Manchester's TV history in pictures

Granada ident from 1959. Granada TV began broadcasting from Manchester in May 1956, initially to the north of England, and after Yorkshire TV launched in 1968 to the north-west Photograph: ITV Granada

Granada TV founder Sidney Bernstein in 1963. The socialist entrepreneur's London-based cinema chain, Granada, ignored the south-east franchise when the first four ITV regional licences were up for grabs in 1954, instead bidding successfully for the second most lucrative contract – for the north of England Photograph: ITV Granada

Desmond Morris with friend on children's wildlife series Zoo Time, a Granada show broadcast between 1956 and 1968 from a special studio built inside London zoo. A chimpanzee named Congo drew acclaim for his artistic efforts, one of which was reportedly bought by Pablo Picasso Photograph: ITV Granada

The Granada studios complex on Quay Street, Manchester, in 1960. Granada TV first went on air from the site on 3 May 1956 Photograph: ITV Granada

Another view of the completed Granada studios complex. Shows produced from here over the years include Coronation Street, World in Action, University Challenge, The Krypton Factor and What the Papers Say Photograph: ITV Granada

1960s pop star Helen Shapiro on the Coronation Street set with Ena Sharples actor Violet Carson Photograph: ITV Granada

Jackie Bassett, Lynn Johnson and Sue Davis in groundbreaking 1964 World in Action documentary Seven Up. Michael Apted's programme followed the lives of 14 British children when they were seven years old, and has become a long-running project with updates every seven years Photograph: ITV Granada

Neil Hughes in the follow-up to Seven Up, 7 Plus Seven, broadcast in 1970 Photograph: ITV Granada

Mick Jagger on World in Action in 1967. Following his trial on drugs charges, the rock star confronted establishment figures including a lord, a doctor, a Jesuit and the editor of the Times, arriving by helicopter on the lawn of a stately home. The show was partly the work of then World in Action researcher but future BBC director general John Birt (pictured right), who described it in his 1995 MacTaggart lecture as 'one of the iconic moments of the Sixties' Photograph: ITV Granada

Bamber Gascoigne hosting University Challenge in 1968 Photograph: ITV Granada

Rita Littlewood (Barbara Knox), Bet Lynch (Julie Goodyear) and Betty Williams (Betty Driver) on Coronation Street in the early 1970s Photograph: ITV Granada

The Coronation Street cast poolside in Majorca in 1974 Photograph: ITV Granada

Mid-1970s variety show The Wheeltappers and Shunters Social Club. Pictured are (from left) George Roper, Frank Carson, producer Johnny Hamp, Bernard Manning and Colin Crompton. Hamp was behind many of Granada's top light entertainment shows, booking acts including the Beatles, Cilla Black, Little Richard, Count Basie and Woody Allen during the 1960s and launching shows such as early 1970s ratings hit The Comedians Photograph: ITV G

Tony Wilson started as a reporter on evening news show Granada Reports in 1973. He continued to present the show throughout much of the 1980s, when his fellow presenters included Richard Madeley and Judy Finnigan. His 'and finally' items became famous – especially the broadcast when he tried out hang-gliding with no training, celebrated in the film 24 Hour Party People Photograph: ITV Granada

Wilson hosted a five-minute What’s On slot at the end of each Friday's Granada reports that allowed him to showcase new bands. Here he interviews US star David Cassidy Photograph: ITV Granada

The What's On slot was expanded to the 15-minute So It Goes in 1975. The music show showcased upcoming punk acts including the Clash, the Buzzcocks and the Stranglers – as well as giving the Sex Pistols their first TV appearance. It was cancelled after two series following an expletive-strewn appearance by Iggy Pop Photograph: ITV Granada

Patrick Allen as Gradgrind and Timothy West as Bounderby in Granada's acclaimed 1977 production of Hard Times. The Dickens adaptation was partly shot in the railway yard behind Granada's studios Photograph: ITV Granada

Coronation Street creator Tony Warren on the show's set Photograph: ITV Granada

Robbie Coltrane as Fitz in Cracker. Three series of the Jimmy McGovern crime drama were shot in Manchester and broadcast between 1993 and 1995, along with a one-off special in 2006 Photograph: ITV Granada

Robbie Coltrane shooting Cracker in Manchester Photograph: ITV Granada

Nathan Maloney (Charlie Hunnam), Stuart Alan Jones (Aidan Gillen) and Vince Tyler (Craig Kelly) in Queer as Folk, set in Manchester's gay community around Canal Street. Written by Russell T Davies and made by Manchester-based Red Productions, the drama aired on Channel 4 in 1999 Photograph: ITV Granada

The cast of the Granada-produced and Manchester set Cold Feet, created by Mike Bullen and broadcast on ITV between 1998 and 2003 Photograph: ITV Granada