Rovers to return

Rovers Return Inn on the set of Coronation Street in Manchester Credit: PA

Bosses of Manchester-produced soap Coronation Street showed the Rovers Return is back to its former glory as the rebuild is completed - and it has stayed true to its historic look, down to the same wallpaper.

It has been more than two months since the fire started by Karl Munro (John Michie) devastated the Rovers and now his partner, landlady Stella Price (Michelle Collins), is getting back behind her newly refurbished bar.

The pub's reopening later this month is the setting for Tina McIntyre (Michelle Keegan) giving birth to her surrogate child for Gary Windass (Mikey North) and Izzy Armstrong (Cherylee Houston) when she goes into labour two months early.

Coronation Street's art director Rosie Mullins-Hoyle said of the redesign: "For myself it is an iconic set and perhaps the most famous in the country so there is a lot of pressure to get it right and do it justice.

"I was given a brief from producer Stuart Blackburn that the pub needed to feel like the Rovers - it needed to keep its character, the changes needed to be subtle and people had to notice new things about it after seeing a few episodes.

"Stella had made a conscious effort to try to make it feel like the same pub. In the back room she has picked out the the same wallpaper she had before as this is her home and she wants it to feel like it did."

Ms Mullins-Hoyle explained they bought the wallpaper in bulk in case it was discontinued as it potentially needed to last them another 50 years.

She said Mr Blackburn wanted the feel of the new Rovers to be as though it was kitted out with items from a shut-down pub, including old Salford prints, brassware, hot plates, old pub stools and tables, pictures, a poser table and a new jukebox.

Ms Mullins-Hoyle said: "The back room with vintage beer posters and day-to-day life and memorabilia will be added to over the years. We have just added a hand-painted Rovers Return dartboard. All of these details add to the character and history of the Rovers Return Inn."

The Rovers Return reopens its doors in the episode on Sunday May 26, on ITV.