Corrie Decade - 1980s

When the eighties dawned, Coronation Street was still popular. But, during the first four years of the decade, the serial saw great change. By 1984, Ken Barlow was the only remaining character from the original cast after Annie Walker, Elsie Tanner and Albert Tatlock departed. Although Midlands soap Crossroads had been on air since 1964 and Yorkshire’s Emmerdale Farm since 1972, they weren’t a threat to Coronation Street. The 1980s brought that to our favourite soap when Liverpool based soap Brookside was introduced in 1982 and London’s EastEnders in 1985, bringing some controversial and gritty storylines, a contrast to the warm, close knit storylines of the cobbles. But it survived, thank goodness!

Main Characters

Albert Tatlock, Stan Ogden, Betty Turpin, Percy Sugden, Elsie Tanner, Hilda Ogden, Alf Roberts, Emily Bishop/Swain/Bishop, Rita Fairclough, Fred Gee, Ivy Tilsley/Brennan, Jack Duckworth, Mavis Riley/Wilton, Vera Duckworth, Ken Barlow, Bet Lynch/Gilroy, Mike Baldwin, Deirdre Langton/Barlow, Brian Tilsley, Gail Tilsley, Norman Watts and Kevin Webster

Storylines

· By 1980, Albert was alone. In 1976, Minnie Caldwell had left the street and in 1980, Ena Sharples left for St. Anne’s. He was genuinely happy when lodger Ken Barlow married Deirdre Langton in 1981 and thought they were a perfect match. Albert passed away in 1984 at daughter Beattie’s house

· Like Albert, Stan Ogden’s health deteriorated in 1980s. His storylines included scheming with lodger Eddie Yeats and celebrating 40 years of marriage to Hilda in 1983. In 1983, stubbed his toe and gangrene developed and he was rushed to hospital. Sadly, Stan’s heart gave in and he died in hospital, leaving Hilda lost

· The eighties proved quiet for Betty Turpin, although she did meet up with old flame Ted Farrell – revealed to be son Gordon’s dad. She starred in a hilarious scene when she was stranded in a lake with Bet and Fred in Annie Walker’s car

· Percy Sugden was intended to be the new Albert Tatlock, but as we know, there’s only one Mr Tatlock! Percy was the community centre’s caretaker and was soon chased by pensioner Phyllis Pearce and moved in with Emily Bishop in 1988

· In 1983, Elsie Tanner met up with old flame Bill Gregory who asked her to join him run a bar in Portugal. After much dithering, Elsie decided to leave the cobbles. She reminisced about her arguments with Ena Sharples, Annie Walker and son Dennis Tanner before leaving in a taxi in 1984

· Hilda Ogden’s life changed during the 1980s. By 1984, all the people she was primarily involved with during her time on the street (Stan, Elsie and Annie) had left or died. In 1987, she was offered to be a housekeeper at Doctor Harold Lowther’s home and on Christmas Day, her neighbours made her a party in the Rovers as she bid farewell by singing Gracie Fields’ song ‘Wish Me Luck As You Wave Me Goodbye’. This episode is the highest rated in the soap’s five decade history

· Alf Roberts lost wife Renee in a car crash in 1980. After proposing and being rejected by Rita Fairclough, he met and married Audrey Potter in 1985. He suffered a heart attack in 1987 when his assistant at the corner shop Deirdre Barlow replaced him on the council

· Emily Bishop met and married Arnold Swain 1980. In a few months, he was revealed to be a bigamist. He held Emily hostage and when he was arrested he was admitted to a mental hospital where he died in 1981. For the rest of the decade, Emily’s life consisted of taking many lodgers, dating Arthur Dabner and working as a wages clerk at Baldwin’s Casuals

· Rita Fairclough’s marriage to husband Len ended in 1983, when he was killed in a car crash. In 1986, she fostered Jenny Bradley and starts dating her dad Alan. Over the course of three years, Alan would lie, steal, abuse and try to kill Rita. Rita fled to Blackpool only to be followed by Alan, and while chasing her on the promenade, he is fatally hit by a tram

· Fred Gee met and married Eunice Nuttall in 1981, as a way to own a pub. When they failed, the marriage ended. Fred was responsible for getting Bet, Betty and himself stuck in Mrs Walker’s car in a lake. In 1984, he was sacked from the Rovers by Annie Walker’s son Billy

