ONCE upon a time you could have walked down the corridor of Royal Bolton Hospital and unexpectedly find yourself bumping into some well known faces.

Famous Coronation Street names like Jane Danson and Tina O’Brien, Blue Peter’s Tim Vincent, Ordinary Lies actress Rebecca Callard and Pirates of the Caribbean and This is England actor Stephen Graham were all there.

However, the hospital role-call wasn’t because of some huge media industry accident, but for the filming of a long-running and popular hit TV show.

In the late 1980s, Granada Television rolled up outside Bolton’s hospital - then known as Bolton General Hospital - for the start of its new series, Children’s Ward.

First broadcast in 1989, Children’s Ward was a breeding ground for acting and writing talent. Shameless creator Paul Abbott co-conceived the show, which tackled topics such as cancer, drug addiction and child abuse – and BAFTA-winning writer Russell T Davies contributed several episodes in the mid 1990s.

On Saturday Russell, now best known for his work in bringing Doctor Who back to TV, is taking audiences time travelling again – back to 1980s Bolton. He is hosting a celebration of nostalgic Granada favourites at HOME in Manchester.

And placed at prime time on the schedule will be Children’s Ward.

Russell said: “I’m so proud of it. I still think it’s one of the best things I ever wrote. Oh I’ll be excited to see it again.”

Along with producer Kieran Roberts and director Beryl Richards - who both earned BAFTAs for their work on Children’s Ward - actors Andrew Knott and Jane Danson will be recalling their memories of a show that ran for almost 150 episodes.

Jane, best known now to television audiences as Corrie’s Leanne Battersby, added: “It sounds like it's going to be a fun afternoon. Really looking forward to a trip down memory lane!”

While the show was shot at Bolton General Hospital, some exteriors were filmed outside the now demolished maternity hospital entrance at the former Withington Hospital, in south Manchester.

Scheduled as part of the Granada @ 60 festival, the dip into the children’s archive will also include clips of Spooky 1970s show The Ghosts of Motley Hall, which starred Peter Sallis;Toddler’s classic Hickory House,remembered for its sleepy cushion Humphrey and bad tempered Dusty Mop, and school’s show Picture Box, in which presenter Alan Rothwell introduced short films from around the world.

The event will also feature a very special guest appearance by Chris Kelly, the iconic presenter of Clapperboard.

For a decade, this teatime treat gave children an insight into the latest releases from Hollywood – including The Empire Strikes Back.

Manchester based events company Room 5064, named after the office where authors Alan Bennett and Dennis Potter once worked at BBC Wood Lane, are behind the showing of the programmes, which will also features a question and answer session.

Gareth Kavanagh from Room 5064, said: "This will be a sentimental journey for some, as they recall the shows that were an integral part of their childhood.

"And of course Russell’s involvement in resurrecting Doctor Who and making it such as a pivotal part of today’s programming will make it an attractive proposition for younger viewers, too.

"But most of all, I hope it will remind us of just how important children’s programming is, in entertaining and educating, and how involvement in delighting our future generation can lead to dazzling future careers!"

Tickets for Saturday’s event, which runs from 1.30pm to 3.30pm, cost £7, concessions £5,

To find out more and book visit www.homemcr.org.