CORONATION STREET Celebrates Guinness World Record

With the cancellation of AS THE WORLD TURNS, CORONATION STREET has entered the Guinness Book of World Records as the current longest running TV soap in the world. William Roache, who plays Ken Barlow, has also become the world’s longest-running active soap actor.

Both the soap and Roache were presented with awards today, as ITV held a street party on the set of CORRIE to launch the countdown to the program's 50th anniversary in December.

Executive Producer Kieran Roberts said: “These days it’s rare for any drama to run for more than a few years. In fact, back in 1960, CORONATION STREET was originally commissioned for just 13 episodes. Therefore it truly is an extraordinary achievement, that fifty years later, the show which first aired just after The Beatles were formed remains hugely popular in Britain and around the world.”