CORONATION STREET Almanac
Vol: L - P

A massive Who's Who of Coronation Street, THE World's favourite soap. Simply use the alphabetical navigation to jump to the name of the Street Character's SURNAME.

L

Lancaster, Ralph Langton, Janice Langton, Ray Lappin, Elsie Latimer, Ian Leach, Norman Leathers, Nancy Lewis, Benny Lindley, Florrie Lindley, Norman Loftus, Ted Lomax, Colin Lomax, Vera Longhurst, Martha Lostock, Doreen Lowther, Dr Ralph Lancaster: Actor: Kenneth Watson 1975-80 Owner of the Gatsby nightclub where Rita was a regular singer. he made an enemy of Len Fairclough by taking every opportunity to lure Rita away. ·· L ·· ·· top ·· Janice Langton: Actor: Paula Wilcox 1969 Ray's wayward sister. She lodged at No. 9 and flirted with Len Fairclough while while sussing out Dave Smith's wealth for her boyfriend Boy Neale. She helped Bob steal Smith's car and cash. ·· top ·· Ray Langton: Actor: Neville Buswell 1966-78 Borstal boy Ray came to the Street to work for Fairclough and Booth, stole from the residents, attempted to rape Lucille Hewitt and was beaten up by Len Fairclough. He returned two years later a reformed character and was taken back on by Len. Ray lodged with Elsie Tanner but she objected to his sexual advances and he moved in with Len at No.9. In 1969, following his attempts to bed Mrs Audrey Fleming, he was paralysed in a coach crash. He regained the use of his six months later and in the meantime had become engaged to Sandra Butler. She ditched him when she found out he had continued his affair with Audrey. In 1975, he married Deirdre Hunt and two years later their daughter Tracy was born. the family lived at No. 5 until Ray left for Holland following an affair with waitress Janice Stubbs. ·· top ·· Elsie Lappin: Actor: Maudie Edwards 1960 The original owner of the Corner Shop. She retired to Knott End after selling the shop to Florrie Lindley. ·· top ·· Ian Latimer: Actor: Michael Looney 1986-87 Brian Tilsley's Australian cousin. He had an affair with Brian's wife Gail and was suspected of being Sarah Louise's father, but a blood test proved she was not his child. ·· top ·· Norman Leach: Actor: Freddie Lees 1973 Petty crook who blackmailed Alf Roberts and savagely mugged Bet Lynch. ·· top ·· Nancy Leathers: Actor: Norah Hammond 1961-62 Mother of Ida Barlow, grandmother of Ken. She lived with the family at No. 3 before moving into and OAP bungalow. ·· top ·· Benny Lewis: Actor: David Daker 1981-85 Relief manager at the Rovers Return. He sacked Fred, Bet and Betty, but was seen off by Annie. After Annie's retirement he fought Bet for the manager's job. The regulars were so alarmed at the thought of him winning that they wrote to the brewery backing Bet. ·· top ·· Florrie Lindley: Actor: Betty Alberge 1960-65 Kind Florrie ran the Corner Shop, letting her customers believe she was a widow. In fact she was estranged from her husband Norman. She was unlucky in love - rejected by Harry Hewitt and Frank Barlow and led on by Tickler Murphy. In 1964, she suffered a nervous breakdown and left the Street for Canada shortly afterwards. ·· top ·· Norman Lindley: Actor: Glyn Owen 1965 Florrie's husband. He had a brief affair with Elsie Tanner before being reconciled with Florrie and emigrating with her. ·· top ·· Ted Loftus: Actor: Ted Morris 1969-78 Assistant at the betting shop under Dave Smith and Benny Lewis. When Hilda Ogden took ballroom lessons, he was her partner. ·· top ·· Colin Lomax: Actor: David Jones, Alec Sabin 1961-72 Ena Sharples' grandson. He fell out of his pram when a baby and had learning difficulties as a result. In 1972, his son Jason was kidnapped from outside the Rovers but was recovered two days later. ·· top ·· Vera Lomax: Actor: Ruth Holden 1960-67 Ena Sharples' downtrodden daughter. When her husband left her she borrowed Ena's savings, leaving her penniless. She died of a brain tumour in January 1967 after spending the Christmas with her mother ·· top ·· Martha Longhurst: Actor: Lynne Carol 1960-64 Cleaner at the Rovers Return and lifelong friend of Ena Sharples and Minnie Caldwell. She was the gossip of the threesome, and was always interested in everyone else's business. She occasionally rebelled against Ena's rule. In 1964, she made a play for wealthy Ted Ashley and was hurt when he ignored her in favour of Ena. She died of a heart-attack in the Rovers' Snug. ·· top ·· Doreen Lostock: Actor: Angela Crow 1961-63 Dizzy Doreen worked at Elliston's Raincoat Factory with Sheila Birtles and Christine Hardman before joining Swindley and nugent at gamma Garments. She rented the Corner Shop flat with Sheila and spent her evenings serving at the Rovers. She once dated Billy Walker and left the Street to join the WRACs. ·· top ·· Dr Lowther: Actor: Robert Scase 1982-87 Hilda Ogden's employer at Goldenhurst. Following his wife Joan's death he retired to the country with Hilda as his housekeeper. ·· top ··

