Coronation Street/Characters

The character sheet for Coronation Street. Be warned though, as a Long Runner, the cast is voluminous. Only current characters have full character sheets since doing one for the hundreds that have existed in the shows history would probably be a life long project. Characters not currently appearing on the show have their own section with brief descriptions at the bottom of the page.

Steve McDonald
A description of the character goes here.


 * Butt Monkey: Nothing ever goes right for him.
 * Bastard Boyfriend: After getting caught for selling stoelen whisky he tried to avoid a prison sentence by pinning the blame on Vicky.
 * Even Bad Men Love Their Mamas: Even back when he was a more villainous character he was always protective of Liz.
 * Extreme Doormat: With his current wife Becky.
 * Fire-Forged Friends: He had a rivalry with Peter in the early 200's but they became close and Steve even went against Michelle's wishes to put Peter up when he needed help.
 * Gold Digger: He went out with Vicky Arden for her money.
 * Hidden Depths: Despite being a total wimp he showed no hesitation in rescuing Audrey from a fire.

Becky McDonald (neé Granger)
A description of the character goes here.


 * Arch Enemy: Tracy Barlow.
 * Hair-Trigger Temper: Her general reaction to any sort of bad news is to get drunk and smash up whatever's nearest.
 * Jerkass: When she first turned up, now a Jerk with a Heart of Gold.
 * Mama Bear: Though neither of the children she has with Steve are actually hers (Max being her sister's son, and Amy being Steve's daughter with Tracy Barlow).
 * Ms. Fanservice: Particularly in her reaction to being angry at Steve, which is to dress in revealing clothing, then go out, get drunk and get attention from men at other bars.

Betty Williams
A description of the character goes here.


 * Deadpan Snarker: Her dry commentary has been a Rovers staple for over forty years now.
 * Supreme Chef: The reason she has remained a steadfast employee for as long as she has, her Hotpot is one of the reasons the place is so popular.

Ken Barlow
A description of the character goes here.


 * Arch Enemy: Mike Baldwin, for literally decades, until his death a few years ago.
 * Cultural Rebel: Ken was the first in his family to attend University and has always aspired to somewhat more intellectual than his neighbors and family.
 * Honor Before Reason:


 * He lost his job in the newspaper when he refused to hide things from the community.
 * When he attacked Aidan Critchley, everyone in the room was willing to cover for him but he confessed to what he'd done anyway
 * Long Runner: Worth noting, as he is the only remaining original cast member, from the first episode (from 1960!), and has never left the show at any point.
 * Politically-Motivated Teacher: An ardent socialist, he enjoyed sharing his views with a captive audience or just anyone really.
 * Why Couldn't You Be Different?: Has had moments of this with all of his adult children. While somewhat justified (like when Tracy killed her boyfriend), his treating Peter (who is basically a well meaning chronic screw-up) and Lawrence (who had just met a few weeks ago!!) like this is an example of his frustration with his working class existence.
 * Your Cheating Heart: Frequently, his last affair was only a year ago and he has never been faithful to any of his wives. Although his most frequent wife Deirdre is not that much better having had several affairs herself.

Deirdre Barlow
A description of the character goes here.


 * Extreme Doormat: For Tracy.
 * Fan Nickname: The Weatherfield One.
 * My Master, Right or Wrong: Continues to put Tracy on a pedastal, however horrible her crimes.
 * No Sympathy: Unless your name happens to be Tracy Barlow.
 * Peter Barlow can also illicit sympathy from her even when set the house on fire, unless he's "putting it about" then he's "just like his dad".

Tracy Barlow
A description of the character goes here.


 * Consummate Liar
 * Chronic Backstabbing Disorder: She really has no loyalty, she even got with her grandmother's fella when she mistakenly thought he was rich
 * Flanderization: Upon her return in 2002, she was more of a simple Jerkass with moments of sympathy, but for a time after her return in 2010, she had degraded into almost a cartoonish Card-Carrying Villain. She's returned to simple Jerkass behavior currently.
 * Jerkass
 * Kick the Dog: When she killed Charlie Ken and Deirdre spent their life savings on her legal defense but she didn't think twice about  disowning them when they wouldn't fund her appeal.
 * Manipulative Bitch
 * Smug Snake
 * Spoiled Brat: Even as an adult.

Amy Barlow
A description of the character goes here.


 * Who's Your Daddy?: Initially thought to be the daughter of Roy Cropper. Tracy kept her true paternity to herself until she felt it was appropriate, the middle of Steve Macdonald's wedding to Karen.

