A new drama telling the story behind Coronation Street's screen debut is to air on BBC Four, it has been announced.

The one-off programme, which is being produced to mark the soap's 50th anniversary year, will show how Tony Warren had to battle to get Corrie on the air after coming up with the idea for the serial.

Warren, now 73, was working as a contract writer at Granada Television in Manchester when he was inspired to create Coronation Street. However, his bosses initially provided fierce opposition to his desire to secure an ITV slot for the soap.

BBC Four's drama has been titled Florizel Street, which was Warren's original name for his creation. It will be penned by former Corrie writer Daran Little and have the show's current boss Kieran Roberts as its executive producer.

Meanwhile, Warren - who recently received a lifetime achievement award from the Royal Television Society - will act as a consultant for the project.

According to the Manchester Evening News, casting is currently under way to find actors to play Weatherfield legends Violet Carson (Ena Sharples), William Roache (Ken Barlow), Patricia Phoenix (Elsie Tanner) and Doris Speed (Annie Walker).

Speaking about the drama, BBC Four's controller Richard Klein said: "Coronation Street is a piece of this country's cultural history and we feel it is the BBC's role to reflect this. The fact it is an ITV drama does not prevent it being a vital part of our shared history."

Filming for Florizel Street will begin in July and the show will be screened in the autumn as part of a season of Northern-related programming on BBC Four.

Digital Spy