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Albion Market

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Albion Market
StarringSee below
No. of series1
No. of episodes100
Production
ProducerGranada Television
Running time30 minutes
Original release
NetworkITV
Release30 August 1985 –
24 August 1986
Related
Coronation Street

Albion Market was a short-lived British soap opera, set in a covered market in Salford in the northwest of England. It was intended as a companion to Coronation Street on ITV.[citation needed]

History

Albion Market launched in August 1985, four months before Coronation Street celebrated its 25th anniversary. Granada Studios dubbed it a "continuing drama series", considering the term "soap opera" derogatory.[citation needed] The show ran twice weekly on Friday and Sunday night; at the time, 7.00pm on Fridays and Sundays were considered "graveyard slots", usually broadcasting game shows or American imports. Very quickly the Sunday episodes were moved back to around 6.00pm, while LWT dropped the Friday episode and instead broadcast a double bill around 5.00pm on Sundays.

At launch the chairman of Granada claimed that "When Coronation Street celebrates its Golden anniversary, Albion Market will be celebrating its silver anniversary..."[1] Despite this, the show lasted for only one year.

The show received negative reviews from critics and did not do well in the ratings. Despite attempts to encourage viewing figures by bringing in Coronation Street actor Antony Booth and 1960s singer Helen Shapiro, the ratings did not improve and the show ended after 100 episodes.

For many years the outdoor with its distinctive arch-shaped Albion Market sign above the River Irwell remained intact. When the Granada Tours Experience was closed in 1999, the sign was removed, and the building which was once Albion Market was sold. It now forms part of the Victoria and Albert Hotel.

Cast

Character Actor/Actress
Mrs. Naylor Avis Bunnage
Keith Naylor Derek Hicks
Jenny Rebecca Lock
Sean Ellison David Phelan
Viv Harker Helen Shapiro
Debbie Taylor Jane Hazlegrove
Peggy Sagar Paula Jacobs
Paul O'Donnell Paul Beringer
Derek Owen David Hargreeves
Ly Nhu Chan Pik-Sen Lim
Geoff Travis Geoffrey Leesley
Lynne Harrison Noreen Kershaw
Barbara Owen Lill Roughley
Collette Harrison Nimmy March
Lisa O'Shea Sally Baxter
Louise Todd Kelly Lawrence
Mary Marie Jelliman
Colin Arnold Andy Rashleigh
Simon Walker Henry Moxon
Dermot Thornburgh Arthur Kelly
Morris Ransome Bernard Spear
Miriam Ransome Carol Kaye
Raju Sharma Dev Sagoo
Jaz Sharma Paul Bhattacharjee
Gregory Duane Mills
Brenda Rigg Valerie Lilley
Larry Rigg Peter Benson
Carol Broadbent Barbara Wilshere
Phil Smith Burt Caesar
Ted Pilkington Anthony Booth
Roy Harrison Jonathan Barlow
Billy Nicholls Liam Flannery
Ralph Jessup Howard Lloyd-Lewis
Tony Fraser John Michie
Mr. Dickinson Martin Oldfield
Maureen Nicholls Linda Polan
Lam Quoc Hoa Philip Tan
Ralph Friend David Boyce
Janet Owen Hetta Charnley
Anita Rai Souad Faress
Sita Sharma Seeta Indrani
Narya Vyas Rashid Karapiet
Carrie Jane Karen
Susha Sharma Jamila Massey

References