Coronation Street in 1961 1961 was " Coronation Street " ' s second year . Production . A going concern . The extension of " Coronation Street " beyond its first twelve episodes meant that writers other than Tony Warren were needed . Script editor H . V . Kershaw penned Episode 13 as well as the following three , while Harry Driver , Vince Powell , John Finch , Jack Rosenthal and Adele Rose wrote their first scripts for the programme as the year wore on . Storylines were initially devised through informal discussions by Kershaw , Powell , Driver and Finch , which Kershaw and Powell used to deliver briefs to the writers . This process was formalised with the first monthly story conference , involving the entire writing team , taking place in the Spring , and a credit for storyliners Powell and Driver being added to the end credits with Episode 88 on 16th October . Tony Warren remained on the show as a staff writer , penning thirteen further episodes in 1961 . When Warren ' s contract with Granada was up for renewal , he fought for and was granted a creator credit , which initially read ' From an original idea by Tony Warren ' . Warren chose the credit over the option of earning royalties from the programme . In February , a technical dispute at Granada caused transmission of Episode 19 to be postponed to the following Wednesday . As production of the episode wasn ' t affected , this meant that Episode 17 , shown a week earlier , was the last edition shown live . In March , the series moved from its Wednesday and Friday 7 . 00pm slots to Monday and Wednesday at 7 . 30pm , and maintained its schedule shooting episodes as live a week before broadcast . As its popularity rose , " Coronation Street " was taken more seriously by the Bernsteins and its second producer , Derek Granger , was moved onto the programme from his position as Granada ' s Head of Drama by Cecil Bernstein , taking over from Stuart Latham . Starting in the job with Episode 60 , shown on 10th July , Granger was appointed to give the programme " a bit of a bounce " . Over the following months , Granger moved the style of storytelling away from that laid down by Warren - in which episodes were virtually standalone , with scenes functioning like vignettes - and towards having stories unfold over the course of several episodes . A prime example of Granger ' s influence was seen in Elsie Tanner ' s relationship with Bill Gregory , where Elsie tried to determine the author of a poison pen letter reminding her that she was still married . The story culminated in a stand - up row in the Street between Elsie and Ena Sharples . A number of the 102 episodes this year carried no director ' s credit . It has been theorized that producer Stuart Latham directed these episodes , since the lack of a director ' s credit on programmes in this era usually indicated that the producer had also carried out that role . Weatherfield expands . " Coronation Street " ' s cast was in a constant state of flux in its first year , with a regular stream of new characters appearing as the world of Weatherfield was fleshed out . These included Jack and Annie Walker ' s playful son Billy , Albert Tatlock ' s niece Valerie , Leonard Swindley ' s shy assistant Emily Nugent ( then referred to simply as " Miss Nugent " ) , Harry Hewitt ' s drinking buddy Len Fairclough , and Frank Barlow ' s GPO colleague Alf Roberts . Played by Kenneth Farrington , Anne Reid , Eileen Derbyshire , Peter Adamson and Bryan Mosley respectively , these characters all went on to become " Coronation Street " mainstays , in the latter three cases far outstripping the characters they were brought on to support in terms of longevity . Other newcomers included Kenneth Cope as the mischievous Jed Stone , and Eileen Mayers and Angela Crow as Sheila Birtles and Doreen Lostock , younger co - workers of Christine Hardman at Elliston ' s Raincoat Factory who were initially dubbed " the barm cake girls " . The scope of the programme grew , with Elsie ' s workplace Miami Modes making its first appearance , and with it Elsie ' s workmate Dot Greenhalgh , who was recurring until 1969 . Swindley ' s Draperies , Jackson ' s Chip Shop and Snape ' s Cafe ( later Bonarti ' s Continental Cafe ) were seen regularly , with Patricia Routledge appearing as the owner of the latter , Sylvia Snape . Sylvia was intended as a main character but Routledge declined the invitation to continue beyond four episodes . Other notable newcomers included Jean Stark , Norman Dobson and Phil Braithwaite , all of whom moved into Coronation Street and were meant as ongoing characters . Alan Rothwell was the first actor to leave the cast , with his character David Barlow departing for a football career in London . The only actor to leave permanently in 1961 was Noel Dyson , who from the outset had stated her intention not to stay with the programme for long . Dyson made her last appearance in Episode 77 on 6th September , and Ida was killed off in the following episode , being hit by a bus off - screen . As a parting gift to her