50th ANNIVERSARY OF CORONATION STREET

That this House wishes to congratulate all those involved in the production of Coronation Street both in front and behind the cameras on the occasion of the programme's 50th anniversary on 9 December 2010; notes that as the world's longest running television drama, Coronation Street has remained at the heart of ITV's schedule for five decades with 7,487 episodes; pays special tribute to its creator Tony Warren and actor William Roache who has played Ken Barlow for 50 years and holds the Guinness Book of Records title for the world's longest serving soap star; further notes that it is the most accomplished, successful and critically-acclaimed drama serial on British television having sustained consistently high ratings and award-winning performances throughout its 50 years and is screened in more than 40 countries including Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Ireland, Morocco, Taiwan, South Africa, Estonia and Poland; and wishes the programme continued success in the years ahead.