Changes: Tony Warren

Revision as of 12:27, 15 November 2018

Tony Warren MBE (born Anthony McVay Simpson at 3 Wilton Avenue in Pendlebury, Salford on 8th July 1936, died 1st March 2016) was the script-writer who at the age of just 24 created Coronation Street.

In his youth Tony had been a child actor, appearing under his real name on Children's Hour alongside Violet Carson, Doris Speed and Alan Rothwell (for example, all four appeared in a play together on the life of Humphrey Chetham broadcast on 17th August 1952 at 5.00pm). Realising that his acting ambitions would not be met, he moved into script-writing with an unsolicited episode of Shadow Squad which was eventually commissioned and transmitted by Granada Television in two parts on 3rd and 6th November 1958. Warren was given an exclusive contract with Granada in March 1960 and found himself on the team of writers working on adaptations of the W.E. Johns Biggles books, an assignment which he loathed.

At the prompting of drama executive producer Harry Elton, Tony proposed a new series more suited to his interest and skills. This series, initially titled Florizel Street, was a redraft of a script he'd submitted to the BBC under the name Our Street back in 1956 . Initially commissioned for a thirteen week run, Warren undertook to write the first twelve episodes, with the thirteenth in which the street is demolished not being produced, and continued to regularly write for the programme until 1964, from 1967 to 1969 and from 1975 to 1976. In total he wrote 69 episodes of the programme plus a further episode (372) which was never recorded due to the 1964 ITV Strike.

After leaving the show he continued to work as a writer, penning scripts and novels. There are two portraits of Tony in the National Portrait Gallery.

On 20th May 2014, the main studio block at the MediaCity studios at Trafford Wharf was named "The Tony Warren Building" in a special ceremony attended by ITV Chief Executive Adam Crozier, the cast and production crew and Mr Warren himself. William Roache made a speech during the dedication.

Tony died just under two years later after a short illness. Many paid tribute to his work and legacy. William Roache stated "Tony was the father of Coronation Street and he gave us all so much" while Helen Worth said '"Tony was a genius of our time, the dearest funniest and most inspirational man of his generation. He brought real life into our homes for us all to relate to and enjoy. He will of course live on forever through Coronation Street."

ITV said, “All who worked with Tony throughout his illustrious career had the utmost respect for his achievements and he remained a consultant on the Manchester-based soap until the day he died. He was considered one of the television industry’s greatest minds as he devised the idea for the Weatherfield soap at the age of 24, at the very beginning of his acclaimed writing career.”

Carol Ann Duffy said, “Manchester has lost its dearest son and so many of us a beloved friend. And the millions who have loved Coronation Street for over half a century have lost their Dickens.”

Tony's 1969 autobiography was titled I was Ena Sharples Father. He has received many awards and an honorary degree for creating the UK's longest-running drama series. In the 2010 fiftieth anniversary drama The Road to Coronation Street he was played by David Dawson who gained Warren's thorough approval for his portrayal.

Tony passed away on 2nd March 2016, aged 79. His funeral was held two weeks later, with cast members past and present attending.

External links

Episodes written by Tony Warren

1960s

1960 (7 episodes)

1961 (17 episodes)

1962 (15 episodes)

1963 (9 episodes)

1964 (6 episodes)

Tony also scripted Episode 372 which was due to be transmitted on Monday 6th July but which was never recorded due to the 1964 ITV Strike.
1967 (7 episodes)

1968 (3 episodes)

1969 (1 episode)

Episode 841 (13th January 1969)

1970s

1975 (3 episodes)

1976 (1 episode)

Episode 1580 (8th March 1976)

