60 Years Of Coronation Street-1976/1977

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In December this year, serial drama/soap Coronation Street will celebrate 60 years on British TV. I have been watching it from the late 70's and remain a big fan. Between now and December I'm looking at the best bits from the Corrie years. This time I'm looking at my ten favourite storylines/episodes from 1976 and 1977.

1976

1) Gail Potter's fling with a married man
Gail is a naive 19 year old who is taken in by older, married Roy Thornley, who is also having a relationship with her boss Sylvia. However it is Gail who is named in the divorce petition and she fears her reputation is ruined. What I also liked about the storyline was Gail working with Elsie and their enduring friendship over the coming years.

2) Ken Barlow and Wendy Nightingale
Street romeo Ken is messing around with a married woman and Uncle Albert does not approve. Wendy decides to leave her husband, who thumps Ken, but can't seem to make up her mind what she wants and goes back to her husband. Attitudes to the fling were disapproving and I loved the expression 'over the brush' to discribe unmarried couples living together!

3) The return of Elsie Tanner/Howard
In April 1976, Elsie comes back to the Street from Newcastle after leaving her latest husband Alan Howard. She works with Gail and takes her in as a lodger, and ends the year as the sewing room manager of the new factory just opened by Mike Baldwin. Elsie was brilliant-feisty, tough, capable and you didn't mess with her but she had no luck at all with men!

4) The opening of Baldwins Casuals
In October, cockney wideboy Mike Baldwin arrives on the Street to open his denim factory, employing Elsie Howard, Ernie Bishop, Ivy Tilsley, Vera Duckworth, Marie Stanton  Ernie is stripped by the delighted girls at the Christmas party which was really funny!

5) Changing Cast
I was pleased about the change of cast this year. The exit of characters I didn't like-dippy Minnie Caldwell and bitchy Tricia Hopkins, and the addition of great characters like Mike Baldwin, Renee Bradshaw at the corner shop, the factory girls, and the obnoxious Fred Gee getting a job at the Rovers where his banter with Bet and Betty is wonderful.

1977

1) Ray and Deirdre Langton
The birth of the monster that becomes Tracy Barlow starts the year off well for the young couple but trouble appears when Deirdre is molested by a stranger on the Street, leaving her suicidal. Deirdre and Rita are also bickering over the work partnership between husbands Len and Ray.

2) The suicide of Janet Barlow
Ken's estranged second wife Janet comes back into his life after a chance meeting but while she wants to try again, Ken isn't interested. He lets her stay overnight at his house and she kills herself, with Ken finding her body in the morning. Uncle Albert returns from a visit to Scotland to see Peter and Susan Barlow on hearing the news.

3) Mike Baldwin and Bet Lynch
This relationship was too short lived as they made a fascinating couple. Mike moves Bet into his house as his 'housekeeper' but is forced to tell her to leave when his London based girlfriend Anne arrives and is unhappy. It leads to a bitter breakup. Bet also has issues when her double date with Renee is a set up for the men to rob the corner shop.

4) The Silver Jubilee
There is bitching and bickering over the parts in the Parade and Stan makes a mess of looking after the lorry for the event. Annie's blatant bribery to be Queen Elizabeth I is amusing as is the reluctance of Betty and Albert to get involved, and Bet steals the show as Britannia. The Glamorous Granny and Bonnie Baby competitions are competitive

5) Marriage, Divorce and Death
Rita Littlewood, for some insane reason agrees to marry caveman Len Fairclough while it is the end of the road for Elsie and Alan Howard as he is engaged to another woman. Mavis Riley is finally free after the death of her overbearing Aunt Edie. Stan and Hilda Ogden go a second honeymoon and as always, Hilda is disappointed!