Owing to continued troubles and ratings competition from the BBC's Open All Hours, though, the series was broadcast for only one year; a Friday episode of Coronation Street was introduced in October 1989.
The long-suffering market superintendent, Derek Owen (David Hargeaves), was the primary focus; his day usually began with the difficult task of assigning the few unowned stalls to the large number of casual traders.
Prominent among these were Lynne Harrison (Noreen Kershaw) and her ex-convict husband Roy (Jonathan Barlow); regular traders included the gossiping ceramics dealer, Morris Ransome (Bernard Spear), and handsome lothario and cake seller Tony Fraser (John Michie).
After this faltering start, compounded by Michael Grade's success with his newly rearranged schedules for the BBC, Granada attempted to change direction and bring in both glamour and familiar actors.
Despite attempts to encourage viewing figures by bringing in Till Death Us Do Part actor Antony Booth and singer Helen Shapiro, the ratings did not improve and some ITV regions dropped the series from their peak-time schedules.