FRED ELLIOTT (163 VOTES)
Duration: 1994-2006
Played by: John Savident
2012 character poll position (men): 6
The booming butcher who had a tendency to repeat everything he said. I say, repeat everything he said!
Fred was introduced as a member of the Weatherfield Square Dealers and was known to Alf Roberts. He was quickly established as a flirt and enjoyed schmoozing Audrey, much to Alf’s chagrin.
He became popular with viewers and so became a regular by romancing Rita. Only after a few months of courtship he proposed only for her to refuse. But Rita was the first in a long line of women that he would propose to: Maureen Holdsworth, Audrey, Doreen Heavey, Evelyn Sykes, Orchid (who was actually con artist Stacey Hilton), Penny King and Bev Unwin. They all accepted but only Maureen and Evelyn actually married him. But both didn’t last long: Maureen left him after a week and Evelyn turned out to be a bigamist!!
Fond of his scotch and threat, Fred ran the local butcher shop with son Ashley (until 1999 Ashley thought Fred was his uncle). He also bought the Rovers in 2001 only to be bought out by Duggie Ferguson. He regained the pub in 2002 and owned it until his death in 2006.
He was about to embark on a fresh start with fiancée Bev in 2006 when he collapsed and died in Audrey’s house. He was on the verge of signing the Rovers over to Steve McDonald. Luckily, Ashley gave his blessing and the sale went ahead.
A fan of Fred?
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Oh I loved Fred! A true one of a kind. I remember John Savident saying he knew once he'd been cast in a handful of episodes he had to sieze the rôle by the horns and make Fred memorable, so the writers would see more potential in him - at which he succeeded brilliantly. Yes, Fred was larger than life and very funny, but there are people just like that. He grounded the character with the pathos of what was essentially a very lonely man.
ReplyDeleteOne of my all time favourite characters!
ReplyDeleteA brilliant character. I wonder if John Savident invented the double exclamation (don't know how else to put it) which made Fred so memorable. It's a great shame that Corrie characters these days don't have mannerisms and catch-phrases like the old-timers. They're all very samey - apart from Roy and his cardi. It would be fun to hear the current residents reminiscing about Ashley and Fred. I'm sure someone could do a 'Fred' speech in the pub.
ReplyDeleteNooooooooooo
ReplyDeleteOh Lordy - my most hated character ever.
ReplyDeleteHumpty - he based it on a neighbour he knew as a boy, who used to shout things like "Get off me, ah say, get off me roses!" I gather it's very much an old Lancashire trait.
ReplyDeleteReally? I loathed Fred - used to turn the sound down when he came on.
ReplyDelete