Cash-strapped ITV selling ad space on Coronation Street for staggering 7-figure sum amid brutal cuts
FANCY setting up your own business on Coronation Street?
Well now is your chance — although you will need a cool £1million in the bank.
That’s how much ITV wants for the privilege of setting up shop in Weatherfield’s arches alongside other firms including Argos and Sainsbury’s.
The unit is in a prime location, previously occupied by Hays Travel, and should provide anyone with deep enough pockets the chance to showcase their brand.
The only problem is that ITV has been advertising the storefront on its website for some time — with it being available as far back as March.
A TV insider said: “Perhaps the fact that Coronation Street’s viewing figures weren’t quite what they were, would suggest that this isn’t exactly a bargain price.
Read More on TV
“A seven-figure sum is eye-watering considering the shop itself may only end up in a limited number of scenes and shots, and the fact that it doesn’t seem to have been snapped up suggests there aren’t many takers.”
The advert states: “Your brand could be the next ‘grand store opening’ on the nation’s most famous street, Coronation Street. This is a unique Product Placement opportunity, with proven success.
“Seamlessly integrating your brand and elevating your SOV, trust and fame—without direct retail competition.”
An ITV Spokesperson: “Coronation Street has enjoyed a successful partnership with Hays Travel and we are excited to welcome a new brand to the storefront in the UK’s biggest product placement partnership soon.”
Big characters
Although it was still ITV’s most watched show on Friday, the episode of Corrie drew in just under 3.3million viewers, which wasn’t much more than its channel rival, Emmerdale.
Over the past year, Coronation Street has said goodbye to a string of big characters, including Eileen Grimshaw (Sue Cleaver) which, it is claimed, is down to bosses having to cut costs as advertising rates are further squeezed.
The news also comes at the end of a week when ITV confirmed dramatic changes to its daytime TV schedule, with Loose Women being cut to 30 weeks a year.
Wonder if one of them fancies a career change into retail?
HOSTING IS NO JOKE FOR JOEL AND PALS
MORE comedians than ever before have pivoted from cracking jokes in clubs to landing proper presenting gigs on TV - and Joel Dommett knows why.
The Masked Singer host, who still tours as a comic, believes his funny friends have been forced to diversify as these days there are far fewer panel shows - which once cast a gaggle of gag-makers.
It means Joel is on the NTA longlist for TV Presenter alongside a load of comedians, like Romesh Ranganathan, Adam Hills and Tom Allen.
Joel said: “It’s been an interesting time for comedy on telly because panel shows have sort of fallen by the wayside.
“So comedians who used to populate these panel shows, they have gone on to such varying stuff.
“We all started out like me, Rob Beckett, Romesh, Joe Lycett, we would never have dreamt of being on all these different TV channels, doing all these different kinds of shows.”
TV’s all the better for it, I reckon.
JEREMY VINE is celebrating because the BBC has commissioned a TV series based on his new murder mystery book.
The Channel 5 and Radio Two presenter has penned a whodunnit called Murder On Line One.
The gripping story - set in Sidmouth in Devon - centres around a late-night talk show host called Edward who discovers that someone is killing off his listeners.
Vine has revealed that his novel - which has made the Sunday Times best seller list - will be turned into a telly drama.
The ex-Strictly star said: “Just today I have had a meeting about doing a TV thing on the book and I just always guard myself against disappointment but this is a production company and they are going to set it in Sidmouth and they are going to film it and the BBC has commissioned it.”
BRITAIN’S Got Talent has named its ten finalists as Vinnie McKee, The Blackouts, Stacey Leadbeatter, Olly Pearson, Ping Pong Pang, Jasmine Rice, Joseph Charm, Hear Our Voice, Harry Moulding and Binita Chetry.
It’s on Saturday at 7pm.
TOM JONES will tell his own incredible life story on the BBC’s In My Own Words factual series.
Confirming my TV Biz story, BBC Arts has announced the Welsh crooner will share intimate, first person testimony as well as archive footage for his special film.
Tom said: “Taking the time to look back at some of the extraordinary things that have happened in my life for In My Own Words has been really enjoyable and thought-provoking.
“Some of the archive I’d not seen before and watching snippets of those past times, places, styles and struggles brought home how lucky I am.
“Being able to spend the day in the first house I ever owned brought back so many memories… I hope everyone enjoys watching it as much as I did making it!”
Elsewhere the series will feature Frederick Forsyth, Val McDermid, Yinka Shonibare and Cornelia Parker and will air this autumn.
Read More on The Sun
I’M A Celeb star GK Barry and comic Jamali Maddix will be team leaders on Jimmy Carr’s new Comedy Central series, Am I The A**hole.
The eight-parter will see members of the public ask if they have been unreasonable in a scenario and will air later this year.