John Thomson on his early days at Granada Studios

‘See that down there,’ says John Thomson, pointing out of the window. ‘That used to be a bowling green.’

We’re at Versa Studios in central Manchester, formerly Granada Studios, a place that has played a huge part in British TV history and in John’s own career.

Granada – named after the Spanish city because its founder Sidney Bernstein wanted to bring a little sunshine to Manchester – was where some of the UK’s biggest shows like Coronation Street, Brideshead Revisited and The Jewel in the Crown were born. But in 2013, the studios closed and production, including Coronation Street’s famous Weatherfield set, was moved to MediaCityUK.

Now, over a decade later, it has been brought back to life under the new Versa brand and kitted out with cutting-edge facilities including two advanced TV tech galleries, VR/AR studios, and a motion capture facility.

'I've got so many good memories from working here,' says John Image: Luke BolandReminders of Granada’s rich history are still very much present. There are photos on the walls capturing iconic moments in TV history, vintage cameras that once filmed some of the most memorable scenes and original furniture dotted about. Studio 04, which famously hosted The Beatles' first TV appearance in 1962, remains untouched – a reminder of the golden age. For John, who began his career here in the late 1980s, these traces of history hold special meaning.

Back then, old bowling green was used to stage the Boddingtons Dream Tent, an annual comedy and music show. It’s also where, in 1988, a young John Thomson got his first gig for Granada.

‘I got pulled out of class to do a tease for the show,’ he says. At the time, 18-year-old John was studying drama at Manchester Poly (now Manchester Metropolitan University). ‘Everyone in class was like, “Oooh”. Nobody really liked you taking time out term time.’

A year later, he was back, having landed a small part in Coronation Street. ‘It was two episodes. My character was called Gary the Biker. I knew I wasn't coming back because I didn't have a surname. Once they give you a surname, you know you've got a good chance of maybe coming back,’ he laughs.

There are photos on the walls capturing iconic moments in TV history Image: Luke Boland‘I was buying an oil pump from Jim McDonald because he sold bikes and cars. I still remember the line. I said to Liz: “You haven't got an oil pump for a DT175 MX have you?” And she went: “It’s me husband yer want”.

‘And then the next thing I’m in the Rovers and Alec Gilroy says: “Can I get you a drink?” and I go: “Yes. Two oranges, please”. And he goes: “Orange?” Because he wants to make a few more quid with a pint of Newton & Ridley’s. And I say, “Yeah, because I’m on the bike, aren’t I?”’

John continues: ‘And then I chat Mavis up and offer her a cocktail. And she says: “Ohh, if my Derrick was here...” and that was it!

‘That was my first job straight out of drama school. Corrie, for a little bit part, and it was terrifying. I remember Denise Welch talking about a thing she called Roverphobia,’ he says, switching into a Geordie accent. ‘It’s when you get in the Rovers. It’s so iconic and so many people know it, it literally gives you the fear.’

Studio 04, which famously hosted The Beatles' first TV appearance in 1962, remains untouched Image: Luke BolandJohn was in good company during his early years at Granada. ‘I’ve got so many good memories from working here,’ he says. He crossed paths with other rising stars, like Steve Coogan, who was busy creating the iconic Alan Partridge. The two already knew each other from Manchester Poly, where Steve was two years ahead. ‘He was in the third year and someone told him: “There’s an impressionist in the first year”. And he said: “Ohh. Is that right? I'll see about that,”’ says John, slipping into his best Coogan impression. ‘But we got on like a house on fire.’

Then there was Caroline Aherne, who had a regular spot on Granada as the as the seemingly sweet, yet sharp-tongued elderly chat show host, Mrs Merton. Played by a 30-something Caroline, the character used her unassuming look to ask celebrity guests the kinds of awkward questions no other host would dare.