Audrey Roberts
A description of the character goes here.


 * Cool Old Lady
 * Rags to Riches

Maria Connor
A description of the character goes here.


 * Arch Enemy: With Leanne although they seemed to have made up recently.
 * The Ditz: Sweet but dim that's our Maria (she's arguably a Brainless Beauty too).
 * Extreme Doormat: Perhaps why her relationship with Nick lasted as long as it did.

Kirk Sutherland
A description of the character goes here.


 * Dumb Is Good: He is a very kind soul whatever else you can say about him.
 * Friend to All Living Things: Has said more than once he understands dogs better than people.
 * Too Dumb to Live: He's lucky the residents of the street are kind (particularly his ex Fizz and sister Maria) or he would have starved years ago.

Liam Connor
A description of the character goes here.


 * Dead Guy, Junior: As said above, he was named for his dead father.
 * Someone to Remember Him By: Maria found out she was pregnant the same day his father also Liam Connor died.

Emily Bishop
A description of the character goes here.


 * Granny Classic: Acts as this to most of the street despite never having children herself.

Norris Cole
A description of the character goes here.


 * The Chew Toy
 * Gossipy Hens: Rare male version.
 * Jerk with a Heart of Gold
 * Plucky Comic Relief
 * The Short Guy with Glasses
 * Ted Baxter

Mary Taylor (note, actually lives in a motorhome on the street)
A description of the character goes here.


 * Abhorrent Admirer: Norris certainly views her as this.
 * Big Eater: Much to Norris' annoyance, has an absent minded habit of endlessly eating the sweets in the Kabin while working.
 * Cloudcuckoolander: Of the highest order.
 * Large Ham
 * Single-Target Sexuality: Towards Norris.
 * Ted Baxter: Like Norris, appears to have a much higher opinion of her talents and skills than other people.

Kevin Webster
A description of the character goes here.


 * Jerkass: To some since the affair, to others he's simply Strangled by the Red String.
 * Miles Gloriosus: Considering that he only ever starts fights with harmless characters.
 * Mr. Fixit
 * Took a Level in Jerkass: During his recent affair with his best friend's wife which produced a son, Jack. Most considered the plot rushed and out of character and a textbook case of Romantic Plot Tumor.

Sally Webster
A description of the character goes here.


 * Rich Bitch: Often seen as this by the other factory girls. To be fair though, she is very snobbish and big-headed.
 * Ted Baxter

Rosie Webster
A description of the character goes here.


 * Attention Whore
 * Blue Eyes: Other characters have them too, but Rosie's stand out the most.
 * Brainless Beauty
 * Buxom Is Better: She certainly thinks so.
 * Fille Fatale
 * Genki Girl
 * It's All About Me
 * Ms. Fanservice
 * Nietzsche Wannabe: Yes, two of them in the family.
 * Spoiled Brat
 * Ted Baxter

Sophie Webster
A description of the character goes here.


 * Attention Whore: As a result of the attention her sister gets over her.
 * Clingy Jealous Girl: Sulks everytime her girlfriend Sian so much a talks to anyone else.
 * Nietzsche Wannabe: And how!
 * Spoiled Brat
 * The Unfavorite

Fiona "Fiz" Stape (Nee Brown)
A description of the character goes here.


 * The Fashionista
 * Genki Girl
 * Plucky Girl

John Stape
A description of the character goes here.


 * Black Comedy: His accidental descent into worse and worse crimes is played for dark laughs.
 * Butt Monkey
 * Ineffectual Sympathetic Villain
 * Jumping Off the Slippery Slope: Started out with an affair with a student, later went to kidnapping, identity theft, fraud and finally murder. All completely unintentional and bumbling.
 * Not-So-Harmless Villain: Bumbling as he may be, he still committed murder with a hammer.
 * Well-Intentioned Extremist

Chesney Battersby-Brown
A description of the character goes here.


 * Deliberately Cute Child
 * Jerkass

Anna Windass
A description of the character goes here.


 * Apron Matron
 * Mama Didn't Raise No Criminal

Devander "Dev" Alahan
A description of the character goes here.


 * Asian Store Owner
 * Kavorka Man: Before his marriage to Sunita any way.
 * Large Ham: Due to his often lack of an indoor voice and... unusual speech patterns.
 * Ted Baxter

A description of the character goes here.

Sunita Alahan

 * Naive Everygirl

Aadi and Asha Alahan
A description of the character goes here.


 * Unto Us a Son and Daughter Are Born

Gail Potter/Tilsley/Platt/Hillman/Macintyre
A description of the character goes here.


