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Ena Sharples, portrayed brilliantly by Violet Carson, was the original battleaxe and held the mantle in the soap’s early years. From her first appearance to indeed her final appearance, Ena showed what a strong person she was, gossiping and not to be messed with. Known for her hairnet and double-breasted raincoat, Mrs Sharples often clashed with Elsie Tanner and Annie Walker and even argued with old pals Minnie and Martha and her relationship with her daughter Vera wasn’t great. When Vera died of a brain tumour in 1967, Ena was riddled with guilt over their strained relationship. Her finger was on the pulse with the street’s goings on and never missed out on any gossip. But as Carson’s health deteriorated, Corrie bosses realised that Ena wasn’t invincible and sought a replacement to fill the battleaxe’s shoes.
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In 1979, Ivy Tilsley moved into the street and soon became the street’s harridan. She despised her new daughter-in-law Gail who’d married golden boy Brian. Soon enough she was nicknamed ‘Poison Ivy’. Ivy would enjoy a 15 year rivalry with Gail – mainly over Brian or the welfare of their children Nicky and Sarah Louise. Indeed, Ivy’s interference ultimately led first hubby Bert into an early grave and wrecked her second marriage to Don Brennan. She detested the fact that Gail had found romance and married Martin Platt so soon after Brian was stabbed to death and believed that Martin was taking over the Tilsley family. Ivy was also a nightmare in her job at Baldwin’s factory and often clashed with Mike and Elsie Tanner over the rights of the workers or over pay. Ivy’s interference in her grandchildren’s lives led her to become isolated and she found solace in the bottle and later left the street to a religious retreat where she died in 1995.
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Currently holding the battleaxe torch is Roy Cropper’s mum Sylvia Goodwin. Not to be messed with, she holds an iron rod over goings-on in the cafĂ©.
Who do you think has the making of a future battleaxe? Gail? Eileen? Sally?
Who's your favourite battleaxe? Vote in the poll below and also leave comments saying who you like and why! And there's still time for you to vote for your favourite Rovers barmaid!
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7 comments:
Really enjoyed that! I think Gail is one already, never mind in the future! :)
I agree that Gail would fit that role well.
Sylvia is the next great Corrie battleaxe.
Not much point in voting as Blanche will walk it.
Gail has already turned into Ivy !!
Blanche was never a favourite in our house.
She did not have a charitable bone in her body and usually used her spiteful remarks to wound others and seek attention for herself.
Just a nasty old biddy.
Ena was and always will be THE battle-axe. Although Blanche was wonderful for cutting remarks, she was just that...cutting remarks..I can't recall too many times when people went to her when they had troubles..unlike Ena..who even Elsie turned to at times..
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