Alf Roberts
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Alfred Sidney "Alf" Roberts, OBE is a
fictional character In fiction, a character (or speaker, in poetry) is a person or other being in a narrative (such as a novel, play, radio or television series, music, film, or video game). The character may be entirely fictional or based on a real-life perso ...
from the
British British may refer to: Peoples, culture, and language * British people, nationals or natives of the United Kingdom, British Overseas Territories, and Crown Dependencies. ** Britishness, the British identity and common culture * British English, ...
ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of: ** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
soap opera A soap opera, or ''soap'' for short, is a typically long-running radio or television serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term "soap opera" originated from radio dramas originally being sponsored ...
'' Coronation Street'', played by
Bryan Mosley Bryan Mosley (25 August 1931 – 9 February 1999) was a British actor, best known for his role as grocer Alf Roberts in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. Early life Mosley was born in Leeds, an only child, to Agnes Basquil ...
. He ran a grocery shop at No. 15 and was involved in local politics, including two spells as mayor of Weatherfield. The character first appeared on the programme in 1961 on a recurring basis, before finally becoming a regular in 1971 and remaining in the series until he died on 1 January 1999.


Storylines

Alf was married first to Phyllis, who was mentioned by name but never made an appearance on screen. She was engaged to Alf's brother but Alf crashed his car, causing his brother's death. Out of a sense of duty, he offered to marry Phyllis but the marriage was a loveless one. Nevertheless, he was very upset when she died of cancer in 1972. Alf became very close to
Maggie Clegg Jenny Sutton Jennifer Louise "Jenny" Tanner (née Sutton) was the first wife of Dennis Tanner. Jenny was raised in a family of nine at a fourth-floor flat near Battersea Power Station. In 1968, the attractive young blonde arrived in Weather ...
(
Irene Sutcliffe Irene Sutcliffe (12 July 1924 – 3 May 2019) was an English actress. She was best known for playing Maggie Clegg in ITV's ''Coronation Street'', a role she played from 1968 until 1975. She had a long career; her first credited TV role was in 19 ...
), who owned the corner shop on Coronation Street. Attractive, sympathetic, and a good listener, she seemed to him to be the perfect wife. However, when he proposed, she gently turned him down, unable to marry someone she did not love just to avoid being lonely. Alf was very hurt, doubly so when, she married wealthy businessman Ron Cooke and moved to Zaire shortly afterward. In 1973, Alf needed a partner when he became mayor of Weatherfield so Annie Walker (
Doris Speed Doris Speed, MBE (3 February 1899 – 16 November 1994) was an English actress, best known for her role as landlady of the Rovers Return Inn Annie Walker on ''Coronation Street'', a role she played from the programme's first episode in 1960 un ...
), the social-climbing landlady of The Rovers Return Inn, invited herself to become Mayoress and Alf was forced to agree. Annie did a good job - she considered herself to be Weatherfield's First Lady - but her snobbishness and pretensions often infuriated and exasperated Alf. In 1978, Alf married
Renee Bradshaw Irene "Renee" Roberts (also Bradshaw) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'', played by Madge Hindle. The character was created by producer Bill Podmore as a new shop keeper. He wanted a mature female t ...
(
Madge Hindle Madge Hindle (born Madge Railton; 19 May 1938) is an English actress, known for her roles in British television shows. Career Hindle was born in Blackburn, Lancashire. Her break came when her friend, playwright Alan Bennett, asked her to appear i ...
), who now owned the corner shop. Theirs was an awkward courtship - Alf withdrew his first proposal, telling Renee that he had been drunk when he asked her - but when he proposed again, they married. The marriage seemed doomed from the start - Alf punched Renee's stepfather, Joe Hibbert, at the reception for suggesting that the only reason he had married Renee was to get the corner shop. Renee, however, made it clear that the shop was hers and Alf should continue to work at the post office. After a lorry crashed into the pub in 1979, burying Alf under tons of wood, the couple re-assessed their lives. They decided to buy a sub-post office in
Grange-Over-Sands Grange-over-Sands is a town and civil parish located on the north side of Morecambe Bay in Cumbria, England, a few miles south of the Lake District National Park. In the 2001 census the parish had a population of 4,042, increasing at the 2011 ...
in 1980 and Renee took driving lessons. It was while learning to drive that Renee stalled Alf's car at a red traffic light in a country lane. While Alf got out of the car to change places, a lorry coming the other way hit the car and Renee was killed. Alf, who had been drinking, was unharmed and later told
Ken Barlow Ken Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'', played by William Roache. He was created by Tony Warren as one of ''Coronation Street''s original characters and December 2020 marked Ken's 60th anni ...
(