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+__NOTOC__
 [[Image:Tony Warren.jpg|right|thumb|Tony Warren pictured with [[Doris Speed]].]]
-'''Tony Warren''' MBE (born Anthony McVay Simpson in Swinton on [[8th July]] [[1936]]) is the script-writer who at the age of 24 created ''[[Coronation Street]]''. In his youth Tony had been a child actor, appearing on ''Children's Hour'' alongside [[Violet Carson]]. By the [[1950s]] he was a staff script-writer working for [[Granada]] on the series ''Biggles'', an assignment which he loathed.
+'''Tony Warren''' MBE (born Anthony McVay Simpson at 3 Wilton Avenue in Pendlebury, [[Salford]] on [[8th July]] [[1936]], died [[1st March]] [[2016]]) was the script-writer who at the age of just 24 created ''[[Coronation Street]]''.
+In his youth Tony had been a child actor, appearing under his real name on ''Children's Hour'' alongside [[Violet Carson]], [[Doris Speed]] and [[Alan Rothwell]] (for example, all four appeared in a play together on the life of Humphrey Chetham broadcast on [[17th August]] [[1952]] at 5.00pm). Realising that his acting ambitions would not be met, he moved into script-writing with an unsolicited episode of ''Shadow Squad'' which was eventually commissioned and transmitted by [[Granada Television]] in two parts on [[3rd November|3rd]] and [[6th November]] [[1958]]. Warren was given an exclusive contract with Granada in March 1960 and found himself on the team of writers working on adaptations of the W.E. Johns ''Biggles'' books, an assignment which he loathed.
-At the prompting of drama [[Executive Producer]] [[Harry Elton]], Tony proposed a new series more suited to his interest and skills. This series, initially titled ''[[Florizel Street]]'', was a redraft of a script he'd submitted to the BBC under the name ''Our Street'' bacl in [[1956]] . Initially commissioned for a thirteen week run, Warren undertook to write the first twelve episodes and continued to regularly write for the programme until [[1964]], from [[1967]] to [[1969]] and from [[1975]] to [[1976]]. In total he wrote 69 episodes of the programme plus a further episode (372) which was never recorded due to the [[1964 ITV Strike]].
+At the prompting of drama [[executive producer]] [[Harry Elton]], Tony proposed a new series more suited to his interest and skills. This series, initially titled ''[[Florizel Street]]'', was a redraft of a script he'd submitted to the BBC under the name ''Our Street'' back in [[1956]] . Initially commissioned for a thirteen week run, Warren undertook to write the first twelve episodes, with the thirteenth in which the street is demolished not being produced, and continued to regularly write for the programme until [[1964]], from [[1967]] to [[1969]] and from [[1975]] to [[1976]]. In total he wrote '''69''' episodes of the programme plus a further episode (372) which was never recorded due to the [[1964 ITV Strike]].
-Since leaving the show he has continued to work as a writer, penning scripts and novels. There are two portraits of Tony in the National Portrait Gallery.
+[[File:Tony Warren Building.jpg|thumb|left|Tony Warren at the dedication ceremony of "The Tony Warren Building"]]
-Tony's [[1969]] autobiography was titled ''[[I was Ena Sharples Father]]''. He has received many awards and an honorary degree for creating the UK's longest-running drama series.
+After leaving the show he continued to work as a writer, penning scripts and novels. There are two portraits of Tony in the National Portrait Gallery.
+On [[20th May]] [[2014]], the main studio block at the [[MediaCity studios]] at Trafford Wharf was named "The Tony Warren Building" in a special ceremony attended by [[ITV]] Chief Executive Adam Crozier, the cast and production crew and Mr Warren himself. [[William Roache]] made a speech during the dedication.
+Tony died just under two years later after a short illness. Many paid tribute to his work and legacy. William Roache stated "Tony was the father of ''Coronation Street'' and he gave us all so much" while [[Helen Worth]] said '"Tony was a genius of our time, the dearest funniest and most inspirational man of his generation. He brought real life into our homes for us all to relate to and enjoy. He will of course live on forever through ''Coronation Street''."
+[[ITV]] said, “All who worked with Tony throughout his illustrious career had the utmost respect for his achievements and he remained a consultant on the Manchester-based soap until the day he died. He was considered one of the television industry’s greatest minds as he devised the idea for the [[Weatherfield]] soap at the age of 24, at the very beginning of his acclaimed writing career.”
+[[Carol Ann Duffy]] said, “[[Manchester]] has lost its dearest son and so many of us a beloved friend. And the millions who have loved ''Coronation Street'' for over half a century have lost their Dickens.”
+Tony's [[1969]] autobiography was titled ''[[I was Ena Sharples Father]]''. He has received many awards and an honorary degree for creating the UK's longest-running drama series. In the [[2010]] fiftieth anniversary drama ''[[The Road to Coronation Street]]'' he was played by [[David Dawson]] who gained Warren's thorough approval for his portrayal.
+Tony passed away on 2nd March 2016, aged 79. His funeral was held two weeks later, with cast members past and present attending.
 ==External links==
 *[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/229/229490_why_im_turning_into_ena_sharples.html 2006 ''Manchester Evening News'' interview]
 *[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/s/1006/1006748_corrie_creators_jail_fear.html 2007 ''Manchester Evening News'' interview]
+*[http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/tv-radio-obituaries/12180604/Tony-Warren-TV-writer-obituary.html ''Daily Telegraph'' obituary]
+*[http://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2016/mar/02/tony-warren-obituary-coronation-street-creator ''The Guardian'' obituary]
 ==Episodes written by Tony Warren==
 ===[[1960s]]===
@@ Line 21: / Line 37: @@
 *[[Episode 6 (28th December 1960)]]
 *[[Episode 7 (30th December 1960)]]
-'''[[Coronation Street in 1961|1961]] (18 episodes)'''
+'''[[Coronation Street in 1961|1961]] (17 episodes)'''
 *[[Episode 8 (4th January 1961)]]
 *[[Episode 9 (6th January 1961)]]
@@ Line 72: / Line 88: @@
 *[[Episode 417 (9th December 1964)]]
 *[[Episode 421 (23rd December 1964)]]
-Tony also scripted Episode 372 which was due to be transmitted on Monday [[6th July]] but which was never recorded due to the [[1964 ITV Strike]].<br/>
+Tony also scripted Episode 372 which was due to be transmitted on Monday [[6th July]] but which was never recorded due to the [[1964 ITV Strike]].<br />
 '''[[Coronation Street in 1967|1967]] (7 episodes)'''
 *[[Episode 647 (27th February 1967)]]