 | This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling.(April 2023) |
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 1996, by order of first appearance.
| This article may require copy editing for grammar, style, cohesion, tone, or spelling.(April 2023) |
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 1996, by order of first appearance.
| Stephen Reid | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Coronation Street character | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Todd Boyce | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Duration | 1996–1997, 2007, 2022–2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 3967 29 January 1996 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Last appearance | Episode 11,089 13 October 2023 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Introduced by | Sue Pritchard (1996) Steve Frost (2007) Iain MacLeod (2022) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Stephen Reid (also Potter) is the son of Audrey Roberts (Sue Nicholls). Audrey's father insisted that she give Stephen up for adoption after she gave birth to him at 16 years old. Malcolm Reid (Shane Rimmer), a neighbour and old boyfriend of Audrey, adopted Stephen and later emigrated to Canada with him.
In January 1996, Stephen arrived in Weatherfield to get to know his biological mother and carry out some business for his firm, KBec, with local tycoon Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs). During his stay, Mike's wife and Audrey's best friend, Alma Baldwin (Amanda Barrie), became besotted with him and made her feelings clear, but Stephen was not interested and returned to Canada once his work was completed. Stephen's nephew, Nick Tilsley (Adam Rickitt), later went to stay with his uncle in Canada for several months when he becomes troublesome towards his mother, Stephen's half-sister Gail Platt (Helen Worth), and adoptive father, Martin Platt (Sean Wilson). In 1999, following the break-up of his marriage to Leanne Battersby (Jane Danson), Nick again turns to Stephen, who offers him a job in Canada. Over the years, Audrey has maintained regular contact with Stephen and has even visited him many times. Gail's third husband, Richard Hillman (Brian Capron), also takes her to Canada for an impromptu visit at Christmas 2001.
On 10 December 2007, Stephen returns to Weatherfield to spend Christmas with Audrey en route to Italy, from where he intends to expand his business empire into Europe. On 14 December, Stephen invites his youngest nephew, David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd), to join him in his Italian home, which he accepts, to the disappointment of his niece and David's half-sister Sarah Platt (Tina O'Brien). On 21 December, David's ambitions are ruined when Sarah buys some ecstasy tablets from a drug dealer in Leanne's restaurant, Valandros, and plants them in David's drawer in Audrey's Salon. Audrey opens the drawer and discovers the pills. After deciding David is too much of a troublemaker, Stephen leaves Weatherfield on Boxing Day and is joined by Sarah and her daughter Bethany (Emily Walton) four days later. Gail visited them in June 2008. In 2015, he fires Sarah over the phone when she fails to email him an urgent report.
In 2022, it was reported that Stephen would return as part of a "long-term" story. Boyce reprised his role in the episode broadcast on 24 June 2022. [1] In September 2022, Stephen accidentally kills Jenny Connor's boyfriend, Leo Thompkins (Joe Frost) after the latter confronted him about his true financial situation. [2] In January 2023, Leo's father Teddy Thompkins (Grant Burgin) regains his memory after being hit by a van, becomes suspicious of Stephen and threatens to call the police. Not taking any chances, Stephen hits Teddy over the head with a hole punch, killing him. [3] He later kills business rival Rufus by drugging him and drowning him in his own pool, making it look like an accident. In October, Stephen planned to flee the country as the police closed in on him. After attacking Tim Metcalfe (who had grown suspicious of Stephen) and leaving him for dead, he leaves for the airport after realising partner Jenny is suspicious of him. Upon reaching check-in, Stephen realises he does not have his passport and returns to Weatherfield, hiding in the closed Rovers Return. Jenny and Sarah meet in the pub where, to their horror, Stephen appears, knocking Sarah out. After admitting to Jenny he killed Leo, Teddy and Rufus, Stephen takes her hostage in the street as horrified residents, including Audrey, look on. Stephen orders David to bring him his car, but then has a change of heart and decides to set Jenny free. However, moments later Stephen is run over by a taxi driven by Peter Barlow. Michael Bailey (Ryan Russell) administers CPR but despite all of the valiant efforts made to save his life, Stephen succumbs to his injures and dies, leaving Audrey heartbroken.
