The Coronation Street set has had a massive expansion, with a new Weatherfield Precinct unveiled today.
The location has often been name-checked in the popular soap, but for the first time, cast members will be able to film scenes there.
The set won’t hit our screens until 13 January – but The Manc headed down for a little sneak peek.
The two-storey Weatherfield Precinct set is built around a children’s play park, with a row of shops carefully constructed by the Coronation Street set designers.
There’s everything from a charity shop to a Chinese takeaway to a dessert bar.
ADVERTISEMENT
Above the shops sits a row of maisonettes with a balcony running in front.
Credit: The Manc Group
There’s incredible attention to detail throughout, from the litter on the floor (which includes a packet of a fictitious crisp brand) to the fake sausage rolls in the bakery windows to the washing lines nailed to the walls.
ADVERTISEMENT
Everything has been deliberately weathered and aged, so it looks like it’s been there for decades rather than carefully built in 2022.
The new Weatherfield Precinct set was unveiled today by members of the cast including Jack P Shepherd, Sally Dynevor, Antony Cotton, Jimmi Harkishin, Daniel Brocklebank, Channique Sterling-Brown, Elle Mulvaney, Tanisha Gorey, James Craven and Colson Smith.
Coronation Street cast opening Weatherfield Precinct. Credit: ITV Plc
It’s been added as an extension to the existing iconic set, which spans 7.7 acres near MediaCityUK.
ADVERTISEMENT
Producer Iain MacLeod said: “Hats off to our design and construction teams who have conjured a totally convincing new precinct for our drama! They took their inspiration from Salford’s many real-world, late 20th century shopping areas and what they have created is a brilliant, characterful space to tell a diverse range of stories.
“Expect to see teens hanging out at the dessert shop, families enjoying the play area and, after dark, a rogues’ gallery, up to shady business in the ginnels. I am really excited by the arrival on screen of this much discussed but never seen corner of the Weatherfield universe.”
Head of design Rosie Mullins explained the process: “Back in 2013 Coronation Street moved into its new home at Media City. With this move came exciting potential to continue to develop and expand our Weatherfield Community onsite.
“The first expansion came in the form of Victoria Street and Weatherfield Police Station builds back in 2018.
“In February 2021 I set about the first pencil drawings for a very exciting new exterior build – Weatherfield Precinct. We have often heard about this precinct and although we have filmed over the years at a range of shopping locations, we had never established our own Weatherfield Precinct.
ADVERTISEMENT
“It had always intrigued me – what would it look like and who would we find there? The opportunity to bring to life a colourful and grittier area of Weatherfield was so exciting!
“Weatherfield Precinct was inspired by the 1960s shopping precincts that we see across many areas of the UK. In designing this the team gathered hundreds of images with a particular focus given to those in our local Manchester and Salford area. I wanted there to be aspects of the Precinct that people from all walks of life identify with and recognise. I wanted it to reflect how communities develop but aspects of them can also feel like stepping back in time.
“In this Precinct we find an array of businesses, a playground, residential flats, a small ginnel, Weatherfield community hub and a very colourful community recycling centre.
“Working with Iain on what the writing team needs from the Precinct has meant that we have managed to pack so much into this new set! I cannot wait to see the arrival onscreen of Sweety Nuff dessert & milkshake shop, Gregory Pope Foundation Charity Shop, Rutlands bakery, Pound Outlet and Bargainanza Pawnbrokers.
“The most incredible part of this has been watching this build rise from a small car park with a mass of ugly steel, concrete and timber to the beautifully constructed, characterful 1960s 2 storey precinct that we see today.
ADVERTISEMENT
“This build has been one of the most enjoyable builds that we have undertaken and showcases the many behind the scenes talents that the programme has to offer. I am incredibly proud of the detail, the quality of the build and for what it offers for future storytelling for the show. I am also so very proud of how it was brought to life by our in-house talented Design Team.”
Featured image: The Manc Grop
TV & Showbiz
All the major Manchester locations used in Netflix’s Missing You
Daisy Jackson
Netflix and Harlan Coben thrillers have become bosom pals in recent years, and they love nothing more than to use Manchester as a filming location for all that action.
The popular streaming platform was back in town last year filming Missing You, a series that has immediately shot to the top-watched list since its release.
The eagle-eyed among you may have spotted more than a few familiar sights, with filming for Missing You taking place all over Manchester city centre and beyond.
You might also have spotted a few places that look familiar but not quite right, thanks to a bit of CGI rearranging the city.
Believe it or not, this is the ninth time that Netflix has adapted one of Harlan Coben’s books, and this is the third time they’ve filmed in Manchester.
