Queen Elizabeth II visits set of TV soap Coronation Street on its 60th anniversary

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Category: Lifestyle/Entertainment

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. mark / mɑrk / (v.) – to do something special to celebrate an important event
    Example:

    We’ll be giving out special mugs to mark our company’s 25th anniversary.


  2. cobbled / ˈkɑb əld / (adj.) – having a surface covered with or made of round stones called cobblestones
    Example:

    It’s really hard to walk on cobbled streets when you’re wearing high heels.


  3. marvelous / ˈmɑr və ləs / (adj.) – very good, enjoyable, exciting, or wonderful
    Example:

    The room looks beautiful. You did a marvelous job decorating it!


  4. carry on / ˈkæri ɑn / (phrasal v.) – to continue doing something
    Example:

    I asked Kevin to help us move the table, but he just carried on watching TV.


  5. long-running / ˈlɒŋ rʌn ɪŋ / (adj.) – continuing or existing for a long time
    Example:

    She’s played the main character in a long-running medical drama for over fifteen years.


Article

Read the text below.

Queen Elizabeth II visited the set of Coronation Street in London on July 8 to mark the 60th birthday of the TV soap opera.


The monarch was all smiles as she walked along the cobbled street. She also visited a studio. Inside the studio, the crew and cast film the interior of the Rovers Return pub.


It was the second time the queen, 95, has visited the set of “Corrie.” The first time was in the early 1980s, at the show’s original studios in Manchester.


She told the cast it was “really marvelous you’ve been able to carry on” during the pandemic. She also took time to chat to backstage staff including writers, camera operators, set designers and sound engineers.


The soap opera focuses on the lives of residents of Weatherfield, a fictional town in northern England. Coronation Street is the world’s longest-running TV drama series. (AP, The Japan Times)


This article was provided by The Japan Times Alpha.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Coronation Street is the world’s longest-running TV drama series. Why do you think it’s been able to continue for over 60 years (ex. good storylines, lovable characters)? Have you ever watched it? If so, what did you think of it? If not, are you interested in watching it? Discuss.
  • Why do you think soap operas and similar dramas are so popular in many countries (ex. they’re interesting, people can escape from their own lives while watching them)? What kind of TV shows are most popular in your country? What kind do you like to watch? Why? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • Queen Elizabeth II visited the set of a TV soap opera to mark its 60th birthday. Do you think it’s appropriate for royalty and heads of state to attend events like this, or should they only attend more serious events? Why? Discuss.
  • The queen first visited the set of Coronation Street back in the early 1980s. How do you think things have changed since her first visit? Why? Discuss.