Coronation Street producer Iain MacLeod has confirmed that the soap's 60th anniversary episode will not be broadcast live.

In news that actress Sally Ann Matthews will be pleased about, MacLeod recently told The Daily Star that "it's time to do something different," as plans are now being discussed.

ITV

Related: Coronation Street's Bill Roache admits he would have "run a mile" over playing Ken for 60 years

The special milestone will be marked on ITV this December, as the soap's boss promised: "It will have a little bit of everything so that nobody goes away unsatisfied. We won't be doing a live episode. It's time to do something different.

"But it won't be any less ambitious."

MacLeod elaborated: "We are going to be telling the stories in a slightly different way. It's important when you're celebrating a milestone that you don't purely look back at times past, but also find a way to renew and look to what the next 60 years might be like."

Jeff Spicer / Stringer Getty Images

Related: Coronation Street boss hints at stunt as he reveals 60th anniversary plans

He also addressed the possible return of familiar faces, including legendary landlady Bet Lynch: "We are lucky that a lot of the iconic characters are still in the show. Ken, Rita...and then Roy Cropper entered the echelons of iconic characters a long time ago. We have got more than enough talent on the show at the moment.



"We've not given in to the temptation [of bringing her back]. There are no plans to do that…yet."

Coronation Street airs on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at 7.30pm and 8.30pm on ITV.



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