 * Arch Enemy: Eileen Grimshaw.
 * Extreme Doormat: Her last husband was drug addict who stole from her repeatedly and drowned while trying to fake his own death, but she loved him anyway.
 * My Beloved Smother: Her boys never do anything wrong despite being two of the shows main antagonists for the past few years.
 * Parental Obliviousness

Nick Tilsley
A description of the character goes here.


 * Momma's Boy: Recently turned 30, still lives at home and spends most of his time hanging out with his mom.
 * Smug Snake

David Platt
A description of the character goes here.


 * Attention Whore: His main reason for doing anything.
 * Jerkass: Spent many years as this, now wavers between it and Jerk with a Heart of Gold.
 * Momma's Boy: Despite once shoving her down the stairs, he's the first person to run to her when there's trouble.
 * Smug Snake
 * The Sociopath: Was played this way for several years, but has disappeared over time as he's apparently "mellowed out".
 * The Unfavorite: Compared to high achiever Nick and teenage mother Sarah, he never got much attention and he never fails to remind his mother of that.
 * Troll: Possibly the only way to really describe his character, he simply likes getting a rise out of people, or stirring up trouble for other people.

Kylie Platt
A description of the character goes here.


 * Attention Whore: The main reason she and husband David are a match made in hell.
 * The Chessmaster: As much so as The Seventh Doctor was.
 * Jerkass
 * Manic Pixie Dream Girl: A dark version.
 * Parental Incest: Part of her backstory, it's even implied the her son Max was also her fathers child.
 * Raised by Wolves: Just see the above.

Tyrone Dobbs
A description of the character goes here.


 * Dogged Nice Guy
 * Dumb Is Good
 * Mr. Fixit
 * The Woobie

Tommy Duckworth
A description of the character goes here.


 * The Charmer

Carla Connor
A description of the character goes here.


 * Defrosting Ice Queen: Has gone through various levels of frostiness over the past few years.
 * Expy: Well, technically, she's not an expy, but Bree from Desperate Housewives is an expy of Carla!
 * Rich Bitch: Particularly in her initial appearances but thankfully has several hidden depths.
 * Self Made Woman: Originally grew up on a Council Estate.
 * Spiritual Successor: As a ruthless charming Cockney who came from nothing Carla bears a certain resemblance to Mike Baldwin the factory's previous owner.

Julie Carp
A description of the character goes here.


 * Cloudcuckoolander: At times.
 * Genki Girl: She's cheery almost to a fault.
 * Odd Friendship: With her serious cynical older sister Eileen.

Rita Sullivan
A description of the character goes here.


 * Cool Old Lady: She frequently acts as a mentor to many a troubled young woman.
 * Fiery Redhead: Though, not a natural redhead, much to her embarassment.
 * Straight Man: To Norris' blustering Ted Baxter.

Eileen Grimshaw
A description of the character goes here.


 * Arch Enemy: Gail Platt, for a number of years now, though it's cooled more recently as they has less to do with each other.
 * Butt Monkey: Even by soap standards, Eileen has a hard life.
 * Deadpan Snarker
 * Mama Bear: God help you if you hurt one of her boys.
 * Stoic Woobie: Refused to cry in public even at her fathers funeral occasionally slides into Jerkass when she expresses affection through yelling.

Jason Grimshaw
A description of the character goes here.


 * Brainless Beauty
 * Dumb Muscle: Most of the time, although Jason often shows flashes of insight that suggest he's more lazy than truly unintelligent.
 * The Unfavorite: To his smarter more sensitive brother Todd.

Sean Tully
A description of the character goes here.


 * Bitch in Sheep's Clothing
 * Camp Gay: To the point where he runs into Unfortunate Implications.
 * The Scrappy

Number 12 Coronation Street
Currently under construction; owned by Jason Grimshaw

Lloyd Mullaney
A description of the character goes here.


 * Expy: Many consider him an Expy of Craig Charles' other best known character, Dave Lister.
 * Token Minority: One of the streets first black regulars TPTB seemed to struggle with what to do with him other than have him date the shows only other black character. Although more recently, he has developed into storylines of his own.
 * Vitriolic Best Buds: With Steve who he co-own the local cab firm with.

Cheryl Gray
A description of the character goes here.


 * Domestic Abuse: From her ex-husband Chris.
 * Single Mom Stripper: Initially but now works at Nick Tilsleys bar.
 * Ted Baxter: Like to think a lot of herself and her son Russ.

Izzie Armstrong
A description of the character goes here.


