Dramatic live episode

15m watch Corrie celebrate 50 years...

10:29 10 December 2010

15 million viewers tuned in to watch Coronation Street celebrate its 50th anniversary in an explosive live episode, shown last night.

Fans tuned in to the longest running soap to find out which beloved regulars faced an untimely end and who else was fighting for their lives.

Despite some actors admitting to being extremely nervous about the hour long live episode, it went with hardly a hitch – the week long preparation paying dividends.

Viewers were left glued to their screens as it was announced that butcher Ashley Peacock had died as the roof of The Joinery collapsed on him whilst trying to save Nick Tilsley and Peter Barlow.

Peter was rushed to hospital, where he told fiancé Leanne Battersby that he wanted to marry her right there and then – in case he wouldn’t recover. The episode ended with Barlow going in to cardiac arrest after completing the marriage ceremony. Fans are now left wondering if he will survive.

Another name added to the death toll was Molly Dobbs, who was left trapped under rubble in the Corner Shop.

She left unsuspecting Sally Webster a parting gift, however, when she revealed the true identity of baby JackÂ’s father: Kevin Webster.

The audience saw a glimmer of hope in the form of Fiz and John StapeÂ’s new baby girl, who arrived safely despite being born three months premature.

Murderer John found himself compelled to bury stalker CharlotteÂ’s body amongst the rubble, however, which still remained in his home. He managed to drag her to an ideal spot, only to later be told by a passing policewoman that Charlotte was in fact still alive.

With the death toll rising and no one realising Rita Sugden is still trapped in her shop, FridayÂ’s dramatic conclusion will surely have the nation on the edge of its seat.

Although remaining professional all the way through, some eagle-eyed viewers spotted some mistakes within the episode, namely Sally being told she had to wear a hard helmet but never being seen with one, a nurse calling John and Fiz’s baby a boy and wheelchair–bound Izzy Armstrong rising from her chair.

Catch the final episode in the week-long special tonight at 7.30pm and 8.30pm.