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M

Makinson, Joe Marsh, Jackie Mather, Ron Maxwell, Moira Maxwell, Paula Mcdonald, Andy Mcdonald, Jim Mcdonald, Liz Mcdonald, Steve Middleton, Fiona Midgeley, Clara Mills, Frank Millwood, Christine Mitchell, Neil Mitchell, Pam Megan Morgan Moffit, Charlie Morgan, Vanessa Morten, Bernard Mount, Jim Murphy, Tickler Murray, Doug Joe Makinson: Actor: Brian Rawlinson 1961-70 Plumber Joe fell for Christine Hardman and comforted her after her mother's death. He was beaten up by Alf Roberts whose friend, Frank Barlow, wanted to marry Christine. ·· top ·· Jackie Marsh: Actor: Pamela Craig 1966 Newspaper reporter with whom Ken Barlow had a brief affair while married to Valerie. ·· top ·· Ron Mather: Actor: Joe Lynch 1978-79 Taxi-driving boyfriend of Elsie Tanner. With Elsie he took a job in Torquay as a domestic servant, but Elsie finished with him after he turned a blind eye when the boss made a pass at her. ·· top ·· Moira Maxwel: Actor: Anne Castle 1965-66 Disturbed woman who tried to kill Elsie Tanner, blaming her for her husband Bob's death. ·· top ·· Paula Maxwell: Actor: Judy Brooke 1992-94 Andy McDonald's sixth form girlfriend. She finished with him when they went to university - him to Sheffield and her to Manchester. He gave her holiday work at Bettabuy, and their affair was briefly rekindled after the boss Curly Watts failed to seduce her. ·· top ·· Andy Mcdonald: Actor: Nicholas Cochrane 1989- Andy moved to No.11 with the McDonald family in 1989 and soon got into trouble with twin Steve - they drove a JCB through the shop window. Andy did well at School but found his 'A' Levels hard because he was in love with Paula Maxwell at the time. He went away to study Computer Studies at Sheffield but returned when he could not handle the work. He trained as assistant manager at Bettabuy under Curly Watts with whom he lodged at No. 7. In 1994 he started Combined Studies course at Manchester University. ·· top ·· Jim Mcdonald: Actor: Charles Lawson 1989- Jim left the army (he was a Engineer in the Royal Signals) to buy No. 11 and settle down. He tried (and failed) to hold down various jobs – TV repairman, security guard, motorbike restorer - before being employed as mechanic-chauffeur for Mike Baldwin. for a while he fancied himself as mine host when Liz was made manager at the Queens, but he blew he chances by hitting the boss. The McDonalds seperated in 1993 and started divorce proceedings but they realised they had too much to throw away and became reconciled. ·· top ·· Liz Mcdonald: Actor: Beverley Callard 1989- Pregnant at seventeen, Liz brought up her twins in a succession of army camps all over the world. She was delighted when Jim settled down in 1989 and bought No. 11. She served as barmaid at the Rovers and the Legion before becoming manager of the Queens. Jim upset her by accusing her of having an affair with the area manager, and they seperated for six months. During which time she took Colin Barnes as a lover. In 1992, her baby Katherine was born prematurely and died. She started work at Sean Skinner's betting shop in 1994, fighting off