Set in Salford, Albion Market was meant to win the ratings war against EastEnders and Coronation Street – but became one of ITV’s biggest flops of the decade

It was supposed to be ITV’s answer to EastEnders and deliver a knockout blow in the TV ratings battle. Instead, it became one of the most expensive failures of the 1980s.

In February 1985, the BBC had unveiled their gritty new flagship soap opera EastEnders to widespread critical praise, with the first episode attracting 17 million viewers.

ITV’s own flagship, Coronation Street, was commanding big audiences, but as EastEnders continued to gain momentum, the commercial broadcaster decided to pursue an even larger slice of the soap-watching public by launching a brand new drama of their own.

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In the mid-1980s, satellite television was still in its early stages in the UK, with just four main domestic channels available to British viewers – BBC1, BBC2, ITV and Channel 4. Channel 4 had only begun transmitting in 1982, while Channel 5 was still more than a decade away.

With viewing figures dominated by the two major channels, BBC1 and ITV, the battle for prime-time evening audiences was intense.

So ITV turned to Granada, the Greater Manchester studio behind their most successful show, Coronation Street, for a new show. The answer Granada came up with was a soap based around a street market, set in Salford.

The twice-weekly programme was to be based on the lives of the market folk, at work and at play. And with EastEnders dominating newspaper headlines as well as the ratings war, no expense would be spared on Albion Market, which at the time was reported to be the costliest soap opera made in Britain, costing £3 million.

The massive new set itself would cost £500,000, and was built in a 40,000 sq. ft storage warehouse near Granada Studios. In August 1985, Manchester Evening News journalist Keith Macdonald got to walk around the set and interview its designer.

To make sure the set was the best it could be, TV bosses had brought in Denis Parkin – the man who designed Coronation Street’s sets, turning creator Tony Warren’s dream into reality back in the ’60s.

After touring the set, the journalist wrote: “Imagine if you can, that Bury market has been transplanted from its traditional site, lock, stock and customers, and deposited overnight in Water Street, alongside Granada’s television studios in Manchester. Then you begin to have some small inkling of the vast scale of the permanent set for Granada’s new twice-weekly drama serial, Albion Market.

“So massive is it that, as you stroll from the garden stall to the shoe stall, from the pottery to the blouses, past the full-sized, friendly café, towards the pub… you have to keep reminding yourself that Albion Market belongs to the world of make-believe.”

The set of Albion Market even came with a ‘Rovers’ style pub, and upmarket wine bar-disco called Bubbles, a betting shop, and Peggy’s Café. Every episode, 50 TV extras were also employed to mill about and give the feeling of a real street market.

But, despite the expectations surrounding the show, the original cast contained few household names. Of the original cast, Carol Kaye, one of the singing Kaye Sisters; Bernard Spear, a variety comedian-turned actor, and TV veteran David Hargreaves were familiar faces.

The show was scheduled to air on Friday and Sunday evenings, with the first episode broadcast on August 30, 1985. And, in the months before it went out, the hype surrounding the show was growing.

In April 1985, Sunday Mirror journalist, Keith Richmond, wrote: “A fierce battle of the soaps is being fought by Britain’s TV networks – matching anything being waged between American series rivals. Granada is preparing a new show called Albion Market to take on the BBC’s hit saga EastEnders – and even its own Coronation Street.”

It was reported the show and the set were under such close guard, the cast had to sign a contract with a special clause warning ‘talk to the Press and you’re out.’ There were also reports that in the run-up, many of the show’s original storyline ideas were axed and nine of the 18 central characters were sacked for not being ‘up to scratch’.

There was also said to be bitterness brewing at sister soap Coronation Street – with talk of mass defections from Weatherfield to the new show, and apparent resentment at Albion Market’s large budget. That reportedly caused one Corrie actor to tell the Daily Mirror: “We think it’s a sick joke. We have become the poor relation. We’re produced on a shoe-string budget.”

Despite this, Granada Managing Director, David Plowright described the show as: “Granada’s most recent missile in our programme armoury.” Adding: “I’m reluctant to aim it at the BBC in its present state but I hope it will be more welcome than a call from the Home Office.”