· Ivy Tilsley didn’t hide her contempt towards daughter in law Gail. Their feud would last through the decade and until Ivy’s death in 1995. Ivy was the shop steward at Baldwin’s factory and led the girls when on strike. First husband Bert died of a stroke in 1984 and Ivy married Don Brennan in 1988, that soon turned sour before the decade ended

· Jack and Vera Duckworth moved into Number 9 in 1983 and soon were involved in the street goings on. Jack had numerous flings with bored housewives and Vera gossiped at the factory. Son Terry brought grief to them when he stole from neighbours and the corner shop

· Mavis Riley was involved in a love triangle in 1983 when both Derek Wilton and Victor Pendlebury wanted to marry her. Mavis chose Derek and planned to marry in 1984. But they both jilted each other! In 1988, they finally married

· Ken Barlow married Deirdre Langton in 1981. In 1983, Deirdre had an affair with Mike Baldwin and thus began a 20 year old rivalry between Baldwin and Barlow. Ken’s blood was boiled further when Mike married daughter Susan. In 1989, Ken had an affair with Wendy Crozier and Deirdre kicked him out

· Bet Lynch became the Rovers landlady in 1985. She nearly died in the Rovers fire the following year. After the refurbishment of the pub, she found help in Alec Gilroy who she surprisingly married in 1987. Their marriage would last until 1992

· In 1982, Mike Baldwin began an affair with Deirdre Barlow, thus beginning a twenty year old rivalry with her hubby Ken. In 1986, he married Ken’s daughter Susan. The marriage ended in 1988. In 1989, his factory was demolished by Maurice Jones

· Gail Tilsley gave birth to son Nick in 1980. Gail and hubby Brian were burdened throughout the decade by Brian’s interfering mother Ivy. In 1986, Gail had an affair with Brian’s cousin Ian and when she fell pregnant the same year, she feared who was the father. It was revealed that Brian was Sarah’s dad. The marriage crumbled and they divorced. By 1988, they were married again. The marriage lasted a few months before Brian was stabbed to death outside a nightclub

· Norman Watts became a lodger with Emily Bishop and dated Elaine Pollard, Tina Wagstaff and Shirley Armitage. Originally a bin man, he worked with Terry Duckworth at Baldwin’s Casuals. By the end of the decade, he was lodging with the Duckworths and got a job at local supermarket Bettabuys, and thus began a double act between him and manager Reg Holdsworth

· Kevin Webster lodged with Hilda Ogden and met and married Selly Seddon in 1986. Hilda left the cobbles in 1987 and the Websters bought the house from her

Photos from 70s Corrie

1. Minnie Caldwell calls off her engagement to Albert Tatlock in 1974
2. Ena Sharples caused problems for councillors Alf Roberts and Len Fairclough in 1971
3. Joe Donnelli keeps Minnie Caldwell and her cat Bobby hostage in 1970, and later kills himself
4. Annie Walker was in her element as First Lady of Weatherfield in 1973 when she was appointed by Alf Roberts
5. Stan and Hilda Ogden led the comedy section of the soap through the 1970s
6. Betty Turpin decided at the last minute to attend husband Cyril's funeral, as she was at the centre of controversy when she was revealed to be the mother of her 'nephew' Gordon Clegg
7. Elsie Tanner married third husband Alan Howard in 1970. Alan soon went into debt and sought comfort from the bottle than from his wife. In an attempt to start afresh, they left for Newcastle in 1973. Elsie returned alone in 1976 and divorced Alan in 1978
8. Len Fairclough hired ex jailbird Eddie Yeats as an apprentice in 1976 and found him useful when sorting out a man who tried to con Ena Sharples
9. Eddie Yeats persuades his landlady Hilda Ogden to try her hand at painting, much to her husband Stan's annoyance
10. Maggie Clegg hired Norma Ford as her assistant at the corner shop in 1972. Norma was the one to bring Maggie and her future husband Ron Cooke together in 1973
11. Alf Roberts was fond of Maggie Clegg and proposed to her in 1974. She rejected only to marry Ron Cooke a few months later. Alf was not best pleased I'm sure!
12. Emily Nugent met and married Ernest Bishop in 1972 and they were married for six years
13. Ernest Bishop met his maker in 1978, when robbers burst into Mike Baldwin's factory wanting money. The gun accidentally went off and Ernest died on the operating table. Ed Jackson, the killer, would return to the street 28 years later to beg forgiveness from Ernest's widow Emily
14. Rita Littlewood hired Mavis Riley as her assistant at 'The Kabin' in 1973 and thus began a partnership that lasted 24 years
15. Billy Walker returned to Weatherfield in 1970, to help his mother Annie after his father Jack's death. He would cause grief for his mother, go into debt and nearly marry Deirdre Hunt. He fled for Jersey in 1975
16. Ken Barlow's marriage to Janet Reid only lasted a few months and is referred to as a storyline to keep Ken's character interesting
17. Busty barmaid Bet Lynch had many conquests in the 1970s and Mike Baldwin was one of them
18. Cockney factory owner Mike Baldwin hired Ernest Bishop as his wages clerk in 1976, a job that would prove fatal in time
19. Ray Langton married Deirdre Hunt in 1975. By 1978, things had turned sour and he left her for Holland
20. Deirdre Langton gave birth to daughter Tracy in 1977. After Ray's departure, Deirdre sought refuge with next door neighbour Emily Bishop, who was also Tracy's godmother
21. Gail Potter lodged at Number 11 with Elsie Tanner and Suzie Birchall between 1976 and 1979, before marrying Brian Tilsley

