List of Coronation Street characters introduced in 1997
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 1997, by order of first appearance.
Janice Battersby
Brad Armstrong
Brad Armstrong is the son of Terry Duckworth and Tricia Armstrong. He is born on 14 February 1997 and named after Brad Pitt. Three months after his birth, his mother leaves with him.Natalie Barnes
Chris Collins
Chris Collins is a mechanic played by Matthew Marsden. Chris, a former soldier, makes his first appearance in March 1997 when he arrives at Webster's Autos looking for work, and when Chris demonstrates his abilities, Kevin Webster gives him a job.During his time on the Street and unbeknownst to his boss Kevin, Chris has a passionate affair with Kevin's wife Sally. Sally takes revenge for Kevin's affair with Natalie Horrocks by seducing Chris. He ends his relationship with Sally after she and Kevin get back together. Chris then has a fling with barmaid Samantha Failsworth. When he decides to leave Weatherfield, Samantha intends on coming with him and packs a bag for herself, but in the end Chris does not call round for her and leaves on his own without telling anyone. Chris's current whereabouts are unknown.
Carol Delaney
Nurse Carol Delaney, portrayed by Niamh Daley, was a nurse at Weatherfield General, and was also a good friend of Martin Platt. She first appeared as a nurse taking care of Alma Baldwin following a car accident after being kidnapped by Don Brennan.In June 2000, Carol told Martin that his mistress Rebecca Hopkins was leaving for Dubai. He asked Carol where she was, and he headed to the airport and tried to make her stay, but Rebecca told him she did not want to split up his family, and left him. During the Christmas period, Martin shockingly discovered that Rebecca was staying at Carol's home. He tried visiting her for Christmas, but after seeing her kissing another bloke, he left.
Zoe Tattersall
Zoe Tattersall, played by Joanne Froggatt, made her first screen appearance on 19 May 1997. Jane Danson and Georgia Taylor auditioned for the role of Zoe, before being cast as the Battersby sisters, Leanne and Toyah.Zoe is a troubled teenage tearaway. She has enough of children's care homes and runs away, living on the streets with her boyfriend, Liam Shepherd. The character first appears in the amusement arcade where Judy Mallett works. Liam causes trouble and one day Gary throws the teenager out but he decides to blackmail the Malletts, threatening to go to the police. They need money as Zoe is pregnant. Judy, struggling with fertility issues, offers Zoe £2,000 if she will allow her and Gary to adopt her baby. Zoe is overwhelmed but accepts the offer, despite Gary's objection. The neighbours assume that Gary is the baby's father and Judy allows them to think that, deciding it would help if anyone asked why they had the baby. Zoe soon makes friends with Leanne Battersby and tells her the real story, including the payment.
The baby arrives and Judy wants Zoe to move on as she is showing signs of bonding with little Katy Joyce. Gary fraudulently signs the birth certificate as the father and Judy settles into new motherhood with Zoe resentfully looking on in the background. After the health visitor's first visit, Zoe is persuaded to leave but the Malletts tell people that Zoe stole some money and ran away but Leanne tells Nick Tilsley the truth. Leanne finds Zoe and persuades her to come back and clear her name.
Meanwhile, Ashley Peacock, working in the corner shop, develops feelings for Zoe. Finally, after the christening, Gary and Judy are so worried about Zoe that they plan to leave Weatherfield but Zoe snatches her baby with Ashley's help, renaming her [|Shannon]. Zoe and Shannon move in with Ashley, Leanne and Nick and live together until Shannon is rushed to hospital with meningitis and dies. Zoe is devastated and has a breakdown, lashing out at her friends and neighbours, resulting in her being sectioned for a while. During this time, Ashley realises that though he loves Zoe, he cannot give her what she needs but won't finish with her. When she is released from hospital, she comes back to live with him.
Zoe meets a couple while out clubbing, Ben and Ruth. Ruth becomes her new best friend very quickly, making Ashley suspicious. They get Zoe a job at their "Foundation" and convince her to sell new age crystals on the street and door to door, while telling her about their beliefs and taking advantage of her grief for her baby. She is soon convinced that theirs is the road to salvation and becomes deeply involved in the Cult of Nirab. Despite his efforts, Ashley realises that Zoe has to make her own decisions. She needs a new start, wants to have a baby for the Foundation and leaves with Ben and Ruth in December 1998 and is never seen or heard from again. Years later Ashley mentions Zoe in conversation with wife, Claire Peacock, mentioning that she now lives in America.