| Kelly Thomson | |||||||
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| Coronation Street character | |||||||
| Portrayed by | Sarah Moffett | ||||||
| First appearance | 9 February 1996 | ||||||
| Last appearance | 20 December 1996 | ||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||
| Introduced by | Sue Pritchard | ||||||
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Kelly Thomson was played by Sarah Moffett. Kelly first appears on 9 February 1996 when Ken Barlow (William Roache) hires her as a childminder for his son Daniel Osbourne (Lewis Harney). She later moves in with the family and begins a relationship with Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold) which ends later in the year when she agrees to follow Daniel and his mother Denise (Denise Black) up to Scotland to continue with her job but now working for Denise instead of Ken.
| Joyce Smedley | |||||||||||
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| Coronation Street character | |||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Anita Carey | ||||||||||
| Duration | 1996–1997 | ||||||||||
| First appearance | 23 February 1996 | ||||||||||
| Last appearance | 21 February 1997 | ||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||
| Introduced by | Sue Pritchard | ||||||||||
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Joyce Smedley was played by Anita Carey. Joyce is introduced in February as the mother of Judy Mallett (Gaynor Faye). Joyce takes a job as a cleaner at The Rovers Return Inn and becomes a love interest to both Alec Gilroy (Roy Barraclough) and Percy Sugden (Bill Waddington), although she did not encourage Percy. In February 1997, whilst walking her dog, Scamper, Joyce was run over and killed by a car driven by Tony Horrocks (Lee Warburton).
| Claire Palmer | |||||||
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| Coronation Street character | |||||||
| Portrayed by | Maggie Norris | ||||||
| Duration | 1996–1997 | ||||||
| First appearance | 8 May 1996 | ||||||
| Last appearance | 14 April 1997 | ||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||
| Introduced by | Sue Pritchard | ||||||
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Claire Palmer is the girlfriend of Des Barnes (Phillip Middlemiss), who first appeared on 8 May 1996 played by Maggie Norris. Des and Claire have a whirlwind romance, and she moves in with him two months later, despite still claiming her dead husband's R.A.F. pension. The Palmers are forced to move out again to avoid being found out, but by the end of the year, Claire gives up the pension for Des. A few months later, however, Claire sees Des make a pass at Samantha Failsworth (Tina Hobley) and immediately packs her bags and leaves.
| Becky Palmer | |||||||
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| Coronation Street character | |||||||
| Portrayed by | Emily Aston | ||||||
| Duration | 1996–1997 | ||||||
| First appearance | 20 May 1996 | ||||||
| Last appearance | 16 March 1997 | ||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||
| Introduced by | Sue Pritchard | ||||||
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Rebecca "Becky" Palmer is the daughter of Claire Palmer (Maggie Norris) and first appears on 20 May 1996 played by Emily Aston. Becky moves to the Street when her mother meets Des Barnes (Phillip Middlemiss) at the market and they begin a relationship. When Des and Claire split up the following year, Becky moves away with her mother.
| Samantha Failsworth | |||||||||||
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| Coronation Street character | |||||||||||
| Portrayed by | Tina Hobley | ||||||||||
| Duration | 1996–1998 | ||||||||||
| First appearance | 17 July 1996 | ||||||||||
| Last appearance | 15 June 1998 | ||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||
| Introduced by | Sue Pritchard | ||||||||||
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Samantha Failsworth (previously Fitzgerald) is played by Tina Hobley. Samantha makes her first appearance on 17 July 1996 when she asks landlord Jack Duckworth for a job in the Rovers Return. Jack likes the look of her, and without his wife Vera's approval, he takes her on. When Vera returns she is furious, but Samantha wins her over by referring to Vera as the boss rather than Jack. Samantha later moves into the Street, house-sharing with newly single Curly Watts and after ending Des Barnes's relationship with Claire Palmer, she begins dating Des.
