Coronation Street's most iconic characters
From Curly Watts to Fred Elliott, we're celebrating the most iconic Coronation Street characters of all time!
Kevin Kennedy
Kevin Kennedy played one of Weatherfield's best-loved characters, Curly Watts, for almost 20 years before eventually leaving the show in 2003.
After his long-standing stint on the cobbles, Kevin swapped soap land for the stage and has appeared in numerous productions, including We Will Rock You and most recently in The Commitments.
Sarah Lancashire
Award-winning actress Sarah Lancashire played Raquel Watts, barmaid and wife of Curly. The couple had a daughter together, Alice Watts.
After leaving Coronation Street in 1996, Sarah Lancashire's acting career went from strength to strength. She has starred in programmes including BBC drama Happy Valley, Last Tango in Halifax and Lark Rise to Candleford.
Bill Tarmey
Jack Duckworth, played by Bill Tarmey, the long-suffering husband of bossy boots Vera and father of Weatherfield bad boy Terry. Jack, who first appeared in the soap opera in 1979, was known for his love of beer, gambling and his pigeons, as well as his fun-loving and fiery relationship with his volatile wife, Vera!
Bill Tarmey played the iconic character for an incredible 30 years! Sadly, he suffered a heart attack and died in November 2012, aged 71.
Julie Goodyear
Julie Goodyear played Corrie legend Bet Lynch; the bolshy and busty barmaid turned landlady of the Rovers Return Inn for more than 25 years. Bet was known for her garish and provocative get ups, including outrageous leopard print and that platinum blond bouffant - oh, who could forget?!
David Neilson
David ventured onto the Corrie cobbles as lovable cafe owner Roy Cropper in 1995. He became a permanent and more prominent fixture over almost 20 years with numerous high-profile story lines, most notably marrying the soap's first transgender character, Haley Patterson.
Sadly, Haley died in January 2014, and eventually David left the show to focus on theatre, appearing in a number of stage productions including Samuel Beckett’s Endgame.
Barbara Knox
Rita Tanner, played by Barbara Knox, is Weatherfield's most hard-working newsagent - will she ever retire? Rita first appeared on the cobbles in 1964 for one episode but was made a series regular eight years later.
Barbara also appeared in Never Mind the Quality, Feel the Width, George and the Dragon and A Family at War but is still standing strong on the Corrie cobbles! Rita, it's time to put those feet up and let Norris take the reins!
Anne Kirkbride
Anne Kirkbride was most famously known for her long-running role as Deirdre Barlow. The actress made her first appearance on the cobbles in 1972 and her character became synonymous with those over-sized comedic glasses and that gravelly voice.
Anne sadly died of breast cancer in January 2015, aged 60. For her role in Corrie, she posthumously received the Outstanding Achievement Award at the 2015 British Soap Awards.
Michael Le Vell
Michael Le Vel played your average hard-working man - Kevin John Webster - the owner of a car repair garage. Kevin became known for being the over-protective father of his two daughters, Rosie and Sophie. His infamous affair with Molly Dobbs was perhaps one of his character's most memorable story lines...
When the actor left Coronation Street he went on to star in BBC shows Fame is the Spur and One By One.
Roy Barraclough
Roy Barraclough became a household name playing the role of slippery Rovers Return landlord Alexander "Alec" Gilroy. His character had many high-profile on-screen relationships throughout his 22 year Corrie residency, including that odd coupling with bold and outspoken Bet Lynch!
After leaving Coronation Street in 1998, Roy went on to star in films such as Funland and All The Small Things.
Beverley Callard
Corrie legend and current landlady of The Rovers Return Liz McDonald, played by Beverly Callard, has been a household name for almost 30 years! Callard first ventured onto the cobbles in October 1989, and her character has since had to endure being a battered and unfaithful wife, a kidnap victim, and the long-suffering mother of Steve McDonald.
In 1998, Callard took a break from the soap to spend time with her family, but returned in 2003.
John Savident
'I say, I say' who could forget the street's lovable butcher Fred Elliott?! The character was played by John Savident from 1994 to 2006.
As well as his long-standing role in the soap opera, John was also seen in hit movies like A Clockwork Orange, Brain Donors and Hudson Hawk.
Sally Dynevor
The actress has been playing snobby Sally Webster, now Metcalfe, since 1986! During her 30-year stint, Sally's become known for her turbulent relationships with fellow residents and tearful romances!
Bruce Jones
Infamous Corrie resident Les Battersby brought mayhem to the street for almost a decade. Les was sometimes seen to be overly passionate but he mellowed during his time on the cobbles. He was also known to represent the lower end of the class scale in Weatherfield.
Violet Carson
Violet Carson played the street's infamous yet lovable battleaxe Ena Sharples for two decades. For much of her 20 years on the street, Ena found herself at loggerhead's with fellow Weatherfield icon Elsie Tanner, played by Pat Phoenix, and she became synonymous with the hairnet her character used to wear.
Violet appeared in the first episode of Corrie which aired in December 1960, but she was forced to leave the programme in April 1980 due to ill health. Violet died, aged 85, in her sleep, on Boxing Day 1983, at her Blackpool home.
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