Saying ‘Cheers to Beer’ with Coronation Street

I’m late to the party here but Friday just gone was ‘Beer Day Britain’ - a day on which British boozers were encouraged to raise a glass and say ‘Cheers to Beer’ before posting a message and photo on social media with the hashtag #CheersToBeer.

Oh well, any day that ends in ‘y’ is ‘Beer Day’ in my book so here is my #CheersToBeer photo for Tuesday as I look forward to tonight’s hour-long episode of Corrie:

I’m supping a Co-op Golden Ale from my Rovers Return dimpled tankard. I’m also rocking my Stan and Hilda Ogden pinny emblazoned with the classic Stan quote, “Drinking’s a serious business. You gotta keep at it - like training for a football match.” Very true!

I picked the beer up at the Co-op in Croydon but it should also be available in that new branch on Victoria Street in Weatherfield. Unfortunately, I couldn’t get hold of Robinsons’ Co-op IPA as it seems to have been discontinued. I liked that one because the label featured Salford Lads Club which of course sits on the corner of the real life Coronation Street.

I have also been unable to obtain the Coronation Street Premium Ale which was produced for a while by Manchester brewers J.W. Lees. I’ll always regret not having tasted that beer. Did anyone sample it? Was it any good?

There is a solid relationship between Coronation Street and beer. Most of our favourite characters like a pint and almost all episodes feature beer. I mean... can anyone remember an episode that didn't feature beer?!! A few years ago, Flaming Nora posted a very good blog on ‘British Beer Day - Coronation Street style’. You can check it out here.

Since then, the craft beer craze has become bigger and bigger in Britain and Weatherfield has not been left untouched by this phenomenon. Remember when Tim set up a microbrewery in Sally’s conservatory? Here’s a taster to wet your whistle:

Then last year, Newton and Ridley chose the Rovers to launch a new craft beer. The bloke from the brewery tried to get Peter to have a taste of ‘Miscreance’ but Leanne stepped in to save him. She seemed to enjoy it:   

Steve McDonald didn’t like the changes being made at the Rovers though, saying craft beer is “just real ale with more tattoos and fancier beards”. There’s a tattoo parlour on Victoria Street now so I’m surprised there isn’t a craft beer shop or even a BrewDog bar for another brand tie-in.

Why haven’t they done a storyline where Tim gets his home brew behind the bar of the Rovers? I also wonder if the Rovers has expanded its range of low alcohol drinks given its recent teetotal management. There are some great non-alcoholic beers, wines and spirits around now, Peter - not that you'll be landlord for much longer.

Anyway, I dare say there were a few cheers to beers said in Weatherfield last Friday night. In fact, here are a few #CheersToBeer posts that I found on that 'TwitBook' thing...

I've worked up a right thirst with all this beer blogging. I fancy a pint of Miscreance with Leanne followed by a Stallion with Steve and then hitting Sally’s conservatory to down the home brew with Tim… #CheersToBeerWithCorrie!

By Martin Leay, on Twitter @mpleay

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Jean Alexander, a true Corrie legend

Sad news for Coronation Street fans worldwide, actress Jean Alexander has passed away days after her 90th birthday.

Often described as the "greatest soap star of all time", Jean played Corrie favourite Hilda Ogden for 23 years, the long-suffering but ever-loving wife of Stan. 

Jean left the cobbles in 1987 to take up residence in the dales as Auntie Wainwright in Last of the Summer Wine. She was nominated for a BAFTA for her role as Hilda in 1987 and her portrayal of the classic battleaxe has remained much loved and missed - a character that has stood the test of time amongst some of Weatherfield's most iconic residents. Indeed fans across the globe wished for Hilda's return, but the actress ruled this out in protest at some of the racier storylines the ITV soap offered as it entered the new millennium.

I'm sure fans and colleagues alike will agree that Hilda WAS truly one of Corrie's greatest, and we send our best wishes and condolences to Jean Alexander's family. 

Tara chuck. We wish you luck as we wave you goodbye.

More on the passing of a Corrie legend here in the Manchester Evening News 

Stevie Dawson, twitter: @StevieDawson


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The Good, the Bad, the Flamin' Useless

Let's take a trip down memory lane. The curlers are in, the HP sauce, thickly buttered bread and a steaming mug of tea form the centre piece of a lovingly furnished dining table. Stan Ogden sits in wait until the fry-up eventually arrives accompanied by the chirping sounds of wife Hilda, mid-anecdote. She flutters about putting the world to rights whilst he pretends to listen, nodding every now and then to show he's paying attention. In what could be described as a typical working class marriage of that era, the Corrie husband served a purpose however useless he was and Stan was the epitome of that. 

