Eddie Windass

Last updated

Eddie Windass
Coronation Street character
Eddie Windass.jpg
Portrayed by Steve Huison
Duration2008–2011
First appearance14 November 2008
Last appearance25 April 2011
Classification Former; regular
Created byKim Crowther
Spin-off
appearances		Coronation Street: Romanian Holiday (2009)
In-universe information
OccupationTaxi driver
Brothers Len Windass
Civil partner Anna Windass
Sons Gary Windass
Grandsons Jake Windass
Zack Rubinstein

Eddie Windass is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street . Portrayed by Steve Huison, the character's first appearance on-screen was broadcast on 14 November 2008. On 5 December 2010, it was announced that Eddie was to leave Coronation Street in spring 2011 after being axed by producer Phil Collinson. [1] Huison made his final appearance as Eddie on 25 April 2011. This was Huison's second role in the soap; he previously played criminal Andy Morgan in 2003.

Contents

Creation

Background

The character of Eddie was created as part of a new family unit that new producer Kim Crowther introduced to the soap opera, consisting of a mother, a father, a son and an uncle. They were originally billed as a storyline device for established character David Platt. [2] An ITV spokesperson said of the character and his onscreen family: "The Windass family are very rough and ready, always ducking and diving. Early on they get involved with David Platt when he helps to fit a new kitchen in the Windass family home. However, Anna thinks the work is shoddy and refuses to pay for it. David goes round, rips out the kitchen and sets fire to it outside the family’s house." [3] Fellow cast member Debbie Rush spoke about their odd surname and stated they were expecting comments when seen in public about it. [4]

Development

Personality and identity

Speaking of his character Huison said: "Eddie’s a great character to play, he thinks he’s hard and head of the family, but he’s always one step behind Gary and Len. Eddie is always up to silly scams. He uses crutches but you may notice he doesn’t always limp with the same leg…" [5]

Storylines

The character's storylines start immediately after his first on-screen appearance when David Platt (Jack P. Shepherd) and his boss Joe McIntyre (Reece Dinsdale) confront him and his family about a bounced cheque that they had used to pay for their fitted kitchen. Several weeks later, the Windasses move into Coronation Street after renting No. 6 from Jerry Morton (Michael Starke). [6] After Anna nags him to find a job, Eddie gets a job as a taxi driver at Streetcars, but is reluctant to hand over any paperwork to Steve McDonald (Simon Gregson), due to fiddling Incapacity Benefit.

Eddie plans to start up a darts team, but once he collects the money from the team, he tells them that he's been mugged and lost all the money. Anna Windass (Debbie Rush) is disgusted and accuses him of going back to his old scheming ways., [7] Eddie's plan backfires when Kirk Sutherland (Andrew Whyment) approaches him a few days later, telling him that he has spoken to everyone and they have agreed to keep the team going, since it means so much to Eddie. The Rovers' team consists of Dark Destroyer Eddie, Kirk, Kevin (Michael Le Vell) and Bill Webster (Peter Armitage), Ashley Peacock (Steven Arnold) and Lloyd Mullaney (Craig Charles). Eddie's ruse is uncovered when a visiting darts team arrive at the Rover's to play against his team. The rival team's captain recognises him as Eddie had tried a similar scam two years earlier and the team chase him.

In May 2009, Eddie overhears Roy Cropper (David Neilson) giving Anna the Roy's Rolls password and account number for the Cash and Carry. He deviously takes the details from his wife's handbag and buys alcohol under the pretence that he is working for Roy. He is the Cash and Carry's one-millionth customer and wins a city break to Europe. He tells Anna that he is taking her away for a romantic break and that he has been putting money aside to pay for it. However, Eddie's lie is exposed when Roy's wife Hayley (Julie Hesmondhalgh) sees a cardboard cutout of "Roy Cropper" as the millionth customer at the Cash n' Carry. Eddie is then barred from the cafe by his wife. In July 2009, it is revealed that Eddie and Anna are not in fact married, as he proposes to her. She rejects him and it becomes clear that he has proposed to her many times before in the past.

Eddie and Anna deal with son Gary for most of 2009. He goes to prison after a robbery setup, orchestrated by David Platt, and after his release, becomes interested in joining the army. Eddie is reluctant to show emotion but bakes a cake to show Gary how proud he is. Several months later, Gary goes AWOL after a friend loses limbs in battle. Eventually Eddie calls the military police and tells them Gary is at home, because he feels his son needs to face up to his responsibilities. When Gary is away from home, Anna begins keeping an eye on Chesney Brown (Sam Aston) when he's having family problems. Anna decides she wants to adopt a child, and Eddie warms to the idea. They begin a competition with Steve and Becky McDonald (Katherine Kelly), who also want to adopt.

In early-2011, Eddie and Anna begin fostering nine-year-old Faye Butler (Ellie Leach). Faye proves to be a handful for the Windasses as she doesn't take to her new home right away, her presence leads to tension between the couple and Eddie reveals he never actually wanted to adopt. Eddie pleads with Anna to send Faye back, but Anna refuses to give up on her. When Len (Conor Ryan) offers Eddie a job in Germany, he gives Anna an ultimatum to choose between him or Faye. Anna is appalled that Eddie has placed her in such a position, and tells him that given the choice, she'd choose Faye every time. With this, the couple end their relationship and Eddie packs his bags before saying goodbye to Gary and leaving Weatherfield for Germany.