Nonetheless, the show turned out to be less of an Exocet and more of a wet firework. Despite the hype and the expense, the show was panned by critics and had underwhelming viewing figures.

The Daily Mirror reported in October 1985, just two months after its launch, that it was attracting only four million viewers – well under par for the era. And while the Friday episode was just about holding its own against Terry Wogan’s chat show, the Sunday night episode was being massacred by rival BBC comedy series Open All Hours, with 16 million viewers in the same time slot. This caused the Sunday night episode of Albion Market to be moved from its peak time viewing slot to earlier in the evening schedule.

In the same month, a reviewer for the Daily Mirror, said of that decision: “It looked like hello and goodbye to Albion Market, the ITV soap opera which came in with a bang two months ago, and then went out of everyone’s minds soon afterwards. ITV seemed set to put a ‘closing down’ notice on it – and moved the Sunday episode off peak to six o’clock.”

By December, the picture was even bleaker, with one Daily Mirror journalist writing: “Does the cast now outnumber viewers?” It was also announced the same month that veteran actor Tony Booth – who played Alf Garnett’s layabout son-in-law in Till Death Us Do Part – and singer Helen Shapiro were being added to the cast to help draw more viewers.

In February 1986, The Sunday People reported TV bosses had given Albion Market an ultimatum – giving it six months to drastically improve its viewing figures. The news coincided with a shake up of the soap, which saw a new producer brought in and a number of the original characters axed.

But, by the summer of 1986, the inevitable announcement came that the soap was a complete flop and would be scrapped after 100 episodes.

Indeed, in June 1986, The Sunday People reported that Granada TV were inviting budding writers to come up with ideas on how to end the doomed soap as ‘the regular scriptwriters can’t make up their minds how to wrap it up.’ The winner would be treated to an all-expenses paid trip to the set and have dinner with its outgoing stars. The final episode aired on August 24, 1986.

For years after the soap ended, the outdoor location, with its distinctive arch-shaped ‘Albion Market’ sign above the River Irwell, remained in place. When the Granada Studio Tours ended in 1999, the sign was removed and the building that was once Albion Market sold. It now forms part of the Victoria and Albert Hotel.

The victim, a man in his 20s, was taken to hospital for head and facial injuries after being assaulted by a man in his 30s in Davygate on Saturday (May 9).

The incident happened at around 4.35am and North Yorkshire Police are now appealing for witnesses and information.

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A force spokesperson said: “The victim was assaulted by a male suspect who was in a group of three men.

“The suspect is described as white, in his 30s, about 6ft tall with blond hair.

“The group left the scene in the direction of Blake Street.

“We are appealing for any witnesses, and anyone with relevant CCTV or dashcam footage, to come forward.”

If you believe you can help officers with their investigation, please email peter.wilson@northyorkshire.police.uk or call North Yorkshire Police on 101.

“Alternatively, you can speak to Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111 or via their website.

“Please quote reference 12260083784 when passing information.”

Daniel Dubois faces Fabio Wardley for the WBO heavyweight title in Manchester on Saturday night

Daniel Dubois’ rumoured girlfriend has showcased her stunning figure ahead of his bout with Fabio Wardley.

Triple D faces Wardley in Manchester on Saturday night for the WBO heavyweight title. The heavyweight clash between the two British knockout artists represents a chance for Dubois to become a two-time champion at the age of 28, having lost his IBF belt in his previous fight to Oleksandr Usyk in July 2025.

Despite his devastating punching power, Dubois is widely seen as a gentle giant in an otherwise ruthless sport. He is also well known for keeping his personal life out of the spotlight.

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Yet, the south Londoner is understood to have been romantically linked with a gorgeous Brazilian model by the name of Raissa Fox. Raissa is London-based, having reportedly worked in both Brazil and Milan before relocating to the UK.

Relatively little is known about the dark-haired beauty, aside from the fact that she is a qualified psychologist, deeply religious and an Arsenal supporter. She is mainly known for sharing eye-catching photographs on her Instagram page, where she has amassed 269,000 followers.

Shortly after the Wardley vs Dubois fight was confirmed in February, she posted a sizzling seaside snap that left little to the imagination, dressed in a tan-coloured bikini.

