List of Coronation Street characters introduced in 1960
Coronation Street is a British television soap opera/serial, initially produced by Granada Television. Created by screenwriter Tony Warren, Coronation Street first broadcast on ITV on 9 December 1960. The following is a list of characters introduced by Warren upon the series' inception, by order of first appearance.
These include flame-haired siren and series' first sex symbol) Elsie Tanner, staunch up-tight battleaxe Ena Sharples, typically middle class town mayor and publican landlady Annie Walker, grumpy war veteran Albert Tatlock, and university graduate Ken Barlow – all of whom would go on to star in the series for twenty years or more. Another long term character was Minnie Caldwell, who would remain with the series for 16 years and also in the original line-up was loveable rogue Dennis Tanner, who is significant for his 43-year gap between appearances., Roache is the only original character from 1960 remaining in the cast.
Other significant characters to appear this year include Elsie Lappin the original owner of the corner shop and most famous for speaking the first words on the show; [|Susan Cunningham], Ken's first girlfriend and the subject of a 2010 storyline in which it was discovered she had later given birth to his son; and May Hardman, who became the first character to die in the series on 30 December.
Elsie Tanner
One of the most memorable characters in the series, Elsie was immediately identified as the siren of the street. She is described as being feisty and bolshy, but with a good heart, and was liable to get hurt by her various men. She would flirt on-and-off for years with Len Fairclough. At the start of the series, Elsie worked in the department store "Miami Modes", and had two adult children, Linda and Dennis, from her marriage to Arnold Tanner.Dennis Tanner
Dennis was the teenage tearaway son of Elsie Tanner, and newly released from prison when the series opens. He works at a seedy club, where he has showbusiness ambitions of which his mother is sceptical. After failing as a singer, he moves to London as a talent scout. At this point, he was written out of the story because of a strike by the actors' union Equity, but made many re-appearances in the series.Linda Cheveski
Linda Cheveski is played by actress Anne Cunningham between 1960 and 1984. The character was created by series creator Tony Warren as part of the original cast, and she appears in the first episode along with family members including her mother, aging 'good-time girl' Elsie Tanner and her 'lovable rogue' brother Dennis. She is later joined by her Polish husband Ivan, and the young couple are central to early storylines as they cope with Linda's pregnancy affecting their marriage. Cunningham was written out after a year due to a strike at the actor's union Equity preventing new contracts being signed, and the actress chose not to return when the strike ended. This has thus far proved to be Cunningham's last appearance as a member of the regular cast, but she has returned for several short stints since, most recently in 1984.Linda was the daughter of Arnold and Elsie Tanner. She was born in Annie Walker's living room at The Rovers Return Inn on 8 January 1940, being delivered by Ena Sharples. Linda grew up in the Street, presumably attending Bessie Street School.
Like her mother Elsie, Linda was interested in men and eager to marry. At thirteen, she fought off her mother's boyfriend Chuck Nelson when he tried to rape her. She took a job at Elliston's Raincoat Factory and briefly dated [|David Barlow] before falling for Roy Newman, an American GI stationed at Burtonwood. The pair became engaged but the whirlwind romance didn't last.
In 1957, she met Ivan Cheveski, a Polish immigrant, and they married in 1958. Their lives together began happily with a move to Warrington, but Linda quickly grew dissatisfied with the marriage as Ivan wanted to support her and didn't want her go off to work or to begin a family until they were financially secure. When she became pregnant in late 1960, she fled to Weatherfield and moved back in with Elsie and younger brother Dennis. Ivan tracked her down but she was surprised when he liked the idea of having a baby, so they reconciled.
Deciding to stay in Weatherfield for the time being, the Cheveskis bought 9 Coronation Street and moved in. Linda gave birth to a baby boy on 14 June 1961 after two days in labour. Although Linda settled into motherhood well in Weatherfield, Ivan became interested in a job at his friend's firm in Canada. Linda was less keen on emigrating and ripped up the forms. Eventually she agreed, but didn't tell Elsie - eventually Ena Sharples told her. The Cheveskis left the country as planned a week later.
Linda, Ivan and Paul returned to the UK for Christmas 1962, and Linda admitted to Elsie she wasn't happy in Canada. Although Ivan was offered his old job back, they returned to Montreal. During her brief visit, Linda became suspicious that Elsie was having an affair with Len Fairclough.
Linda and Ivan had a second son, Martin Cheveski, born in 1964.
The family returned again in 1966, but although Linda wanted to stay in Weatherfield, Ivan had his heart set on Birmingham. Linda had been having an affair with a Canadian called Mike, and didn't know whether or not to return to Ivan.
As Linda was about to follow her husband to Birmingham, Paul went missing - he later turned up, having been rescued from the canal by a mystery man. The incident brought Ivan back to Weatherfield, and the Cheveskis reconciled again, and moved to Birmingham.