In late 1997, Samantha's estranged husband Ritchie Fitzgerald turned up hoping for a reconciliation. Instead, he faced months of Samantha claiming their marriage is dead, before spending the night together behind Des's back. Nevertheless, Samantha went ahead with divorce proceedings until Des found out and Samantha was again undecided about which man to choose. Ritchie gave up on his marriage and Des forgave her until she again cheated on him with mechanic Chris Collins in 1998.
Following their split, Des became close to Natalie Horrocks and Samantha was envious. She told them that she was pregnant with Des's child, then said she had an abortion. It was eventually revealed that there had been no baby, to begin with, but Samantha went back on her lies and maintained she had suffered a miscarriage. In the end, Samantha told Des she was still pregnant with his child and left Weatherfield in June 1998. Although Natalie firmly believed she was lying, Des was never sure, and Samantha was never heard from again.
| Robert Preston | |||||||||||||
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| Coronation Street character | |||||||||||||
| Portrayed by |
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| Duration | 1996, 1999, 2003, 2015–2019 | ||||||||||||
| First appearance | Episode 4090 11 November 1996 | ||||||||||||
| Last appearance | Episode 9961 25 December 2019 | ||||||||||||
| Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||||||
| Introduced by |
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Robert Preston made his first screen appearance on 11 November 1996. The character was played by Julian Kay from his introduction until 2003 and by Tristan Gemmill from 2015 to 2019.
On 6 April 2015, it was announced that Robert would be returning to Coronation Street later in the year. According to The Sun, an actor had yet to be cast but producers were looking for someone around the age of 35. [4] On 10 May, it was confirmed that Tristan Gemmill had been cast in the role. [5] Gemmill has been contracted for a year and he commented, "I'm excited to be joining such an iconic show. Coronation Street is a great British institution and it will be a huge challenge to meet the expectations of its devoted audience. But it is a challenge I am really looking forward to." [5] Robert returned for the funeral of Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride). [5]
On 26 April 2019, Gemmill announced that after 4 years of playing Robert, he will be leaving the show later that year. [6] It was later confirmed that Robert would be killed off as part of a Christmas storyline.
Robert is the fiancé of Tracy Barlow (Dawn Acton). In 1996, Deirdre and Ken meet Robert Preston, their future son-in-law, and take to him. Shirley (Maggie Tagney) and Maurice Preston (Seamus O'Neill) have tea with the Barlows and Robert. Tracy is nervous to meet her new in-laws and Ken is put out when working-class Maurice takes against him for being a teacher. Deirdre is upset when the Prestons tell her that they don't want Robert to marry Tracy as he's on the rebound. Eventually, the wedding day arrives. Maurice Preston tells the Barlows that Robert and his best man, Paul Davies, have disappeared and never returned from the stag night. He thinks Robert has changed his mind about marrying Tracy but she is adamant he'll turn up. Ken and Deirdre try to find Robert. One of his friends, Greg, remembers locking him in a container in a freight yard. They go to look for him but all the containers are empty apart from two sealed ones that are on their way to Saudi Arabia. Deirdre has to stop herself from going for Greg. The police are called in to stop the shipment, fearing Robert could have suffocated. Ken and Deirdre return home to find Robert there, being shouted at by Tracy for seeing her before the service. He explains he let himself out of the container. Tracy and Robert are married, afterwards, Ken makes a speech and Percy produces the wedding cake. After the wedding in 1996, Robert doesn't appear for three years.
