It was well acted, had some great characters, warmth, humour... but it failed. Why? "Albion Market" was supposed to be a companion soap for Granada's other Lancashire-based drama "Coronation Street", but somehow the setting did not inspire. And, although characters were often likable, the show often felt bitty and disjointed as it flitted round the market, the café, certain characters' houses and the market superintendent's office.
Perhaps a large, central family group may have made a difference? Favourite characters included Jewish crockery sellers Morris and Miriam Ransome, Peggy at the market café and her daffy assistant Carol, fiery Lynne Harrison, and long-suffering Derek, the market superintendent, and his gormless side kick Keith.
It was certainly grim. An abandoned baby was found in the back of a traders' van and an unemployed man attempted suicide. There was no sign of the glitzy side of 1980s life at first.
As "Albion Market" failed to impress viewers, shoulder pads and blonde highlights for several of the male characters were imported, and 60s singer Helen Shapiro arrived as market hairdresser Viv.
But before we could see if these new ploys would work, the show was axed. It had lasted one year.
