19. Ernest Bishop and Emily Nugent/Bishop 1969-1978 (82 votes)
After dating many men, Emily Nugent met and fell in love with photographer Ernest Bishop in 1969. They shared the same interests and they became engaged in 1971. They married the following year and moved into 3 Coronation Street. By 1976, Ernest’s photographic business had gone bankrupt and he became the butt of all jokes when he became the first house husband while Emily was the breadwinner.
Although they had a secure marriage, it was tested many times. Emily suffered a miscarriage soon after marrying and started a menopause in 1974. In a bid for Emily to connect with young children, they turned to short-term adoption. They also rowed when Ernest became a pianist at the Gatsby nightclub – accompanying Rita Littlewood. Despite sharing the same interests (religion, community spirit and music), they both had strong principles. While Ernest was easier going and open minded about the changing society, Emily was more reserved and narrow-minded and they often clashed.
Ernest secured a job as a wages clerk at the newly opened factory Baldwin’s Casuals in October 1976 – a job that would cost his life. In 1978, two robbers burst into his office demanding money. While Ernest was trying to reason with them, Mike Baldwin walked in and startled the robbers and the gun went off, fatally shooting Ernest and Emily was left a devastated widow.
Were you a fan of the Bishops? Were you sad when Ernie was killed? Should they be in the top 20?
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I don't have many recollections of Emily and Earnest as a couple, they didn't leave much of an impact on me at the time.
ReplyDeleteHowever, I remember being not sad, but very shocked when Earnest was killed after being shot while at his work place.
In those days, that kind of ending wasn't very common, and was therefore pretty shocking stuff that was remembered long after. There is little comparison to today's sensational storylines which are advertised as such way ahead of time and that happen on a regular basis.