Corrie creator Tony Warren's £430k will
CORONATION Street creator Tony Warren left just £430,000 in his will, it emerged yesterday.
Tony Warren died last March
The writer made only modest earnings from the idea which netted a fortune for his bosses at ITV and blazed a trail for soap operas.
Mr Warren died on 1 March this year aged 79. He left most of his estate to the Street’s director and former Brookside actress Noreen Kershaw.
Other beneficiaries include his god-daughter Ella Duffy, daughter of Poet Laureate Carol Ann Duffy. Mr Warren was only 24 when the show launched in December 1960.
It went on to draw audiences of up to 20 million an episode and was sold to broadcasters in 40 countries around the globe. Mr Warren, who was openly gay, claimed he suffered discrimination from TV bosses and reportedly had long-running rows with other writers.
The Coronation Street creator left most of his estate to Noreen Kershaw
Coronation Street dedicates an episode to Tony Warren in touching tribute
Although he lost control of the drama set in working-class Salford, Greater Manchester, his role was acknowledged in the closing credits.
At the time of his death he lived in Swinton, just a few miles from where he grew up and based his characters.