28. Les and Janice Battersby, 1997-2001, 2004 (53 votes)
Les and Janice, with daughters Leanne and Toyah, moved into 5 Coronation Street in 1997. While Les was unemployed and an ex con, Janice secured a job at Underworld factory. The minute they arrived, they caused havoc – clashing with neighbours Curly Watts and Des Barnes. Soon after they moved in, Les found out he had a son called Greg Kelly, a psycho who abused Sally Webster and was later imprisoned.
Despite their constant rows, Les loved Janice (despite struggling to show it at times) but when he bought a deep-fat fryer for their anniversary, it seemed their marriage had run its course. In 2001, Janice had grown tired of Les and began an affair with his best mate and lodger Dennis Stringer, who was dating Eileen Grimshaw. Janice left Les for Dennis. Les, heartbroken, felt suicidal and tried drinking himself to death. Dennis rescued him, but on the way to the way to the hospital, they rowed and they crashed the car. Dennis died, Les survived. Janice was heartbroken and blamed Les for killing the man she ever loved.
Despite trying to woo Janice (to no avail), Les met loudmouth Cilla Brown and married her. Janice meanwhile had relationships with Mick Hopwood, Roger Stiles and Trevor Dean.
Were you a fan of Les and Janice? Should they be at 28?
27. Kevin Webster and Sally Seddon/Webster, 1986-1998, 2002-2012 (55 votes)
The Websters’ marriage was one of Coronation Street’s longest onscreen marriages – lasting 21 years, off and on. They first met in 1986 when Kevin ruined Sally’s boots by driving through a puddle while she waited for a bus. They hit it off and began a courtship – much to Kevin’s landlady Hilda Ogden’s chagrin, who found Sally’s family the Seddons ‘common’. They were married in a few months and bought 13 Coronation Street from Hilda after she left the street.
In 1990, Rosie was born followed by Sophie in 1994. Their marriage was secure until Kevin embarked on an affair with Natalie Horrocks. Although Sally forgave him, the marriage collapsed after her affair with Greg Kelly and they soon divorced. Kevin went on to marry Alison Wakefield in 2000 and son Jake was born soon after. By the end of the year, both Kevin’s new wife and son had died. Kevin and Sally soon found themselves in each other’s arms and in 2002 they remarried.
During their second marriage, the couple have had to cope with teenage daughters; Rosie being kidnapped by John Stape; Sally suffering a breakdown; Sally having an affair with Ian Davenport; and Sally being diagnosed with breast cancer. In 2009, Kevin embarked on an affair with Molly Dobbs and later Molly fell pregnant and gave birth to Jack. Molly told Sally about the affair when she was dying under rubble after the tram crash. Sally was distraught and the Websters’ split up. Despite an attempt at reconciliation, they divorced in 2012.
Who knows what the future holds for them? Should they reunite? Should they be at 27?
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4 comments:
I have fond memories of Les and Janice's time on the street.
They both played their characters really well; so well that the personalities of "Les" and "Bruce" seemed to melt into one.
Whatever else Bruce Jones is or was, I felt he played Les really well.
The introduction of "Cilla" was perfect for Les, and provided a lot of entertainment, still remembered fondly by some today.
I can't say the same for Kevin. He and Sally have been together for a long time, and I for one haven't missed him, or his affairs or his personality or his pairing with Sally who doesn't need him to bounce off. I am one who thinks that the character of "Sally" can do much more interesting things, and I hope they do not get back together, as I would like to see what they do with "Kevin" to make him interesting when he returns.
I also haven't missed the Kevin character and hope they don't put him and Sally back together either. I actually like her better without him. Maybe they will do something with him, but the writing lately tells me not to expect much change. We need another Les and Cilla. We have too many sour women, and too many doomed relationships.
Cilla used to tell little Chesney she would call social services to come and take him.
Cilla lied and told people she has cancer so she could take a free trip.
Cilla was a horrible character! Yet you want her back? lol
Cilla was all those things, she could be a nasty piece of work for sure, but there were some comedic situations thrown in for balance.
One thing for sure, I remember the character of Cilla much more than I can even think of remembering Kevin; oh one dimensional one that he is.
Kevin was there for years before Cilla, and years after; now is the chance to make him less boring.
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