Top 50 Coronation Street Characters

8. Elsie Tanner

Known as the first siren or femme fatale of Coronation Street, Elsie graced our screens for 21 years. An original character, Elsie worked her way through three marriages and nineteen boyfriends. Mother to Linda and Dennis, Elsie was also a mother figure to other young girls like Gail Potter, Suzie Birchall and Deirdre Hunt. As well as her romantic liaisons, Elsie is also remembered for her fiery catfights with the likes of Ena Sharples, Hilda Ogden and Annie Walker. Although they’re remembered for clashing, Elsie usually found comfort with her old sparring partner Mrs Sharples and an example of this was when Ena convinced Elsie not to commit suicide. Elsie’s best friend on the street was Len Fairclough, who she dated in the sixties and who saw Elsie as the perfect wife. Elsie saw Len as her confidante and not her hubby and he was there for her during her turbulent marriages to Steve Tanner and Alan Howard. Elsie was genuinely happy when Len married Rita Littlewood (who saw Elsie as a threat) and was devastated when he died in 1983. Elsie left the street in 1984 to run a bar with Bill Gregory in Portugal.

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Top 50 Coronation Street Characters

9. Steve McDonald

Over the course of 20 years, Steve McDonald has gone from a mischievous teen that caused trouble for Alf Roberts to a father and a publican. He arrived on the street with parents Jim and Liz and brother Andy. For a man who’s not reached forty, Steve has been married four times! First wife Vicky Arden was wealthy and he only married her for money. When he got into trouble and blamed her, she quickly filed for divorce. After dating Fiona Middleton, he married Karen Phillips for a bet in 2001. But they fell in love and became popular amongst viewers. The marriage ended when Karen had an affair with Joe Carter and Steve with Tracy Barlow – who became pregnant and thus baby Amy was born. After a few months, Steve and Karen were reunited and they married again in 2004 but he ended it that year. Karen left the street and filed for divorce in 2006. After Karen, he dated Tracy, Ronnie Clayton and Michelle Connor before having an affair with Becky Granger who he married in 2009. As well as the Rovers, Steve jointly owns cab firm ‘Street Cars’ with Lloyd Mullaney.

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Top 50 Coronation Street Characters

10. Rita Sullivan (known as Rita Fairclough)

The Queen of the Kabin and Duchess of the Street, Rita has been a prominent and popular character since she made her debut in 1972, although she had made an appearance eight years prior. A personal favourite of mine, Rita has been through the mill and is a true survivor. She married Len Fairclough in 1977 and they were married until 1983. In 1992, she married Ted Sullivan, but he died of a brain tumour three months later. As well as Len and Ted, she’s had other liaisons that include Ken Barlow, Jimmy Graham, Tony Cunliffe, Benny Lewis, Alec Gilroy, Anthony Stephens and Colin Grimshaw. But her most famous conquest was Alan Bradley, who proposed to her twice and when she rejected him, he took revenge by robbing her. When she found out, he tried to kill her and when she escaped to Blackpool, he chased her on the prom and was fatally hit by a tram – ending her nightmare! Since 1973, Rita has been manageress of the Kabin and with assistants Mavis Riley and Norris Cole; she’s starred in the soap’s comedy moments.

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Top 50 Coronation Street Characters

11. Annie Walker

The landlady of the Rovers between 1937 and 1983, Annie Walker has been dubbed the Queen of Coronation Street. Known for her snobbishness and delusions of grandeur, Mrs Walker was on our screens for 23 years, and was one of four originals still in the show in the early eighties, the others being Ken, Albert and Elsie. Married to Jack for 33 years, they formed one of the earliest double acts in the soap’s history. Annie was heartbroken when Jack died of a heart attack in 1970, but continued to run the pub in his honour. With the absence of a man in the pub, Annie’s son Billy returned and helped his mother until he fled to Jersey in 1975. With Billy gone, Annie was glad to have Fred Gee as a cellar man. And who can forget her faithful subjects – barmaids Betty Turpin (who Annie called Elizabeth) and Bet Lynch or as they called themselves ‘B&B from the R&R’. By the 1980s, she depended on her staff and played the role of pub hostess, reminiscing with old regulars Len Fairclough, Elsie Tanner and Albert Tatlock. Annie’s last appearance was in 1983 and she passed on the reins of running the pub to Billy.

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Top 50 Coronation Street Characters

12. Richard Hillman

Richard’s first appearance was in the funeral of his alleged cousin Alma Halliwell. He soon became friends with Alma’s friend Gail Platt and they dated. Richard married Gail in 2002 and thus began the most gripping storyline in British soap history. A charming financial advisor, he persuaded Emily Bishop and the Duckworths to invest in him. He went into partnership with Duggie Ferguson, but when Duggie fell down the stairs, Richard left him to die. Ex wife Patricia seemed a threat to Richard’s life with Gail and he dealt with her by fatally killing her with a spade. He then became interested in Audrey’s finances and convinced her that she was going senile in a bit to access her money and even tried to kill her by setting her house on fire. Failing to kill Audrey, his next victim was Emily. He tried to smother her and when he tried to bludgeon her, he was caught by Maxine Peacock, who he murdered. Soon enough, Gail became suspicious and confronted him. Richard confessed everything and escaped. But he returned, only to kidnap the family and drive them to the canal. Only Richard perished.

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Top 50 Coronation Street Characters

13. Jack Duckworth

Although he made his first appearance in 1979, Jack didn’t become a regular until 1981. In 1983, he bought No. 9 on Coronation Street and since then he has become a prominent part of the cobbles for the past 25 years. Married to Vera for 50 years, Jack also had his share of affairs, mainly bored housewives. His biggest conquest was Bet Lynch, but that came to an end after she found out about Vera. A layabout, Jack has had many jobs that include a window cleaner, lollypop man, cellar man and cab driver. He miraculously became landlord of the Rovers in 1995. After going bankrupt, he sold the pub to Alec Gilroy in 1998 and ran Eunice Gee’s B&B. Soon enough, they were back at No. 9. Since his retirement, Jack has been interested in pigeons, much to Vera’s annoyance. In 2008, Jack and Vera decided to leave the street and move to Blackpool. Sadly, Vera died before they made it. Since her death, Jack has led a quiet life, revolving around his newly-married lodgers Tyrone and Molly Dobbs. He moved to Middleton with friend Connie Rathbone in 2009, but will pop back now and again.

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