Corrie named "top ITV show"

Coronation Street has been voted ITV's greatest show of all time, in a poll to mark the channel's 50th anniversary.

14:00 11 September 2005

Coronation Street has been voted ITV's greatest show of all time, in a poll to mark the channel's 50th anniversary.

More than 500,000 viewers voted for their favourite programme, with the results broadcast on ITV's 50 Greatest Shows, hosted by Cat Deeley and Phillip Schofield on Saturday night to celebrate the channel's birthday.

The public vote saw cheeky Geordies Ant and Dec take second place behind Corrie for their entertainment show Saturday Night Takeaway.

The household favourites also saw two more of the popular show's they host come in the top ten, with I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! at number six and Pop Idol at number nine.

Detective drama A Touch of Frost, which stars David Jason, came third in the poll, closely followed by another favourite detective, Inspector Morse. In a further sign of the apparent popularity of police drama shows, The Bill was voted in at number seven.

ITV's second main soap, Emmerdale was voted fifth, while Seventies favourite The Muppet Show came in at number eight.

The popular satirical show Spitting Image just made it into the top ten.
But after 44 years on ITV, it was Corrie which proved its longevity was matched by its popularity among viewers.

Paying tribute to the soap, Coronation Street veteran Bill Roache, who plays Ken Barlow in the show said: "It's amazing really, it's been going for 44 years and it is still top."

"Let's hope we stay at number one for many years to come," he added.