MOST viewers know Coronation Street's main characters, and most of us can recall a particular favourite episode in which they starred.

But, as the 4,000th episode of the nation's favourite soap has just hit the screen, we wondered exactly what were the special scenes for the stars themselves?

Here, they reveal their own memorable moments to Coronation Street magazine. Sally Whittaker alias Sally Webster

"I ALWAYS look back fondly on a scene in Hilda Ogden's back room. (Sept 17, 1986, episode 2,657.)

"When my character, Sally Seddon, burst onto the screen, she was a loud-mouthed cheeky kid but her boyfriend Kevin Webster began to mellow her.

"When he proposed to her and told her 'I love you, Sally Seddon', I couldn't have been happier.

"I was really excited to be playing my first real romantic scene after previously spending all my time shouting at Hilda." Bill Waddington alias Percy Sugden

"I LOVED it when Coronation Street turned European for an episode. (Oct 21, 1992, episode 3,453.)

"A German war veteran visited the Street to meet with Percy. As they reminisced about the war, the former enemies ended up singing 'Lily Marlene' - the famous wartime song - in the Rover's Return. I sang in English while Klaus sang in German.

"It was a very comic scene and the first time I performed it got a standing ovation from cast and crew during the Technical Run." Anne Kirkbride alias Deirdre Rachid

"SURPRISINGLY, my favourite scenes were being held hostage over Christmas, 1988. (Dec 21-25, 1988, episodes 2,893/4.)

"As a councillor, Deirdre Barlow was helping out a single parent family.

"She took Christmas presents round to the children in the family, but their father took exception to this and, through sheer frustration at his plight, he kidnapped Deirdre and held her against her will.

"Deirdre finally escaped by throwing the TV at him. The scenes required the best from me and I believe I managed to deliver it.

"It was one of those moments when everything came together." Elizabeth Dawn alias Vera Duckworth

"IN 21 years in the Street, my favourite scene was the birth of Vera's grandson. (Sept 9, 1992, episode 3,435.)

"Vera and Jack were at the hospital when daughter-in-law Lisa gave birth to baby Tommy. I felt this brought Jack and Vera closer than they had been in a long time. Their grandchild had made them feel a real family again. Tommy was their 'little bundle of joy'." Peter Baldwin alias Derek Wilton

"DEREK'S proposal scene to Mavis is my favourite. (Sept 5, 1988, episode 2,862.)

"Derek got on his hands and knees and shouted through the letter box of the Kabin at Mavis to marry him. I loved this comic scene and felt it set the tone for their relationship.

"The sequence became even more memorable when rumours that the Street was to be sold to Russia prompted me to get the scene translated into pigeon Russian.

"Myself and Thelma Barlow (Mavis Wilton) later re-enacted the 'East European' scene on the Des O'Connor Show." Sherrie Hewson alias Maureen Holdsworth

"HOW could I choose any other scene than the waterbed scene? (April 30, 1993, episode 3,535.)

"When my character's screen husband-to-be, Reg Holdsworth, arrived on the Street with his waterbed, everyone guessed there would be trouble.

"An afternoon of lust went disastrously wrong and the waterbed burst, with water flooding everywhere.

"I thought the scene was hilarious, but I was more than a little surprised when Reg's towel fell to the floor. I don't think Maureen was quite ready for that!" Philip Middlemiss alias Des Barnes

"THE best scene I acted in was really explosive. (Aug 21, 1991, episode 3,268.)

"In 1991, the writers decided Des should blow up his prize possession - his boat - in an effort to persuade his straying wife Steph to stay with him.

"It also represented the end of a period of working with Amelia Bulmore, who plays Des's ex-wife Steph.

I always enjoyed working with her and it was this, coupled with good writing, that made this scene special for me." Michael Le Vell alias Kevin Webster

"MY favourite scene was played out at the hospital bedside of Hilda Ogden. (Nov 23, 1987, episode 2,780.)

"After being beaten up by a violent robber, Hilda decided to leave the Street. Knowing it was one of Jean Alexander's last scenes is one of the main reasons it was so special to me.

"The scene was well-written as Kevin told an overcome Hilda that he was so glad she was still alive, and that he would miss her when she left because she had been just like a mother to him."

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