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

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