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Dubois and Fox have rarely publicly acknowledged each other on social media, apart from a post by the heavyweight star prior to his memorable knockout victory over Anthony Joshua in September 2024. He posted a photo of them together, writing: “Brazilian queen,” before removing it soon after.

The clearest confirmation of their partnership arrived when the duo welcomed a child together in March 2025. Raissa frequently posts photographs of their one year old boy, Zion, on her social media.

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Yet, Dubois doesn’t appear on her profile and the two seemingly no longer follow one another.

Triple D only revealed the bombshell news that he is a proud father earlier this year. He told The Sun: “My Zion, yes, that’s it — it’s all good! I have my boy now, he adds to my armoury.

“He’s motivating me for this, even more so now. I can be someone for him to look up to when he comes of age.”

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One Cambridgeshire council saw a major shake up

One Cambridgeshire council saw a political party lose control after 12 years – amid some major changes following the 2026 local elections. The results of the local elections were filtered throughout Thursday (May 7) night and Friday (May 8), with some surprising results coming out across the county.

Counts took place for Cambridge City Council, South Cambridgeshire District Council, Huntingdonshire District Council and Peterborough City Council. Elections didn’t take place in Fenland or East Cambridgeshire as they are due to take place next year.

Cambridge City Council saw one of the biggest changes, with a major upset for the Labour party. For the last 12 years, the council has been run by a major Labour majority.

However on Friday, the party lost six seats to the Green Party. While Labour still remains the largest party, the Green Party has become the second largest and Labour has lost its majority.

Of the six seats that Labour lost included leader of the city council, Cameron Holloway. The former leader lost out his seat in Petersfield to Green member Kathryn Fisher.

Speaking after the election, Mr Holloway said he was “still pleased” that Labour remained the largest party. He added: “I think there are a lot of people who are feeling disillusioned – feeling a bit fed up and it felt to me like a bit of a protest vote and a bit of a desire for something new.

“But there are no easy answers and the Greens offer an easy answer – there is not an easy answer in a complex world. In a world where economies are struggling, where there’s war, we need serious politicians – we don’t need people who are going to give easy answers.”

While there were no other major shake ups, other councils did see a slight change in which parties gained elected seats. In South Cambridgeshire, Liberal Democrats initially held 34 of the 45 seats, with nine held by Conservatives, one independent and one vacancy.

However in this year’s elections, the Liberal Democrats increased their majority by gaining 43 out of the 45 seats, while Conservatives only got elected for two. MP Pippa Heylings praised the “stonking” result for the party.

In Peterborough, the Conservatives became the biggest party in the city. Initially the party held 10 seats, however party members were elected to 13 seats on Friday.

Labour originally held the majority number of seats in the council, however its seats dropped from 13 councillors to 11. Reform made the biggest increase in Peterborough, with the party now having five members elected to the council, compared to one before.

In Huntingdonshire, no party gained overall control, but the Liberal Democrats came closest by winning 20 seats, with 27 needed for a majority. Conservatives came in as the second largest party, winning 15 seats.

This was followed by 10 seats for Reform, four Independents, two for the Greens and one for Labour.

Best camping gear to shop now

Camping tents

Desperate to get away, but the weather isn’t looking promising? Don’t worry, this tent has you, and all the family, covered for all weather eventualities. As well as being suited for a family of six, or four if you’re sleeping next to smelly teenagers. It even comes with room dividers, so you can opt for extra privacy, and has double the ‘living’ area so you can get some alone time even if it’s raining. Speaking of rain, this one comes set with 4,000mm waterproof protection to get you through the roughest of storms.

There’s nothing worse than a steaming hot tent, so this one from Mountain Warehouse has mesh doors to keep the air flowing all summer long. You’ll need it, too, because this tent fits up to four people (although some reviewers say it fits three more comfortably). It also comes with its a sewn in groundsheet and comes with 2000m hydrostatic head waterproof protection, meaning you’ll stay protected if things get showery. Just avoid full-on torrents.

If you want to avoid resting your head next to your stinky, soggy boots, this tent has its very own porch area that makes for great storage. Or, you know, just sheltering from the rain without getting crumbs all up in your sleeping bag. It can comfortably fit a double blow up bed and, more importantly, it’s easy to set up. Should our sporadic British weather catch you off guard, it can also withstand up to 200L per hour for three hours, and comes with a 2,400mm waterproof groundsheet so you can stay cosy while you sleep.

