Top 10 Coronation Street Characters

In a bid to get some contributers to comment on my blog, and thanks to Flaming Nora for giving me the light, I've come up with a poll: the top ten Corrie Characters of all time. The poll is above. Fifty characters in all. Vote for five characters

Will the characters above be in the top ten? You decide!!!

Photos from 00s Corrie

1. Meeting husband Ernest's killer Ed Jackson in 2006 led Emily Bishop to question her faith
2. Cilla Brown made poor Rita Sullivan's life hell in 2004
3. It was an end of an era when Vera Duckworth passed away in 2008, leaving Jack alone after 50 years of marriage
4. Nearly 25 years after their first wedding, Ken and Deirdre tied the knot again in 2005
5. Audrey Roberts feels guilty for putting too much on pressure on old friend Fred Elliott that proved fatal in 2006
6. Norris Cole was taken aback when business partner Rita rejected his marriage proposal in 2007
7. Les Battersby met and married Cilla Brown in 2004 and they combined their names so it could be 'Battersby-Brown'
8. Roy Cropper was shocked to hear wife Hayley's confession that she had a son from the time she was a man
9. Close your eyes! Deirdre Rachid had an affair with boss Dev Alahan in 2001, behind poor Ken's back!
10. Gail Platt was charmed by Richard Hillman and soon married him. She was a bit put out when he revealed to be a serial killer!
11. Sixteen years after their first wedding, Kevin and Sally Webster remarried. They said it was for the sake of the girls, but gradually, love began to take over
12. In 2004, Steve McDonald had to fight off two women: wife Karen and the mother of his child Tracy Barlow
13. Ashley Peacock tried to help second wife Claire through her post natal depression
14. An unlikely couple were Tyrone Dobbs and Maria Sutherland. The only link were dogs!
15. Liam Connor proposed to Maria Sutherland in 2008. In a few months, he'd be in a coffin!
16. Rosie Webster's flirtation with her teacher John Stape developed into a relationship in 2007
17. Sarah Platt struggled to accept that boyfriend Todd was gay. She later moved on to his brother Jason and married him
18. David Platt nearly killed mum Gail in 2008 when he pushed her down the stairs

Corrie Decade - 2000s

In 2000, Coronation Street reached a milestone – forty years on screen. This was proof that the soap was still a part then as it was back in the sixties. Although the period between 2000 and 2001 proved to be weak for the soap, the years 2002 and 2003 proved popular, due to the storyline of serial killer Richard Hillman, a story that gripped the nation. The serial hadn’t produced such a dramatic storyline since Alan Bradley’s reign of terror in the late eighties. 2006 proved to be a popular year as well, due to the exits of legendary characters Mike Baldwin and Fred Elliott and veterans Emily Bishop and Rita Sullivan starring in big storylines. The decade saw Ken and Deirdre remarrying and the passing of Vera Duckworth.

Main Characters

Emily Bishop, Rita Sullivan, Blanche Hunt, Jack Duckworth, Vera Duckworth, Ken Barlow, Audrey Roberts, Norris Cole, Les Battersby-Brown, Roy Cropper, Deirdre Rachid/Barlow, Gail Platt/Hillman/Platt, Kevin Webster, Hayley Cropper, Sally Webster, Steve McDonald, Ashley Peacock, Tyrone Dobbs, Maria Sutherland/Connor, Sarah Platt/Grimshaw, Rosie Webster and David Platt

Storylines

· In 2002, Emily Bishop would fall victim to Richard Hillman. Wanting her dead so he could inherit her house, he failed to suffocate her in Christmas 2002. The following month, he hit her on the head with a crowbar, only to be disturbed by Maxine Peacock, who he also attacked. Emily survived the attack, Maxine sadly didn’t. In 2006, Emily came face to face with hubby Ernest’s killer, Ed Jackson. He asked for her forgiveness, and after much thought, she forgave him and gave him one of Ernest’s cameras

· When Rita Sullivan caught young Chesney Brown stealing sweets from the Kabin, she caught him and gave him a clip round the ear. His mother Cilla accused Rita of assault and Rita had to appear in court. The jury said she was innocent, but she did spend a night in the cell – for contempt of court. In 2006, she suffered a breakdown, when she was tormented by Stacey Hilton’s sugar daddy Stuart for defending the conniving Stacey. She later recovered