 * Disabled Snarker
 * Ill Girl: As child and the reason her father is so overprotective.
 * Overprotective Dad: Her father Owen moved onto the street to stalk, I mean watch over her.

Gary Windass
A description of the character goes here.


 * Delinquents: In his early appearances.
 * Fiery Redhead
 * Shell-Shocked Veteran: Though only away for a few months, he came back considerably disturbed after an enemy attack left a friend of his dead.

Tina Macintyre
A description of the character goes here.


 * Daddy's Girl
 * Little Miss Snarker
 * Ms. Fanservice

Graeme Proctor
A description of the character goes here.


 * Cloudcuckoolander: Has a unique way with people and way of seeing the world.
 * Pyromaniac: Graeme loves a good fire.
 * Raised by Wolves: The reason for his uniqueness.

Xin Proctor
A description of the character goes here.


 * Citizenship Marriage: To Graeme.

Peter Barlow
A description of the character goes here.


 * The Alcoholic: Noteworthy on a show where most consume twice the British average amounts for alcohol and practically live in the pub. Peter is the only actual dry drunk, though by some measures most of the cast qualifies as functional alcoholics.
 * Children Raise You
 * I Am Not My Father: Comparisons to dad Ken are something of a Berserk Button.
 * Jerk with a Heart of Gold
 * Parental Abandonment: The main reason his relationship is strained is because his father shipped him and his twin sister of to their Scottish grandparents at the age of six following the death of their mother. To be fair though, it was how it was done in those days.
 * Rescued from the Scrappy Heap: Circa 2003, he was "the most hated man in Britain" but one recovery from alcoholism and amazingly cute child later, his injury was a central part of the fiftieth anniversary special.

Leanne Barlow (nee Battersby)
A description of the character goes here.


 * Good Bad Girl: Originally, although she has settled down recently, she's still is a tough cookie.
 * High-Class Call Girl: Was one for a few months, although the rest of the street will probably never let her forget it.
 * Tsundere

Simon Barlow
A description of the character goes here.


 * Innocent Prodigy

Roy Cropper
A description of the character goes here.


 * Ambiguous Disorder: Roy has a lot of quirks and can be just downright odd at times.
 * Bunny Ears Lawyer: He might be a bit odd, but he makes a bloody good full english breakfast.
 * Cloudcuckoolander: Regarded as one in-universe, though he doesn't fully deserve the reputation.
 * Friend to All Living Things: He was the first see the freindly neighborhood Serial Killer for what he was, when said serial killer destroyed a nest of bats.

Hayley Cropper
A description of the character goes here.


 * Liz Lemon Job: Her title of supervisor at the factory often amounts to this managing the Greek Chorus of Deadpan Snarker's and Cloudcuckoolander's is quite a challenge.
 * Only Sane Woman: Frequently when husband Roy gets carried away with his eccentricities, or at Underworld where she is the supervisor.
 * Plucky Girl In a street full of them Hayley is a standout although still a bit too practical to be a Pollyanna.

Sylvia Cropper
A description of the character goes here.


 * Jerkass
 * Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior!

Mike Baldwin (played by Johnny Briggs)
Owned the factory over the road (among other things), for most of its existence starting as Balwin's casuals and then after it became Underworld. Mike was a tenacious self made man who got where he had by hard work and a lot of charm, not that he ever let anyone forget it. Mike always liked Deirdre and that turned into an affair in 1983 unfortunately Deirdre decided to stay married to Ken. Ken would never forgive Mike for the affair although Mike and Deirdre would remain friends until his death. A few years later, Mike would marry Ken's daughter Susan (at least partly to piss of Ken on both their parts) but his sexism (she wanted to work he wanted a housewife) would cost him the relationship Susan left him after telling him she aborted his baby. A few years later, he would meet Alma Sedgewick arguably the love of his life who he then dumped for a young blond tart. This would be a pattern for them and they would break up and get back together several times for much the same reason. In 2001, Peter Barlow revealed that Susan had lied and had actually had a son with Mike named Adam. Mike rivalry with Ken flared up again when Susan died and the two men fought for custody of Adam. As he was getting older, Mike decided to bring in a partner his nephew Danny Baldwin. It was revealed that Danny was actually Mike's son, however they never got much time together as Mike developed Alzhiemer's disease. Mike died outside the factory in the arms of Ken Barlow of a heart attack on the seventh of April 2006.


