Swinton-born Tony Warren MBE (born 1936) is the script-writer who created Coronation Street. In his youth Tony had been a child actor, appearing on Childrens 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 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. Initially commisioned for a thirteen week run, Warren undertook to write the first twelve episodes and continued to regularly write for the programme until 1969 and occasionally submit scripts until the mid 1970s.
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.
Tony's 1969 autobiography was titled I was Ena Sharples' Father.