Robert returns in March 1999 - after Tracy goes on a spending spree using his credit card. Ken is shocked when Robert turns up, demanding to see Tracy. He explains he caught Tracy kissing another man. Ken refuses to tell him where Tracy is but lets him stay the night. Tracy refuses to explain herself to Robert. Ken and Deirdre succeed in getting the Prestons to sit down together and talk. They get caught in the crossfire when Robert and Tracy row about her friendship with Dan. Robert tells Ken that his marriage is over. Tracy admits to Deirdre that Dan did want an affair with her but she didn't. Deirdre urges her not to make the mistakes she's made and advises her to stick with Robert. Linda chats up Robert and is disappointed when he tells her that he's married. Tracy sees them talking and flares up at him, refusing to talk about reconciliation. Robert leaves again and appears on the Street once more in October 1999 for Ken's sixtieth birthday party. Robert then leaves the street again, making a final appearance on 1 January 2003. Tracy (now played by Kate Ford) had returned to Weatherfield without Robert, telling Deirdre that she had found Robert in bed with her best friend. Deirdre phones Robert and asks him to come to talk to her. Robert arrives and it soon becomes clear that Tracy was lying - it was she who was caught in bed with Robert's best friend; not the other way round. Robert says their marriage is over and leaves. Tracy doesn't care when he tells her that he's going to divorce her; which he does.
Twelve years later, in 2015, Deirdre dies and Robert returns to Weatherfield for her funeral. Tracy is surprised to see Robert watching the funeral party from across the street as they leave for the church. Emily recognises Robert at the funeral. Upset, Tracy walks out of the church and Robert follows her. Robert comforts Tracy as she weeps by Blanche's grave. He tells her he came to pay his respects after reading about Deirdre's death in the paper. Steve comes out to fetch Tracy and is introduced to a fellow ex-husband of hers. Back in the street, Robert calls on Tracy at No.1 to give her company. Robert cooks a meal for Tracy. Tracy can't understand why Robert is being so nice to her. Despite his reservations, they start to kiss. Liz persuades Ken to fetch Tracy to the wake. He finds Tracy and Robert in a clinch and throws Robert out, asking Tracy how low she can get. Tony's former henchmen, Nev and Rik barge into Barlow's Buys and demand money he owes them for some foot spas from Tracy. As they turn menacing, Robert enters the shop and comes to her rescue, sending them packing. Tracy and Robert go for a drink and he tells her he now wants to be a chef. Behind her back, he takes a mobile phone call and tells the ringer a series of lies as to where he's been. Robert tells Tracy how he's never stopped loving her but she tells him her head's in bits as it is without this.
Robert apologises to Ken for his behaviour after the funeral. Spotting Deirdre's stuffed marrow recipe on the table, he offers to cook it for him and Tracy. Ken and Tracy admit that Robert's stuffed marrow is better than Deirdre's. Ken and Tracy are bored as they sort through Deirdre's paperwork. Tracy is pleased when Robert invites them to a trade fair. Tracy and Robert have wine at No.1, unaware of the visit of Robert's wife, Joni. Ken passes on Joni's message to Robert. He tells Tracy she manages his restaurant. Tony advises Robert to run a mile from Tracy. Ken is pleased that Tracy and Robert have got back together and compares them to him and Deirdre. At the restaurant, Joni apologises to Robert, who hides his guilt. When Tracy gets a text from Robert cancelling their evening together as he has to work, Beth suggests they visit him. But in 2017, he got a new woman in his life Steve McDonald's soon-to-be-ex-wife, Michelle Connor, and they became a romantic couple, then he wants her to divorce Steve, and move in with him for romance and business.