Set to release on 1 January 2025, Missing You stars Rosalind Eleazar in the lead role as Kat Donovan, a detective specialising in Missing Persons.
Starring alongside other big British names like Ashley Walters, Richard Armitage, Sir Lenny Henry; Steve Pemberton, Jessica Plummer and James Nesbitt, the series is once again produced by Quay Street Productions (part of ITV Studios).
As the thrilling series goes on, you’ll see scenes like a meeting in Manchester Art Gallery, a tense conversation at Ancoats Marina, and even more tension (the whole thing is honestly quite tense) beneath the Pomona Island tram stop.
There are also a few scenes that take place on a band stand in a park, with Deansgate Square in the background. What the hell park is this, you ask? It’s actually Sefton Park in Liverpool, with our skyline edited in.
Trafford Town hall also doubles up as a police station in Missing You, again with the Manchester skyline added into the background.
Our heroic main character’s apartment is slap bang in the heart of Castlefield, and even the opening scene shows the familiar sight of a bustling Edge Street.
How many locations did you spot in Missing You?
Manchester Art Gallery
Manchester Art Gallery in Missing You. Credit: Netflix
Ancoats Marina
Missing You used Ancoats Marina as one of its filming locations. Credit: Netflix
Pomona Island
Pomona Island. Credit: Netflix
Edge Street
Edge Street in the Northern Quarter in Missing You. Credit: Netflix
Castle Armoury, Bury
Castle Armoury, Bury
Trafford Town Hall
Trafford Town Hall in Missing You on Netflix
Mason’s Restaurant in Manchester Hall
Mason’s. Credit: Netflix
Castlefield
Castlefield in Missing You, Netflix.
Featured image: Netflix
TV & Showbiz
Jake Quickenden to star in stage version of cult classic British comedy, Rita, Sue and Bob Too!
Danny Jones
The original stage play version of classic UK comedy, Rita, Sue and Bob Too!, is coming to Greater Manchester this February and it’s set to star Jake Quickenden in a leading role.
Released as a feature-length back in 1987, the cult favourite film set in North Yorkshire is still considered one of the most quintessentially British and incisive ‘dramedies’ ever made, depicting a very unfiltered and poignant look at working-class life during the Thatcher years.
The story has been brought to the theatre many times before, including down the road in Salford Quays, but this latest series of stage shows marks the first time Rita, Sue and Bob Too! the play is heading to this particular borough.
With a healthy slate of tour dates across the country, the Regal Entertainments production and recognisable cast is coming to Stockport for multiple nights next month.
Adapting the original semi-autobiographical play text by Bradford‘s very own Andrea Dunbar – where the tale takes place and whose upbringing the events revolve around – with direction from Chantelle Nolan, this is one of the biggest live productions of Rita, Sue and Bob Too! ever.
Speaking ahead of the nationwide tour, Nolan says: “After over 20 years of producing brilliant entertainment in St Helens and in Liverpool, Regal Entertainments has developed a touring department, and we can’t wait to share our five-star productions with new audiences across the UK.”
“We’re very proud to attract the top stars from the worlds of theatre, film and TV to star in our productions […] Dunbar’s cult classic film was originally a hit play, and we know that it’s a show that you can see time and time again and still be rolling in the aisles with laughter, we are incredibly pleased with the ticket sales so far.”
As well as the former X-Factor, I’m A Celeb, Hollyoaks and Dancing on Ice star in the leading role as Bob, other names on the call sheet include Jessica Ellis (also seen on Hollyoaks), Shameless and Coronation Street‘s Warren Donnelly, as well as ex-Britain’s Got Talent contestant, Siobhan Phillips.
As for the other two leads, Liverpool-born comic Kay Nicholson is starring as Rita and Lancashire actor Jenna Sian O’Hara as Sue. In case you’ve never seen or heard anything about it before, without spoiling anything, the two young schoolgirls get themselves into some rather adult circumstances.
Strictly an 18+ performance, the Stockport show is one of just a small handful of North West runs, set to take place at the iconic art deco theatre that is The Plaza from Tuesday, 18-Saturday, 22 February.
As for Quickenden, the 36-year-old added: “I’m delighted to be joining the brilliant cast of Rita, Sue and Bob Too! Regal Entertainments have a fantastic reputation for producing exciting entertainment in Merseyside and I can’t wait to take the show all over the UK.
“Andrea Dunbar’s play is a classic and I can’t wait to play Bob.” If you’ve not come across it before, maybe ask your mum and dad or perhaps a grandparent – we’re sure they’ll fill you in…
Daisy Jackson -
1st December 2022 