"Pull my finger"

Following in Stan's footsteps, Jack Duckworth also personified the bone idle, but loveable Corrie male. The fondness for a pint or three at the Rovers, an eye for the ladies and an apparent allergy to a hard day's work meant that wife Vera was the ultimate long-suffering spouse, a situation which often led to a vicious cycle of misbehaviour, a rollocking from the missus, followed by a few pints to alleviate the stress caused by the rollocking from the missus, followed again by another rollocking from the missus for coming home blind drunk. It was glorious to watch and one wouldn't be the same without the other.

Also from the school of bone idle - Les Battersby. Although perhaps jail of bone idol is more accurate. The Battersbys were cartoon-like in how stereotypically common they were. With the family causing trouble right from the start, hapless Les was often at the centre of their problems. When put with Cilla that familiar Corrie theme of male failure, female disappointment and all the corresponding sound effects (screaming, shouting, insults etc) fall into place.

"I asked for two halves but they only had one glass"

Coronation Street is and probably always will be dominated by the female of the species, but without the lazy, good-for-nothing slobs who test their wives to the limit, the Street would not be the same. A more modern example of the flamin' usless is Kirk. Debateably a few cobbles short of a full street, Kirk is a more modern take on the sloth-like Corrie male. Not so much letting the women do all the cooking, cleaning and going out to work, but not entirely reliable in an emergency. He respects his better half though and 

isn't afraid to show that respect, something the more old fashioned Corrie men weren't so comfortable with.  

In what seems to be a bit of a transitional period for Coronation Street, the type of man described above, that has always been a staple of the show and that have helped make the strong women so prominent, seems to be dying out. New castings have meant that the Street is fully stocked up with new families such as the Connors and lots of new and younger male faces to see Corrie into the future, but will it be the same without the Jack Duckworths, the Stan Ogdens and even the Kirk Sutherland's of this world? If a couple of the most recent long term arrivals are anything to go by, probably not.

Take Andy. Entering on a great storyline of deceit, blackmail and heartbreak - literally in Michael's case - the character had promise. They dragged the initial storyline out a little bit too long but that gave us more time to get used to Andy (or Gavin as he temporarily was), but now he just seems to hover around the periphery of the show, contributing very little. He does indeed seem useless, but not in the comedic, scripted way we like, he's just a bit wet. 

Another floater is Robert. The scenes this week with Simon in the Barlow's yard were touching, and gave us a little insight into Robert's own past, but again he seems weak and a little bit pointless. Perhaps when turbulent Tracy finally sends him over the edge we might see a bit of oomph from the sexy chef.

"It's like talking to a brick wall"

All is not lost however. Tyrone and Fiz have the potential to follow in the footsteps of Jack and Vera. Still quite young, they are already veterans of Coronation Street and the writers have the potential to make them true soap legends. Just imagine Tyrone is his 50s, complete with string vest and pigeons . And THANK GOD for Tim. And Sally for that matter. Their pairing is genius and the new comedy element to Sally's character is just perfect. Tim has quickly become a Corrie favourite and certainly shows elements of that classic, henpecked Corrie bloke. 

We've been a bit obsessed with men on the Coronation Street blog recently. Llifon has been counting down his all time favourite Corrie men, and over the summer Emma gave us some of her thoughts about Corrie's Mithered Men. I also wrote about What Makes a Corrie Man last year. Enjoy.

@StevieDawson


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Top 25 Favourite Corrie Males - No. 15

STAN OGDEN (85 VOTES)

Duration: 1964-1984

Played by: Bernard Youens

2012 character poll position (men): 10

Henpecked husband of Hilda and resident Rovers supper.

After years of being a lorry driver, he spent his time on the cobbles drifting from one job to another: milkman, ice cream van driver, labourer and most famously window cleaner.

The Ogdens’ marriage was one of the street’s most solid, despite their public and private arguments. They were a source of comedy in the show for years, but they also starred in many poignant and heart-wrenching moments. Despite it being over 30 years since they last appeared together, Stan and Hilda are still fondly remembered.