The three of them – John, Steve and Caroline – eventually teamed up to work on a sketch show called The Dead Good Show. They were given their own writing room at Granada, where they spent countless hours brainstorming and crafting ideas. It was here that one particularly bizarre, yet memorable sketch came to life. ‘There’s a horrible sofa that they gave us. It was like fluorescent and we wrote a sketch that’s in The Dead Good Show that’s called 'Cop with a Sofa' and it was about a cop that couldn’t go anywhere without his sofa and we took that sofa out the office and I played the cop and I used to go everywhere with my gun and the sofa,’ John recalls.

Reminders of Granada's rich history are still very much present Image: Luke BolandThe Granada canteen was the informal centre of everything. ‘Everyone, the great and the good, would all assemble there. It was like a who’s who of entertainment.’ One particular canteen visit sticks in his memory: ‘When you see 24 Hour Party People, that I did with Steve [Coogan], when he's playing Tony Wilson, I played his regional line producer Charles, who was a real person. And in the canteen, you'd have coppers over there and sci-fi silver suit people with purple wigs on over there. It was like a Hollywood studio lot, there were Vegas showgirls and cowboys...

‘And I remember it was boiling one summer day. And I'm like: it's hot in here, so hot. And someone said, “John, open that window”. Well, the window was… it was painted in. It was one of those, lift the latch, push the stem thing, you know? So, I pushed it and the whole pane of glass fell out and just smashed on the floor.’

And I remember Leslie Crowther said: “Ah ha, he's done it again!” And I died. Because I knew who Leslie Crowther was, I mean, I'd grown up watching him. And the whole place was laughing.’

This place is such a big part of Manchester's history and it's incredible to see it thriving again,' says John Image: Luke BolandIn the years since, John has built quite the career in TV. He’s probably best known for playing Pete in Cold Feet, which aired on ITV from 1997 to 2003 and made him a household name. He returned to Coronation Street – as a fully-fledged character with a surname – from 2008 to 2010 and has had leading parts in popular shows like Waterloo Road and Silent Witness.

He spent a decade living in London, but eventually moved back up North to Didsbury, just five miles down the road from the studios. ‘Didsbury’s my spiritual home,’ he says. ‘I was adopted there, at Parrs Wood Road Catholic Rescue Centre. When my dad dropped me off at uni, he pointed to a building and said: “That’s where me and your mum adopted you from”. And now I’m back, I've come full circle.’

He laughs when talking about his dad: ‘Bless him. If anyone wants to do a retrospective on me, he’s got all my old stuff on VHS and transfers it onto DVDs or CDs. He’s got my entire archive!’ he says. ‘But I don’t watch it myself. I don’t like swimming in the sea of me,’ he adds. ‘Having a big ego isn’t a good thing in this job.’

'I'm blown away. I love how they've kept the heart of it but brought it to the next level,' says John Image: Luke BolandWhen he lived in London, John missed the sense of community that came with being back up North. ‘I didn’t know my neighbours. We never really spoke,’ he explains. ‘But in Didsbury, I know everyone on my street. People look out for each other. There’s even a WhatsApp group. It’s mostly about parking and the bins, but during the pandemic, people were amazing. If anyone got Covid, I’d secretly send them pies. I didn’t want anyone to know it was me, but word got out!’

As we're taken on a tour through the newly refurbished studios, John takes a moment to appreciate the changes. ‘I’m blown away. I love how they’ve kept the heart of it but brought it to the next level.’

Versa Studios has already hosted major productions like Comic Relief, Peaky Blinders, Funny Woman, and Netflix’s highly anticipated The Darkest Hour. In September, Blue Peter will make the move here, bringing a new generation of viewers to this iconic location.

As the studio continues to evolve, the spirit of Granada lives on, nurturing the next wave of talent and creativity, just as it did for John all those years ago. ‘This place is such a big part of Manchester’s history and it’s incredible to see it thriving again,’ he says.

Versa Studios has already hosted major productions like Comic Relief, Peaky Blinders, Funny Woman, and Netflix's highly anticipated The Darkest Hour Image: Luke Boland