 * Alas Poor Villain: Despite all the trouble he caused for the street residents his final story of battling with Alzheimer's was portrayed sympathetically. In the last moments of his life Ken who had more reason to hate Mike than anyone was genuinely distraught by the state he saw Mike in.
 * Bad Boss: Mike was very tough on his staff. He deliberately downplayed one of his employees to another company so they'd be stuck working for him. He seemed to have a particular dislike for Kevin and delighted in getting him into trouble with the law by forcing him to take the fall for Steve after Steve crashed his jaguar.
 * Doting Parent: despite his bad qualities he did what he could for his sons Mark and Adam.
 * Chronic Backstabbing Disorder :Mike was not very trustworthy. This was lampshaded  in a 2002 story where he pulled a fast one on Fiz and the other girls said she brought it on herself by not being weary of him.
 * Corrupt Corporate Executive: He had a poor moral compass, conning many people and having Ashley sell dodgy goods for him when the business was doing poorly.
 * Pet The Dog:
 * In 1982 there was a story where Eddie Yeats repeatedly snuck into Mike's flat to convince his girlfriend he was rich. When Mike found out he was justifiably angry but when Eddie revealed his insecurity that there was nothing he could offer a woman Mike felt sorry for him and decided not to call the cops. He then agreed Eddie could use the flat one last time to explain things to his girlfriend.
 * After Janice's boyfriend Dennis died Mike went to her house to comfort her and allowed her as much time of as she needed.
 * Gold Digger: He married Jackie Ingram to get her factory and even signed a prenup without reading it so she would feel guilty about doubting him.

Adam Barlow(played by Iain de Caestecker, Sam Robertson)
Son of Susan and Mike Baldwin he lived with Grandad Ken for a while after leaving school. Last heard to be in Spain.

Daniel Barlow (played by Lewis Harney)
Youngest son of Ken Barlow currently lives with his mother. Mostly mentioned when Peter wants to make Ken feel guilty.

Susan Barlow (played by Katie Heanneau, Wendy Jane Walker, Suzy Patterson, Joanna Foster)
Ken oldest daughter and Peter's twin sister she famously married Mike Baldwin and had his son. Died in a car crash trying to run away from a custody fight with Mike. Mostly mentioned when Ken wants to manipulate Peter.

Valerie Barlow (played by Anne Reid)
Ken's long suffering first wife and mother of Susan and Peter. She kept house and home together while Ken was busy being involved in politics and getting involved with other women. Was the street first hairdresser and ran her own shop out of number 9. Died when faulty wiring on her hair dryer electrocuted her and started a fire in her home.

Jack Duckworth (played by Bill Tarmey)
Jack moved to the street in 1983 with his wife Vera and son Terry. Jack and Vera had a very rocky marriage and many arguments, often about Terry as Vera refused to see him for the scumbag he was. Jack was a rogue and always scheming but had a sense of empathy his son lacked. Jack disowned Terry completely after Terry sold his son Tommy to the in-laws. Jack came to see his lodger Tyrone Dobbs as more of a son than Terry ever was. Jack was devastated when Vera died and Tyrone helped him get through it. after learning he was ill Jack spent his final days performing acts of kindness for those around him before he passed away peacefully.


 * Doting Parent: To his grandkids. He was distraught when Terry took Tommy away from him and put in alot of time to look after his other grandson Brad. He was apparently fond of Terry when he was younger but over the years the love dissipated.
 * Good Is Not Soft: Jack was a genuinely kind person but uncompromising when it came to Terry and enjoyed making Alec's life hard.
 * Good Is Dumb Wasn't the smartest guy around but had everyone's best interests at heart.
 * Happily Married : Despite the bickering and constant arguing Jack loved Vera more than anything in the world. He took responsibility for miscalculating some money knowing he'd get endless agro from her to protect her from the truth of knowing their grandson Paul had stolen from them.
 * Lazy Bum: He did anything to get out of work and spent most of his work at the rovers drinking Alec's beer.
 * Like a Son to Me: Said this about both Curly and Tyrone.
 * Odd Friendship: Not exactly "friends" but he was fond of his son's girlfriend Tricia despite her loyalty to Terry and chequered past.
 * Papa Wolf: Even though he usually couldn't stand his son he stood by him when he was framed for attempted  and risked imprisonment to protect Terry from law enforcement.
 * Took a Level In Kindness: He was fairly unsympathetic in his early years and was portrayed as living off handouts from his own son. Later on he was easily the most likable of the Duckworth clan, defending Gail when Vera launched a harassment campaign against her and showing compassion to Molly even after learning she cheated on Tyrone.
 * Your Cheating Heart: He frequently hopped into bed with other women in his early years in the show though Vera was not much better.