THERE was a lot of love in the room for Coronation Street last night.

A special event at the British Film Institute on London’s South Bank, hosted by both the BFI and BAFTA, to salute the longest running drama serial in the world.

It began with a big screen outing for the first three episodes, originally broadcast half a century ago.

Followed by an hour-long panel discussion featuring Tony Warren – “the father of Coronation Street” – plus current producer Phil Collinson, executive producer Kieran Roberts and cast members Kym Marsh (Michelle Connor) and David Neilson (Roy Cropper).

Which threw up several interesting stories, including an explantion by Phil of how the axeman does not cometh when a new producer arrives.

With some “terrified” cast members hiding from him when he began the job earlier this year.