It might be a very sunny April, but Coronation Street stars were finally able to celebrate Christmas at a huge festive party in Manchester. And it was a very familiar location for the knees up for Corrie's cast and crew on Friday night.
For ITV bosses took over Manchester's spectacular Science and Industry Museum for the belated Christmas party, which is right next to the old Granada Studios where Coronation Street was famously filmed for over 50 years. And stars of the show pulled on their most glam outfits for the occasions to party in style.
Naturally with the sun shining on a glorious Friday night in Manchester, it was summer style for the stars. And a host of famous faces were pictured walking across to the historic museum on Liverpool Road in Castlefield on Friday night in their party attire.
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That included the soap's Jane Danson, Samia Longchambon and Alison King pictured arriving together. The friends were all smiles as they headed into the party, to join co-stars including Colson Smith, Alan Halsall, Charlie de Melo, Jennie McAlpine and Maureen Lipman.
Corrie's young stars went for summer styles, with the soap's Millie Gibson wearing a pretty yellow mini dress as she arrived with Tanisha Gorey rocking a monochrome look of white puffball skirt with black top. Millie, who plays Kelly Neelan, has had some gruelling scenes on the soap of late, but got to kick back and relax at the Friday night party.
Also in dazzling party fashion was the show's Harriet Bibby who plays Summer Spellman on the soap. Looking far removed from her troubled Corrie character, Harriet wowed in a festive red bodycon dress teamed with strappy heels.
The Corrie boys were also in summery apparel, including soap favourite Mikey North in a bright printed shirt and skinny jeans. He headed to the party with pals Colson Smith and Alan Halsall - who wrapped up warm in a jumper.
Alan recently told the MEN how he never wants to leave the soap after playing Tyrone Dobbs for an impressive 24 years. Even though he joked that he didn't look old enough to have been on the soap for that long!
They were joined by the soap's Bailey brothers, Corrie stars Ryan Russell and Nathan Graham as well as Toyah Battersby star Georgia Taylor and George Shuttleworth star Tony Maudsley.
Soap fans have been overjoyed this weekend after news that Toyah is set to be reunited on screen with a past love, Spider, aka actor Martin Hancock, who is soon to return to the show. Corrie bosses say Geoffrey David Nugent - aka eco-warrior Spider - will return this summer after 25 years away from Weatherfield
And fans are wondering if it will tie in with the expected drama ahead for Toyah as she prepares to marry love cheat Imran Habeeb in upcoming scenes. Imran star Charlie de Melo headed to the Corrie party on Friday night alongside soap favourite Jennie McAlpine who plays Fiz.
Click or swipe below for a full gallery of photos from the Corrie Christmas Party:-
Corrie, just like thousands of other workplaces, postponed its traditional Christmas party in December when there was a rise in Covid cases across the UK. But with coronavirus restrictions now eased it was time for the cast and crew to finally celebrate with the delayed festive party.
Indeed, Corrie's Maria star Samia posted on her Instagram that it was "the first Coronation Street party since 2019". Cast and crew made up for lost time with what looked like a brilliant night inside the museum, with an Eventbooth photo machine capturing plenty of happy photos of the stars that they were posting on their Insta stories on Saturday.
The soap's Daniel Brocklebank, who plays vicar Billy, was in stylish attire as he arrived with Julia Goulding on Friday night. Shona star Julia rocked a show-stopping amber draped gown as she walked to the party on Daniel's arm.
Also at the bash in glamorous form was returning star Kimberly Hart Simpson who is just back filming as Corrie's Nicky. Kimberly is known for her love of charity shop fashions, and she pulled together another incredible outfit as she headed to the Corrie party on Friday night.
She opted for a chic all-black ensemble of corset top teamed with cargo pants and heels, while her co-star Ellie Leach who plays Faye dazzled in an all white trouser suit combo.
Meanwhile there was another show-stopping entrance to the party that came courtesy of soap icon Jimmi Harkishin who plays Dev Alahan. For the actor arrived with a biker's crash helmet on as he gave the thumbs up to photographers outside the Science and Industry museum.
The vast warehouse is available to hire for parties and weddings inside, where guests can celebrate while admiring the fascinating exhibition space. The musuem is based within the oldest surviving passenger railway station in the warehouse dating back to 1830.
The museum has its own part to play in Coronation Street - the distinctive edge of the warehouse buildings formed the edge of the soap set on Granada Studios. When the set was moved to MediaCity at Trafford in 2013 show bosses painstakingly recreated the exterior of the warehouse on the new set to create a seemless transition.