Sean. ·· top ·· Steve Mcdonald: Actor: Simon Gregson 1989- Andy's twin brother. He shone at school but dropped out without qualifications. Past girlfriends have included Joanne Khan and Victoria Arden. For a while he was infatuated with Steph Barnes but she made it clear she was not interested. He worked for Jim, at the cafe and at MVB Motors, before being taken on by Mike Baldwin at his print shop. In 1994 he took over the business himself, and surprised everyone by making a success of it with money borrowed from Vicky Arden and was torn between her money and faithful girlfriend Fiona Middleton. ·· top ·· Fiona Middleton: Actor: Angela Griffin 1993- Denise Osbourne's assistant at the hair salon. She started a relationship with Steve McDonald and lived with him at the flat about Jim's cafe. ·· top ·· Clara Midgeley: Actor: Betty Hardy 1965-66 Minnie Caldwell's friend who cleaned at the Mission when Ena holidayed in America. Clara fell for Albert Tatlock and proposed to him, but he refused to settle down. ·· top ·· Frank Mills: Actor: Nigel Gregory 1985-86 Met Bet Lynch at a Blackpool hotel where he worked behind the bar. Having followed her to Weatherfield, he moved into the Rovers with her, where he helped out behind the bar. Bet later threw him out after he made a pass at Gloria Todd. ·· top ·· Christine Millwood: Actor: Julie Shipley 1985 Designer who worked with Mike Baldwin to produce flying-suits. He tried to lure her away from her husband David, but she refused. ·· top ·· Neil Mitchell: Actor: John Lloyd Fillingham 1992-93 Denise Osbourne's second husband. he moved in with Angie Freeman but she threw him out because of his obsession with Denise. ·· top ·· Pam Mitchell: Actor: Prim Cotton 1983 Editor of the Weatherfield Recorder who printed Ken Barlow's leaks about council cutbacks at the Community Centre. ·· top ·· Charlie Moffit: Actor: Gordon Rollings 1964-65 Comic at the Viaduct Sporting Club who lodged at No. 5 with Minnie Caldwell. He gave up show business to be an insurance clerk, but eventually decided to return to the club circuit. ·· top ·· Morgan Mega: Actor: Sue Roderick 1989 Erotic dancer who moved into the Rovers as Alec Gilroy's housekeeper when he was seperated from Bet. ·· top ·· Vanessa Morgan: Actor: Imogen Boorman 1992 Assistant at Bettabuy who turned out to be daughter of the chairman, Lord Morgan. ·· top ·· Bernard Morten: Actor: Roland Macleod 1993-94 Vicar of St Saviour's. He became engaged to Emily Bishop but dumped her, unable to cope with her history of mental illness. ·· top ·· Jim Mount: Actor: Barry Keegan 1965-66 Elsie Tanner's boyfriend from the GPO who lodged with the Ogdens. ·· top ·· Tickler Murphy: Actor: Parrick McAlinney 1964 Irish factory worker who tried to woo Florrie Lindley out of her shop. He trained Stan Ogden when he took up wrestling, but left the Street when Florrie became too serious about him. ·· top ·· Doug Murray: Actor: Brian Hibbard 1992-93 Mechanic at MVB Motors who stole Mike Baldwin's Jag and ran off to Germany. He tried dating Denise Osbourne, had a brief fling with Deirdre Barlow and was pursued by underage Tracy Barlow. ·· top ··