Corrie Decade - 1970s

To many, this was Coronation Street’s golden age, due to its mix of comedy and drama. Although the three main women (Ena, Annie and Elsie) were still there, younger characters such as Bet Lynch, Deirdre Hunt and Rita Littlewood became centre characters. Humour had a vital role during the seventies, thanks to Stan and Hilda Ogden, Mavis Riley and Eddie Yeats. The set changed over the course of the decade. While the terraced houses remained on the left throughout, maisonettes, a warehouse and a factory appeared on the right. And from 1973, the local newsagents called ‘The Kabin’, became the place to hear and receive the local gossip. The golden age would last until the early eighties, when long running and original characters would depart.

Main Characters

Albert Tatlock, Ena Sharples, Minnie Caldwell, Annie Walker, Stan Ogden, Betty Turpin, Elsie Tanner/Howard/Tanner, Len Fairclough, Hilda Ogden, Maggie Clegg/Cooke, Alf Roberts, Emily Nugent/Bishop, Ernest Bishop, Rita Littlewood/Fairclough, Mavis Riley, Billy Walker, Ken Barlow, Bet Lynch, Mike Baldwin, Ray Langton, Deirdre Hunt/Langton and Gail Potter/Tilsley

Storylines

· After jilting Alice, Albert Tatlock sets his eyes on Minnie Caldwell and proposes in 1973. She accepts but soon gets fed up of his habits (drinking tea out of a saucer) and calls it off. They remain friends

· Ena Sharples is reinstated as the caretaker of the community centre, a post she holds until she retires in 1980

· In 1970, Minnie Caldwell was held hostage by the killer of Steve Tanner – Joe Donnelli. She was saved by Stan Ogden. After being briefly engaged to Albert Tatlock, she is wooed by Handel Gartside and leaves the street with him to Whaley Bridge in 1976

· Annie Walker became a widow in 1970 when husband Jack died suddenly. Her storylines revolved around her beloved pub including her future as landlady in the balance and the pub being burgled. By 1975, she relied heavily on her faithful staff – Betty Turpin, Bet Lynch and Fred Gee

· Stan Ogden began the decade as a hero, when he rescued Minnie and his daughter Irma from Joe Donnelli. For most of the decade, his storylines included going from job to job, coming up with different schemes and going on a second honeymoon with wife Hilda

· Betty Turpin suffered many blows between 1974 and 1975. Husband Cyril died of a heart attack, sister Maggie remarried and left to Zaire and Betty was revealed to be her ‘nephew’ Gordon’s mother

· Elsie Tanner met and married Alan Howard in 1970. Their marriage was burdened with Alan’s drinking. They left the street in 1973 for Newcastle but Elsie returned alone in 1976. She divorced Alan in 1978

· Len Fairclough fell for singer Rita Littlewood in 1972 and bought her the Kabin in 1973. They tied the knot in 1977

· Hilda Ogden’s storylines was mostly her worry about how much money she and Stan earned and her bickering with her neighbours. In 1976, she installed the famous mural of the Alps in Number 13’s front room

· Maggie Clegg divorced husband Les in 1970 and was soon wooed by Alf Roberts. She rejected his marriage proposal but in 1974, she met Ron Cooke and after a whirlwind romance they married and emigrated to Zaire

· Alf Roberts returned to the street after an eight year absence. In 1977, he became friends with the latest corner shop owner, Renee Bradshaw, and they married in 1978

