Albion Market

Albion Market
Starring	See below
No. of series	1
No. of episodes	100
Production
Producer(s)	Granada Television
Running time	30 minutes
Release
Original network	ITV
Original release	30 August 1985 – 24 August 1986
Chronology
Related shows	Coronation Street
External links
[{{#property:P856}} Website]

Albion Market was a short-lived British soap opera, set in a covered market in Salford in the northwest of England. It was intended as a companion to Coronation Street on ITV.

History

Albion Market launched in August 1985, four months before Coronation Street celebrated its 25th anniversary. Granada Studios dubbed it a "continuing drama series", considering the term "soap opera" derogatory. The show ran twice weekly on Friday and Sunday night; at the time, 7.00pm on Fridays and Sundays were considered "graveyard slots", usually broadcasting game shows or American imports. Very quickly the Sunday episodes were moved back to around 6.00pm, while LWT dropped the Friday episode and instead broadcast a double bill around 5.00pm on Sundays.

At launch the chairman of Granada claimed that "When Coronation Street celebrates its Golden anniversary, Albion Market will be celebrating its silver anniversary..." Despite this, the show lasted for only one year.

The show received negative reviews from critics and did not do well in the ratings. Despite attempts to encourage viewing figures by bringing in Coronation Street actor Antony Booth and 1960s singer Helen Shapiro, the ratings did not improve and the show ended after 100 episodes.

For many years the outdoor with its distinctive arch-shaped Albion Market sign above the River Irwell remained intact. When the Granada Tours Experience was closed in 1999, the sign was removed, and the building which was once Albion Market was sold. It now forms part of the Victoria and Albert Hotel.

Cast

Character	Actor/Actress
Mrs. Naylor	Avis Bunnage
Keith Naylor	Derek Hicks
Jenny	Rebecca Lock
Sean Ellison	David Phelan
Viv Harker	Helen Shapiro
Debbie Taylor	Jane Hazlegrove
Peggy Sagar	Paula Jacobs
Paul O'Donnell	Paul Beringer
Derek Owen	David Hargreeves
Ly Nhu Chan	Pik-Sen Lim
Geoff Travis	Geoffrey Leesley
Lynne Harrison	Noreen Kershaw
Barbara Owen	Lill Roughley
Collette Harrison	Nimmy March
Lisa O'Shea	Sally Baxter
Louise Todd	Kelly Lawrence
Mary	Marie Jelliman
Colin Arnold	Andy Rashleigh
Simon Walker	Henry Moxon
Dermot Thornburgh	Arthur Kelly
Morris Ransome	Bernard Spear
Miriam Ransome	Carol Kaye
Raju Sharma	Dev Sagoo
Jaz Sharma	Paul Bhattacharjee
Gregory	Duane Mills
Brenda Rigg	Valerie Lilley
Larry Rigg	Peter Benson
Carol Broadbent	Barbara Wilshere
Phil Smith	Burt Caesar
Ted Pilkington	Anthony Booth
Roy Harrison	Jonathan Barlow
Billy Nicholls	Liam Flannery
Ralph Jessup	Howard Lloyd-Lewis
Tony Fraser	John Michie
Mr. Dickinson	Martin Oldfield
Maureen Nicholls	Linda Polan
Lam Quoc Hoa	Philip Tan
Ralph Friend	David Boyce
Janet Owen	Hetta Charnley
Anita Rai	Souad Faress
Sita Sharma	Seeta Indrani
Narya Vyas	Rashid Karapiet
Carrie	Jane Karen
Susha Sharma	Jamila Massey

External links

• Albion Market at IMDb
• Albion Market on-line feature
• http://ftvdb.bfi.org.uk/sift/series/5126