In suitably dramatic style Coronation Street celebrated 50 fabulous years with a birth, marriage and death as the cast of the popular soap delivered a near-perfect performance in this week’s much anticipated live episode, writes Tracey O’Sullivan.

While Monday may have seen some of the most explosive moments as the scene was set for last night’s tragic turn of events the live episode was always heralded as the highlight of this celebratory week.

And it was worth the wait.

Producers had promised four funerals and a wedding but took the emotional tension to new levels with several twists and turns and riveting drama as some of the major storylines were played out to the backdrop of what has been dubbed Corriegeddon.

Millions were gripped last night as soon as the show opened to news Ashley Peacock had perished when the Joinery collapsed on top of him just after he helped Nick Tisley to rescue Peter Barlow.

But while Peter made it out of the rubble and to hospital it was clear from the off none of the characters were safe from this most sensational of cull.

Mr Barlow junior is most likely for the chop after his heart monitor flat-lined last night as the credits rolled but not before he starred in his own slice of the tear-jerking scenes with a deathbed wedding to finance Leanne Battersby.

Meanwhile Sally Webster may have preferred a little less honesty in Molly’s dying moments as the young mum proved to be the disaster’s second confirmed victim.

Trapped in the debris of the corner shop Sally was drafted in to help comfort her through the rescue attempt only for Molly to choose this moment to reveal baby Jack’s father is Kevin who Sally had earlier sent to the hospital to be with the seriously-injured tot.

And little Jack was not the only baby facing a life and death struggle as the week nears its close.

To complete the trio of life’s landmark events in the show Fiz Stape gave birth to tiny baby Hope almost three months prematurely with doctors whizzing her off to the special care baby unit while her father John added to the commotion with a potential murder.

Not content with all the thrilling action going on with the crashed tram and fire writers added a genius sinister edge with Becky MacDonald stealing cash from the damaged safe at Dev’s corner shop while John dashed home from his wife and newborn daughter in hospital to try and dispose of Charlotte’s body. He saw the carnage in the street as the perfect cover-up hoping to pass her off as one of the victims.

Or at least that’s what he thought he was doing after assuming that hammer blow he delivered to her head on Monday night had finished her off.

But proving the soap has not drifted too far from its comical roots it was almost worth a wry smile as a passing policewoman found a faint pulse leaving the hapless villain in yet another fine mess.

The final scene was given to cuckolded Tyrone Dobbs who collapsed in tears after he discovered his cheating wife had died before the pair had been able to make their peace with each other.

But as Sally didn’t get a chance to divulge the details of Molly’s last confession Tyrone has even more heartache to come.

It has become a rite of passage for soaps to mark the big dates with a live episode and sport for fans to spot the gaffes but they were of the blink and you’ll miss them variety in a television event which proved a triumph for all concerned.

There were said to be cheers and applause from cast and crew as the cameras stopped rolling and rightly so with even more drama promised tonight including the revelation of that fourth victim.