Albion Market
Encyclopedia
Albion Market was a short-lived British soap opera, intended as a companion to Coronation Street
on ITV
.
Coronation Street, ITV's perennial soap opera, celebrated its 25th anniversary in December 1985. Granada TV
launched Albion Market in August of that year, six months after the BBC's EastEnders
. Albion Market was a "continuing drama series" - Granada TV had always refused to use the term "soap opera", considering it derogatory - that was set in a covered market in Salford
, a city with a direct border across the River Irwell
with Manchester
, in the northwest of England
. At launch the chairman of Granada claimed that "When Coronation Street celebrates its Golden anniversary, Albion Market will be celebrating its silver anniversary..." However, the show lasted for only one year.
The show ran twice weekly on Friday and Sunday night; at the time, 7.00pm on Fridays and Sundays were considered "graveyard slot
s", usually broadcasting American imports or British game shows such as Play Your Cards Right
. The critics disliked it, and the viewing public were simply indifferent, despite an attempt to re-launch it by bringing in veteran television actor Anthony Booth
and 60's singer Helen Shapiro
. After exactly 100 episodes, the market closed.
For many years the outdoor set, complete with its distinctive arch-shaped Albion Market sign, perched regally over the River Irwell, could be spotted from Bridge Street in Salford. When the Granada Tours Experience was closed in 1999, the sign was removed, and the building which was once Albion Market now forms part of the Victoria and Albert Hotel.
Coronation Street
Coronation Street is a British soap opera set in Weatherfield, a fictional town in Greater Manchester based on Salford. Created by Tony Warren, Coronation Street was first broadcast on 9 December 1960...
on ITV
ITV
ITV is the major commercial public service TV network in the United Kingdom. Launched in 1955 under the auspices of the Independent Television Authority to provide competition to the BBC, it is also the oldest commercial network in the UK...
.
Coronation Street, ITV's perennial soap opera, celebrated its 25th anniversary in December 1985. Granada TV
Granada Television
Granada Television is the ITV contractor for North West England. Based in Manchester since its inception, it is the only surviving original ITA franchisee from 1954 and is ITV's most successful....
launched Albion Market in August of that year, six months after the BBC's EastEnders
EastEnders
EastEnders is a British television soap opera, first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC One on 19 February 1985 and continuing to today. EastEnders storylines examine the domestic and professional lives of the people who live and work in the fictional London Borough of Walford in the East End...
. Albion Market was a "continuing drama series" - Granada TV had always refused to use the term "soap opera", considering it derogatory - that was set in a covered market in Salford
City of Salford
The City of Salford is a city and metropolitan borough of Greater Manchester, England. It is named after its largest settlement, Salford, but covers a far larger area which includes the towns of Eccles, Swinton-Pendlebury, Walkden and Irlam which apart from Irlam each have a population of over...
, a city with a direct border across the River Irwell
River Irwell
The River Irwell is a long river which flows through the Irwell Valley in the counties of Lancashire and Greater Manchester in North West England. The river's source is at Irwell Springs on Deerplay Moor, approximately north of Bacup, in the parish of Cliviger, Lancashire...
with Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, in the northwest of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. At launch the chairman of Granada claimed that "When Coronation Street celebrates its Golden anniversary, Albion Market will be celebrating its silver anniversary..." However, the show lasted for only one year.
The show ran twice weekly on Friday and Sunday night; at the time, 7.00pm on Fridays and Sundays were considered "graveyard slot
Graveyard slot
A graveyard slot is a time period in which a television audience is very small compared to other times of the day, and therefore broadcast programming is considered far less important. Graveyard slots are usually in the early morning hours of each day, when most people are asleep...
s", usually broadcasting American imports or British game shows such as Play Your Cards Right
Play Your Cards Right
Play Your Cards Right is a British television game show based on the American show known as Card Sharks. The gameplay was basically the same as in the American version.-Broadcast History:...
. The critics disliked it, and the viewing public were simply indifferent, despite an attempt to re-launch it by bringing in veteran television actor Anthony Booth
Anthony Booth
Antony George Booth is an English actor, best known for his role as Mike Rawlins in the BBC series Till Death Us Do Part. His daughter, Cherie, a prominent Queen's Counsel, is married to former Prime Minister Tony Blair...
and 60's singer Helen Shapiro
Helen Shapiro
Helen Kate Shapiro is an English singer and actress. She is best known for her 1960s UK chart toppers, "You Don't Know" and "Walkin' Back to Happiness".-Early life:...
. After exactly 100 episodes, the market closed.
For many years the outdoor set, complete with its distinctive arch-shaped Albion Market sign, perched regally over the River Irwell, could be spotted from Bridge Street in Salford. When the Granada Tours Experience was closed in 1999, the sign was removed, and the building which was once Albion Market now forms part of the Victoria and Albert Hotel.
External links
- Albion Market on-line feature
- http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/5126