Admittedly, when Hayley died, I feared that Roy would have no real role other than Roy's Rolls café owner and general provider of the goods for cake run, the full English and the sausage sandwich. But I don't think I should have worried. Roy has a definite role and the cobbles is all the better for his presence. (I hope by now you been able to stop laughing at this brilliant play on words or maybe...)
Roy acts as the cobbles' yardstick. Those who accept him and like him are the good people. The ones who criticise him, who are rude and offensive to him, are the morally flawed. Who can forget Tracy's insults to both Hayley and Roy and her shocking attempt to sell them her own baby, claiming that she and Roy had slept together and that, as a result, Tracy had become pregnant.
Roy first appeared in 1995 as a resident at one of Mike Baldwin's flats He was initially quite taken with Deirdre and became rather overprotective towards her. Over time, that initial aspect of his character was phased out and marriage with Hayley, who was once Harold, was the making of Royston Cropper.
It is fair to say that Roy's friendships are quite diverse. One friendship that did develop was the one between him and Carla. That was a masterstroke by the writers. It was Hayley's illness that brought them together, but even after her death they remained firm friends. The fact that they were so different in every conceivable way, worked to make their friendship all the more convincing. Maybe, one reason why an understanding grew between Carla and Roy was because of their unhappy childhoods.
Despite his unhappy childhood, Roy and Hayley became foster parents. Their aim was to offer troubled children a home where they felt valued. And good work they did too, especially when they protected Wayne Hayes from his violent stepfather.
Brian also lied to Roy when he went to a concert with Cathy. Cathy and Roy? Cathy and Brian? Surely Cathy must realise the superiority of Roy over Brian.
Roy's interests, his ways, his profound love for Hayley and his genuine kindness, all serve to make Roy Cropper one of the Street's greats.
Ruth Owen, twitter: @Ruth1722
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6 comments:
Loved reading a post lauding Roy. :)
There are so many things Roy does that make him such a good person...whenever anyone is hurt, he's right there offering first aid. He has a sincere interest in the well-being of others. He honoured Hayley's dying requests despite how much they hurt him and the fact that he didn't understand or agree with them.
He remains a steadfast friend to others despite the dreaded drama it often brings into his life, from Becky to Carla, not to mention the trouble Fiz caused while under the Croppers' care.
Roy is often the voice of reason when mob mentality starts to take over the other street residents. He doesn't care what other people think of him, and his moral compass doesn't waver with popular opinion.
This is especially important given the perception of Roy as an eccentric. You'd think his acceptance by others is precarious, and that he risks it whenever he goes against popular opinion, whether it be defending someone until all the facts are known or employing people no one else would give the time of day to.
Given the way street residents turn on each other on a dime, it shouldn't take much for Roy to lose this hard-won acceptance. Yet when he speaks up, people listen, even if grudgingly. There is a palpable respect for Roy among the residents - if even raging fishwife Anna Windass could forgive him for (rightly) defending his cafe against Gary's burglary, in the process injuring her precious GAH-ree, he must be a saint!
This was a great character summary. Roy is my favorite character on Corrie and it's because he knows what's right and keeps believing and acting on that no matter what.
I hope they bring a great woman on for him at some point. (I thought that would be Mary but the show seems to have decided to go in a different direction) Hayley was mostly great in the end but she had some very selfish moments and seeing shades of the same flaw in Cathy is why I'm glad she's moved on to Brian.
In the meantime, I enjoy seeing him just be himself and get included in more storylines like this one with Ken.
Roy is one of my very favourite characters. He is unique. In my opinion, he has several traits of Asperger's syndrome, and I have often wondered if the writers intended him to be this way. The comment about him being liked by good people is spot on.
Roy is absolutely top. Brian is a selfish, obnoxious (pick your favourite insulting name)
I agree with everything that's been said. Roy's become more interesting since Hayley's death. Roy and Hayley were secondary, rather boring characters until Julie H wanted to leave. Roy's almost saintly temperament is off-set by his Asperger's traits but I wish he had a 'guilty pleasure'. What if Tyrone discovers that he and Roy share a love of old-fashioned Westerns?
Oh yes Humpty. What a great idea. Would be lovely to see some intergenerational male bonding.
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