‘Coronation Street’s creator Tony Warren was laid to rest in Manchester today (18.03.16).
The mastermind behind the long-running soap, which he created at the age of 24, was given a traditional send off as the entire cast – past and present – and loyal fans piled into the city’s Cathedral to bid their farewell to the legend.
The talented writer’s coffin was carried by cast members Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs), Mikey North (Gary Windass) and Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw) after they were hand-picked by Tony to carry his lavish casket before his death.
Barbara Knox (Rita Sullivan), Bruno Langley (Adam Mitchell), Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw), Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster), Kym Marsh (Michelle Connor) and Tina O’Brien (Sarah Louise Platt) were reduced to tears as they watched their co-stars carry the creator in to the service.
Prior to the memorial service, a social media post declared the interment open to everyone.
The tweet said: "The funeral of Coronation Street creator, Tony Warren MBE will take place today at Manchester Cathedral at 2pm. All welcome (sic)."
The remembrance of Tony’s unforgettable legacy – who received the RTS Lifetime Achievement Award in 2010 – was previously led by Bill Roach, who plays Ken Barlow in the programme, shortly after it was announced he had passed away earlier this month, aged 79, from an illness.
He said at the time: "When I first met Tony I couldn’t quite believe he’d created and written ‘Coronation Street’ because he was no more than a young boy. It was his boyish energy even recently when I saw him again that I’ll remember. I loved Tony’s energy.
"He was the father of ‘Coronation Street’ and he gave us all so much. He will be so desperately missed because of who he was and what he did. We owe him so much."
Tony Warren is laid to rest
