Top 25 Favourite Corrie Females - No. 13

13. ELSIE TANNER (200 VOTES)

Duration: 1960-1973, 1976-1984

Played by: Pat Phoenix

2012 character poll position (women): 10

The original street siren and femme fatale. 

On-screen for 21 years, Elsie worked her way through four marriages and nearly 20 boyfriends. Married to Arnold for 23 years (although estranged for 16), then Steve Tanner for a few months, Alan Howard for 8 years and Bill Gregory for 20 years (as revealed by son Dennis in 2011). Mother to Linda and Dennis, she also became a mother figure to the likes of Suzie Birchall, Gail Potter and Marion Willis.

Among her many boyfriends there were Dave Smith, Len Fairclough, Ted Brownlow, Bill Fielding, Robert Maxwell, David Maxwell and Ron Mather.

As well as her romantic liaisons, Elsie is also best remembered for her legendary catfights with the likes of Ena Sharples, Hilda Ogden and Annie Walker. She also had a love/hate relationship with Rita due to her close friendship and past dalliance with Len. Elsie saw Len as her confidante and not her hubby and he was there for her during her turbulent marriages to Steve Tanner and Alan Howard. Elsie was genuinely happy when Len married Rita Littlewood (who saw Elsie as a threat) and was devastated when he died in 1983.

Elsie also had many jobs over the years: shop manageress, salon manageress, warehouse and factory supervisor, barmaid, café manageress and machinist. 

Elsie left the street for the first time in 1973 when she joined husband Alan when he got a job in Newcastle. She returned alone in 1976. In 1984 she was offered the chance to join old flame Bill Gregory in Portugal. Jobless and having lost old pal Len, she felt there was nothing left for her in the street and did a midnight flit. Asked by the taxi driver if she was to return, she gave a knowing smile and uttered: “Ah, now there’s a question!”. With Phoenix’ death in 1986, sadly Elsie never did tread the cobbles again. 

Were you a fan of Elsie?

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Corrie At Christmas 1972 style

As we are well on the way to Christmas now I thought I would take a look at Christmas in Corrie back in the day. One particular Christmas episode always sticks in my memory (and not because I was around to watch it when it was shown!) The 1972 festive episode is a cracker.

Back in the days before regular murder and mayhem, Coronation Street took a more traditional, community-minded approach to the festive season. The '72 episode is a perfect example and although there are touches of drama in the background, the main event is a talent show in the Rovers Select. 

We can deal with the drama first. The main thread going through part one is Alan Howard's descent in alcoholism. Elsie is obviously concerned, so much so that all she has managed to cook for Christmas dinner is a pan of boiling water. Thankfully Betty's sister Maggie Clegg is on hand to share advice from her own troubled marriage. The scenes between Elsie and Maggie are well written and honestly played. 

The other serious storyline focuses on the arrival of a rather strange Irish woman at the community centre who appears to have had a hand in the previous abduction of Ena's grandson Jason. The young woman is played by a very young Frances Tomelty who went on to have a very successful acting career. The main thing I noticed about all these scenes is the pace, it's so much slower than the Corrie produced today. 

Anyway, back to the main event. Billy Walker is master of ceremonies and many of the Rovers regulars are putting on turns for a bunch of rather dodgy looking extras and one Stanley Ogden (I have no idea where Hilda had disappeared to). The Select always looked to be a massive barn of a place, which was completely disproportionate with the size of the pub from the outside. I think they call that artistic licence...

While most of the acts cover old music hall turns most modern viewers have long since forgotten (or never knew in the first place), the great joy of these scenes is seeing so many classic characters doing something a bit different. It also allows many of the actors to demonstrate their versatility and use skills developed in local theatre and variety, often many years before Granada came calling. Ernest Bishop (the late Stephen Hancock) is at the piano as he often was while the likes of Ray Langton, Alf Roberts and Jerry Booth perform. 

There are two highlights for me. The first is the joyous threesome of Betty, Bet and Norma Ford (anyone remember her and her strange obsession with Ken Barlow?) The ladies perform as the Andrews Sisters and it's great to see Betty Driver actually sing in the show. They are obviously having a whale of a time and Julie Goodyear hams it up as only she could! 

