Coronation Street in 1978



1978 was the ninteenth year of Coronation Street, marked by several cast departures including Stephen Hancock as Ernie Bishop, who had resigned over a pay dispute with producer Bill Podmore. Ernie was killed off during a botched robbery at the factory Baldwin's Casuals, a violent incident the like of which hadn't been seen in the series before and which saw it garner some criticism.

Other 1978 storylines included Ray Langton's affair with Janice Stubbs, Ray's departure from the street and the wedding of Alf Roberts and Renee Bradshaw. Debuts included Christopher Quinten as Brian Tilsley, future husband of Gail Potter, and Ida Clough as played by Helene Palmer.

103 new episodes were broadcast on ITV in 1978.

Main cast

 * Len Fairclough - Peter Adamson
 * Hilda Ogden - Jean Alexander
 * Mavis Riley - Thelma Barlow
 * Mike Baldwin - Johnny Briggs
 * Ray Langton - Neville Buswell (until November)
 * Ena Sharples - Violet Carson
 * Vera Duckworth - Elizabeth Dawn
 * Emily Bishop - Eileen Derbyshire
 * Betty Turpin - Betty Driver
 * Billy Walker - Kenneth Farrington (May)
 * Fred Gee - Fred Feast
 * Bet Lynch - Julie Goodyear
 * Ernest Bishop - Stephen Hancock (until January)
 * Renee Bradshaw/Roberts - Madge Hindle
 * Albert Tatlock - Jack Howarth
 * Eddie Yeats - Geoffrey Hughes
 * Blanche Hunt - Maggie Jones (November)
 * Deirdre Langton - Anne Kirkbride
 * Peter Barlow - Joseph McKenna (August to October)
 * Alf Roberts - Bryan Mosley
 * Rita Fairclough - Barbara Mullaney
 * Steve Fisher - Lawrence Mullin
 * Suzie Birchall - Cheryl Murray
 * Ida Clough - Helene Palmer (April onwards)
 * Ivy Tilsley - Lynne Perrie
 * Elsie Tanner - Patricia Phoenix
 * Brian Tilsley - Christopher Quinten (December onwards)
 * Ken Barlow - William Roache
 * Annie Walker - Doris Speed
 * Gail Potter - Helen Worth
 * Stan Ogden - Bernard Youens