In a brilliantly entertaining evening celebrating all things Corrie, a group of experts met at One Great George Street to talk about what's kept the soap popular for 55 years - and dissect this year's acclaimed live episode.

In attendance were producer Stuart Blackburn, writer Debbie Oates (who wrote the live episode as well as many more of the series's most memorable storylines), ITV's Creative Director of Serial Dramas (and "Pope of Soap") John Whiston, and actress Tina O'Brien, who has played Sarah-Louise Platt since 1999 (with a break between 2007-15).

The group agreed that unlike other soaps, Coronation Street has never diverted from the original blueprint set out by creator Tony Warren: "Strong women and feckless men". They also pointed out Corrie's ability to blend the high drama with the everyday without sacrificing its trademark humour, and its continuing, accurate reflection of modern Manchester.
 

Watch highlights from the evening below.