Liam Shepherd
Liam Shepherd, portrayed by Andrew Knott, was the boyfriend of Zoe Tattersall, who caused trouble at the arcade where Judy Mallett worked. He first appeared on 19 May 1997. He began to scare Judy, leading to her husband Gary Mallett to threaten him. Liam later returned in a battered state, accusing Gary of attacking him and told Judy if she didn't give him money, he would report Gary. This story later turned out to be made up by Zoe and Liam as they wanted the money so Zoe could have an abortion. However, Zoe went on to have her baby and sold her to the Mallett's due to Judy's fertility problems. They subsequently named the baby Katie, however she was returned to Zoe in December 1997 and renamed Shannon.Liam continuously tried to convince Zoe that she wasn't fit to be a parent as he himself didn't want to be a dad. As a result, he tried to sell Shannon to the Mallett's again, but eventually Zoe managed to get away from Liam as she wanted to keep her baby. Liam returned in December 1997 and tried to reconcile with Zoe by making another plan to sell Shannon to the Mallett's and then take the money to run off to pastures new. Zoe didn't like the plan and Liam then threatened to hit her. However, Zoe's good friend Ashley Peacock managed to get him to leave. In April 1998, Shannon died of meningitis. Zoe tried to track Liam down form the funeral, but couldn't find him and therefore he didn't attend the service.
Jon Lindsay
Jon Lindsay, played by Owen Aaronovitch, made his first screen appearance on 28 May 1997. Aaronovitch received the role after an audition. He later left the show to move to Spain with his wife. Paul Baldwin of The People praised the character, saying "Jon Lindsay is one of the scriptwriters' most intriguing characters for years." He also described Jon as a "love rat", "smooth-talking", a "slimeball" and a "creepy conman".Jon meets Deirdre Rachid at a singles night. He tells her he is a divorcee and an airline pilot. They spend more time together and start dating. While Ken Barlow is at Manchester Airport, he sees Jon working in a tie shop. Jon tells Deirdre that he had been forced to retire from his pilot job and was ashamed to admit that he now worked in a shop. Deirdre believes him, but Ken remains suspicious. Jon expresses his desire to live with Deirdre after he mentions his ex-wife has sold their house. They soon move in together. It emerges that Jon has stolen the identity of his friend Captain Ian Jenkins and still lives with his wife and children. He tells Deirdre that he needs to spend more time away due to a promotion. Jon and Deirdre get engaged, but she finds out about his wife and confronts him at his home. He denies knowing her. Jon applies for a credit card and a mortgage using a false identity, which he later signs into Deirdre's name. When the police question him, Jon lets Deirdre take the blame. He receives a suspended sentence, while Deirdre is charged and later sentenced to eighteen months in prison for fraud. When Mary Docherty, a woman Jon had also duped, reads about Deirdre's trial, she comes forward and reveals that Jon is also a bigamist, having married her. Deirdre is released from jail, while Jon is arrested.
Jez Quigley
Gerald Francis "'Jez" Quigley' was played by Lee Boardman. He made his first appearance in 1997, returning to the show in 1999, and was killed-off in September 2000.Jez was a gangster, a drug dealer and murderer. He killed Tony Horrocks and Des Barnes, and supplies cocaine to Leanne Battersby, who quickly becomes an addict. Steve McDonald unsuccessfully turns to Jez for a job, and later testifies against Jez at his trial for Tony's and Des's murders. Despite Steve's testimony, Jez is found not guilty. Jez has Steve trapped in an underground car park and beaten up by a gang of thugs, resulting in him being left for dead, with serious injuries. Steve's father Jim McDonald takes revenge by attacking Jez in the latter's home. Jez later dies in hospital of his injuries, after collapsing on top of Steve whilst making a second attempt to kill him, as he lies in the next bed. Jim was later found guilty of manslaughter and was sentenced to eight years in prison.