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N

Nelson, Amy Newton, Cecil Nightingale, Wendy Nuttall, Debbie Nelson, Amy: Actor: Louise Duprey 1993 Bettabuy assistant who fell for Andy McDonald. She was thrilled when he accepted her illegitimate son Dominic and they became engaged. When holidaying in Trinidad she met Dom's father Errol again and decided to stay with him. ·· top ·· Newton, Cecil: Actor: Kenneth Alan Taylor 1987-90 Managing director of Newton and Ridley, he gave Alec the tenancy and saw off Nigel Ridley's attempts to turn the Rovers into a theme pub. ·· top ·· Nightingale, Wendy: Actor: Susan Tebbs 1976 University graduate who left her husband Roger to set up house at No. 11 with Ken Barlow, causing a scandal which threatened his job. After a couple of months she returned to Roger, unable to befriend any of the natives. ·· top ·· Nuttall, Debbie: Actor: Gina Maher 1981-82 Eunice Gee's daughter who lodged at the Community Centre with the Gees, upsetting Fed with her loose morals. ·· top ··

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O

Ogden, Hilda Ogden, Stan Ogden, Trevor Oldfield, Karen Osbourne, Denise Hilda Ogden: Actor: Jean Alexander 1964-87 Cleaner at the Rovers Return and the Street's main gossipmongerer for over twenty years. Moved to No. 13 with husband Stan, daughter Irma and son Trevor in 1964. Two other children, Sylvia and Tony, had been taken into care. She delighted in watching the downfall of those around her, especially neighbour Elsie Tanner and employer Annie Walker. In 1967 she suffered a nervous breakdown and disappeared wearing her slippers. She was found wandering the streets of Liverpool. Always aspiring to a higher standard of living, Hilda spent whatever she could on items such as an oil-lamp, cocktail bar and plastic chair. In 1976 she fell in love with a decorative mural, or 'muriel' as she called it, and used it as a backdrop on which to hang her three flying ducks, the middle one pointing downwards. She always regretted the way her children turned their backs on her - Irma emigrated to Canada, and Trevor only called when he wanted money. After Stan's death in 1984, she took in lodgers and busied herself looking after them. In 1987, she was attacked whilst attempting to stop a burglary and battled for life in intensive care. Shortly afterwards she left the area to live in Derbyshire as Dr Lowther's housekeeper. ·· top ·· Stan Ogden: Actor: Bernard Youens 1964-84 The Rovers Return's most valued customer for twenty years, Stan was once publicly recognised by the brewery as their best customer and awarded a free beer a day for life. Stan was also one of the best customers at the local labour exchange. His varied careers included lorry driver, milkman, coalman, labourer, street photographer, scrap-metal artist, chauffeur, ice-cream man, Father Christmas and wrestler. In 1968 he bought a window-cleaning round and this remained his main source of income until his death. With his mate Eddie Yeats, Stan got into quite a few scrapes, many of them illegal, but was never caught out by the police. His finest hour came in 1970 when he rescued Minnie Caldwell from being held at gunpoint by murderer Joe Donnelli. During his work he befriended Mrs Regan at 19 Inkerman Street and then became the butt of the residents' jokes for the next fifteen years as they ribbed him and Hilda over his affair. Stan died in November 1984 following a long illness. ·· top ·· Trevor Ogden: Actor: Jonathan Collins, Don Hawkins 1964-84 The Ogden's wayward son. He ran away from the Street after only four months in residence, taking with him money stolen from the neighbours. Nine years later the Ogdens tracked him down to Chesterfield where he lived with wife Polly and son Damien, having told Polly his parents were dead. ·· top ·· Karen Oldfield: Actor: Sally Jane Jackson 1980 Machinist at Balwin's Casuals who went out with Martin Cheveski despite her police sergeant father's objections. She finished with Martin when he proposed marriage. She felt that at sixteen they were too young. ·· top ·· Denise Osbourne: Actor: Denise Black 1992- Hair-stylist who opened a beauty salon on Coronation Street, she divorced second husband Neil Mitchell and had a relationship with Ken Barlow. She gave birth to Ken's son Daniel in January 1995. In 1993, she was subjected to abusive phone calls made by Don Brennan. ·· top ··