Reception

Grace Dent of The Guardian slated the character because of his scrounging ways and shoddy appearance stating: "Gary's dad Eddie has no positive attributes to speak of. None. He's six feet tall with a collapsed orange Sideshow Bob hairdo and an ambidextrous limp which switches from left to right leg depending on which Social Security officer is spying on him. He has a permanently fuddled expression which could be down to Temazepam, plain idiocy or the fact all his good brain cells are engaged in working out how to rob your wallet." [8] Tony Stewart of The Mirror also describes Eddie's character as a scrounger. [9] MSN branded Eddie and his family as chavs and being perfect guests for the Jeremy Kyle show, and going on to calling them a million miles away from lower class yobbish families 'The Mortons' and 'The Battersbys'. [10] Whereas Simon Swift of Soaplife magazine commented on the fact that on first looks he couldn't help feeling that Eddie and his clan are a bit too much like original neighbours-from-hell the Battersbys. [11] Kris Green of media website Digital Spy praised and commented on the fact that the Windass clan had 'settled in so well, in such a short space of time', with fellow actor Mikey North stating that their success is down to the good writing and many plotlines the family received in the short time period. [12]

Upon the broadcast of Eddie's final episodes in April 2011, Jane Simon of The Daily Mirror wrote that she is "gutted" to see the character depart the show and adds that she hopes "the Corrie bosses see sense and decide to glue the Windass family back together before too long". [13]

Related Research Articles

David Platt (<i>Coronation Street</i>) Fictional character from Coronation Street

David Platt is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. He was born on-screen during the episode broadcast on 26 December 1990. He was played by Thomas Ormson from his first appearance until 15 March 2000 when Ormson left. Jack P. Shepherd took over the role and made his first on screen appearance on 26 April 2000. In July 2019, Shepherd took a four-month break from the show.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bethany Platt</span> Fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street

Bethany Platt is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. She was born on-screen during the episode broadcast on 4 June 2000. She was played by Mia Cookson in 2000 and by twins Amy and Emily Walton from 2000 until 30 December 2007, when the character departed. The character was reintroduced with Lucy Fallon taking over the role, and Bethany made her return on 20 March 2015. On 2 May 2019, Fallon announced that she had quit the show. She filmed her last on-screen appearance on 16 January 2020 and Bethany departed on 4 March 2020. In August 2023, it was announced that Fallon would be reprising the role after three years away, with Bethany's return scenes set to air "after Christmas".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Darryl Morton</span> Fictional character from Coronation Street

Darryl Shane Morton is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Portrayed by former Grange Hill actor Jonathan Dixon, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 18 March 2007.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tony Gordon</span> Fictional character from Coronation Street

Tony Gordon is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by actor Gray O'Brien. The character first appeared on-screen on 16 September 2007. He appeared as a regular character for two years before departing on 11 December 2009 after being imprisoned for the murder of Liam Connor. He returned on 28 May 2010 after managing to break out of prison with the help of his cellmate Robbie Sloan, whom Tony later betrayed by shooting him dead. The character departed once again on 9 June 2010 after being killed off at the conclusion of his storyline. He was a local businessman, disliked by many of Weatherfield's residents for his ruthlessness. His storylines revolved around his business deals, his relationships with Carla Connor and Maria Connor, and the murder of Liam Connor. Tony was named "Bad Boy" of 2009 at the All About Soap Bubble awards, and "Villain of the Year" at The British Soap Awards 2009.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tina McIntyre</span> Fictional character from Coronation Street

Tina McIntyre is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Portrayed by Michelle Keegan, the character first appeared on-screen during the episode that was shown 7 January 2008. The character was central to many key storylines relating to issues such as perjury, abortion and surrogacy, and had relationships with David Platt, Graeme Proctor, Tommy Duckworth, Dr. Matt Carter and Jason Grimshaw, and had an affair with married man Peter Barlow. Tina has also had feuds with Kylie Platt, Tracy Barlow and Kirsty Soames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Graeme Proctor</span> Fictional character from Coronation Street

Graeme Proctor is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street. Portrayed by Craig Gazey, the character first appeared on-screen during the episode airing on 18 April 2008.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Anna Windass</span> Fictional character from the ITV soap opera Coronation Street

Anna Windass is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by Debbie Rush. The character was introduced in the episode first broadcast on 14 November 2008. Rush announced her decision to leave the series in July 2017 and Anna departed in the episode first broadcast on 22 January 2018. She appeared in two further episodes first broadcast on 31 May to 1 June 2018.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gary Windass</span> Fictional character from Coronation Street

Gary Windass is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by Mikey North. The character appeared for the first time on 14 November 2008 along with his parents, Eddie and Anna Windass.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Becky McDonald</span> Character from the British soap opera Coronation Street

