Top 50 Corrie Couples - Nos. 42 and 41

42. Ray Langton and Deirdre Hunt/Langton, 1975-1978 (24 votes)

When Deirdre Hunt arrived on the cobbles in 1973, she was hired by Len Fairclough and Ray Langton as a secretary in their builder’s yard. Romantically, she became involved with publican son Billy Walker, much to the annoyance of his mother Annie. By 1974, they were engaged but Billy fled to Jersey in 1975, leaving Deirdre on her own. She found comfort in her boss Ray. Although Deirdre’s mother Blanche disapproved their relationship, they married the same year.

Ray quickly found out that his wife wasn’t the quiet and submissive type and she wasn’t afraid to stand up to him. In 1977, Deirdre gave birth to Tracy and they moved into N°5. Their wedded bliss didn’t last long as Deirdre was sexually assaulted under the viaduct and she contemplated suicide. Ray didn’t believe that she wasn’t raped and this damaged the marriage, so much that Ray had an affair with Janice Stubbs. Deirdre found out and struggled to forgive him, and when he was offered a job in Holland, she refused to join him. He left and only returned in 2005 to make amends with her and Tracy before he died of stomach cancer.

Did you remember Ray and Deirdre as a couple? Should they be at 42?

41. Alan Howard and Elsie Tanner/Howard, 1969-1973 (25 votes)

After two failed marriages and a long string of men, Elsie Tanner met Alan Howard in 1969. Fancying his chances, Alan hired her as manageress in his newly opened hair salon. Although uninterested at first, Elsie agreed to a date. After many dates, Elsie married Alan in 1970. But the marriage was fraught with financial difficulties – Alan’s mainly. She found a rival in Janet Reid who tried to start a relationship with Alan, but Elsie saw her off.

The marriage was tested in 1972 when Alan started drinking heavily. Elsie feared that he was an alcoholic after he nearly burned the house down after sleeping with a cigarette in his hand. Alan sobered up and recovered. In 1973, Elsie heard that son Dennis was in prison and, ashamed to admit to Alan, went to London under the pretence she was visiting old friend Sheila Crossley. In London, Elsie was knocked down by a taxi and when Alan went down to identify her, he suspected her of having an affair. Later that year, the Howards left for Alan’s native Newcastle. Elsie returned alone in 1976, now separated from Alan and divorced him in 1978.

Do you remember Alan and Elsie as a couple? Should they be at 41?


Check out who was at 44 and 43.

Download our App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook



All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

The faces of Corrie in 1972

If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.

With thanks to Corriepedia for the information.

 In 1972, 104 episodes were broadcast.

1.    Len Fairclough (79 episodes)
2.    Elsie Howard (78 episodes)
3.    Ray Langton (77 episodes)
4.    Billy Walker (76 episodes)
5.    Maggie Clegg (74 episodes)
6.    Jerry Booth (72 episodes)
7.    Annie Walker (72 episodes)
8.    Alan Howard (70 episodes)
9.    Hilda Ogden (68 episodes)
10.    Emily Nugent/Bishop (66 episodes)
11.    Betty Turpin (64 episodes)
12.    Ken Barlow (62 episodes)

Due to lack of space, Bet Lynch fails to make the top 12, but she also appeared in 62 episodes.

Average age: 44

Note: This is the last time Maggie (to date) and Alan appear in the top 12

Download our App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook



All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

The faces of Corrie in 1970

If you remember, last year I had a series of posts looking at the top 12 faces of each Corrie decade - the 1960s, the 1970s, the 1980s, the 1990s and the 2000s. For the next few weeks or so, I’ll be looking at the top 12 faces of each year between 1960 and 2013.

With thanks to Corriepedia for the information.

In 1970, 96 episodes were broadcast.

1.    Annie Walker (70 episodes)
2.    Elsie Tanner/Howard (68 episodes)
3.    Ray Langton (68 episodes)
4.    Ena Sharples (68 episodes)
5.    Betty Turpin (65 episodes)
6.    Len Fairclough (63 episodes)
7.    Valerie Barlow (61 episodes)
8.    Hilda Ogden (61 episodes)
9.    Maggie Clegg (60 episodes)
10.  Alan Howard (56 episodes)
11.  Ken Barlow (55 episodes)
12.  Stan Ogden (54 episodes)

Average age: 46

Note: This is the last time Ena and Valerie appear in the top 12

Download our App | Follow on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog | Like on Facebook



All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License

Favourite Corrie couples countdown - second poll

Now, I hope you've voted for two favourite Coronation Street couples in the blog's first poll of ten last week and thank you for doing so. If not, you can still do so. The poll closes on Monday, 11th November at midnight.
 

I do hope you have favourites in the first poll and so on to the second batch.
 

Mike Baldwin and Alma Sedgewick/Baldwin (1989-1999) – What began as an on/off tempestuous relationship turned into a wonderful partnership that defined 1990s Corrie. Despite being exasperated at times by his dodgy dealings, Alma stuck by Mike. The Baldwins separated in 1999 when Mike had an affair with Julia Stone and they divorced. Any possibility of a reunion was tarnished when Alma died in 2001.

Alan Howard and Elsie Tanner/Howard (1969-1973) – Alan hired Elsie as manageress in his hair salon and after a whirlwind romance they married. But the marriage was fraught with difficulties – Alan became bankrupt, he had an affair with Janet Reid and he started drinking heavily. In 1973, the Howards decided to start afresh and moved to Newcastle. Elsie returned alone in 1976, announcing the marriage was over. They divorced in 1978.
 

Ray Langton and Deirdre Hunt/Langton (1975-1978) – After fiancé Billy Walker fled to Jersey, Deirdre found comfort in her boss Ray. After a whirlwind romance they married. Tracy was born in 1977 and they became quite the perfect little family. But, like any other Corrie couple, they faced difficulties. Deirdre was sexually assaulted and contemplated suicide. This damaged the marriage and Deirdre’s reluctance to be close to Ray resulted in his affair with Janice Stubbs. Although the marriage survived the affair, when Ray was offered a job in Holland, Deirdre refused to join him. Ray returned in 2005 to make amends before he died of stomach cancer.

Richard Hillman and Gail Platt/Hillman (2001-2003) – Gail fell for suave Richard at Alma’s funeral and they soon began a relationship and he moved in. But Richard had a dark side – he was a fraudster and a murderer. With two deaths on his mind, he married Gail in 2002. Over the next few months, he went into financial difficulties and went to desperate measures to overcome them – by trying to kill Audrey and Emily. He also killed Maxine Peacock. Gail became suspicious and he confessed. He was on the run before returning to kidnap the family and drive into the canal. Only Richard perished.

 

Sean Tully and Marcus Dent (2007-2008, 2011-2012) – The first Corrie gay couple. They met in hospital when Sean accompanied Violet Wilson when she went for their baby scan. They embark on a relationship and Marcus is the one to deliver Violet’s baby Dylan. But soon enough the couple face problems as Sean becomes paranoid of the men Marcus befriends. Marcus is tired of Sean’s jealousy and they separate and Marcus moves to London. When Sean goes to London in 2011, he’s shocked to see Marcus again. The flame is still there and they retry their relationship but yet again the relationship ends when Marcus sleeps with Maria Connor and they embark on a relationship.

So who’s your favourite out of the second poll? Voting closes at midnight on Monday, 18th November.

And remember that a vote for your favourite could mean they could win the top spot in the countdown!
 

You can follow us on Twitter @CoroStreetBlog and Facebook: CoronationStreetBlog


All original work on the Coronation Street Blog is covered by a Creative Commons License