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P

Parker, Donna Pearce, Phyllis Pearson, Beattie Pendlebury, Victoria Perkins, Elaine Perkins, Wilfred Petty, Lionel Petty, Sandra Phillips, Norman Pickens, Alice Piggott, William Platt, Nee Potter, Prev Tilsley, Gail Platt, Martin Platt, Nicky Platt, Sarah Louise Patric Podevin, Pooley, Tanya Potts, Harold Potts, Walter Prescott, Dawn Donna Parker: Actor: Rachel Davies 1975-76 Con artist who allowed Alf Roberts to fall in love with her before conning him out of £500 to buy her own hair salon. ·· top ·· Phyllis Pearce: Actor: Jill Sunners 1982- Widow Phyllis first appeared in the Street when she tracked down Chalkie and Craig Whitely to No.9. Her daughter Margaret had married Chalkie's son and was Craig's mother. Margaret had died of cancer and Phyllis needed to be close to Craig, the only family she had. Following Craig's emigration to Austrailia, Phyllis tried to get Chalkie to move in with her platonically, but he refused. Later, she set her sights on Percy Sugden and Sam Tindall, but both of them rejected her. For a while she served at Jim's cafe but was retired and became Des Barnes's housekeeper. In 1993, she won a poetry competition for a poem about her love for Percy. ·· top ·· Beattie Pearson: Actor: Gabrielle Daye 1961-84 Albert Tatlock's daughter, married to Norman Pearson, Beattie Seldon visited the street or her father, unless there was a threat of her loosing her inheritance. In 1971, she moved in with Albert, having left Norman. Albert made certain they were reconciled quickly. ·· top ·· Victoria Pendlebury: Actor: Christopher Coll 1982-92 Mavis Riley's pot-throwing admirer, or as Rita called him the 'Saddleworth Sage'. Energetic Victor whisked Mavis off on a camping weekend and asked her to live with him on a trial marriage. Mavis refused to compromise herself and did not move in with him. Victor proposed marriage in 1984, but by that time Mavis was engaged to Derek. In the 1990s Victor reappeared, the owner of a recycling plant, PPP. He employed Derek and married Yvonne, a mavis lookalike. ·· top ·· Elaine Perkins: Actor: Joanna Lumley 1973 Graduate daughter of Wilfred Perkins. She went out with Ken Barlow but dropped him when he became too serious. ·· top ·· Wilfred Perkins: Actor: Wensley Pithey 1972-74 Headmaster of Bessie Street School until his retirement in 1978. Ken Barlow was his deputy and Wilfred despaired at the way Ken took up with the wrong women, including his own daughter. ·· top ·· Lionel Petty: Actor: Edward Evans 1965-66 Ex-Sgt Major Petty bought the Corner Shop from Florrie Lindley. He upset the customers by trying to run it military style. When he went to live in Wales after eighteen months, the only one to really miss him was his dancing partner, Annie Walker. ·· top ·· Sandra Petty: Actor: Heather Moore 1964-65 Local girl who fell in love with Dennis Tanner and persuaded her father Lionel to buy the Corner Shop so she could be close to him. She left the area when she realised that Dennis had no feelings for her. ·· top ·· Norman Phillips: Actor: Ray Brooke 1964 Manager of the Viaduct Sporting Club in Coronation Street. ·· top ·· Alice Pickens: Actor: Doris Hare 1969 Pensioner who set her beret on Albert Tatlock. With her mynah bird, Kitchener, she lodged with Albert and nursed him following a fall. She charred at Dave Smith's betting shop and for the Rev Rev. James at St Mary's. Albert proposed but the vicar never arrived at the church to marry them. Alice thought it was fate and called off the wedding. ·· top ·· William Piggott: Actor: George A. Cooper 1964-71 Local butcher and property developer. He attempted to bribe