· Blanche Hunt has been a comedy asset to Coronation Street since her permanent return in 1999 and her onscreen chemistry with daughter Deirdre and son in law Ken is always a high standard. Her storylines include romances with Archie Shuttleworth and Wally Bannister, protesting against a memorial fountain for Alf Roberts and being kicked out briefly by Deirdre

· During the decade, both Jack and Vera Duckworth’s health deteriorated but still proved to deliver comic lines. Vera temporarily left Jack in 2004, but reunited with him, in time to celebrate their anniversary. They would provide a home for Tyrone Dobbs and his girlfriend Molly Compton and grandson Paul Clayton. Sadly, in 2008, Vera died. They were intending on leaving the street for Blackpool. Since then, Jack has began a friendship with Connie Rathbone

· Ken Barlow remarried Deirdre Rachid in 2005, with all their friends and family watching them. Since their nuptials, Ken has to cope with stepdaughter Tracy being jailed for murder, resulting in him and Deirdre splitting for a while. In 2009, he began an affair with Martha Fraser and considered leaving Deirdre for Martha, but soon realised that Deirdre and the street still had a place in his heart

· Audrey Roberts thought she had dementia in 2002, but she soon found out that it was son in law Richard Hillman that tried to make her mad. He tried to kill her by setting her house on fire. Her accusations against him led to her being isolated from her family. In 2003, daughter Gail had to apologise to her mother when Richard confessed. In 2006, Audrey became involved in a love triangle between her, Fred Elliott and his fiancée Bev Unwin. Sadly, Fred died, leaving Audrey devestated

· Like Blanche, Norris Cole has become a vital role for comedy on the cobbles. A successful pairing with Rita in the Kabin and with Emily has made him popular. Known as a busybody, his nosiness nearly cost him his life when he interfered with Richard Hillman’s deadly dealings. In 2007, he proposed to Rita, only to be rejected. He moved to her friend Doreen Fenwick, but she also rejected. His friendship with Mary Taylor ended in 2009 when he found out that he preferred the company of Rita and Emily than Mary

· Les Battersby-Brown split up from wife Janice in 2001 and in 2003 began a relationship with loud Cilla Brown who he married in 2004. He adopted Cilla’s son Chesney as well. Les left the street in 2007 when he became a roadie for a band

· Roy Cropper’s life was turned upside down in 2003, when he was announced as the father of Tracy Barlow’s baby. This was in fact untrue, but nearly ended Roy’s marriage to Hayley. In 2007, Hayley confessed that she had a son from when she was a man, again threatening the marriage of the Croppers. Later in the year, Hayley decided to help build a school in Africa, leaving Roy alone. He soon found himself part of the comedy trio behind the café counter with Becky Granger and Ken Barlow

· In 2001, Deirdre Rachid had an affair with boss Dev Alahan. When she was found out by daughter Tracy, her relationship with Ken nearly ended, but four years later, they were married again. Their marriage has been threatened twice since their remarriage: 2007 and 2009

· Gail Platt divorced husband Martin in 2001 and soon began a relationship with Richard Hillman whom she married in 2002. Unknown to Gail, he was a serial killer, and when she found out, he drove the whole family into the family. Gail and her children survived, Richard didn’t. Since then, Gail has been involved with two other men: Phil Nail and Joe McIntyre, but children Nick, Sarah and David have, in their time, given their mother grief

· Kevin Webster met and married Alison Wakefield in 2000 and son Jake was born soon after, but he died a few days later. Devastated, Alison committed suicide, leading the way for Kevin to reunite with ex Sally who he married in 2002. Since then, both have had affairs, eldest daughter Rosie has caused some problems and Kevin’s rivalry with Tony Gordon

· In 2001, Steve McDonald married Karen Phillips for a bet, but soon fell for her. They decided to divorce in 2004, so that they could marry properly. They were divorced again within a year, due to the interference of Steve’s ex Tracy. Since Karen, Steve has been in relationships with Michelle Connor and is currently engaged to Becky Granger. He’s the current landlord of the Rovers and also runs the local cab firm with Lloyd Mullaney

