Coronation Street Live (2000 episode)
| Episode 4945 | |
|---|---|
| Coronation Street episode | |
| Directed by | Tony Prescott |
| Written by | Peter Whalley |
| Original air date | 8 December 2000 |
| Running time | 60 minutes (including commercials) |
| Guest appearances | |
Coronation Street Live is a live episode of the British soap opera Coronation Street which was broadcast on Friday 8 December 2000 as part of the show's 40th anniversary celebrations. The episode was an hour long and aired at 8:00pm. It aired one hour after a repeat of the first episode, and included an introduction by actor William Roache from the soap's outdoor set, where last-minute preparations for the live episode were under way. The episode was number 4945 in the series and was the first live edition to be broadcast since Episode 17, which aired on 3 February 1961. It was seen by 17 million viewers.
Scenes for the episode were broadcast live from the Coronation Street outdoor set and the Stage One studio complex next door. The episode charted the events of a single day. However, because transmission was during the hours of darkness, all scenes set outdoors appeared near the beginning or end of the programme. Scenes meant to be set during the daytime were studio based.
The episode is notable for an appearance by Charles, Prince of Wales who visited the show's Manchester-based studios earlier in the day and met cast members. Footage of him meeting actress Sue Nicholls was incorporated into the storyline following prior agreement with the Prince's staff; this is the only part of the episode which was pre-recorded.