Ken Barlow to let his son pass an exam, and then blackmailed Emily Nugent into spying on his rival Len Fairclough. ·· top ·· Gail Platt, Nee Potter, Prev Tilsley: Actor: Helen Worth 1975- With friend Tricia Hopkins she rented the flat above the Corner Shop and took a variety of jobs, from secretary to model. In 1976 she moved into No.11 with Elsie Howard and was nearly cited in a divorce case following an affair with sales rep Roy Thornley. She worked at boutiques Sylvia's Separates (with Elsie) and the Western Front (with Suzie Birchall, who became her room-mate). Gail married Brian Tilsley in November 1979 following a year's courtship. In 1986 Gail had an affair with Brian's cousin Ian Latimer and discovered she was pregnant. This led to the Tilsley's divorcing but they remarried in 1988 when Brain finally accepted Sarah Louise as his child. After Brain was murdered in 1990, Gail had an affair with Martin Platt, ten years her junior. Their son David was born in 1990, they married in 1991 and moved into No.8 Coronation Street later that year. Gail is part owner of Jim's cafe. ·· top ·· Martin Platt: Actor: Sean Wilson 1985- Martin first met Gail Tilsley when he was taken on to help work at Jim's cafe. He started an affair with Gail following an on-off affair with Jenny Bradley. He moved in with Gail in 1991. In 1992 he started training as a student nurse, and one of his classmates, Carmel Finnan, declared her love for him and nearly wrecked his marriage. ·· top ·· Nicky Platt: Actor: Warren Jackson 1980- Son of Gail and Brian Tilsley and the apple of Granny Ivy's eye. In 1987, he was kidnapped by Brain (his parents were getting divorced) and nearly ended up living in Ireland, but Brian realised he missed Gail too much. In 1994 Nicky began to resent stepfather Martin. ·· top ·· Louise Platt, Sara: Actor: Lyndsey King 1987- Gail and Brian's second child, adopted by Martin in 1991. She once thought fairies planted sweets under Derek Wilton's 'magic' tree. ·· top ·· Patric Podev: Actor: Franc Du Bosc 1987 French student who fell for Jenny Bradley. He broke off their engagement when he discovered she had been flirting with other men. ·· top ·· Tanya Pooley: Actor: Eva Pope 1993-94 Barmaid at the Rovers who had affairs with Des Barnes and his boss Alex Christie at the same time. When Alex found out he fought Des, and she finished with them both. She ran off with Bet's boyfriend, Charlie Whelan. ·· top ·· Harold Potts: Actor: Russell Dixon 1992-93 Counsellor who also worked as caretaker at Weatherfield Comp., making his junior Derek Wilton's life a misery. ·· top ·· Walter Potts: Actor: Christopher Sandford 1963-64 Window-cleaner discovered by Dennis Tanner and launched as single Not Too Little, Not Too Much was so successful that Walter had to leave his lodgings at No.11 to go on a European tour. ·· top ·· Dawn Prescott: Actor: Louise Harrison 1989 Receptionist at Alan Bradley's security shop. She alerted Rita to Alan's dark deeds after he had tried to rape her. She took a job selling flats at the docks and became Mike Baldwin's lover. They separated when her brother Robert conned Mike into buying Spanish land. ·· top ··

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Disclaimer: These details will be updated frequently and should be correct. I cannot be held responsible for any tears, heartache or remorse caused by learning something of a character that you did not previously know. However please feel free to E-Mail me with any views you have or extra info not included.[This information is solely for personal use and cannot be used for financial gain.]

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