· The period between 2002 and 2003 proved to be hard for Ashley Peacock. He found out that son Joshua wasn’t actually his (he’s Matt Ramsden’s son) and in 2003, Maxine Peacock was brutally murdered by Richard Hillman. Soon after, he met nanny Claire Casey whom he married on Christmas 2004. She gave birth to son Freddie in 2006, but suffered post natal depression. Since then, Ashley has lost his father Fred and has had financial difficulties with running the butchers

· In the beginning of the decade, Tyrone Dobbs became engaged to Maria Sutherland, but their relationship ended due to Fiz Brown’s interference. Tyrone is currently married to Molly Compton and has been a lodger at Number 9 with Jack and the late Vera Duckworth since 1999

· As well as Tyrone Dobbs, Maria Connor has been involved with other men that include Charlie Stubbs, Nick Tilsley, Peter Barlow and Jason Grimshaw. In 2008, she married Liam Connor but eight months later he was killed by Tony Gordon. As well as losing her hubby, Maria has given birth to a stillborn baby, slept with her best friend’s boyfriend and has fell for her husband’s killer

· In 2000, Sarah Platt gave birth to Bethany – at the age of thirteen. After her ordeal with stepdad Richard, she found out fiancée Todd was gay. Daughter Bethany was kidnapped by her paternal grandmother, only to be saved by Emily Bishop. In 2007, Sarah married Todd’s brother Jason but after only a few weeks, she left him for Italy

· During the decade, Rosie Webster was in a relationship with Craig Harris, but ended when Craig left for Berlin. Since then, she has been involved with her teacher John Stape, who in the end kidnapped her and held her hostage for 9 weeks. He was later jailed, but is due for release

· David Platt’s life changed in 2003 when stepfather Richard Hillman tried to kill him. Slowly, David has become as evil as his stepdad: he pushed his mum down the stairs, ruined his sister’s wedding, vandalised the street and framed his neighbour for burglary

Photos from 90s Corrie

1. Betty Williams celebrated 30 years as a Rovers barmaid in 1999 and was overjoyed when the regulars held a party for her and she was surprised when Bet Lynch returned to congratulate her
2. In 1994, Alf Roberts received an OBE and he was accompanied by both wife Audrey and his mayoral lady Betty Turpin
3. Emily Bishop was given a new lease of life when nephew Geoffrey appeared on her doorstep and persuaded her to be an eco warrior by sitting in a tree as a form of protest to protect the Red Rec
4. Rita Fairclough met and married Ted Sullivan in 1992 and they had three happy months together before he died of a brain tumour
5. Derek and Mavis Wilton were the butt of their neighbours' jokes and their partnership abruptly ended when Derek had a fatal heart attack in 1997
6. None of the residents of the street expected to see Jack and Vera Duckworth owning the Rovers Return. Their tenure lasted three years before they sold it to Alec Gilroy
7. Don Brennan tried to kill Mike Baldwin three times, the third time was fatal: for Don!
8. At 56, Ken Barlow didn't expect to be a father again. He was overjoyed when Daniel was born, but soon enough, his mother Denise left the street with Daniel
9. In 1996, Audrey Roberts met up with her son Stephen who had been adopted and had moved to Canada with his new parents. During his stay in Weatherfield, he made business deals with Mike Baldwin and made Mike's wife Alma smitten
10. Mike and Alma Baldwin's seven year marriage ended when Mike had an affair with ex prostitute Julia Stone in 1999
11. Jim McDonald disciplined his sons - usually with his fists!
12. Remember 'Free the Weatherfield One'? Thanks to exes Ken and Mike, Deirdre Rachid was freed from prison after she was sentenced for a crime she didn't committ
13. Babysitter Carmel Finnan proved a threat to the Platt household in 1993
14. Norman and Raquel Watts' marriage only lasted a few months
15. Kevin Webster's affair with Natalie Horrocks in 1997 ended his eleven year marriage to Sally

Corrie Decade - 1990s

Although not the top soap during the decade, Coronation Street was still popular with the public. It had the warmth and humour that other soaps envied. The street itself changed significantly during the decade. After Baldwin’s Casuals was demolished, Maurice Jones built three houses, a new factory and two shop units: a garage and Rita Fairclough’s Kabin. In the late nineties, the soap lost some of its most popular characters, who’d been prominent since the 1970s: Bet Lynch, Mavis Wilton and Alf Roberts. The soap was revamped in 1997 when many characters were axed and new, young characters were introduced. This was an attempt for Coronation Street to become popular among young people as well as with middle aged people and pensioners. This would help the soap to survive the new millennium.

