Frank Barton

Frank Barton was the brother of Peggy Barton, one-time girlfriend of Ken Barlow's. Having previously done battle in their respective roles as supervisor and shop steward at the Mark Brittain Warehouse three months previously, Ken and Peggy encountered each other again at the Rovers Return in November 1974, by which time Peggy was in a new job. Despite their opposing roles at the workplace, Ken and Peggy respected and liked each other, and so when Ken offered to drive Peggy home, she made him agree to stop for a drink.

When Ken and Peggy arrived at the Barton residence, Frank and their father George were engrossed in the football on television although Frank did prompt Ken to remember that Frank had previously worked in packing at the warehouse. At breakfast the next morning, Frank asked Peggy why she was dating Ken as he'd been partly responsible for her losing her job at the warehouse, but Peggy refused to be drawn by her brother's questions and dismissed her brother as "bone idle".