· Emily Nugent found love in Ernest Bishop and they married in 1972. Ernest was hired as a wages clerk at the denim factory in 1976, which cost him his life in 1978, when he was shot dead in a wages snatch

· Rita Littlewood started off with Ken Barlow before moving on to Len Fairclough. She became manageress at ‘The Kabin’ and hired Mavis Riley as her assistant – a partnership that lasted 24 years

· Mavis Riley was originally hired as an assistant at ‘The Kabin’. Her storylines were often humorous but was also about Mavis’s on/off romance with Jerry Booth and the beginning of her long running courtship with Derek Wilton

· On the death of his father, Billy Walker returned to run the Rovers with his mother. His storylines included going into debt and an engagement with Deirdre Hunt that abruptly ended when Billy left for Jersey in 1975

· The decade began on a tragic note for Ken Barlow when wife Valerie was electrocuted in 1971. He married Janet Reid in 1973, but they were separated within a year. By the end of the decade, Ken was wooing his next wife, Deirdre Langton

· Bet Lynch was hired as a barmaid in 1970 and during the decade she had relationships with Len Fairclough, Ken Barlow and Mike Baldwin. Her storylines compassed her numerous relationships

· Mike Baldwin came into the serial from London as the owner of the denim factory – Baldwin’s Casuals. He would soon catch the eye of Bet Lynch. Early storylines included Mike hiring and firing staff, business deals and relationships

· Ray Langton married Deirdre Hunt in 1975 and they had daughter Tracy in 1977. Ray had an affair with Janice Stubbs in 1978 and left Deirdre for Holland the same year

· Dollybird Deirdre Hunt caught the eye of Billy Walker. When he fled for Jersey in 1975, Deirdre found love in her boss Ray and they married the same year. She gave birth to Tracy in 1977. By 1978, Ray had left her for Holland and she became the latest woman in Ken Barlow’s life in 1979

· Gail Potter came into the serial as a warehouse employee. After wrecking the marriage of Ray Thornton, she found love with Brian Tilsley and they married in 1979

Photos from 60s Corrie

1. Albert Tatlock and Alice Perkins 'no wedding' in 1969
2. Martha Longhurst dies in the snug in 1964
3. The three ladies that ruled the roost during the sixties: Ena Sharples, Annie Walker and Elsie Tanner
4. Minnie Caldwell, watched by Len Fairclough and bookie Dave Smith, was a regular at the bookmakers
5. Jack and Annie Walker are worried when Frank Turner blackmails Jack
6. Frank Barlow and Christine Hardman were briefly engaged, but they called it off when they were burdened by gossip
7. Emily Nugent jilted her boss Leonard Swindley in 1964
8. Hilda Ogden was hired as a cleaner at the Rovers and often went up the nose of Annie Walker
9. Harry Hewitt married Concepta Riley in 1961. They were only married for six years
10. Florrie Lindley suffers a breakdwon at the corner shop in 1965
11. The residents gather round for the wedding of Steve and Elsie Tanner in 1967
12. Len Fairclough hires Jerry Booth as his apprentice in 1962
13. Ken and Valerie Barlow were the soap's young couple during the decade
14. David and Irma Barlow were the corner shop owners from 1966 to 1968 before immigrating to Australia
15. Gordon Clegg jilted Lucille Hewitt at the altar in 1969

Corrie Decade - 1960s

This was the decade that started it all. What made it a hit with the viewers was the humour and the strong women in its cast. Characters like Elsie Tanner and Ena Sharples would provide the mould for characters like Bet Lynch, Rita Fairclough, Ivy Tilsley and Blanche Hunt in later years. During the decade, most scenes were played out in the Rovers, Corner Shop, the terraced houses and the Mission Hall. Until 1969, the episodes were in black and white and one shows their age if they remember Coronation Street in black and white! Overall, it was a success in its first decade, but it had its critics. Some people commented that the serial didn’t portray 1960s Britain, but more so the 1950s. It would have to modernise itself if it was going to survive the 1970s.

