The project was announced in February 2010 under its working title of Florizel Street (Coronation Street 's own working title half a century before) and was the idea of Daran Little, a former archivist for the Street and a later script writer. The production excited initial comment as it was commissioned by the BBC and not Granada Television themselves as a tribute in the fiftieth anniversary year however the finished programme was made by ITV productions and not by the BBC. Press comment in early months centred around who would play well-known faces such as Patricia Phoenix, Doris Speed and Violet Carson and when casting was announced in the summer there was further coverage with special mention that William Roache would be played by his own son, James.