Life is never dull for the residents of Coronation Street, and over its 50-year history they have certainly had their fair share of ups and downs. Here, some familiar faces share their favourite memories, both on and off screen.
Who has been your favourite character of the last 50 years?
Michelle Keegan (Tina McIntyre): It has to be Raquel. I loved her with Curly as they were a great double act. She was engaging to watch and a genuine character that you cared about. She was a bit dippy. I loved her ’80s style and her hair.
Malcolm Hebden (Norris Cole): It’s always been Hilda Ogden, as she epitomised what the show has always been about; northern guts and humour but great warmth and sensitivity.
Keith Duffy (Ciaran McCarthy): I’ve always loved the character of Jack Duckworth. From day one, Bill Tarmey has played the character superbly. I was sad for Jack when Vera left and I was gutted when Jack went. Bill is such a great guy off screen and an absolute genius on screen.
Andrew Whyment (Kirk Sutherland): Curly and Reg because they made a great double act. They were so funny when they were together in Bettabuys.
What has been your favourite storyline?
Debbie Rush (Anna Windass): My favourite story was the moment Hilda sat at her table and opened Stan’s glasses case. It was one of the strongest and most emotive scenes in the show’s history and yet something so simple.
Michael Le Vell (Kevin Webster): The Ken, Deirdre and Mike love triangle was one of my all-time favourites, not just me, as it had the nation gripped for months. The confrontation with Mike at the Barlows’ front door is such a memorable scene.
Katherine Kelly (Becky McDonald): I loved the Rita and Alan Bradley storyline. The scene where Alan was knocked down by the tram was my first actual memory of Corrie. I was probably about nine and I loved Rita because she looked just like my Nan.
What has been your personal favourite storyline to work on?
Brooke Vincent (Sophie Webster): My favourite storyline is the current story I’m working on, the lesbian relationship between Sophie and Sian. It’s great fun as I get to work with Sacha, who’s become one of my best friends and so far it’s had such a great response. We’re both very proud.
Julie Hesmondhalgh (Hayley Cropper): Roy and Hayley’s wedding, which we filmed this summer. It was such a wonderful location, with great crew and beautiful weather. It was a right laugh. The episodes were classic Corrie.
Chris Gascoyne (Peter Barlow): I’ve loved working on Peter’s alcoholism storyline, with all its highs and lows. For me the bar storyline was great as I got to work so closely with Jane Danson and I think she’s the best actress I’ve ever worked with.
Ryan Thomas (Jason Grimshaw): It has to be Todd coming out of the closet and the repercussions. The Grimshaws versus the Platts, all the scraps, the big fight between Eileen and Gail, and the hilarious line Gail threw at Jason, ‘here he is, another one of the Village People!’
What has been your most memorable moment on the show?
Sue Cleaver (Eileen Grimshaw): Filming the big fight on the cobbles with Gail, which was at the height of the Todd storyline. It was pouring down with rain and turned into a mud bath but we both went for it. The pair of us have never laughed so much.
Patti Clare (Mary Taylor): Filming Mary’s first scene in the campervan when she was trying to seduce Norris. It was really great fun and the script was fantastic. The crew were all squished in this tiny space but we had the most gorgeous chocolate pudding as a prop.
Which guest actor have you most enjoyed working with?
Betty Driver (Betty Williams): Sir Ian McKellen. When he arrived, the storyline was us all belonging to a little book club. I was so enthralled with the way he worked and I just couldn’t get over his brilliance. I watched him set his props. He had an umbrella, a briefcase and a few other things – he put them exactly where they were needed so it was totally seamless when he did his scene and he didn’t even look. I’ve never seen anyone work like that and it was enthralling. He’s a beautiful actor, as well as a beautiful man and I adore him.
Alan Halsall (Tyrone Dobbs): Norman Wisdom. He was absolutely brilliant. I didn’t really know much about him before I worked with him and he stitched me up big time with his fainting trick.
Ben Price (Nick Tilsley): Nigel Havers, as he was a true gent to work with and played Lewis brilliantly. He was very subtle and I loved the character’s duplicity.
Alison King (Carla Connor): James Fleet. He’s one person who’s not what it says on the tin. He joined us in the maddest fortnight ever and he was great to have around. You’d expect him to be very serious and he is about his work but he’s got a fantastic dry sense of humour.
Simon Gregson (Steve McDonald): Dominic Carter and Marshall Lancaster, when we played the Steve and Becky drugs set-up storyline with Hooch and Slug. They were both just really great actors and it felt like we were doing something different.
What is the best thing about working on Coronation Street?