Main Characters

Albert Tatlock, Martha Longhurst, Ena Sharples, Minnie Caldwell, Jack Walker, Annie Walker, Frank Barlow, Leonard Swindley, Stan Ogden, Harry Hewitt, Florrie Lindley, Elsie Tanner, Len Fairclough, Hilda Ogden, Concepta Riley/Hewitt, Emily Nugent, Ken Barlow, Jerry Booth, Valerie Tatlock/Barlow, Irma Ogden/Barlow, Ray Langton and Lucille Hewitt

Storylines

· Albert Tatlock becomes involved with Alice Pickens and they plan to marry, but call it off when they believe they’re jinxed when the vicar’s car breaks down

· A controversial move by producers was to axe Martha Longhurst in 1964. She dies of a heart attack in the snug. She would be the first main character to be killed off. The production team later confessed that axing the character was a mistake

· Ena Sharples is sacked by pompous draper Leonard Swindley for drinking on the job. She protests to the teetotaller and is later reinstated. She worked as a caretaker at the Mission Hall. The Mission is demolished in 1968 and replaced by maisonettes, leaving Ena unemployed until 1971

· Minnie Caldwell becomes addicted to gambling and falls into debt. She leaves town and is later found in hospital by Ena, suffering from pneumonia. She returns to the street when fully recovered

· Jack Walker is blackmailed by Frank Turner after he sees Lucille Hewitt behind the Rovers bar at the age of sixteen. Jack suffers a breakdown and when the neighbours find out, they rally round. Frank is later beaten up by Jerry Booth

· Annie Walker accuses husband Jack of having an affair with the street’s siren Elsie Tanner. She is later proved wrong

· Frank Barlow is shocked when wife Ida is knocked by a bus in 1961. After dating Florrie Lindley, he becomes involved with Christine Hardman, who’s 26 years his junior. They become engaged, but burdened by local gossip, they call it off. He later retires to Cheshire

· Emily Nugent’s admiration for boss Leonard Swindley. After years working side by side at clothes shop Gamma Garments, Emily makes a leap year proposal and he accepts. She later has cold feet and jilts him

· Stan, Hilda and Irma Ogden move to the street in 1964 and quickly make their mark on the cobbles and on screen. Stan is soon seen as a layabout while cleaner wife Hilda is classed as a busybody. Irma, the same mould as Elsie Tanner, marries David Barlow and they buy the corner shop before immigrating to Australia

· Barmaid Concepta Riley is romanced by Harry Hewitt and they marry in 1961. They move to Ireland in 1964. When they visit Weatherfield for Elsie’s wedding to Steve Tanner, Harry is crushed under a van when the jack collapses, leaving Concepta widowed

· Florrie Lindley buys the corner shop in 1960. She soon feels lonely and suffers a breakdown in 1965. She had just refurbished the shop and opened a sub post office and had hired Irma Ogden as an assistant. Her estranged husband Norman returns and whisks her away to Canada

· Elsie Tanner’s liaisons with many men proved to be popular storylines. She eventually married in 1967 with an old flame, Steve Tanner. They moved to the USA, but she returned three months later. He followed her back and after she rejects him, he is later found at the bottom of her stairs. Both Elsie and her best friend Len Fairclough are suspected of his murder

· Len Fairclough is soon portrayed as a loudmouth builder who soon clashes with Ken Barlow. He buys the local builder’s yard and hires Jerry Booth and Ray Langton as apprentices. After his divorce from wife Nellie, he attempts to woo best friend Elsie, but she rejects him, stating that she prefers him as a friend more so than a husband

· Ken Barlow’s romance with Valerie Tatlock and they marry in 1962. Valerie later gives birth to twins Peter and Susan in 1965. They become the decade’s young couple and although both are unfaithful at one time, they become the soap’s first supercouple

· Shy Jerry Booth is bullied into marrying Myra Dickinson but the marriage soon crumbles after Myra has a stillbirth baby. He reunites with old girlfriend Sheila Birtles but they end the relationship when he finds out she’s pregnant with another man

· Ray Langton attempts to rape Lucille Hewitt and is jailed. He returns in 1968 a reformed man and is rehired by Len. In 1969, he has an affair with Audrey Fleming but it’s cut short when he becomes paralysed after the coach crash

· Lucille Hewitt was the first child on the cobbles. In the early years she caused trouble for dad Harry and his wife Concepta but as she grew, she matured into a pleasant young woman. After her parents move to Ireland, she is taken in by Jack and Annie. In 1968, she becomes involved with Gordon Clegg and they plan to marry but he jilts her

· Other storylines include Valerie Barlow being kept hostage by Frank Riley, the viaduct collapsing – burying Ena under the rubble and claiming Sonia Peters’ life, Number 7 collapsing in 1965 and the residents become involved in a coach trip accident leaving Jack Walker, Minnie Caldwell and Ray Langton seriously injured