Changes: H.V. Kershaw

Revision as of 11:35, 21 March 2020

Harry Kershaw (29th May 1918 - 18th April 1992) is one of the most significant figures to have worked on Coronation Street.

By 1960 Kershaw was an experienced script writer with credits on programmes like Knight Errant Ltd, and Biggles. He was the first script-editor of Coronation Street for 47 episodes (although credited as "serial editor" and only after the programme had been five months on the air) and also the first person other than show creator Tony Warren to write for the show penning episodes 13 to 16.

In 1962 Kershaw became producer of the programme for what was the first of nine stints in the role. His association with the show continued as a script writer and also author of several tie-in publications. His last script for the programme, his 299th, was broadcast in 1988. He was executive producer of the programme from 1965 to 1972.

As well as writing episodes of Coronation Street Kershaw contributed scripts for Crown Court, and The Spoils of War and he also wrote scripts for the Bill Maynard vehicle Oh No, It's Selwyn Froggitt and created, with Brian Finch, the Maynard sit-com The life of Riley. Amongst his producing credits is the Leonard Swindley spin-off sit-com Pardon the Expression.

His 1981 published autobiography was titled The Street Where I Live (A revised version of which was published in 1985). He also wrote three novelisations of the programme published between 1976 and 1977: Early Days, Trouble at the Rovers and Elsie Tanner Fights Back as well as the linking material for the spin-off videos The Magic of Coronation Street in 1982 and The Jubilee Years in 1985.

He mentored many writers on Coronation Street including Jim Allen, Peter Eckersley, Geoffrey Lancashire, John Finch, Adele Rose and Jack Rosenthal who wrote of Kershaw that he was "a diplomat, an artist, a motivator, an executive and one-of-the-lads, a peace-maker and a pace-maker - all rolled into one." He also said that Kershaw, "produced many other quality shows, but Coronation Street is his monument. He dug its foundations...and built and buttressed it into the longest-running, most successful TV show ever."

On leaving the Street, he retired to Prestatyn, North Wales where he lived until his death in 1992, aged 73.

In the 2010 dramatisation The Road to Coronation Street, Kershaw was portrayed by John Thomson.

Episodes written by H.V. Kershaw

1960s

1961 (16 episodes)

1962 (11 episodes)

1963 (9 episodes)

1965 (1 episode)

Episode 475 (30th June 1965)

1966 (1 episode)

Episode 583 (13th July 1966)

1968 (1 episode)

Episode 797 (7th August 1968)

1969 (3 episodes)

1970s

1970 (3 episodes)

1971 (3 episodes)

1972 (1 episodes)

Episode 1216 (11th September 1972)

1973 (18 episodes)

1974 (17 episodes)

1975 (19 episodes)

1976 (20 episodes)

1977 (17 episodes)

1978 (18 episodes)

1979 (15 episodes)

1980s

1980 (17 episodes)

1981 (18 episodes)

1982 (18 episodes)

1983 (16 episodes)

1984 (12 episodes)

1985 (16 episodes)

1986 (15 episodes)

1987 (12 episodes)

1988 (2 episodes)

Episodes script edited by H.V. Kershaw

1961 (47 episodes)

All episodes between Episode 38 (24th April 1961) and Episode 40 (1st May 1961)
All episodes between Episode 42 (8th May 1961) and Episode 45 (17th May 1961)
All episodes between Episode 47 (24th May 1961) and Episode 50 (5th June 1961)
All episodes between Episode 52 (12th June 1961) and Episode 87 (11th October 1961)