In 2019, Robert cheated on Michelle by having an affair with resident Vicky Jefferies (Kerri Quinn) - who later fell pregnant and gave birth to their son Sonny. However, Robert never got the chance to know his son. He was hospitalized on Christmas Day that year after being shot by Derek Milligan (Craige Els) - a client of local builder Gary Windass (Mikey North), whom he sought to kill for ruining his chances of reconciling with his family. After apologizing to Michelle for cheating on her and despite his efforts for recovery, Robert died from his gunshot injury in the hospital after going into cardiac arrest since he had heart issues in the past.
| Date(s) | Character | Actor | Circumstances |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 March, 8 September–10 November 1997 | Clive Middleton | Joe Speare [7] | Fiona Middleton's (Angela Griffin) parents, who come to Weatherfield for the opening of their daughter's salon. Clive argues with his son Lee Middleton (Nicholas Bailey) upon learning that he lent Fiona money when he refused to lend him £2,000 for a new car. Lee tells him that he did not think Clive would pay him back. Clive and Pam later meet Fiona and her fiancé Alan McKenna (Glenn Hugill) for dinner and offer to pay for their wedding. After Alan calls the wedding off, they comfort their daughter. Pam returns to help and advise Fiona to sell up and leave the Street, after she discovers her partner Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson) has had an affair. |
| 15 March, 8 September 1997 – 25 September 1998 | Pam Middleton | Elizabeth Estensen [8] | |
| 11–13 November | Shirley Preston | Maggie Tagney | The parents of Robert Preston (Julian Kay). They attended Robert's wedding to Tracy Barlow (Dawn Acton). After Robert goes missing after his stag night, Shirley, Maurice and the Barlows search for him; despite fears that he has been shipped to Saudi Arabia after his drunken friends lock him in a container, Robert turns up to the Barlow household. Maurice died from cancer in 2003. Robert visited Shirley for Christmas in 2016. |
| Maurice Preston | Seamus O'Neill |
Kenneth "Ken" Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by William Roache. He was created by Tony Warren as one of Coronation Street's original characters and December 2020 marked Ken's 60th anniversary onscreen. He debuted in the soap's first episode on 9 December 1960. Having appeared in the role continuously since that date, Roache is the longest-serving actor in a televised soap opera, and was honoured at the 2010 Guinness World Records ceremony for the achievement, having surpassed actor Don Hastings from the American soap opera As the World Turns, who previously held this title. Roache stated in 2010 that he had no plans to leave the role and would remain in Coronation Street for as long as the producers would have him. In November 2020, Roache was again presented with the Guinness World Record for the longest serving TV soap star in the world for his six decades in Coronation Street.
Deirdre Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Anne Kirkbride. She made her first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 20 November 1972. Her final appearance was on 8 October 2014.
Blanche Hunt is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She was originally played by Patricia Cutts; however, the actress died by suicide after appearing in just two episodes in August 1974. Maggie Jones took over the role, playing Blanche in over 840 episodes from 1974 to her death in December 2009. The character subsequently died off screen in May 2010. Blanche was the mother of Deirdre Barlow, grandmother of Tracy Barlow and great-grandmother of Amy Barlow. Her storylines have revolved around her family life, various romances and her "acerbic tongue". The character's "gallows humour" has been well received by critics, and saw Jones win The British Soap Award for "Best Comedy Performance" in 2005 and 2008. Blanche has been described as "a true Coronation Street icon".
Tracy McDonald is a fictional character and a main antagonist from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She was born on-screen during the episode broadcast on 24 January 1977. She was played by Christabel Finch until 21 November 1983. Holly Chamarette played the role from 8 July 1985 until 23 March 1988. Dawn Acton played the role from 12 December 1988 to 10 July 1995. Acton reprised the role for two short stints in November 1996 and December 1997. She reprised the role once again on 14 March 1999 and made her final appearance as Tracy on 10 October 1999. Kate Ford took over the role from 25 December 2002 to 8 April 2007. Ford reprised the role for a brief stint from late May to early June 2010, before returning full-time from 24 December 2010.
Weatherfield is a fictional town based on Salford, Greater Manchester, which has been the setting for the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street since its inception in 1960. Much of Weatherfield has been seen by viewers throughout the years, though the primary focus from the viewer's perspective is the eponymous Coronation Street, a cobbled street where many of the programme's characters live. Weatherfield areas are often shot on location around Salford and the neighbouring large city of Manchester, as its filming studios, the Granada Studios complex on Quay Street in Manchester city centre and its replacement set MediaCityUK in Salford Quays, only house the outdoor sets of Coronation Street and its immediate surrounding streets.