We also get a young Barbara Knox, or Rio Rita as she was known in those days, doing her Marlene Dietrich act complete with trench coat, beret and cigarette holder! It doesn't get any camper than that! Fair play to her though for having a go! 

Sadly we don't get to see Emily's Carmen Miranda routine as she has a mishap with her bananas...Perhaps Eileen Derbyshire can give that a go before she departs on New Year's Day?

Anyway, if you fancy a bit of seventies Corrie nostalgia, some lovely person has uploaded this episode in two parts.

You can check out part one here and part two is available here 

You can follow me on Twitter @GraemeN82 

Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street - official ITV tribute to a soap icon. Available here.

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The Haunting of Elsie Howard

We've been alerted to this little gem by a Coronation Street fan on twitter.  The Youtube description says it's an unseen Halloween special called The Haunting of Elsie Howard.  Or is it a very clever edit? You decide!

Either way, I absolutely adore the way Elsie's hair is in perfect condition, with not a hair out of place, when she's woken in the middle of the night by scary noises. Fans of Suzie Birchall and a young Gail Potter might be interested to watch the short scene below, too.




Deirdre: A Life on Coronation Street - official ITV tribute to a soap icon. Available here.

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The faces of Corrie in 1977

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 1977, 104 episodes were broadcast.

1. Elsie Howard (81 episodes)
2. Len Fairclough (78 episodes)
3. Bet Lynch (76 episodes)
4. Hilda Ogden (76 episodes)
5. Rita Littlewood/Fairclough (74 episodes)
6. Ray Langton (69 episodes)
7. Betty Turpin (68 episodes)
8. Annie Walker (66 episodes)
9. Ken Barlow (64 episodes)
10. Alf Roberts (64 episodes)
11. Eddie Yeats (64 episodes)
12. Deirdre Langton (62 episodes)

Average age: 45

Note: This is the last time Ray appears in the top 12

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The faces of Corrie in 1976

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 1976, 104 episodes were broadcast.

1.    Len Fairclough (82 episodes)
2.    Bet Lynch (78 episodes)
3.    Betty Turpin (76 episodes)
4.    Annie Walker (70 episodes)
5.    Ray Langton (68 episodes)
6.    Hilda Ogden (68 episodes)
7.    Ken Barlow (66 episodes)
8.    Elsie Howard (64 episodes)
9.    Deirdre Langton (62 episodes)
10.    Gail Potter (62 episodes)
11.    Alf Roberts (62 episodes)
12.    Rita Littlewood (60 episodes)

Average age: 43

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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.

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The faces of Corrie in 1973

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 1973, 105 episodes were broadcast.

1.    Len Fairclough (79 episodes)
2.    Betty Turpin (78 episodes)
3.    Bet Lynch (75 episodes)
4.    Ray Langton (73 episodes)
5.    Annie Walker (72 episodes)
6.    Jerry Booth (71 episodes)
7.    Hilda Ogden (70 episodes)
8.    Ken Barlow (69 episodes)
9.    Rita Littlewood (69 episodes)
10.    Elsie Howard (65 episodes)
11.    Stan Ogden (64 episodes)
12.    Norma Ford (63 episodes)

Average age: 43

Note: This, to date, is the only time Norma appears in the top 12

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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

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The faces of Corrie in 1971

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 1971, 104 episodes were broadcast.

1.    Annie Walker (76 episodes)
2.    Stan Ogden (75 episodes)
3.    Elsie Howard (75 episodes)
4.    Len Fairclough (72 episodes)
5.    Ray Langton (69 episodes)
6.    Bet Lynch (68 episodes)
7.    Hilda Ogden (68 episodes)
8.    Betty Turpin (68 episodes)
9.    Emily Nugent (66 episodes)
10.    Ken Barlow (65 episodes)
11.    Lucille Hewitt (62 episodes)
12.    Maggie Clegg (61 episodes)

Average age: 42

Note: This is the last time Lucille appears in the top 12

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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

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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!
 