Stan was often ridiculed by the menfolk of the street for being henpecked and lazy, often complaining of a bad back. The likes of Ray Langton and Len Fairclough enjoyed stirring it so Stan could get into trouble with Hilda. A recurring joke between 1968 and 1983 was Stan’s relationship and possible affair with Clara Regan in 19 Inkerman Street! 

Stan was in heaven in 1976 when he was locked in the Rovers cellar all night with Albert Tatlock. Hilda was not a happy bunny when she found out she had been sick with worry all night and her husband was more than merry in the morning!

When Eddie Yeats moved into the street, he befriended the Ogdens and later lodged with them and soon enough Stan was embroiled in Eddie’s dodgy schemes. Examples include Eddie selling beer in an ice cream van and of course the installation of hens in the back yard.

Bernard Youens’ ill health was reflected on-screen. While it wasn’t addressed that Stan had suffered strokes, his speech was slurred from 1976 onwards and by 1983/4, his dialogue was reduced greatly due to difficulty understanding him. 

Stan passed away in 1984, sadly the same year when he could actually do nothing as he received a state pension. When Hilda received his glasses, she finally broke down in what is one of the show’s most poignant moments. Stan's death was written in due to Youens' death.

A fan of Stan?

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Five lessons for the Corrie powers that be

I quite frequently long for modern day Coronation Street to be more like it was, back in the day. We all keep watching through habit, affection, loyalty and those brief moments that shine through amidst all the explosive drama.

I do often wonder if the powers that be read the comments on this Blog. 

If they do I want them to watch a few clips of past glories. Images, dialogue and performances that scream Coronation Street to me and why, despite the modern scavenging for ratings, over the top storylines and characters interchangeable with other programmes in the soap genre, I still hold Corrie so close to my heart. 

For all the Michelle Connors they throw at us, there will always be Annie Walker. For all the funeral punch-ups they subject us to, there will always be Hilda crying over Stan's specs. For all the Corrie cat fights that are here today and forgotten tomorrow there will be clips of Elsie, Bet and Rita showing them how it's really done.

So here for me are a few reasons why Corrie will always be great and a few lessons the powers that be can still learn.

Take this scene from the first ever episode. It sets everything up so well and it's all in the dialogue and the cracking performance of Violet Carson, hitting the ground running as Ena Sharples.

The Rovers Return has always been the centre of Corrie. It needs a strong Landlady and that Landlady needs a rival...and there were never finer competitors than Annie Walker and Nellie Harvey:

Corrie is all about the female characters for me. Strong, yet vulnerable, they rightly dominate the men and the show itself. We've seen many cat-fights in Corrie's 53-year history. While I love a bit of a scuffle on the cobbles, they just don't seem to live up to the hype these days. This next scene, from not all that long ago, is a classic - two legendary Corrie women at the top of their game:

As viewers we always need couples that stay together long enough so we can root for them through good times and bad. Today for example we have Tyrone and Fiz and Maria's daft texting meltdown. Or there is the ever expanding, ever imploding Windass-Armstrong tedium. For me, you can't get better than the Ogdens. They were often down, but never out:

Finally, everyone always has to leave in an explosive fashion these days. All I have to do is mention the increasingly bloated Peter/Tina/Carla love triangle which will hopefully be burst with a pin soon thanks to TIna's dramatic departure. It's supposed to pull in more viewers and prove so memorable we're talking about it for the days and weeks to come. I'm sure social media will be ablaze in the aftermath, but personally I'll just be glad when it's done. My favourite Corrie exit is very simple but very atmospheric. Leaving in a black cab doesn't have to be dull, as Elsie Tanner shows us here:

I might be sentimental and we might never see such wonderful characters again, but I honestly do believe there are qualities in all of these clips that can still form the basis for Corrie in 2014. Memorable moments these days are rare, but I'll keep on plugging away as I'm sure improvements will come.  


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Top 50 Corrie Couples - No. 1

1. Stan and Hilda Ogden 1964-1984 (258 votes)

We've reached No. 1!

If there was a couple worthy of the first prize in our poll, it’s this one. Despite it being 30 years since they appeared together, here is a testament of their enduring appeal and popularity. And thanks to the internet, we can still relive those warm, wonderful moments between the Ogdens at 13 Coronation Street.

