1977 was Coronation Street's eighteenth year. Two former producers, June Howson and Leslie Duxbury, returned to the position as relief for Bill Podmore for episodes 1738 to 1739 and 1744 to 1744 respectively. Podmore was producer for the rest of the year and would remain in the role until Episode 2269 on 29th December 1982 - a record-breaking run which has been unmatched since.

The early part of the year saw ratings climb to their highest level since the mid-1960s, reaching a peak of 9,500,000 homes, or 20.90 million viewers, with Episode 1697 on 20th April. This was the most-watched episode of Coronation Street of the 1970s and saw Len Fairclough marry Rita Littlewood, five years after the couple started their on/off relationship. Additionally, as of 1st August, viewing figures were now measured by number of viewers rather than homes as previously.

Storylines included Janet Barlow committing suicide by overdose, Bet Lynch co-habiting with Mike Baldwin and then finding out he'd lied about being married, the birth of Tracy Langton to Deirdre and Ray (the decade's only Street birth), Deirdre being assaulted under the viaduct, the Street's Silver Jubilee celebration, Hilda and Stan Ogden's second honeymoon, Ena Sharples having a fall while baby-sitting Tracy, and the death of Mavis Riley's Auntie Edie. The only new characters in 1977 were Suzie Birchall and Steve Fisher, a young couple who were partnered with Gail Potter.

104 new episodes were broadcast on ITV in 1977.

EpisodesEdit

Main castEdit

• Len Fairclough - Peter Adamson
• Hilda Ogden - Jean Alexander
• Derek Wilton - Peter Baldwin (July to December)
• Janet Barlow - Judith Barker (February)
• Mavis Riley - Thelma Barlow
• Mike Baldwin - Johnny Briggs
• Ray Langton - Neville Buswell
• Ena Sharples - Violet Carson
• Vera Duckworth - Elizabeth Dawn
• Emily Bishop - Eileen Derbyshire
• Betty Turpin - Betty Driver
• Billy Walker - Kenneth Farrington (October)
• Fred Gee - Fred Feast
• Tracy Langton - Christabel Finch (January onwards)
• Bet Lynch - Julie Goodyear
• Ernest Bishop - Stephen Hancock
• Renee Bradshaw - Madge Hindle
• Albert Tatlock - Jack Howarth
• Eddie Yeats - Geoffrey Hughes
• Blanche Hunt - Maggie Jones (February to March)
• Deirdre Langton - Anne Kirkbride
• Alf Roberts - Bryan Mosley
• Rita Littlewood/Fairclough - Barbara Mullaney
• Steve Fisher - Lawrence Mullin (January onwards)
• Suzie Birchall - Cheryl Murray (August onwards)
• Ivy Tilsley - Lynne Perrie
• Elsie Howard - Patricia Phoenix
• Ken Barlow - William Roache
• Annie Walker - Doris Speed
• Gail Potter - Helen Worth
• Stan Ogden - Bernard Youens

StorylinesEdit

Who lives whereEdit

Coronation Street

• Rovers Return Inn - Annie Walker and Fred Gee.
• 1 Coronation Street - Albert Tatlock and Ken Barlow.
• 3 Coronation Street - Ernest and Emily Bishop.
• 5 Coronation Street - Mike Baldwin and Bet Lynch (until March). Ray, Deirdre and Tracy Langton (from March).
• 9 Coronation Street - Len Fairclough. Rita Fairclough (from April).
• 11 Coronation Street - Elsie Tanner and Gail Potter. Suzie Birchall (from February).
• 13 Coronation Street - Stan and Hilda Ogden.
• Corner Shop (No.15) - Renee Bradshaw.
• Corner Shop Flat (No.15a) - Bet Lynch (from March).
• Community Centre Flat - Ena Sharples

Rosamund Street

• The Kabin - Rita Littlewood (until April). Mavis Riley (from May).

Victoria Street

• 20 Victoria Street - Ray and Deirdre Langton (until March). Tracy Langton (from January to March).

Others

• 37 Hillside Crescent - Betty Turpin.
• Inkerman Street - Ivy Tilsley, Vera Duckworth.
• 23 Jubilee Terrace - Mavis Riley (until May).