3. Tram Crash In Coronation Street (2010)
The tram crash was actually part of a very ambitious and much larger live episode for Coronation Street. Airing on the 9th December, just at the start of the festive period, various dark events took place during the episode, including John Stape attacking his stalker Charlotte Hoyle with a hammer when she attempted to tell Fizz the truth about their past, including their cover-up of the death of Colin Fishwick. Shortly after this, there was a large explosion at The Joinery bar during Peter Barlow's stag party, which subsequently destroyed a section of the viaduct, thus sending a tram careering into the street. The Tram itself destroyed Dev's Corner Shop and The Kabin, also killing Ashley Peacock and Molly Dobbs as well as an unnamed taxi driver. Although this took place at the beginning of December, its effects were felt all the way through Christmas, with Fizz giving birth prematurely shortly afterwards and Peter marrying Leanne in Hospital just before suffering a cardiac arrest, although he eventually made a slow recovery. John also manages to cover up his attack on Charlotte by moving her body to the tram wreckage, leaving he and her parents to make the decision to switch off her life support when she is declared brain-dead in the hospital. Each of the events that took place in and around the tram crash were not only very saddening for long-term fans of Coronation Street, but also made for enthralling viewing, especially when you remember that the explosion and the resulting crash were all part of a live episode.