Albion Market

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Albion Market
Format	Soap opera
Run time	30 minutes
Starring	A sizable list of regulars
Channel	ITV
Production company	Granada Television
Related shows	Coronation Street
Air dates	August, 1985 – 1986
No. of episodes	100
IMDb profile

Albion Market was a short-lived soap opera, intended as a companion to Coronation Street on ITV.

Coronation Street, ITV's perennial soap opera, celebrated its 25th anniversary in December 1985. Rather unwisely, when the chairman of Granada launched Albion Market in August of that year, a 'continuing drama series' (Granada TV have always refused to use the word "soap opera" considering it derogatory) to be set in a street market in Salford (a city with a direct border across the River Irwell with Manchester in the North West of England) he claimed "When Coronation Street (Granada's flag ship drama) celebrates its Golden anniversary, Albion Market will be celebrating its silver anniversary..." a true example of tempting fate, for it lasted for only one year.

It should have worked. Granada has an enviable record of producing quality drama and the format of Albion Market seemed to be a winner. What part of the North West of England doesn't have it's little market, with ordinary, work-a-day folk trying to earn an honest living by selling on their bargains? It could - it SHOULD - have worked, but sadly it didn't. There was no-one to identify with, no-one that anyone who lived in the North West - indeed, anywhere in Britain - could recognise as a friend or neighbour or loved one. Coupled with leaden scripts and some atrocious dialogue, the show seemed doomed from the start, despite the presence of some excellent acting talent, such as David Hargreaves and Noreen Kershaw.

In a laudable - but ultimately fatal move - the writing team brought a large amount of what were then referred to as 'ethnic minorities' into the cast. Although a good idea in itself - in 1985 it was ludicrous that Coronation Street only had one black character, and even she didn't live on The Street itself - the problem was that they were so hopelessly stereotyped as to be caricatures; the Jewish couple were thrifty and always had an eye for a bargain or cutting corners to save money, the Asian brothers who ran the cake stall were lovable rogues with an eye for the ladies, the Vietnamese couple (Vietnamese? In Salford???) were simply bland. Viewers couldn't switch off fast enough.

Most incredible of all is the fact that Bill Podmore was executive producer. Podmore was an utter genius, who steered Coronation Street through a golden era between 1976 and 1984. Quite why Albion Market failed with such an expert at the helm remains a mystery.

The show ran twice weekly, on Friday and Sunday night which didn't help - in those days, 7.00pm on Fridays and Sundays were referred to as "graveyard slots", usually broadcasting American imports or British game shows such as Play Your Cards Right. The critics hated it. The viewing public were indifferent. Despite an attempt to re-launch it, by bringing in Tony Booth (father-in-law of the present prime minister and husband to the legendary Coronation Street actress Patricia Phoenix) and 60's songstress Helen Shapiro, the audience remained indifferent. After exactly 100 episodes, the market closed.

For many years the outdoor set, complete with its distinctive arch-shaped Albion Market sign, perched regally over the River Irwell, could be spotted from Bridge Street in Salford, Lancashire. Sadly, when the Granada Tours Experience was closed in 1999, the sign was removed, and the building which was once Albion Market now forms part of the Victoria and Albert Hotel.