THE DEFINITIVE HISTORY OF CORONATION STREET NOW IN PAPERBACK. Coronation Street was reluctantly commissioned in 1960 as a twice-weekly stop-gap until a new programme could be found to fill its airtime. Half a century later, the gritty working class serial broadcasts five times per week and remains one of the television schedules' biggest ratings-pullers. Sean Egan has been granted access to the show's creators, producers, directors, writers and actors. With their aid, he has constructed a fascinating account of how Coronation Street became the most successful drama in the history of UK television. Acclaim for 50 Years of Coronation Street: The (Very) Unofficial Story. "An invaluable guide to the making of a television classic" - Michael Cox, former Coronation Street director and producer. "It rings very true, and there are some fascinating quotes from many old colleagues. A remarkable piece of work" - John Finch, former Coronation Street scriptwriter and producer. "Diligent and astonishingly detailed research has led to an absorbing narrative" - Stan Barstow, author of A Kind of Loving, former Coronation Street consultant. "Extremely accurate in its detail" - coronationstreet.wikia. com. "Lively unofficial history" - Financial Times. Londoner Sean Egan has contributed to, among others, Billboard, Book Collector, Classic Rock, Record Collector, Tennis World, Total Film, Uncut and RollingStone.com. He has written or edited 22 books, including works on The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, The Rolling Stones, Manchester United and Tarzan. His critically acclaimed novel Sick of Being Me was published in 2003, while his 2008 collection of short stories Don't Mess with the Best carried cover endorsements from Booker Prize winners Stanley Middleton and David Storey.