hefty paycheque or to pick up 'Tony Tulley'? My word he`s put on a few pounds lately. When he was running after Vi and Jamie on Friday as they were leaving, his flab was flying everywhere. I almost lost my supper.

LMAO CG! They were doing building work on luxary flats and it all looks a lot nicer now than in those pics. Apparently Cotton lives in one of them though so you could well be correct

As for Liam - too right. I made sure I got him and we were alone this time not with what seemed like 20 screaming girls around him

[RitaLittlewood]

Yes. How times have changed and for the worse.

I had a Sooty and Sweep about 30 years ago. They were glove puppets. Sweep has a thing inside you squeezed to make him squeak but it never worked properly. I always prefered Sweep but then I loved anything doggy. You're making me feel damn old now! LOL!

It's a stupid place really for those plaques. You can easily walk past and not see them.

Patsy

[CG Wendy]

lol it took me ages to get that shot of AC just right. I took a screen capture of Fridays Corrie episodes.
Yayyy I`ll be getting the 60`s episodes of Corrie in a few weeks. I can`t wait!!! I`ve already watched the 70`s and 80`s episodes 2 times each already.
Seeing those pics that you all took gave me as much excitement as if I`d been there myself the pictures were so perfect and crystal clear. Thank you all so much for posting them.

[RitaLittlewood]

Woo hoo! Must find mine. LOL!

Can you do one of Reet and her smooth-as-a-baby's-bum face for Amy to see? She's desperate.

God he is abysmal. Even it that. He's definitely the new KF - rammed down throats, can't act and kept on!

I'm glad I saw what I did now the scum have blocked it. Better than nothing. Graham is such a misery with no interest in Corrie and only came along because he had nothing better to do. He actually thanked me though on the Sunday because he'd enjoyed himself. I was shocked. LOL!

Patsy

[CG Wendy]

Was Reet in Fridays episode? I can`t remember lol. As soon as I see her I`ll take a screen cap for ya.

[CG Wendy]

I found one from 15th Feb

[sallywebster]

ritalittlewood said:

Yes. How times have changed and for the worse.

I had a Sooty and Sweep about 30 years ago. They were glove puppets. Sweep has a thing inside you squeezed to make him squeak but it never worked properly. I always prefered Sweep but then I loved anything doggy. You're making me feel damn old now! LOL!

It's a stupid place really for those plaques. You can easily walk past and not see them.

Patsy

I preferred Sweep too. I loved the way he squeaked. When I watched it they had already introduced Soo.

True. But where else could they put them?

[sallywebster]

corriegirl said:

Was Reet in Fridays episode? I can`t remember lol. As soon as I see her I`ll take a screen cap for ya.

She wasnt CG. She hasnt been seen for 2 weeks now

[RitaLittlewood]

Oh fab, CG. I'll tell Amy! ;D She's away at the moment but will be back tomorrow I think. She tells me nothing. LOL! She's really getting into Reet and Norris though from what was on YouTube and adores Norris. I'll point out the error of her ways very soon. My DVD combi HATES modern Reet. Old stuff plays. New stuff jumps. I think it's protesting. LOL! I've done my best, as she wanted the proposal too though has to wait for her DVD.

Patsy

[RitaLittlewood]

I think Soo was it when I started watching but never liked her. I vaguely remember Harry Corbett which shows my age again. I'm going to hibernate. May slow down the passage of time. LOL!

On the front on the building?

Patsy

[sallywebster]

It was Matthew when I watched. I liked Soo - she was always very clever though wasnt she.

Yes but there isnt really anywhere suitable as its all windows - its the perfect place by the steps up to the enterance just wish it was a bit lighter!