BBC 'turned down Coronation Street', says creator

The BBC missed out on the chance to show Coronation Street when they turned down the original script for the show, according to its creator.

Speaking at the Edinburgh International Television Festival, Tony Warren said that he sent an early version of the show - then entitled Our Street - to the corporation when he was 19.

And he said, "I'm still waiting to hear from them."

He also accused the BBC of copying his idea for EastEnders, saying, "I thought it should say also based on an original idea by Tony Warren.

"Basically it's a translation. Journalists always asked me what I thought and I had to keep my mouth shut.

Tony also told an audience at the festival how he climbed on top of a filing cabinet at Granada Studios and refused to get down until they let him make Coronation Street.

And he revealed that he does not watch other soaps, preferring reality TV instead.

"I love it because it came along and said something new," he admitted. "I'm watching reality programmes these days."