This is a list of characters that first appeared in ''
Coronation Street
''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford.
Origi ...
'' in 1979.
Bert Tilsley
Herbert Harrison "Bert" Tilsley (though referred to as “Albert Tilsley” in the episode of 21 September 1981) was played by
Peter Dudley
Peter Dudley (21 June 1935 – 20 October 1983) was an English character actor best known for his role as Bert Tilsley in the ITV television series ''Coronation Street''; a role he played continuously from 1979 until his death in 1 ...
. He was the first husband of
Ivy Brennan (
Lynne Perrie
Lynne Perrie (born Jean Dudley; 7 April 1931 – 24 March 2006) was an English actress, singer and television personality, best known as Mrs Casper in Ken Loach's 1969 film '' Kes'', Mrs Petty in the television series '' Queenie's Castle'', and ...
) and the father of
Brian Tilsley
1978 saw several characters making their debuts on the British Soap Opera '' Coronation Street'', including Ed Jackson, Ida Clough and Brian Tilsley, among others.
Ed Jackson
Thomas Edward "Ed" Jackson was one of two robbers who staged a robb ...
(
Christopher Quinten
Christopher Quinten (born Christopher Bell; 12 July 1957) is a British actor, best known for his role as Brian Tilsley on '' Coronation Street'', which he played from 1978 to 1989.
Career
Quinten started his career as a dancer in West End prod ...
). Prior to his debut in 1979, Ivy had referred to her husband as 'Jack' and mentioned that they were childless. During his final months on ''Coronation Street'' in 1983, Bert had been left partially disabled after an accident in Brian's garage involving a tyre compressor unit. This was devised because Peter Dudley had suffered a real-life stroke but wanted to continue to appear in the series. Bert's last appearance was in July 1983, and he died (offscreen) in January 1984 of a heart attack while in a psychiatric hospital, following a nervous breakdown. Peter Dudley died in October 1983 (three months before the character's offscreen death) after suffering a further stroke and multiple heart attacks.
Bert's catchphrase, uttered 3 or 4 times an episode was 'You know what I mean?', this disappeared from his vocabulary after his stroke.
Bert was known to be more relaxed about Brian's life decisions, such as his marriage to
Gail Potter (
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 ...
), whereas Ivy was more critical.
Audrey Roberts
Audrey Roberts (also Potter), played by
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), a ...
, is the mother of established character
Gail Potter (
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 ...
). Audrey made her first appearance on 16 April 1979 and appeared on a recurring basis for three years until 1982. She returned in 1984 before becoming a full-time regular character the following year.
Jack Duckworth
Jack Duckworth was introduced by executive producer
Bill Podmore
Edgar William Podmore (15 August 1931 – 22 January 1994) was a British television producer. Born in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire, he is best remembered for his long association with the soap opera ''Coronation Street'', a series he produced fo ...
, and portrayed by
Bill Tarmey
Bill Tarmey (born William Piddington; 4 April 1941 – 9 November 2012) was an English actor and singer, best known for playing Jack Duckworth in the soap opera '' Coronation Street''. First appearing in the role in November 1979, he played ...
. The character debuted on-screen during the episode aired on 28 November 1979, initially on a recurring basis. Tarmey made further appearances in 1981 and 1982, before joining full time in 1983. In April 2010, Tarmey announced his decision to leave the soap, and Jack's final appearance was broadcast on 8 November 2010. Jack's storylines have focused on his long-standing marriage to his wife
Vera (
Liz Dawn), which has often been described as "complex" and "rocky", as well as dealing with wayward son
Terry
Terry is a unisex given name, derived from French Thierry and Theodoric. It can also be used as a diminutive nickname for the names Teresa or Theresa (feminine) or Terence (given name), Terence or Terrier (masculine).
People
Male
* Terry Albrit ...
(
Nigel Pivaro
Nigel Pivaro (born 11 December 1959) is an English actor and journalist. He is best known for playing Terry Duckworth, the son of Jack and Vera Duckworth in ''Coronation Street''.
Career
Pivaro was born in Manchester, England to an Italia ...
) and his hobby for pigeon keeping. In his final storyline Jack was portrayed as having incurable
non-Hodgkin lymphoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), also known as non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, is a group of blood cancers that includes all types of lymphomas except Hodgkin lymphomas. Symptoms include enlarged lymph nodes, fever, night sweats, weight loss, and tiredness. ...
. Jack has been characterised through his "joyless and gloomy" life in which he has a string of dead end jobs but continued to pass witty remarks on life. Critics have described Jack as a loveable rogue type character and have favoured his relationship with Vera.
{{Coronation Street characters, year, state=expanded
1979
*, Coronation Street
Coronation Street
''Coronation Street'' is an English soap opera created by Granada Television and shown on ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres around a cobbled, terraced street in Weatherfield, a fictional town based on inner-city Salford.
Origi ...