Coronation Street stars have left fans stunned after sharing an epic throwback photo from the 90s alongside a former EastEnders actor. The picture, posted by Samia Longchambon – known for her role as Maria Connor in Corrie – features a group of young actors from the popular children's show Children's Ward, which aired on CITV for over a decade. The news that CITV will be shutting down after 40 years has also left other celebrities who got their start on the channel feeling devastated.
A Blast from the Past
Samia Longchambon took to Instagram to share the nostalgic photo, expressing her sadness about the channel's closure. The snap, taken in 1995, features the young stars of Children's Ward, including Jane Danson – who plays Leanne Battersby in Corrie – and former EastEnders actor Danny Dyer. Samia captioned the photo with, "It's sad to hear that CITV is closing as a channel… I've got special memories of working on some of its shows. Can you spot @realjanedanson @officialdannydyer and myself?".
A Platform for Young Actors
Jane Danson, who also shared her disappointment about the closure, described CITV as a "brilliant platform for us as young actors" and praised the channel for producing "amazing shows". The beloved program Children's Ward aired on CITV from 1989 until 2000 and featured other famous faces such as Will Mellor, William Ash, and Tim Vincent.
The End of an Era
CITV will cease broadcasting on September 1 at 9pm to make way for a new channel called ITVX Kids. While fans and former CITV stars mourn the loss of the iconic channel, the throwback photo serves as a reminder of the talent and memories that were created during its 40-year run.
