I've been a Corrie fan for as long as I can remember. Back in the days of two eps a week and three TV channels, it was the best thing on the box.
Those classic scenes with Stan, Hilda, Betty, Rita, Bet and countless other characters have made for priceless TV. I even propped up the Rovers bar as an extra in 2003, and almost prevented Johnny Briggs (Mike Baldwin) from emerging from the pub loos.
But in recent years it seems to have gone off the boil. Maybe it was losing some long term favourites or just that demand to create five episodes a week, 52 weeks a year that watered things down a bit.
Or maybe it was me in need of a rest after 40 years of fandom.
Thankfully in recent weeks, the discovery of Callum's body under Gail's granny flat has seen the show back on form.
Fresh from the show's recent success at the British Soap Awards, I had a chat with Lisa George, aka Beth Sutherland, about why the series is still going strong after 55 years.
CORRIE IS GOING THROUGH SOMETHING OF A RENAISSANCE AT THE MOMENT, WITH THE BODY UNDER THE FLAT GRIPPING MILLIONS. WHAT IS THE SECRET OF THE SHOW'S SUCCESS?
"The unrelenting commitment to the show by those involved. When you are part of something this big you realise how much work goes into it.
"It's quite overwhelming and also the support here is fantastic. At the end of the day everybody wants to do the very best they can and I think this success is down to that."
WHAT'S BEEN YOUR FAVOURITE BETH STORYLINE AND WHY?
"I have to say the eighties wedding. It was fun, it was romantic, comedic, loving, exciting, a multitude of emotions."
Photo: Sammy Power
WHAT CAN WE LOOK FORWARD TO IN THE COMING WEEKS?
"Andy Whyment, who plays my husband (Kirk), and I have filmed some really funny little scenes lately.
"The scripts were definitely unexpected but worked really well as it gave us the opportunity to work with characters that we haven't really touched base with much."
With scriptwriters like Jonathan Harvey, and cast like David Neilson, Simon Gregson and of course Lisa George helping to breathe new life into Tony Warren's saga, this Rover has happily returned to the king of all soaps.
:: With thanks to Lisa George for help with this blog post.