Access All Areas : Behind the Scenes at Coronation Street (Hardcover)

Characters may come and go on The Street (except, of course, Ken Barlow) but year-in, year-out, the Corrie production crew work hard to produce four episodes per week of the nation's favourite soap. Certainly, their behind-the-scenes toil is less glamorous than the on-camera work of famous-faced colleagues, but here are the people who really make it happen.

Accompanied by black and white fly-on-the-wall photos by Roger Dixon, Hanson's account is aimed not just at soap fans but at anyone with an interest in demystifying TV production. His lively delivery renders complex accounts of this fascinating process accessible, and tells of his own responsibilities as producer as well and the jobs of those around him.

Hardcore Corrie fans should not be disappointed at the lack of star gossip in these pages. As long as the reader doesn't mind being reminded his favourite character doesn't actually live and breathe in Weatherfield (shock, horror!), he'll be happy to find all the secrets of creating a parallel, cobble-stoned universe whispered here.

If you would like to know where the stairs lead in Gary Mallet's house/who buys Spider's jumpers/who actually makes Betty's Hotpot--then this is the book for you. --Helen Lamont

What goes on behind the scenes at Britain best-loved and longest-running soap? Coronation Street's producer David Hanson and photographer Roger Dixon go backstage at Coronation Street and reveal how the storylines and scripts are constructed, get the secrets on the design and the gossip from The Green Room; as well as producing fantastic photographs from the studios, on location, in the make-up rooms, and of the unsung members of the team. It's a chance to see what the Street really does look like, to see what's actually contained within its houses.

Read about the fascinating process that is the brainstorming of the storyline through to the finalising of each episode. Everything must fit together cohesively and according to character, and important details cannot be forgotten - because the show's fan base is knowledgeable to the point of obsession. Roger Dixon takes his camera into the costume-rooms and onto the sets and locations to fashion beautiful and revealing images that tell the story behind the story. Britain's favourite stars are caught being made up, and the film crew themselves are shot in action. The make-up staff are interviewed and their methods and tools are captured on film.

Curiosity is further satisfied with a chance to see The Green Room, the epicentre of the Street. Here David Hanson picks up anecdotes and gossip, and learns how the cast try to guard their privacy from paparazzi and over-zealous fans.

Beautifully illustrated throughout with stunning black and white photography, this is the book that Coronation Street's massive fan-base have been waiting for: a fully authorised revelation of the secrets of the show from behind the scenes.