FANCY having your own business on Coronation Street?
Well now is your chance — although you will need a cool £1million in the bank.
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That’s how much ITV wants for the privilege of setting up shop in Weatherfield’s arches alongside other firms including Argos and Sainsbury’s.
The show’s unit is in a prime location, previously occupied by Hays Travel, and should provide anyone with deep enough pockets the chance to showcase their brand.
The only problem is that ITV has been advertising the storefront on its website for some time — with it being available as far back as March.
A TV insider said: “Perhaps the fact that Coronation Street’s viewing figures weren’t quite what they were would suggest that this isn’t exactly a bargain price.
“A seven-figure sum is eye-watering considering the shop itself may only end up in a limited number of scenes and shots, and the fact that it doesn’t seem to have been snapped up suggests there aren’t many takers.”
The advert states: “Your brand could be the next ‘grand store opening’ on the nation’s most famous street, Coronation Street. This is a unique product placement opportunity, with proven success.
“Seamlessly integrating your brand and elevating your share of voice, trust and fame — without direct retail competition.”
An ITV spokesperson said: “Coronation Street has enjoyed a successful partnership with Hays Travel and we are excited to welcome a new brand to the storefront in the UK’s biggest product placement partnership soon.”
Cutting costs
Although it was still ITV’s most-watched show on Friday, the episode of Corrie drew in just under 3.3million viewers, which wasn’t much more than its channel rival, Emmerdale.
Over the past year, Coronation Street has said goodbye to a string of big characters, including Eileen Grimshaw, played by Sue Cleaver, which, it is claimed, is down to bosses cutting costs as advertising rates are further squeezed.
Michael McStay makes Coronation Street debut as Alan Hoyle in 2010
The news also comes at the end of a week when ITV confirmed dramatic changes to its daytime TV schedule, with Loose Women being cut to 30 weeks a year.
Wonder if one of them fancies a new career move into retail?
JOEL: WHY SHOWS USE A HOST OF COMICS
MORE comics than ever have pivoted from cracking jokes in clubs to landing presenting gigs on TV – and Joel Dommett knows why.
The Masked Singer host, who still tours as a comedian, believes his funny friends have been forced to diversify as these days there are far fewer panel shows – which were once the telly home of funnymen.
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It means Joel is on September’s National Television Awards longlist for the TV Presenter gong along with a load of other comics, including Romesh Ranganathan, Adam Hills and Tom Allen.
Joel said: “It’s been an interesting time for comedy on telly because panel shows have sort of fallen by the wayside.
“So comedians who used to populate these panel shows, they have gone on to such varying stuff.
“We all started out like me, Rob Beckett, Romesh, Joe Lycett, and we would never have dreamt of being on all these different TV channels, doing all these different kinds of shows.”
TV’s all the better for it, I reckon.
VINE’S IN LINE FOR A DRAMA
JEREMY VINE is celebrating because the BBC has commissioned a TV series based on his new murder mystery book.
The Channel 5 and Radio 2 presenter has penned a whodunnit called Murder On Line One.
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The gripping story – set in Sidmouth in Devon – centres around a late-night talk show host called Edward who discovers that someone is killing off his listeners.
Vine has now revealed that his novel – which has made The Sunday Times bestseller list – will be turned into a telly drama.
The ex-Strictly star said: “Just today I have had a meeting about doing a TV thing on the book.
“I just always guard myself against disappointment but this is a production company and they are going to set it in Sidmouth and they are going to film it and the BBC has commissioned it.”
BRITAIN’S Got Talent has named its ten finalists as Vinnie McKee, The Blackouts, Stacey Leadbeatter, Olly Pearson, Ping Pong Pang, Jasmine Rice, Joseph Charm, Hear Our Voice, Harry Moulding and Binita Chetry.
The final is on Saturday at 7pm, where the winner will be announced live.
Tom life STORY so unusual
TOM JONES will tell his incredible life story in the next series of In My Own Words.
Confirming my TV Biz exclusive, BBC Arts has announced the It’s Not Unusual hitmaker will share his tales and archive footage.
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Tom said: “Looking back at some of the extraordinary things that have happened in my life has been really thought-provoking.
“Some of the archive I’d not seen before, and watching snippets of those past times, places and struggles brought home how lucky I am.”
The series, which airs this autumn, will also feature novelists Val McDermid and Frederick Forsyth, plus artists Cornelia Parker and Yinka Shonibare.
