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Coronation Street stars Hayley Tamaddon, Michael Le Vell and David Neilson head to rehearsals for explosive live episode

Published: 10:45 EST, 21 September 2015 | Updated: 06:25 EST, 22 September 2015

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Coronation Street fans are gearing up for Wednesday night's explosive live episode.

And clearly the cast are too as an array of the soap's biggest names were spotted touching down in Manchester last week for final rehearsals for the episode to honour ITV's 60th anniversary.

A host of Corrie favourites including David Neilson, Hayley Tamaddon, Michael Le Vell and Craig Charles were spotted arriving ready to hone their live acting skills.

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Comfy work gear: Hayley Tamaddon, who plays Andrea Beckett in the show, chatting on her phone while sporting khaki combats, a grey sweatshirt and Converse trainers

All the stars kept it casual, with Hayley, who plays Andrea Beckett in the show, chatting on her phone while sporting khaki combats, a grey sweatshirt and Converse trainers.

Michael, who plays Kevin Webster, was equally laid back in jeans and a leather jacket while David, who stars as beloved character Roy Cropper, wore a cardigan and shirt.

Craig, who plays cab driver Lloyd Mullaney, was slightly smarter than his colleagues as he wore waistcoat and suit jacket with jeans.

Preparing! A host of Corrie favourites including David Neilson, Hayley Tamaddon, Michael Le Vell and Craig Charles were spotted arriving ready to hone their live acting skills

Dapper guy: Craig, who plays cab driver Lloyd Mullaney, was slightly smarter than his colleagues as he wore waistcoat and suit jacket with jeans

No nerves here! Hayley appeared to take everything in her stride as she continued to chat away on her phone

Hunky Tristan Gemmill was weighed down with luggage as he headed for his rehearsal for the role of Robert Preston.

Billy Mayhew, who stars as Daniel Brockleback followed behind in a low-key white T-shirt.

All the stars looked calm and relaxed before getting ready for the drama to unfold.

Off to work! Hunky Tristan Gemmill was weighed down with luggage as he headed for his rehearsal for the role of Robert Preston alongside Billy Mayhew

Last week fans were given a sneak peak of what to expect from the explosive live show.

The main drama appears to unfold around the unlucky Platt family.

In newly released rehearsal images, Sarah-Louise Platt is left fearing for her life after a dramatic showdown with drug dealer Callum Logan.

Tense: In newly released images, Sarah-Louise Platt is left fearing for her life after a dramatic showdown with drug dealer Callum Logan as Coronation Street stars rehearse live episode fight scene

And during Monday’s double bill, Sarah - played by Tina O'Brien - lures Callum (Sean Ward) to the Platts’ house, telling him she has the £20,000 he’s been demanding.

In the live special viewers will see Callum – who is out on police bail – head to the house but is angered when he discovers he was set up.

The mother-of-one attempts to sabotage the blackmail by setting out to record their conversation but things take a violent turn when Callum tries to stop her.

Coming up: In the live special viewers will see Callum (Sean Ward) head to the Platts' house after the mother-of-one (Tina O'Brien) tells him she has the £20,000 he’s been demanding

Speaking recently about the danger ahead on This Morning, actress Tina said: ‘It's very physical, there is a moment though where I'm like, “OK, I do need to breathe in this.” I can't explain it but I'm like, “OK, Sean, careful”.’

‘It's very choreographed our stuff, which is exciting,’ explained Sean. ‘Because it's one continuous shot for an hour we've got so many marks which we have to hit. I'm learning a lot. There'll be fireworks.’

The episode will also focus on Lloyd and Andrea's leaving party in the Rovers, Roy and Cathy's burgeoning relationship and Tim finding out about Kevin and Sally's secret kiss.

Lovebirds no more: Sarah tries to foil Callum's blackmail, her ex who is on a mission to ruin the Platt family

Celebratory episode: As part of ITV's 60th anniversary, the cast and crew have been hard at work rehearsing for the upcoming special

It was recently revealed that Tracy Barlow (Kate Ford) and Carla Connor (Alison King) are set to clash in a deadly clifftop fight.

The dramatic moment will see a desperate Carla Connor on the edge of devastation, swigging from bottles of alcohol while tossing a coin to determine her fate, to see whether or not she will plummet to her death.

The lingerie factory boss clearly reaches breaking point as her life hangs in the balance while grappling with Tracy on top of a 100ft cliff edge.

Despite their past history - it's no secret that the pair are enemies - it seems that Tracy talks Carla out of doing the unthinkable, but it's not clear whether Carla survives or not.

Cliffhanger: Sarah Lou invites Callum over in the final scenes of Monday night's episode

Coming soon: Coronation Street's live episode will be aired on Wednesday night on ITV at 7.30pm

But as the drama reaches fever pitch on-screen things are also kicking off behind-the-scenes.

The Corrie cast are said to be breathing a huge sigh of relief after it was announced that producer Stuart Blackburn is leaving the soap.

The show's stalwarts have allegedly been 'openly celebrating' Blackburn's Corrie demise although he is still in charge of ensuring Wednesday's live episode goes without a hitch.

And some of the senior cast members are said to be unhappy with all the long hours, late nights and double takes they're having to do in the run-up to the hotly-anticipated show under his watch.

A Corrie insider told the Sunday People : 'Everyone is openly celebrating that the boss has got his cards.

Departing: Coronation Street producer Stuart Blackburn is leaving the ITV1 soap in January 2016 despite the fact tensions are running high between the cast and crew under his watch

Blackburn leaves the show in January after three years to undertake 'other drama projects'.

However, the newspaper's source says resentment towards him has been building over his fixation with the Platts and the McDonalds and his slew of celebrity hires, as well as the general direction he was taking the show in.

But the behind-the-scenes rifts don't end there - some of the more experienced cast members are allegedly growing tired with their inexperienced colleagues because they're turning up late for rehearsals and forgetting their lines.

According to the paper, last week one of the programme's most popular stars remarked on set: 'If we didn't have so many hold-ups we wouldn't be getting home at silly hours all the time.'

Coronation Street's live episode will be aired on Wednesday night on ITV at 7.30pm