Ray Langton is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Neville Buswell.
Amy Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by Elle Mulvaney. She was born on screen during the episode broadcast on 9 February 2004. To date, the character has been portrayed by eight child actors; Holly Bowyer, Rebecca Pike, Louisa Morris, Rachel and Sarah Corker, Madison Hampson, Amber Chadwick and Elle Mulvaney, making her the most recast character in Coronation Street. Although Amy's surname has stayed Barlow, Chadwick was credited as Amy McDonald for three episodes from 2009 to 2010.
Adam Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by actor Sam Robertson. He made his first appearance on-screen on 14 January 2001. Adam was played by Iain De Caestecker from the character's first appearance in 2001 until 21 July 2003 with Robertson taking over the role from 31 December 2004 until 20 April 2007. Robertson reprised the role in 2016 and made his return on screen on 16 November 2016. Adam is the son of Mike Baldwin and Susan Barlow, and the grandson of Ken Barlow.
Peter Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Chris Gascoyne from 2000 to 2023. The character of Peter was born on screen during an episode broadcast on 5 April 1965, he was born along with his twin sister Susan to parents Ken and Valerie Barlow. Gascoyne made his first appearance in the role during the 40th anniversary live episode airing on 8 December 2000. Gascoyne left the role in 2003 and returned in 2007 for a brief stint before returning full-time in 2008. In January 2014 it was confirmed that Gascoyne would be leaving once again. His final scenes aired on 14 November 2014. In April 2015, it was announced that Gascoyne would reprise the role for two episodes for the funeral of Deirdre Barlow and Peter returned on 15 July 2015 and left once again the following day. In July 2016, it was announced that Peter would be returning as a regular character, with his return airing on 17 October 2016. Peter departed the series again on 26 December 2023. Peter made a voice appearance on 24th January 2024. Peter's storylines have included a number of affairs, alcoholism and a custody battle involving his son Simon Barlow. Peter became involved in a bigamy storyline when he married Rovers barmaid Shelley Unwin and florist Lucy Richards. Having been discovered, Peter was left alone and fled Weatherfield. He returned briefly in 2007 when his adoptive sister Tracy Barlow was sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder of Charlie Stubbs. He returned for good in 2008 with five-year-old Simon, whom he had by Lucy; who had since died from breast cancer. Peter began a relationship with Leanne Battersby and they married during the 50th anniversary episode; however, they divorced in 2012 after Peter's affair with Carla Connor was discovered. Peter later went on to marry Carla, and then had an affair with much younger Tina McIntyre. Peter was framed for Tina's murder by Rob Donovan and upon his release from prison, his marriage to Carla broke down and he left Weatherfield.
Susan Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She made her debut screen appearance on 5 April 1965. Susan has been portrayed by four actresses since her introduction. Katie Heannau was the first actress to play the character, appearing sporadically in the 1960s uncredited. Wendy Jane Walker took over the role for 26 episodes between 1970 and 1971 and between 1973 and 1974. When the character returned, Suzy Paterson was recast in the role. She appeared in eight episodes from December 1979 until July 1981. Walker reprised the role on a permanent basis from October 1985 until November 1987. The fourth actress to play the role was Joanna Foster, who appeared in eight episodes in 2001 until the character was killed off. The character's final appearance was on 11 February 2001.
Simon Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street and has been played by Alex Bain since 2008. The character was originally played by twins, Jake and Oscar Hartley, on his birth in 2003. Simon is the son of Peter Barlow and Lucy Richards, the adoptive son of Leanne Battersby and the grandson of Ken Barlow. His storylines have included his mother's death, a custody battle between Peter and his maternal grandfather, a custody battle between Peter and Leanne, physically abusing Leanne, and dealing drugs. In December 2023, it was announced that Bain had quit his role after 15 years and will depart in 2024.