Manchester Pride is thrilled to announce that ITV will be taking part in the parade on Saturday 27 August, with its ‘Best of British’ 2011 theme.

As a part of the ITV float, Manchester Pride will be welcoming back the cast of Coronation Street, who won ‘Best Float’ in the festival’s 2010 parade. A few of the Corrie cast – both old and new to the LGBT festival – have had many great things to say about their participation this year with ITV. Alison King (Carla Connor) and Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) have stated they are going to go all out to take home the winning title for ‘Best Float’ second year running.

Clare Wade, second assistant director at ITV, said: "For the second year running Coronation Street and ITV are supporting Manchester Pride. It is a privilege to be the lead float in the parade again this year and it is a symbol of how we at ITV wholeheartedly and proudly support diversity not only in the workplace but everywhere."

Brook Vincent, who plays Sophie Webster in the soap, said: "I had an absolute ball last year and think it's a great chance to come together in an awesome city like Manchester and celebrate lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender life. It's fantastic that Coronation Street is supporting Pride yet again and I'm very proud to be portraying a lesbian character on screen. Hopefully it will go some way towards making people realise there is nothing in any way wrong with being gay. You're born who you are!"

Fellow actors Ian Puleston-Davies (Owen Armstrong), Will Thorp (Chris Gray), Samia Smith (Maria Conor), Alison King (Carla Connor) and Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre) have also shown their support and excitement for this year’s Manchester Pride and its parade.

Jackie Crozier, festival director of Manchester Pride, said: “We are thrilled to welcome back the Corrie cast and even more excited that they are a part of ITV’s first ever float in the Pride parade. The parade is one of the most ‘Loud and Proud’ and public parts of our festival so to have Coronation Street and ITV demonstrate such strong support as a part of this means a lot.”

Manchester Pride 2010 takes place from Friday 19 – Monday 29 August and tickets for the Big Weekend (August 26 – 29) are now on sale. For more information, visit: www.manchesterpride.com

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