The
Queen of the Kabin and Duchess of the Street, flame haired Rita has been a prominent
and popular character for 40 years and is now dubbed soap royalty. A personal
favourite of mine, Rita has been through the mill and is a true survivor. She
married Len Fairclough in 1977 and they were married until his death in 1983.
In 1992, she married Ted Sullivan, but he died of a tumour three months later.
As well as Len and Ted, she’s had other liaisons that include Ken Barlow, Jimmy
Graham, Tony Cunliffe, Alec Gilroy and Colin Grimshaw and is currently engaged
to old flame Dennis Tanner. But her most famous conquest was Alan Bradley, who
proposed to her twice but when she rejected him he stole from her. When she found
out, he tried to kill her and when she escaped to Blackpool, he chased her and
was fatally hit by a tram – ending Rita’s nightmare. For over 35 years, Rita
ran the Kabin and over the years she's had two faithful assistants – Mavis Riley
(1973-1997) and Norris Cole (1999- ). Rita sold the Kabin to Norris in 2009 but
is still employed there. Childless, Rita has become a mother figure to many
over the years, notably Sharon Gaskell, Jenny Bradley, Sally Webster and Tina
McIntyre.Follow the Coronation Street Blog on Twitter and Facebook