If there was any double act that made a national impact, it would be these two. As a couple, they were a part of our lives for twenty years, and through those two decades we witnessed their highs and lows. They didn’t quite hit it off as a comedy duo until they were well-established, with the past history of Stan’s neglect and abuse towards his children being mentioned. As the 1970s dawned, the Ogdens were more or less the key to comedy on the cobbles with the instalment of the flying ducks and ‘muriel’. What made them a hit was, like the Walkers before them, their personality clash. Stan was a layabout and was mostly redundant, always in the Rovers or in the bookies while Hilda was the street’s busybody and the breadwinner.

Although they bickered a lot (Hilda’s screeching of “Stanley!!” became legendary), Stan and Hilda loved each other and were married for forty years. Looked down by their neighbours, Stan and Hilda didn’t care and enjoyed mingling with the folk of the street. By 1983, the limelight was fading on the Ogdens as Stan’s health deteriorated and he died in 1984. Staying strong for the funeral, Hilda finally broke down alone when she opened the package from the hospital that had all of Stan’s belongings in it, clearing showing her loss. Hilda stayed in the street until 1987 and always reminisced about ‘my Stan’ to anyone who’d listen.

Are you happy that the Ogdens are at No.1? Or should the Duckies or Croppers occupy the top place? It’ll be very interesting to hear your thoughts!

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The faces of Corrie in 1979

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 1979, 83 episodes were broadcast.

1. Len Fairclough (59 episodes)

2. Ivy Tilsley (58 episodes)

3. Gail Potter/Tilsley (58 episodes)

4. Elsie Tanner (57 episodes)

5. Suzie Birchall (55 episodes)

6. Hilda Ogden (55 episodes)

7. Rita Fairclough (54 episodes)

8. Deirdre Langton (50 episodes)

9. Betty Turpin (50 episodes)

10. Ken Barlow (49 episodes)

11. Stan Ogden (49 episodes)

12. Brian Tilsley (49 episodes)

Due to lack of space, Annie Walker fails to make the top 12 but also appeared in 49 episodes

Average age: 42

Note: This is the last time Stan appears in the top 12 and the only time Suzie (to date) and Brian appear. This is also the first time that a Rovers licensee doesn’t appear in the top 12

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The faces of Corrie in 1974

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 1974, 103 episodes were broadcast.

1.    Betty Turpin (87 episodes)
2.    Len Fairclough (81 episodes)
3.    Bet Lynch (79 episodes)
4.    Rita Littlewood (73 episodes)
5.    Ray Langton (71 episodes)
6.    Annie Walker (71 episodes)
7.    Jerry Booth (69 episodes)
8.    Ken Barlow (68 episodes)
9.    Billy Walker (68 episodes)
10.    Deirdre Hunt (67 episodes)
11.    Emily Bishop (65 episodes)
12.    Stan Ogden (61 episodes)

Due to lack of space, Alf Roberts fails to make the top 12, but he also appeared in 61 episodes

Average age: 41

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

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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 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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The faces of Corrie in 1969

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 1969, 104 episodes were broadcast.

1. Elsie Tanner (88 episodes)
2. Hilda Ogden (85 episodes)
3. Ena Sharples (81 episodes)
4. Jack Walker (81 episodes)
5. Annie Walker (79 episodes)
6. Stan Ogden (76 episodes)
7. Ray Langton (74 episodes)
8. Emily Nugent (73 episodes)
9. Len Fairclough (73 episodes)
10. Valerie Barlow (70 episodes)
11. Ken Barlow (64 episodes)
12. Minnie Caldwell (62 episodes)

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

Average age: 48

Note: This is the last time Jack and Minnie appear in the top 12



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The faces of Corrie in 1968

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 1968, 103 episodes were broadcast.

1. Annie Walker (87 episodes)
2. Len Fairclough (85 episodes)
3. Jack Walker (84 episodes)
4. Ken Barlow (71 episodes)
5. Valerie Barlow (69 episodes)
6. Elsie Tanner (69 episodes)
7. Minnie Caldwell (64 episodes)
8. Hilda Ogden (64 episodes)
9. Lucille Hewitt (60 episodes)
10. Stan Ogden (60 episodes)
11. Emily Nugent (57 episodes)
12. Maggie Clegg (57 episodes)

Average age: 46

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The faces of Corrie in 1967

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 1967, 103 episodes were broadcast.