Main Characters

Betty Turpin/Williams, Alf Roberts, Emily Bishop, Rita Fairclough/Sullivan, Derek Wilton, Jack Duckworth, Mavis Wilton, Vera Duckworth, Don Brennan, Ken Barlow, Audrey Roberts, Mike Baldwin, Alma Sedgewick/Baldwin, Jim McDonald, Deirdre Barlow/Rachid, Liz McDonald, Gail Tilsley/Platt, Norman Watts, Kevin Webster, Martin Platt, Sally Webster and Steve McDonald

Storylines

· Twenty one years after losing hubby Cyril, Betty Turpin met and married wartime sweetheart Billy Williams in 1995. Their marriage would last two years before Billy echoed Cyril’s death – heart attack. In 1999, Betty celebrated 30 years behind the Rovers bar

· In 1994, Alf Roberts became mayor for the second time. Naturally, his lady was wife Audrey. But, soon enough, she got on his nerves, and he sacked her and appointed Betty Turpin in her place. When his mayoral term ended, he retired from the council and the corner shop. He died of a stroke in 1999, leaving Audrey penniless and widowed

· Emily Bishop suffered a breakdown in 1992. Two years later she became engaged to Bernard Norton, but he called it off when he learned of her breakdown. In 1997, nephew Geoffrey turned up on her doorstep and persuaded her to be an eco warrior

· After her ordeal with Alan Bradley, Rita Fairclough met and married Ted Sullivan in 1992. Sadly, he died of a brain tumour three months after their wedding. In 1998, she nearly died when a faulty gas fire fitted by Steve McDonald released carbon monoxide in her flat

· Derek and Mavis Wilton moved from the Kabin into Number Four in 1990. For the next seven years, they would be the butt of their neighbours’ jokes. Their storylines included Derek’s gnomes being stolen by Norris Cole. In 1997, Derek collapsed with a heart attack on the M6. Mavis, devastated, left the street soon after for the Lake District

· A shock to many was when Jack and Vera Duckworth became licences of the Rovers Return in 1995. They would provide three years of comedy behind the bar including Jack pinching Betty’s bum and Vera attempting to seduce Jack with her red nightgown. Their tenure came to an end in 1998 when they became bankrupt and they sold the pub to Alec Gilroy. They would remain to be staffed at the Rovers until their retirement in 1999

· After his marriage breakdown with Ivy, Don Brennan became addicted to gambling and when he lost lots of money to Mike Baldwin, he vowed to get revenge. He kidnapped Mike’s wife Alma and drove his taxi into the canal – they both survived. He then tried to kill Mike by strangling him. When his plans were thwarted by Jack Duckworth, he then tried to run down Mike on the cobbles. Mike dived out of the way leading Don to smash into the viaduct, killing him instantly

· Ken Barlow divorced wife Deirdre in 1990. In 1993, he dated Denise Osbourne and in 1995, son Daniel was born. Soon after, Denise had an affair and left with Daniel, leaving Ken heartbroken. In 1998, Ken was shocked when Deirdre was wrongly jailed for fraud, and was overjoyed when she was released. With the interference of her mother Blanche, they reunited just in time for the millennium

· In 1996, Audrey Roberts met her son Stephen Reid. He’d been adopted in the fifties by Malcolm and Joyce Reid and they immigrated to Canada. When Stephen visited the street, he made business deals with Mike Baldwin and Mike’s wife Alma made a pass at him

· Mike Baldwin married Jackie Ingram in 1991, just to get her money. They were only married a week. He soon dated Alma Sedgewick and they married in 1992. Their marriage had rough patches and eventually ended in divorce when a desperate for money Mike had an affair with Julia Stone in 1998

· Jim and Liz McDonald moved in with twins Steve and Andy to Number Eleven in 1989, and quickly made an impact on the street. During the nineties, they starred in many storylines that included Jim and Liz losing daughter Kate soon after her birth, Jim’s abuse towards Liz, Steve’s non starter wedding to Vicky Arden, Steve pushing his father off a scaffolding resulting in Jim being temporarily paralysed and Jim’s affair with Steve’s girlfriend Fiona Middleton