William Roache (Ken Barlow): The best thing about working on Coronation Street is that everyone involved in the production of the show really cares and this comes across on screen. Many actors coming in say that it is one of the happiest companies they have worked for. The pace of work is fast and for short periods it can be relentless, but it is rewarding and there is definitely job satisfaction. To top it all, is the fact that you have been a part of something that has been enjoyed and loved by millions of people for 50 years.
Jennie McAlpine (Fiz Stape): The best thing about working on Coronation Street is being part of something that is loved by so many and makes everybody smile.
Graeme Hawley (John Stape): Spending the day filming scenes in the Stapes with Jennie McAlpine and Sam Aston. It feels like I have a little surrogate family.
What storyline would you love to see happen in the future?
Shobna Gulati (Sunita): I’d love something supernatural to happen, maybe a return from the dead or a ghost story!
Jane Danson (Leanne): I’d love to see Kim Cattrall in the show playing Leanne’s mum. I think they’d be great together. She could really stir things up and be a sexy lady on the street.
The top 10 longest-serving current cast members:
1 William Roache (Ken Barlow) – 50 years
2 Eileen Derbyshire (Emily Bishop) – 49 years (50 years on January 27, 2011)
3 Betty Driver (Betty Turpin) – 41 years
4 Barbara Knox (Rita Sullivan) – 38 years
5 Anne Kirkbride (Deirdre Barlow) – 38 years
6 Helen Worth (Gail McIntyre) – 36 years
7 Sue Nicholls (Audrey Roberts) – 31 years
8 William Tarmey (Jack Duckworth) – 31 years
9 Michael Le Vell (Kevin Webster) – 27 years
10 Sally Dynevor (Sally Webster) – 24 years
Landlords and Landladies of the Rovers Return:
Jim & Nellie Corbishley (August 1902 – July 1919)
George & Mary Diggins (July 1919 – October 1937)
Jack and Annie Walker (October 1937 – June 1970)
Annie Walker (July 1970 – May 1984)
Billy Walker (May 1984 – December 1984)
Bet Lynch (January 1985 – September 1987)
Bet and Alec Gilroy (September 1987 – September 1992)
Bet Gilroy (September 1992 – October 1995)
Jack and Vera Duckworth (October 1995 – June 1997)
Jack and Vera Duckworth & Alec Gilroy (June 1997 – December 1998)
Natalie Barnes (December 1998 – December 2000)
Fred Elliott, Mike Baldwin & Duggie Ferguson (Dec 2000 – March 2001)
Duggie Ferguson (March 2001 – December 2001)
Eve Elliott (December 2001 – May 2002)
Fred Elliott (May 2002 – September 2006)
Liz McDonald (September 2006 onwards)
Ken Barlow’s women
He’s lived on the Street the longest and he has certainly had his wicked way with a number of female neighbours. Here is a run-down of his romances!
1960 – 1961: Susan Cunningham, student (mother of son Lawrence)
1961: Marion Lund, librarian (she turned out to be engaged)
1961 – 1971: Valerie Tatlock, first wife (died, mother of son Peter)
1964: Pip Mistral, exotic dancer (she turned him down)
1966: Jackie Marsh, reporter (affair)
1971: Yvonne Chappell, receptionist (turned down his proposal)
1972 – 1973: Norma Ford, shop assistant (used her, he didn’t love her)
1973: Elaine Perkins, graduate (fell for her, she didn’t love him)
1973: Rita Littlewood (fling)
1973 – 1974: Janet Reid, second wife (suicide)
1974: Gaynor Burton (got physical during a party)
1974: Peggy Barton, union activist (resisted having an affair)
1976: Wendy Nightingale, graduate (she was married)
1978: Sally Robinson, chiropodist (dated briefly)
1979 – 1980: Deirdre Langton (dated)
1981: Sonia Price, yoga instructor (one date)
1981 – 1990: Deirdre Langton, third wife (divorced)
1984: Sally Waterman, secretary (passionate kiss but no affair)
1989 – 1990: Wendy Crozier, secretary (affair)
1991: Alma Sedgewick, café owner (relationship)
1992 – 1993: Maggie Redman, florist (mother of Mike’s son Mark)
1994 – 1996: Denise Osbourne, stylist (mother of Ken’s son Daniel)
1996 – 1997: Deirdre Rachid (brief reunion)
1997: Sue Jeffers, headmistress (fling after a row with Deirdre)
1999 – 2010: Deirdre Rachid, fourth wife (remarried in 2005)
2002: Anita Scott, Historical Society chair (turned her down)
2009: Martha Fraser, actress (affair)
Check out 50 things you need to know about Corrie here.
Suzanne Byrne
