Producer Kate Oates says she’d love one in Weatherfield – but feels it’s a no-no
Coronation Street boss Kate Oates says she would love to have a launderette in Weatherfield – but feels the ITV soap could never have one, as it’s so closely associated with EastEnders.
The producer was speaking at an event to unveil Coronation Street’s expanded exterior set, which will see a continuation of the fictional Victoria Street. Show bosses have spent three years developing the site, which will boast businesses including a Costa Coffee shop, Co-op, snooker hall, tattoo parlour, and Zeedan Nazir’s new restaurant, Speed Daal.
Asked if there were any shops that were considered and rejected, Kate said: “Yes there were, for various reasons. You’re thinking about different precincts that people cross, so we had lots of ‘What about this?’ and ‘What about that?’ and there were some that didn’t feel right. It’s interesting, because you think about what’s synonymous with other soap operas and other shows, and you think ‘Well, we can’t have one of those.’”
She added: “One of the things I’m always jealous of is Albert Square’s launderette, so something like that. You can never have one of those, because it’s so EastEnders. Everything here has to have its own identity, but this (the Victoria Street expansion) absolutely does. It feels very northern, very Manchester, very true to corrie, and feels like it has been here forever. It doesn't feel new, and I think that’s an amazing balance that they’ve struck; it’s very skilful.’
The new set, coined "wider Weatherfield" will also have a police station, tram stop and an urban garden, where there will be a memorial bench in memory of Corrie superfan Martyn Hett and all those who lost their lives in the Manchester Arena bomb last May.