Should you be planning a walk, and you’re not keen on lugging around a huge heavy tent, here’s a lightweight option that can happily fit a couple. It weighs just 2.5kg, but somehow manages to still tick all our boxes. Namely: it has a mesh upper and double doors to keep it fresh inside, takes under five minutes to set up, and has 3,000mm waterproof protection. Plus, it’s our lifestyle writer’s favourite dome tent, thanks to being surprisingly roomy in both porch and tent.

In case you feel like assembling another object with poles, a windbreak can be a useful addition to your set up to give your tent that little extra protection from the elements. It also has a handy little window so you can see what’s going on on the other side – like if you’re being approached by a mountain lion or your kids are running off into the forest. That’s the kind of thing that happens when camping, right?

Sleeping bags, mattresses, and roll mats

Decathlon

Quechua Inflatable 2-Person Camping Mattress

Speaking of that cold, hard ground, there is a way to improve it – and that’s to lift yourself off it. This 190 x 120 cm inflatable mattress is great value for money. Not only does it stay inflated the whole night through (which you’d think would be the bare minimum, but…) it also inflates in just under two minutes, so you can have your sleeping arrangement set up in a pinch. It also comes in a single size, if you’re sleeping in a tent that comes in on the smaller side.

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For a less extreme investment, this oh-so-lightweight mat comes in at just 520g. You’ll barely notice that you’re adding another thing to carry around with you because, rolls up to into the size of that dinky little bag. It even has its own pillow for neck support, while the hexagonal design evenly distributes your weight across its surface so you won’t wake up with achey muscles.

Unlike your favourite Simba mattress, the hard dirt floor won’t mould around your body weight or warm up throughout the night (that is, unless something’s seriously wrong). To give yourself a boost of heat while you sleep, adding a reflective mat can help trap warmth between you and the earth to prevent any unpleasant moments of waking up shaking with the cold.

I think we can all agree that a good night’s sleep is invaluable. So don’t skimp on what you’re going to sleep in: fleece-lined sleeping bags are far cosier than their plasticky counterparts. This one comes with four ounces of filling, which makes for a comfortable sleep anywhere between 0 and 15 degrees. And if you buy two, you can connect them with one another thanks to having a handy double zipper.

Sea to Summit Foam Core Pillow – Large

You’re already camping, you don’t need to punish yourself any more than that. This is us giving your permission to buy yourself a pillow that feels like home, like this foam-filled one from Sea to Summit that rolls up into 17% of its original size for easy transportation.

Two pillow people, listen up. Providing 12cm of distance between you and the floor, this blow-up pillow will help support your neck. And if it does happen to get dirty (finger crossed it doesn’t) it’s easy to clean thanks to having a removable fabric cover.

Just look how happy this guy is; that could be how happy you are camping, too. But it won’t be if you don’t have enough blankets to keep you warm. This thermal double bed-sized one will keep you warm, or can be scrunched up into its little bag to double as an extra pillow.

You can fight with me all you like about camping not being the place for a weighted silk mask (I can hear the disdain in your voice from here). But I would beg to differ: you need to get your rest in, and it’s almost impossible to sleep when the sun start glaring through your tent straight into your eyes at god knows what hour. Trust me.

Tables, kettles, and more eating/drinking essentials

Don’t waste your time trying to find somewhere to frolic in the grass. There are times for that (namely: at your local park on the hottest day of the year) but this is not one of them. You’ll want a surface to rest your plates on, and this one even has drink holders so you don’t have to shoulder the tragedy of losing your hard-earned G&T to the wind. It also folds up nice and thin, and clicks into place, making for a quick set up and getaway in emergencies.

Don’t worry, this isn’t another thing to put in another little bag. This fold up chair is held together by its very own elastic strap, meaning you won’t have to play mix and match with all the little holding bags you have stowed away in your tent at the end of your trip.

If your idea of a holiday is not having to make small talk with your family while you eat, this chair has all the accoutrements you need to fly solo, like a side table, drinks holder. It even has a storage holder at the arm, so you can really hunker down and get some solo time.

