MCA Visit to ITV Coronation Street
Thursday 22 October 2026
On Thursday 22nd of October, members of the Manchester Consular Association were welcomed behind the scenes at ITV’s Coronation Street studios on Trafford Wharf Road.
Members were hosted by Chief Operating Officer Matt Cleary; Iain McLeod, Creative Director of Continuing Drama; Head of Production Sue Forster; and Visiting Manager AJ Dean. The visit took place on a live filming day and gave members a rare look at how the world’s longest-running television soap is made. First broadcast in 1960, Coronation Street has been on air for more than 60 years and remains one of the region’s best-known cultural exports. Throughout the afternoon, members heard about the programme’s lasting cultural and economic impact on Salford and Manchester.
The tour took in the famous cobbled street and the exterior sets familiar to millions of viewers. Members were then invited inside the Rovers Return itself, the heart of ‘Weatherfield’, where the set was already dressed for the festive season.
The Association would like to thank Matt Cleary, Iain McLeod, Sue Forster, AJ Dean and the whole Coronation Street team for their generous hospitality, and for making members so welcome on such a busy production day.