· After her divorce from Ken, Deirdre met and married Moroccan waiter Samir Rachid in 1994. Within a few months, Deirdre was a widow after Samir was stabbed on the way to donate a kidney for stepdaughter Tracy. The kidney was transplanted when Samir was pronounced dead. Three years later, Deirdre fell for Jon Lindsay who eventually framed her that led to Deirdre being imprisoned. She was cleared and released thanks to old flame Mike Baldwin. Soon enough, she was back in Ken’s arms

· During her grief following Brian’s death, Gail Tilsley found comfort in Martin Platt and she gave birth to David in 1990. The following year, they married. Their marriage included hiring nanny Carmel Finnan who fell for Martin, but he rejected her and Gail’s frequent fallouts with ex mother in law Ivy Brennan

· After flings with many women, Norman Watts married Raquel Wolstenhulme in 1995. Their marriage didn’t last as she left him for a job in Malaysia before moving to France. Norman is best known in the nineties as a part of the well loved Reg and Norman double act at Bettabuys and later Freshco supermarkets

· Kevin and Sally Webster became parents in 1990 when daughter Rosie was born in Don Brennan’s s cab. Four years later, Sophie was born. In 1997, Kevin had an affair with Natalie Horrocks. When Sally found out, she famously slapped Natalie in the street before filing for divorce. Sally fell for Greg Kelly who eventually stole from her, abused her, stalked her and kept her and the girls hostage. He eventually fled the street, leaving Sally to be comforted by Kevin

Photos from 80s Corrie

1. Stan Ogden sent Hilda a Valentine's card and she thought it was from Alf Roberts. She was surprised when Stan revealed he had written it
2. In 1982, Betty Turpin met up with old flame Ted Farrell. He was revealed to be Gordon Clegg's father, but Betty didn't tell him and he left the cobbles not knowing that he was a father
3. Elsie Tanner left the street in 1984, a place she had called her home for 40 years
4. Shopkeeper Alf Roberts had a political war with assistant Deirdre Barlow in 1987 when they fought for the same seat. Deirdre won that led to poor Alf having a heart attack
5. Emily Bishop took Norman Watts in as a lodger in 1983 and during his tenure on the street, Norman respected and remained a close friend to Emily
6. In 1989, Rita Fairclough found out that boyfriend Alan Bradley had been stealing from her. When she confronted him, he tried to kill her. She fled to Blackpool and while chasing her on the prom, he was killed by a tram
7. In a bid to buying himself a pub, Fred Gee had to have a wife. After failing to woo Bet Lynch and Betty Turpin, he married Eunice Nuttall in 1981. The plan failed and they were seperated by 1982
8. Sworn enemies Ivy and Gail Tilsley had to comfort each other in 1989 when Ivy's son and Gail's husband Brian was stabbed to death
9. Jack and Vera Duckworth moved into Number 9 in 1983 and quickly made their mark when they installed stone cladding in 1989, that annoyed neighbours Percy Sugden, Emily Bishop and Mike Baldwin
10. Mavis Riley was suprisingly involved in a love triangle in 1983, when both Derek Wilton and Victor Pendlebury wanted to be her hubby. She settled for Derek in the end, but it wasn't 1988 that they finally married
11. Mavis' love triangle was overshadowed by a bigger one, the Ken/Deirdre/Mike triangle. Mike failed to have his woman and the Barlows stuck together until Ken's affair in 1989
12. Bet Lynch finally married in 1987, to bumbling Alec Gilroy - a man so different to her traditional conquests (Len, Mike and Ken). It would be the first time a couple would be behind the bar since Jack and Annie back in the sixties
13. Ken Barlow's blood boiled when daughter Susan married rival Mike Baldwin in 1986. He was relieved when they divorced in 1988
14. Following the footsteps of Ken and Valerie in the sixties, Brian and Gail were married throughout the decade and are regarded as another supercouple
15. Kevin Webster married Sally Seddon in 1986 and they moved in with Hilda Ogden at Number Thirteen. They would buy the house the following year after Hilda's departure