At home you might wait until 6pm to be polite, but out camping 5pm sharp is cocktail time. These tumblers will keep your drink cool for longer than most, and they also double as a great mug for warm coffee, tea, or soup.

You might think you can survive on dips, crisps, and snacks (a girl can only dream) but at some point the reality of needing a warm coffee or hot chocolate will hit you. And we’re going to estimate it’ll be sooner rather than later. This three piece set fits snuggly within itself, and includes a kettle and two pans that can be converted from frying to saucepan and back again using the handles.

You go without a lot of basic comforts while camping, but you shouldn’t have to forfeit a cold can at the end of the day. This cooler from Yeti can comfortably hold up to 20 cans, and when paired with the Yeti’s medium ice sheet, will keep them cold for three whole days, according to one reviewer. “I didn’t think I needed it until I did and now it goes with me every where,” they said. This is what dreams are made of.

You wouldn’t believe just how versatile the humble sandwich bag could be. For keeping food safe and dry, yes, but also for rubbish, packing individual items of extra layers in your bag so you don’t have to fish around in the dark for hours, and even for putting over your feet when you have to wear leaky shoes.

You might be thinking: £65 for a glorified mini tool box? And we’d forgive you for that. Now think of the rage you’ll feel if you forget one of the things on this knife that you need. Yup, really puts things in perspective, doesn’t it? This knife has 21 functions to cover everything you’ll need to do out in the wilderness, from cracking open a cold one to filing a broken nail.

Stoves, firestarters, and torches

Okay, everyone has a torch on their phones nowadays. But when you’re in the wilderness you’re going to want something a bit more reliable than that; this handheld one lasts for up to 35 hours. It’s also IPX 6 waterproof, meaning it can withstand heavy rainfall, so even if you leave it outside in the rain (I mean, don’t) it’ll be able to give you light provided the batteries haven’t died.

Despite the idyllic idea of camping you have going on in your head, your fire won’t be lit all the time, and it goes without saying you won’t have one inside your tent. These wind-up lanterns come in handy for running for a nighttime wee, or just for being able to see where you’re going when you get into your sleeping bag.

Unless you’re embracing the analogue lifestyle, we’re going to take a leap of faith and assume you’ll want something to charge your phone with. This 60,000 mAh charging bank lasts for days of phone charges – and it’s speedy at it, too. Plus, it’ll come in handy if you need to recharge lights or other devices as it has USB-A and USB-C ports.

For longer and wilder camping stints, a solar panel could solve the problem of not being able to recharge your power bank. This one folds up to the size of a laptop, making it easy to carry, but you’ll need to buy a converter to go alongside it.

Well, it’s not going to start itself, is it? Don’t kid yourself with fussing around with ‘natural’ fire starting, especially when you’re camping with other people. It’s all about getting the job done quickly, and this pack of 50 will be your right hand man.

You don’t want to be messing around with matches in the pouring rain; this long lighter will make sure you stay plenty safe when lighting a gas stove. It’s also refillable; just make sure you remember to check if it has enough fluid before you trek off into the wilderness.

We’ve covered a lot of equipment without even mentioning cooking, and if you’re already thinking you can’t be bloody bothered to deal with all the effort of lugging around a huge stove, look no further. This tiny pocket stove weighs just 45g but has the same power as a full-sized gas stove. Simply slip it on to a gas canister and you’re good to go. Yes, chef!

Toiletries

Don’t take any risks when it come to bug bits. You might not see them, but they’re there, so make sure to layer up your bug repellant outside of the tent, whether you’re sitting indoors or out.

I stick to a very serious once a week hair washing schedule. While I’m confident my hair can last out in the wild, I’m not taking any chances anywhere I go, which is why I’ve tested a shit ton of dry shampoos in my time, and this one is the so powerful, it’ll even be able to revive your day five campsite hair. Promise.

Things are about to get messy and stinky, all at once. No matter how determined you are, you won’t be showering as much as you think you will be, so having these on hand to clean yourself, and any unfortunate tent spillages up is ideal.

Come rain or shine, if you’re outside, you need face and body sunscreen. Need we say any more?