co - stars , Dyson donated to them an ivy plant , subsequently dubbed " Dear Quatermass " , which was placed in the actors ' green room . Among the cast , a belief rose that if the plant ever died , so would the programme . This belief has perpetuated to this day and the plant and its cuttings have been carefully tendered ever since . Location filming took place in Blackpool for " Coronation Street " ' s first outdoor shoot in May , for Episode 46 ( 22nd May 1961 ) . The location sequences , totalling four minutes of screen time , were filmed without dialogue and broadcast with an accompanying specially - commissioned arrangement of an incidental music soundtrack of " " played on the piano . Location filming remained a rare occurrence for the next few years ; when the characters returned to Blackpool in October , back projection was used for scenes on the coach and on the pier . Public and press reactions . " Coronation Street " was immediately popular in the north , which remained its ratings stronghold after it was fully networked despite receiving huge audiences throughout the country . In 1961 , Norman Frisby was appointed as the programme ' s publicity manager , arranging press interviews and charity events . As " Coronation Street " was based in Manchester , far removed from Hollywood and even London , members of the public weren ' t used to seeing actors in the flesh and huge crowds turned out to see them at appearances . Actors became used to being treated as if they were their characters and developed their own ways of coping ; when switching on the Blackpool illuminations , Violet Carson sported a very different ( and much more glamorous ) appearance than viewers were used to in order to convey to onlookers that she was there as herself , and not Ena Sharples . Meanwhile , the polarising opinions on the show from the press continued . On 27th June , Mary Crozier from " " made her often - misquoted prediction that the programme , " looks like running forever " in a general view of " Granadaland " in which she praised the programmes " authenticity " and the " tremendous care " with which it was made . " The Times " first mentioned the programme in a rather snooty review of on - going serials in television in general in its issue of 1st August when its unnamed " correspondent " said : Equity actors ' strike . On 1st November , a pay dispute between Equity , the actors ' union , and ITV , resulted in strike action . The result was that no new contracts could be signed until an agreement was reached . Many ITV programmes were off the air for the duration of the strike , and the channel was denied almost all home - grown dramas but , luckily for " Coronation Street " , many of its principal cast had signed year - long contracts in the summer which by law had to be honoured , and thus it was able to carry on . The characters remaining at the end of the year were Annie Walker , Jack Walker , Albert Tatlock , Elsie Tanner , Dennis Tanner , Len Fairclough , Harry Hewitt , Concepta Hewitt , Ena Sharples , Minnie Caldwell , Martha Longhurst , Ken Barlow , Frank Barlow and Florrie Lindley . Others appeared for as long as contracts allowed ; some who were on weekly contracts instantly vanished , including Bill Gregory , Jean Stark , Norman Dobson and Phil Braithwaite . The majority of the main characters who disappeared , such as Christine Hardman , Leonard Swindley and Esther Hayes , were kept in limbo until the strike was over . Only Linda and Ivan Cheveski and their son Paul were actually written out , due to Anne Cunningham ' s desire to leave the programme . The Cheveski s emigrated to Canada in December , returning occasionally thereafter . Left with fourteen characters and no guest cast , " Coronation Street " ' s storylines were massively restricted during the strike period , but the upshot of the dispute was that , by remaining on the air , it was consistently at the very top of the ratings and its popularity became assured . Viewing figures . As the year progressed , all UK ITV regions picked up " Coronation Street " , with ATV in the Midlands the last , first showing it on 6th March ( although Westward Television declined to show the programme in the first month after their launch in April ) . That episode was the first to chart inside the national top ten . As " Coronation Street " started in December of 1960 , only the last month of the year can be directly compared with the previous year ; that attained a figure nearly double that of December 1960 ' s average . The average rating was 13 . 05 million viewers , while the most - watched episode , Episode 101 on 29th November , was viewed in 7 . 491 million homes / 16 . 48 million viewers . With its popularity rising steadily ( Episode 8 , the first episode of the year , drew its lowest audience figure ) , the programme first reached the No . 1 spot with Episode 73 on 23rd August . A further 12 episodes reached the top . Who lives where . Coronation Street Mawdsley Street Others Awards and nominations . Daily Mirror National TV Awards