Aside from a brief return for Elsie's wedding to Steve Tanner in 1967, Christmas that year and Dennis' wedding the following year, Linda was not seen on the Street again until 1984, when she was entrusted by Elsie to take care of the sale of No.11 after she had left to live in Portugal. By this time, Linda was estranged from Ivan and hoped to stay in Weatherfield, but Elsie was adamant that the house be sold. Linda sold up to Bill Webster for £11,500 and left the Street again.
Following Dennis' death in 2020, Ken Barlow mentions to Dennis' ex-wife Rita Tanner that Linda is still alive and now lives in Toronto.
Frank Barlow
Frank Barlow is a postman, devoted to his family, but uneasy about his son Ken starting on a university career and acquiring sophisticated ideas. The premature death of his wife Ida brings the two of them together.Ida Barlow
Ida Barlow is the wife of Frank Barlow and mother to Kenneth. She is a dedicated home-maker, who dotes on her family. Her friendship with next-door neighbour Albert Tatlock sometimes causes friction with Albert's daughter Beattie Pearson. Ida was the first regular character to be killed off.Ken Barlow
Ken is the elder son of Frank Barlow and Ida Barlow. His clash with his postman father as the first university student in a traditional working-class family forms the opening situation of the series. Although he becomes a political activist with a complex love-life, some critics found the character boring. But Ken went on to become the longest-running character in any soap opera.David Barlow
David Barlow was played by Alan Rothwell for a period of eight years between 1960 and 1968.David was born on 4 July 1942 in Weatherfield, Lancashire. The Barlow family at 3 Coronation Street consisted of David, his academic older brother Ken, his mother Ida and his absent father Frank, who was away fighting in World War II until 1945.
David was an apprentice engineer but he wanted to pursue a career in football. He signed for Weatherfield County FC and in his first match he scored the only goal. He was one of the team's best players and in June a Second Division London team wanted to transfer David and offered £1,000 to sign him. David left Weatherfield to play for the team and did not return until 1963, except for a brief trip up for Ida's funeral which he watched from afar. By 1963, he was quite well off financially and did not fit in with the locals.
He next visited over Christmas 1964 and stayed with Ken and his wife, Valerie. He did not tell them that he was suspended from playing for accepting a bribe, but by February was cleared. He was off the field again in April after tearing a ligament and stayed with the Barlows so he could date Irma Ogden, who he started seeing during his previous visit. By now, Frank had moved away, and Ken was David's only family in the area. David announced he was retiring from football but took a job as player-coach for Weatherfield Athletic. He was also contracted to write for a football gossip column in the Weatherfield Advertiser.
Fun-loving Irma was flattered by David's interest in her and was receptive to his advances. He wanted to move the relationship to the next level and asked her to marry him when the street residents went on a trip to the Blue John Mines. Irma accepted.
David had big plans for them to move to Cheshire and Irma's parents, Stan and Hilda Ogden, were keen for her to have the well-off lifestyle they could not provide. Irma's parents were an old-fashioned couple and Stan hit Irma when he found David in Irma's bedroom. David convinced Irma they should marry quietly and without telling their families, but everybody found out anyway and surprised them by showing up for a reception.
While playing at a charity football match, David was injured and rushed to hospital, where he was told by the doctor that he would not be able to play football again. The newlyweds had to cancel their plans to buy a house as he could not continue at the club. His football career over, he considered a factory job but hesitated as it was such a step down. Irma convinced him it might be a better idea to buy the Corner Shop in Coronation Street as owner Lionel Petty was selling. At first, he was too proud to accept living in Coronation Street, which caused a brief split between him and Irma. Valerie talked David round, telling him marriage is sometimes difficult and he has to put the effort in.
David had trouble getting to know the Ogdens. In 1966, Irma left the shop to work in the PVC factory across the street as shop work bored her, and David was lumbered with free-loading Hilda as shop assistant. David was never happy in the shop as it was typically where the women of the street went to share gossip. Irma soon returned to work in the shop.
In 1967, David considered standing for Council elections, but Irma hated the idea and he eventually decided not to go through with it.
Irma told David she wanted to have a baby. She got pregnant the same year but suffered a miscarriage. David reminded Irma that they could try again but Irma was devastated and was convinced this meant she could not have children. David was fraught about how to make Irma happy and went to an adoption agency to see if that was an option for them. David still hoped Irma would change her mind but at Christmas the couple fostered Jill Morris for a few days.
In 1968, David was rapidly growing tired of the shop, and aspired to return to football, still being young enough to have a good career ahead of him. Despite his earlier injury, he played a game, and his leg was fine. He took this as a sign that he might just be able to return to the sport full-time, for a team in Australia, but Irma was dead against it - the prospect of living somewhere where they did not know anyone appealed to David much more than it did to Irma. However, when David was offered the position he wanted he took it and set about selling the shop. To interest potential buyers, he had an article published in the Weatherfield Gazette but the tone of the article made it seem as though David and Irma were emigrating because streets like Coronation Street were beneath them. Maggie Clegg eventually bought the shop.
David and Irma became parents in late 1968 when their son Darren was born in Australia.
In 1970, the Barlows were involved in a car accident. David and Darren were both killed, but Irma survived and returned to Weatherfield shortly after the crash.