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Corrie originals - Pat Phoenix as Elsie Tanner/Howard/Tanner

First appeared: 9th December 1960

 

Last appeared: 4th January 1984

Pat Phoenix played the role of street siren Elsie Tanner/Howard/Tanner between 1960 and 1973 and then from 1976 until 1984.

Born in Mancester in 1923, Pat would appear regularly on the BBC’s Children’s Hour in the 1930s. Phoenix initially worked at a gas department in Manchester and would attend amateur dramatics in her free time. She joined the Arts Theatre of Manchester and would star in repertory works. She made her break in 1948 in film Cup-Tie Honeymoon alongside Sandy Powell and future Corrie co-star Bernard Youens (Stan Ogden). For the remainder of the 1940s and 1950s she would only star in theatre works with the likes of Thora Hird and Harry Worth.

But in the late 1960 her fortunes changed as she was cast to play the role of 37 year old femme fatale divorcee Elsie Tanner in new drama serial Coronation Street. Debuting in the first episode, Elsie was indeed the star of the show for many years and, alongside the characters of Ena Sharples and Annie Walker, was the original soap strong woman. During her first stint on the cobbles (1960-1973), Elsie’s storylines included sparring with battleaxe Ena Sharples and busybody Hilda Ogden; divorcing first hubby Arnold; having twelve liaisons; rekindling with old flame Steve Tanner (he was given the same surname as Elsie due to her popularity) and marrying him in 1967 but the marriage ended in 1968 when Steve was murdered by Joe Donnelli – the marriage had already soured anyway; and marrying Alan Howard in 1970 but the marriage was tempestuous due to Alan’s money problems and alcoholism. Elsie became a popular character and made Phoenix a household name. A fiery redhead, she held various jobs in her first stint, working in clothes shops, a florist, a launderette, managing a hair salon and was a warehouse supervisor.

By 1973, Phoenix had become bored with the role and sought a return to the stage and left unannounced. But her role as Elsie proved a burden to her as she suffered from being typecast. Her only TV appearance was in Charles Dickens’ World of Christmas in 1974. Her sudden departure from Coronation Street provided a challenge to producers – this was evidence that no character could last forever. Add to this the long absence of Violet Carson over the same period and they faced a conundrum. The programme suffered with a dip in ratings as many saw Elsie’s departure as an end of an era.

But in 1976, with new producer Bill Podmore at the helm, Phoenix begged to return to the show. Over time the ratings rose and with Phoenix back and Violet Carson making more regular appearances it seemed that the serial was getting back on track. Thus began a so called golden age. During her second stint Elsie’s storylines included seven romances; taking in lodgers; and divorcing Alan. She found employment at Mike Baldwin’s new denim factory as a supervisor. She left the factory and worked at Jim’s Café before returning to the factory as a machinist. During her second stint, Phoenix often clashed with producers over the fact that Elsie’s men were in their 60s and that it gave her an ageing image. In 1983, Phoenix once again decided to depart the programme but gave enough notice so that Elsie could have a dignified exit. Elsie made her final appearance in January 1984, doing a midnight flit to Portugal with old flame Bill Gregory. It was revealed in 2011 that Elsie had died in a car accident in Portugal in 2004. Over the 20 years she was in Coronation Street, Phoenix appeared in 1631 episodes. During the 1960s, she was second only to Doris Speed (Annie Walker) as the one who made the most appearances. Following her departure she starred in Constant Hot Water (1986) and Unnatural Causes (1986). That year it was announced that she was diagnosed with lung cancer. A lifelong smoker, she quickly deteriorated and passed away aged 62 in Cheadle, Greater Manchester.

Pat was thrice married: to Peter Marsh (1953-1961), Alan Browning (1972-1979) and Tony Booth (1986). Browning played her on-screen hubby Alan Howard and they fell in love on set. She had had a fling with Booth in the 1950s and they rekindled their romance in 1980 and they married when Phoenix was on her deathbed.

Did you ever see or meet Pat Phoenix? Do you have any pieces of trivia about her?

Research from Corriepedia, Wikipedia, IMDB and 40 years of Coronation Street by Daran Little.

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