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Coronation Street

House of Cobbles

Sally and Norris aren't the first Weatherfield residents to march to their own political drums.

Here's a history of Coronation Street's political powerhouses...

Annie and Len in 1965

The first regular character to become a councillor was Len Fairclough. He beat Annie Walker in the 1966 election.

Ena, Annie, Alf and Minnie in 1973

Alf Roberts was also a councillor and became mayor for the first time in 1973. He chose Annie Walker as his mayoress.

Deirdre and Alf in 1991

In 1987, Alf lost his seat on the council to his employee at the Corner Shop, Deirdre Barlow. He suffered a heart attack in the aftermath of his defeat and Audrey blamed Deirdre.

Oh look, there's Steve Halliwell and Paula Tilbrook (Zak and Betty) from Emmerdale!)

In 1991, Alf stood again. Ken (now separated from Deirdre) was living in the flat over Alf's shop and decided to support Deirdre's campaign by putting up a poster in his window. Alf was outraged and pasted over the outside of the window with his own poster.

Ken and Alf in 1991

The two men came to blows in front of a Gazette photographer. In the event, Alf beat Deirdre, who lost her seat.

Alf's inauguration as Mayor.

In 1994, Alf was chosen to be mayor again. Audrey as his wife was mayoress, but after taking advantage of the perks of the job, like the mayoral limo, she got fed up of attending the official functions so Alf replaced her with Betty Turpin.

Audrey, Fred, Alf and Betty opening South Weatherfield Leisure Centre!

Audrey was furious at losing the prestige of the title, and even tried attending official events as mayoress by arriving ahead of Alf and Betty and cutting the ribbon before they had chance!

Betty and Alf at Buckingham Palace

In 1995, Alf was awarded the OBE for his council work and went to Buckingham Palace for the investiture.

Audrey and Spider went head to head in 1998

By 1998, Alf had retired from the council, and Audrey decided to stand.

Her main opponent was Spider Nugent, whose policies couldn't have been more different from self-serving Audrey's. Nevertheless, Audrey won the seat.

In 2001, Audrey was up for re-election but the news that her best friend Alma Halliwell had terminal cancer knocked her for six, and she took little interest in her own campaign.

Curly protesting the closure of the creche by blocking the exit from the town hall.

Her campaign manager Curly Watts got frustrated by her lack of interest and decided to stand himself. Audrey was fully supportive of the idea, and withdrew herself from the running.

Curly won the seat and was a councillor until he left Weatherfield in 2003.

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Coronation Street