Doctor Who Vs. Coronation Street at 60, Part 12: 2000-2003

Langley (Adam Mitchell in The Long
Game) was sacked by Granada in
2017 and written out of the show.

From 1999 to 2001, many real life

issues dominated Corrie storylines

- these involved rape, fostering,

child abduction, internet grooming,

cervical cancer and teenage

pregnancy. Such plots proved

unpopular and producer Jane

Macnaught was replaced by

Carolyn Reynolds.

The Street marked its fortieth

anniversary by broadcasting

a live, hour-long episode on

December 8th 2000.

The show also faced strong 

competition from rival soap

EastEnders, so Kieran Roberts

was appointed as new producer

in 2002 - his aim was to inject

gentler stories and more humour.

That year saw the introduction of the soap's first regular gay character,

Todd Grimshaw (played by Bruno Langley), and one the biggest ever

storylines - the crimes of Richard Hillman. As that plot reached its 

climax in February 2003, Corrie achieved the highest audience of the

decade with over 19 million viewers.

These four years on the cobbles featured Mary Tamm (as Diana

Black), Bernard Cribbins (Wally Bannister) and thirty other

Doctor Who cast and crew connections:

• Naomi Ryan (Bobbi Lewis, 2000-02) was Cassandra in Asylum of the Daleks
• Nigel Betts (Weir here; Eddie, 2007) was Mr. Armitage in Into the  Dalek, The Caretaker and Dark Water
• Liam Fox (Man here & 2005; Partridge, 2008) voiced Wunshooz and Mang for Big Finish's Purgatory 12 (2020)
• Gabrielle Glaister (Debs) voiced Maggie Bishop for The Forsaken (2015), Cowley for The High Price of Parking (2017), and Veronica Bland for Braxiatel in Love (2018)
• Jane How (Extra) was Rebec in Planet of the Daleks
• Davyd Harries (Judge) was Shapp in The Armageddon Factor
• Philip Bird (Gregory) made his TV debut as a Swampie in The Power of Kroll
• Melanie Kilburn (Evelyn Sykes/Elliott, 2000-02) voiced Hooley for The Dread of Night (2018)
• Peter Guinness (Sykes) voiced Mr. Dread for Dreamland, Childeric for The Holy Terror (2000), Baron Teufel for The Beast of Orlok (2009), and Rovus for The Star Men (2017)
• Toby Hadoke (Vicar here; Baxter, 2004; Doctor, 2009) voiced Mike Bretherton for Hexagora, Farel for Robophobia (both 2011), Dorrick for The Sands of Life, War Against the Laan, The Dalek Contract, The Final Phase (all 2013), The Pursuit of History and Casualties of Time (both 2016), Carruthers Summerton for Jago & Litefoot 10 (2015), the Lux and Oscar McLeod for Tales from New Earth, and V26 for The Sons of Kaldor (both 2018) - he was also Cyril in An Adventure in Space and Time
• Stephen Beckett (Matt Ramsden, 2001 & 2006) voiced Richard, Duke of Gloucester for The Kingmaker (2006)
• Martyn Read (Judge) was a Security Guard in (part 1 of) Silver Nemesis
• Leena Dhingra (Mina) was Miss Chandrakala in The Unicorn and the Wasp, and Nani Umbreen in Demons of the Punjab
• Julia Haworth (Claire Casey/Peacock) was Kat in Defenders of Earth
• Alan Wareing was also director of The Greatest Show in the Galaxy, Ghost Light and Survival, following a stint as PA on The Keeper of Traken, and production manager on Timelash
• Keith Drinkel (Gregory here; Bob, 2005) was Flight Engineer Scobie in Time Flight, and voiced Henry Hallam for Catch 1782 (2005), and the Cinder for Frostfire (2007)
• Nichola McAuliffe (Anita) was Vivien Rook in The Sound of Drums
• William Ash (Johnny) was Riley Vashtee in 42, and voiced Sam for The Condemned (2008)
• Geoffrey Leesley (Clegg) voiced Paramount Minister Mortund for Arrangements for War (2004)
• Michelle Newell (Gill) was one of twenty-six actresses who auditioned for the role of Leela in 1976
• Maureen Lipman (Lillian here; Evelyn, from 2018) was the Wire in The Idiot's Lantern
• Roy Hudd (Archie Shuttleworth, 2002/03, 2006, 2010) voiced Max Miller for Pier Pressure (2006)
• Richard Fleeshman (Craig Nelson, 2002-06) voiced Kristopher for Inner Demons (2025)
• Jonathan Owen (Reverend) voiced Antranak for The Eye of the Scorpion (2001), Hamiyun for Her Final Flight (2004), and Napoleon Bonaparte for The Curse of Davros (2012)
• Sasha Behar (Maya Sharma, 2003/04) was Spurrina in The Fires of Pompeii, then voiced the Presidential Aide for Songs of Love, Tessno and Ladonne for Stop the Clock (both 2017), and Admiral Eno for The Lifeboat and the Deathboat (2019)
• George Baker (Newton) was Decider Login in Full Circle
• James Quinn (DI Mannery here; DS Willets, 2013) was Bill in Flatline
• Chris Finch (Foster) was a Time Lord Soldier in The Last Day and The Day of the Doctor
• Nicky Goldie (Mrs. Parry here; Jade, 2010) voiced the Spillager Empress for Winter for the Adept, Valeria Hedone for The Fires of Vulcan (both 2000), Inquisitor Danby for Excelis Rising (2002), and Polk for The Moonrakers (2020)
• Susan Twist (Donna here; Lydia, 2017) was Mrs. Merridew in Wild Blue Yonder