'Coronation Street' musical to tour spring 2012, Paul O'Grady narrates

The long-rumoured Coronation Street musical will begin a nationwide tour in 2012, it has been announced.

The stage adaptation of the ITV soap, which has been in the pipeline since 2008, will visit arenas around the country next spring.

"It promises to be a corker of a show," a source told The Sun. "It's taken years to put together because you don't mess with the Corrie brand. Fans wouldn't want an inferior show."

Paul O'Grady has been recruited as a narrator for the Coronation Street retrospective, which will detail some of the best moments from the last 50 years in Weatherfield.

Cast members Bill Roache (Ken Barlow), Kym Marsh (Michelle Connor), Antony Cotton (Sean Tully) and departed Corrie legend Bill Tarmey (Jack Duckworth) have also been tipped for starring roles.

Former Hollyoaks star Carley Stenson revealed in August that she would "love" to star in the Coronation Street musical.