Albion Market
| Albion Market | |
|---|---|
| Starring | See below |
| No. of series | 1 |
| No. of episodes | 100 |
| Production | |
| Producer(s) | Granada Television |
| Running time | 30 minutes |
| Release | |
| Original network | ITV |
| Original release | 30 August 1985 – 24 August 1986 |
| Chronology | |
| Related shows | 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.
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. 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
External links
- Albion Market at the Internet Movie Database
- Albion Market on-line feature
- http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/5126
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