Becky McDonald is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, played by Katherine Kelly. Becky was created by producer Tony Wood, and made her debut in the episode airing on 5 February 2006. Kelly was initially contracted to appear for three months, but became a series regular after impressing the serial's producers. In April 2011, Kelly announced her decision to leave the soap. Producer Phil Collinson created dramatic storylines in the build-up to her exit.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Izzy Armstrong</span> Fictional character from Coronation Street

Izzy Armstrong is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by Cherylee Houston. The character first appears on-screen on 16 April 2010; she is introduced as a new love interest for Kirk Sutherland. Following her arrival, she gets a job at the Underworld factory. Upon her debut, she was heralded as the soap's first disabled regular character in 50 years. Izzy was the first member of the Armstrong family to be introduced, her father Owen and sister Katy arrived within two months after her first appearance.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Owen Armstrong</span> Fictional character from Coronation Street

Owen Armstrong is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Ian Puleston-Davies. He made his first on-screen appearance on 9 June 2010 and left the show on 15 April 2015.

Ellie Louise Leach is an English actress best known for portraying Faye Windass on the ITV soap opera Coronation Street between 2011 and 2023.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Faye Windass</span> Fictional character from Coronation Street

Faye Windass is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by Ellie Leach. She was introduced as a potential adoptive child for Anna and Eddie Windass in the episode aired on 24 January 2011. Faye's early storylines have included being adopted by Anna and Eddie, being the victim and perpetrator of bullying, contacting her birth father Tim Metcalfe and accusing Anna of abusing her. Her later storylines include her falling pregnant at the age of 13 and keeping it secret from her family. Faye's struggling to bond with her daughter, Miley results in her giving her up to Jackson Hodge, Miley's dad. Other storylines involve her relationships with Seb Franklin and Craig Tinker, being imprisoned after attacking Adam Barlow after a case of mistaken identity, being sexually assaulted and being diagnosed with premature menopause. In April 2023, it was announced that Leach had quit the role of Faye after 12 years, with her final scenes airing on 24 May 2023.

Tim Metcalfe (<i>Coronation Street</i>) Fictional character from Coronation Street

Tim Metcalfe is a fictional character from the British television soap opera Coronation Street, played by Joe Duttine. He made his first on-screen appearance on 21 January 2013. Duttine had previously appeared in the soap between February and June 2010 as D.S. Carr, the police officer that arrested Gail McIntyre for the murder of her husband, Joe McIntyre. Tim is introduced as Faye Windass' biological father. His storylines initially focused on his relationship with his long-lost daughter Faye and her adoptive family - mother Anna Windass and her partner Owen Armstrong. Tim's storylines have since revolved around his relationship to Sally Webster - whom he illegally married, and the birth of his granddaughter Miley.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emma Brooker</span> Fictional character from Coronation Street

Emma Brooker is a fictional character from the British soap opera Coronation Street, portrayed by Alexandra Mardell. She first appeared on-screen during the episode broadcast on 20 April 2018. Emma's storylines have included short-term relationships with David Platt, Chesney Brown and Seb Franklin, surviving a roof collapse at the local factory, discovering that Steve McDonald is her biological father, a relationship with Curtis Delamere who suffers from factitious disorder and running over an elderly man in her car. Mardell announced her departure from the show in February 2022, departing on 8 April 2022.

References

  1. ↑ "Steve Huison to leave Coronation Street". Digital Spy . 5 December 2010.
  2. ↑ Kris Green (24 September 2008). "Corrie's Windass clan and other cast changes". Digital Spy . Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  3. ↑ "Debbie gets fame rush". Heywood Advertiser. M.E.N. Media. 20 November 2008. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  4. ↑ Blog Editor (28 October 2008). "Meet Anna Windass". Corrieblog. Archived from the original on 25 June 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  5. ↑ Emma Clayton (11 December 2008). "Steve set to rock the Corrie boat!". Telegraph and Argus. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  6. ↑ Kris Green (14 November 2008). "David confronts the Windass family". Digital Spy . Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  7. ↑ Kris Green (23 January 2009). "Maria lashes out at Tony in The Rovers". Digital Spy . Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  8. ↑ Dent, Grace (21 February 2009). "Grace Dent's world of lather". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  9. ↑ Tony Stewart (8 November 2008). "Coronation Street: Kitchen sink dramas". The Mirror. Archived from the original on 2 February 2009. Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  10. ↑ Soaps Editor (7 December 2008). "EastEnders' Tony Is Found Out". MSN . Retrieved 13 June 2009.{{cite web}}: |author= has generic name (help)
  11. ↑ Simon Swift (4 December 2008). "Meet the Asses". Soap Life. Retrieved 13 June 2009.[ permanent dead link ]
  12. ↑ Kris Green (12 May 2009). "Windasses joke about potential plot twist". Digital Spy . Retrieved 13 June 2009.
  13. ↑ Simon, Jane (25 April 2011). "We love soaps - Emmerdale, Coronation Street, EastEnders". Daily Mirror . Trinity Mirror . Retrieved 25 April 2011.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.