1. Annie Walker (90 episodes)
2. Jack Walker (87 episodes)
3. Elsie Tanner (85 episodes)
4. Ena Sharples (84 episodes)
5. Len Fairclough (82 episodes)
6. Irma Barlow (70 episodes)
7. Jerry Booth (70 episodes)
8. Stan Ogden (70 episodes)
9. David Barlow (69 episodes)
10. Albert Tatlock (69 episodes)
11. Valerie Barlow (68 episodes)
12. Lucille Hewitt (67 episodes)

Due to lack of space, Dennis Tanner fails to make the top 12, but he also appeared for 67 episodes

Average age: 43

Note: This is the last time Albert, Irma (to date) and David appear in the top 12

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The faces of Corrie in 1965

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 1965, 104 episodes were broadcast.

1.    Len Fairclough (90 episodes)
2.    Annie Walker (87 episodes)
3.    Jack Walker (86 episodes)
4.    Elsie Tanner (84 episodes)
5.    Stan Ogden (83 episodes)
6.    Irma Ogden/Barlow (81 episodes)
7.    Hilda Ogden (80 episodes)
8.    Minnie Caldwell (70 episodes)
9.    Ken Barlow (68 episodes)
10.    Dennis Tanner (67 episodes)
11.    Albert Tatlock (67 episodes)
12.    Valerie Barlow (65 episodes)

Average age: 43

Note: This is, to date, the last time Dennis appears in the top 12

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Favourite Corrie couples countdown - tenth poll

Hello all! Now, I hope you've voted in the eighth poll of ten because that is now officially closed. But you have until midnight next Monday to vote for two of your favourite couples in the ninth poll.

So, who's in our final poll?

Sophie Webster and Sian Powers (2010-2011) – Corrie’s first lesbian couple. When Sophie first kissed her, Sian was confused. After a brief time away from the street, Sian returned and they became a proper couple, but in secret. Eventually, Ryan finds out. Soon after, the girls tell Kevin and Sally that they love each other. They have an on/off relationship which includes Sophie accusing Sian of having an affair while Amber Kalirai also plots to split the two. They planned to marry but then Sophie’s doubts about her feelings towards Sian ends their relationship and Sian leaves her.

Danny and Frankie Baldwin (2004-2005) – When they arrived, Frankie had already cheated on Danny while Danny enjoyed a fling with Sunita. While Danny became a business partner at the factory, Frankie got a job in the café. In 2005, Danny had an affair with son Jamie’s girlfriend Leanne and Frankie kicked him out. When his relationship with Leanne soured, he tried to win back Frankie but was shocked that she was now with Jamie, her stepson. Failing to cope, he sold the factory and left.

Kirk Sutherland and Beth Tinker (2012- ) – This relationship began when Kirk chauffeured Beth to meet her online date. However, the date didn’t work out and Beth realised that Kirk was the man for her. Since then they’ve been in a relationship and Kirk has become a father figure to Beth’s son Craig.

Martin Platt and Gail Tilsley/Platt (1989-2001) – Although they’d been friends for a few years, it wasn’t until Brian’s death that they became close. To Ivy’s annoyance, the relationship developed and in 1990, Gail gave birth to David. They married in 1991. In 1993, the marriage was tested when they hired Carmel Finnan as a nanny. She was obsessed with Martin and tried to split the Platts up, but Gail sent her packing. As Martin was ten years Gail’s junior, Martin was tempted by other women and had an affair with Cathy Power in 1994. Gail forgave him but wasn’t as forgiving when he had another affair with Rebecca Hopkins in 2000. They divorced in 2001 and Martin was genuinely happy when Gail remarried Richard in 2002.

Stan and Hilda Ogden (1964-1984) – This classic Corrie couple were a part of the nation’s fabric for 20 years and we witnessed their highs and lows. Despite a backstory of Stan’s neglect and abuse towards Hilda and the kids, by the 1970s they had established themselves as the key to comedy on the cobbles. They, with their flying ducks and ‘muriel’, had become TV icons. Stan was a layabout while Hilda worked day and night to bring in the money, cleaning The Rovers and various houses and was also the chief gossip on the street, although she didn’t like being gossiped about. Although they bickered, they loved each other and were married for 40 years. Despite being the street’s cast-offs, it didn’t stop them mingling with the neighbours. By the early 1980s, Stan’s health was failing and he died in 1984, leaving a heartbroken Hilda alone.

Have you got favourites in this five? Well, vote for two of them and we'll see where they'll be in the countdown! The poll closes at midnight on Monday, 13th January.
 

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