The parish council has received a ‘number of reports’ regarding anti-social behaviour in the village

A parish council says it has received “a number of reports” about anti-social behaviour. Yaxley Parish Council have said that they have received reports about cars meeting on Eagle Way Business Park in Yaxley.

Reports include concerns of noise and damage to the road surface. Cambridgeshire Police has confirmed that they are aware of recent vehicle-related anti-social behaviour in the area and are working closely with the parish and district councils.

A spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police said: “Additional patrols are being planned at key times to help address concerns. Tackling ASB remains a priority for neighbourhood policing teams.”

Yaxley Parish Council has urged residents to continue reporting incidents including noting vehicle index numbers and keeping relevant CCTV footage.

A spokesperson for Yaxley Parish Council said: “We have received a number of reports regarding cars meeting on Eagle Way Business Park late at night. Reports have related to noise and damage to the road surface.

“We are in talks with the Police and they have asked residents to help by continuing to report any incidents, even if there isn’t always an immediate response. If possible, it would be beneficial for residents to note vehicle index numbers in a log and to preserve any relevant CCTV footage.”

The force has advised anyone who experiences anti-social behaviour to report it, either by calling 101 or via their online reporting services.

“Where possible, please include dates, times and vehicle details, as this helps us build an accurate picture of what is happening and respond effectively”, the spokesperson for Cambridgeshire Police added.

Italy: Ostuni Minuzzi; Muzzo, Sillari, Mannini, D’Inca; Madia, Stefan; Turani, Vecchini, Zanette, Fedrighi, Frangipani, Veronese, Ranuccini, Giordano (c).

Replacements: Cheli, Maris, Dosi, Duca, Sgorbini, Bitonci, Stevanin, Granzotto.

England: Sing; Venner, Jones (c), Rowland, Kildunne; Harrison, L Packer; Clifford, Cokayne, Muir, Lutui, Burns, Short, M Packer, Burton.

Replacements: Powell, Carson, Bern, Balogun, Head, Robinson, Aitchison, Moloney-MacDonald.

Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team (SRMRT) were called out after the animal fell around 6.5 metres down a narrow, winding pit on Friday (May 8).

In an online post, the team said: “Yesterday’s rescue was certainly a different one for the team…”

Rescuers attempting to save the dog (Image: Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team)

The dog is believed to have slipped through several tight gaps during the fall, which may have reduced the impact but left her trapped deep underground.

SRMRT added: “Somehow, gravity had carried her through several extremely tight gaps, which likely helped break the fall, but also left her trapped deep underground.”

Mountain rescue crews (Image: Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team)

A major rescue effort was launched, involving mountain rescue volunteers, North Yorkshire Fire and Rescue Service, North Yorkshire Police and Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association.

Emergency services at the scene (Image: Scarborough and Ryedale Mountain Rescue Team)

The team described it as “an outstanding six-hour-long joint effort” involving multiple emergency services.

After hours of careful planning and teamwork, a cave rescuer was able to squeeze through the tight underground system to reach the dog.

SRMRT said: “After careful assessment and a lot of teamwork, cave rescuer Lucy managed to squeeze down through the tight system to reach the dog and bring her safely back out.”

The dog was then safely brought back to the surface, bringing the challenging rescue to a happy ending.

The team added it was “a technical, challenging and very muddy rescue”, thanking all agencies involved for their support.

If you’ve seen forecasts of snow next week flash up on your social media feed over the last few days, you may be thinking that winter is about to return.

While snow is not expected over the vast majority of the UK, it is true that rather cool conditions for May are set to dominate.

With high pressure centred to the west of the UK, winds will mainly come from that chillier northerly direction. During the second half of the week our air will have originated from around the Arctic Circle in northern Scandinavia.

Daytime temperatures for most will be much colder than normal at 9-14 Celsius (48-57F) in many areas.

Areas of low pressure crossing southwards across the country will bring a greater likelihood of rain and, like last week, some snow in Shetland and the Scottish mountains cannot be ruled out.

As well as snow, last week also brought the UK its coldest May conditions for nearly 30 years. Tomintoul in Moray, Scotland recorded a low of -6.8C (20F) on the night of the 5/6 May. This was the lowest temperature recorded in May since 1997 when the same temperature was reported at Leadhills, Lanarkshire.

Further night frosts are expected in places during the week ahead.