William Roache William Patrick Roache (born 25 April 1932) is an English actor. He is best known for playing Ken Barlow in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' since it was first broadcast on 9 December 1960. He is listed in the ''Guinness World Records ...
) that he felt guilty as seconds before Renee died, they were arguing about her driving and this was the last thing he ever said to her. Alf inherited the shop from Renee, and, over the next few years, he watched Audrey Potter (
Sue Nicholls Susan Frances Harmar Nicholls (born 23 November 1943) is an English actress, known for her roles on British television in ''Crossroads'' (1964–1968), '' The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin'' (1976–1979) and, '' Rentaghost'' (1981–1984), ...
) come and go. Audrey was very unlike Maggie and Renee for she was an unashamed good-time girl, her heart as big as a man's wallet. When Alf needed someone to watch his shop while away on holiday, he asked Audrey to do it. When he got back, he found she had set herself up in the back of the shop as a hair stylist. Alf was impressed by her initiative and kept her on, later causing controversy when he painted Renee's name out of the shop sign. Alf and Audrey connected well, and Alf enjoyed being around someone with such youthful energy. However, when Alf suggested marriage to Audrey, she (having been forewarned) turned him down and resigned from the shop before returning to an ex-boyfriend. Alf continued to run the corner shop, with various assistants, including
Deirdre Barlow Deirdre Anne Barlow (also Hunt, Langton and Rachid) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', played by Anne Kirkbride. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 November 1972 ...
(
Anne Kirkbride Anne Kirkbride (21 June 1954 – 19 January 2015) was an English actress, best known for her long-running role as Deirdre Barlow in the ITV soap ''Coronation Street'', which she played for 42 years from 1972 to 2014. For this role, she posthu ...
). He also continued as a local councillor until ill-health forced his retirement. In 1985, Alf had the shop converted into a self-service establishment. The Corner Shop name was retained newly painted in red on the sign over the frontage, with "Alf's Mini Market" painted on the window. Audrey returned in 1985 after yet another failed relationship. Alf was keen to pick up where they left off and, older and wiser, Audrey appreciated the attention and kindness that Alf lavished on her. He proposed to her again, and this time she accepted. They married two weeks later, living first in the flat over the shop, then at No. 11 Coronation Street before buying a semi-detached house on Grasmere Drive where Audrey still lives. Alf lost his council seat to his employee, Deirdre, in May 1987 and suffered a heart attack as a result. Despite this, he was re-elected in the following term's elections. The local council decided to rename Coronation Street "Alfred Roberts Place" in his honour, and Alf was hurt when the locals opposed it. He was also made an OBE for services to
local Government Local government is a generic term for the lowest tiers of public administration within a particular sovereign state. This particular usage of the word government refers specifically to a level of administration that is both geographically-l ...
. When Alf became mayor for the second time, Audrey declined to be mayoress, and Alf asked
Betty Turpin Betty Williams (also Preston and Turpin) is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'', portrayed by former music hall star Betty Driver. Driver was cast as Betty in 1969, after first auditioning for the role of Hild ...
(
Betty Driver Elizabeth Mary Driver, (20 May 1920 – 15 October 2011) was a British actress and singer, best known for her role as Betty Williams in the long-running ITV soap opera, ''Coronation Street'', a role she played for 42 years from 1969 to 2011, a ...
) instead. A compromise was later reached. When Alf retired from the council, Audrey held his seat for a while. On New Year's Eve 1998, Alf and Audrey attended Audrey's grandson,
Nick Tilsley Nick Tilsley (also Platt) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. He was born off screen during an episode broadcast on 31 December 1980, but made his first appearance on 5 January 1981. He was played b ...
's (
Adam Rickitt Adam Peter Rickitt (born 29 May 1978) is an English actor, singer and model. He portrayed the role of Nick Tilsley in the ITV soap opera '' Coronation Street'' from 1997 to 1999, and again from 2002 to 2004. He later joined the pop group 5th St ...
), 18th birthday party at her daughter,
Gail Platt Gail Rodwell (also Potter, Tilsley, Platt, Hillman and McIntyre) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', played by Helen Worth. The character first appeared on-screen on 29 July 1974. Gail is the daught ...
's (
Helen Worth Helen Worth (born Cathryn Helen Wigglesworth; 7 January 1951) is an English actress. She is best known for portraying the role of Gail Platt in the ITV soap opera, '' Coronation Street'', a role that she has played since 1974. In 2014, she r ...
) house. Worn out from dancing, Alf slumped onto an armchair where he suffered a fatal massive stroke and died.


Creation and development

The character first appeared on the Street in 1961, working as a sorter at the post office alongside Frank Barlow. He appeared intermittently until 1967. Although occasionally mentioned, Alf was not seen again until 1971. When he returned, he continued to work at the post office, albeit now in a supervisor's role.


