From father to son: David Owen leads Corrie tours with heart!

From father to son: David Owen leads Corrie tours with heart!

David Owen, 59, is a passionate Coronation Street tour guide, following in the footsteps of his late father Bill Owen. The emotional reason for his tours is the desire to preserve the legacy of his father, who was a performer on the Granada Studios Tour before he passed away in 2013. David has been leading his own tours since 2014 and has conducted over 2,500 tours, making him a real part of the series' beloved legacy. These tours initially took place at the old Granada Studios on Quay Street, but have now moved to the ITV Studios in Media City.

Tours last approximately 90 minutes and run every weekend through the Coronation Street Experience, which is considered the largest filming location for a single TV production in the world. As well as being the guide, David is also a passionate fan of the series, deeply influenced by his childhood memories of Coronation Street. He has always appreciated the influence of the series' strong female characters and a close connection to the factors that influence the setting - especially through the connections to places in his homeland.

The emotional connection of visitors

David has experienced many emotional moments during his tours. Particular memories stand out, including a situation involving two visitors from New Zealand who were not informed of a character's death, due to delays in their home country. Such encounters show how deeply integrated Coronation Street's stories are into fans' lives. It receives around 1,000 visitors daily from around the world, providing considerable evidence of the series' enduring popularity.

A memorable aspect of the tours is the opportunity for guests to explore the backstage of the set. This is reminiscent of the original Granada Studios tours, which were open to the public from 1988 to 1999. Opening celebrations in 1988 included the opening of the Coronation Street set by actress Doris Speed, whose costume museum featured Ena Sharples' famous costume. Historically, visitors have been allowed to stroll around the set at their leisure, which has created a special relationship between the series and its followers.

A promising future

Initially, David Owen worked in a factory job until a layoff led him to take on the position of tour guide in 2014. The tours have been running at the current location since 2018, and his dedication to the work was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from Coronation Street Experience in 2022. David works hard to ensure every guest has the best possible experience and dreams of one day appearing on the show himself as an extra.

His travels through the world of Coronation Street will always be an important part of his life story, and the connection with fans will continue through his tours - a true tribute to his father and the countless stories that series has spawned over the years.