Departure

The character was written out of the show when actor Bryan Mosley became seriously ill. Mosley stressed that he "wanted to carry on" and "had no intentions of leaving". After Mosley fell ill in January 1998, he returned six months later in July insisting "The Street is in my blood. I'll never quit." Mosley was then forced to retire due to his ill health. A Granada spokesman claimed that "Bryan's one of the Street greats, and his send-off has to be one of its most moving scenes. That is just as he would wish." After Alf was killed off, Mosley, who was five years younger than the character he portrayed, gave an interview where he expressed his disappointment at being forced out, refuting claims that he wasn't up to the demands of filming: "I feel like a new man, the best I have felt for three years, and I kept telling the producers I was getting better all the time." However, he understood the difficult position his colleagues were in: "When I came back, I was just pleased to be there, although I looked like something someone had dug up. I couldn't breathe properly. "It was a strain on everyone else because they thought: 'Is he going to drop dead, or what?' In fact, I looked iller than I was. But, of course, my appearance had changed so much." He clarified his feelings: "Now I will miss Alf. But I won't miss the schedule." Mosley died of a heart attack on 9 February 1999, six weeks after his final appearance on the show.


Reception

British journalist
Brian Reade Brian Reade is a journalist and author who writes a weekly opinion column for the ''Daily Mirror''. He was born in Wavertree and grew up in Huyton. He began his journalism career working on the ''Reading Evening Post'' in 1980 and became a col ...
claimed that losing Alf's character is losing "not just a gem of a character but the umbilical cord that links it with its roots." He also stated that "even those of us who for 30-odd years have viewed him as a whingeing tub of lard today mourn his passing." Brian believed that "when Alf goes an era goes with him. All the Street's original fans have left to remind them of a better time is the chimneys, the music and Betty's hot-pot. Will there ever be another Alf? Will there flamin' heck as like." In 1998 upon the announcement that
Bryan Mosley Bryan Mosley (25 August 1931 – 9 February 1999) was a British actor, best known for his role as grocer Alf Roberts in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. Early life Mosley was born in Leeds, an only child, to Agnes Basquil ...
was leaving ''Coronation Street'', an insider at ''
Granada TV ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire but only on weekdays as ABC Weekend Television was its ...
'' claimed "Bryan Mosley is a Coronation Street legend and no one wanted to see him ever leave". The same insider also stated that the scriptwriters were told that the characters death was to be "handled with an incredible amount of sympathy." ''
The Independent ''The Independent'' is a British online newspaper. It was established in 1986 as a national morning printed paper. Nicknamed the ''Indy'', it began as a broadsheet and changed to tabloid format in 2003. The last printed edition was publish ...
'' published an article by
Anthony Hayward Anthony Hayward (born 26 October 1959) is a British journalist and author. He is a regular contributor to ''The Guardian'', ''The Daily Telegraph'' and ''The Independent'', and has written more than 20 books about television and film. The subje ...
which stated that actor Bryan Mosley made his character "one of the most enduring and sympathetic characters in ''Coronation Street''." However, as an actor, Bryan once claimed that his character "was sometimes regarded as a bit dull", and that there was "not a lot in him that’s not been explored on screen". He believed that there was "something of a fighter in Alf. He was in the Army during the war and probably had quite a difficult war. He's still interested in the weapons of the 1940s. All that has been glossed over. Part of the way I play him is that he has this experience behind the staid image. He has been to strip clubs with Ray Langton and Ernest Bishop, and he had a girlfriend called Donna Parker that no one in the street, only viewers, knew." More than 18 million viewers viewed the character’s last episode. An editor of an article produced by ''
The Guardian ''The Guardian'' is a British daily newspaper. It was founded in 1821 as ''The Manchester Guardian'', and changed its name in 1959. Along with its sister papers ''The Observer'' and ''The Guardian Weekly'', ''The Guardian'' is part of the Gu ...
'' following the character’s death claimed that "if you saw a hat at all in the Rovers, you knew Alf was under it". He also claimed that "Alf so loved little shops that he regularly married or tried to marry women who owned them".
Sue Nicholls Susan Frances Harmar Nicholls (born 23 November 1943) is an English actress, known for her roles on British television in ''Crossroads'' (1964–1968), '' The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin'' (1976–1979) and, '' Rentaghost'' (1981–1984), ...
opined that the decision to marry her character off to Alf may have contributed to Audrey's longevity. Otherwise she may have been just another "tart with a heart passing through."


References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberts, Alf Coronation Street characters Fictional mayors Fictional British postal workers Fictional shopkeepers Fictional politicians Television characters introduced in 1961 Male characters in television