Coronation Street in 1972



1972 was Coronation Street's thirteenth year. The year began with Brian Armstrong as the incumbent producer. With Episode 1184, Armstrong was replaced by Eric Prytherch, who would remain in charge of the programme until April 1974, the longest uninterrupted run of a producer to date. Meanwhile, H.V. Kershaw, the programmes first script editor, returned to the role of executive producer with Episode 1222.

The key storylines of 1972 were the wedding of Emily Nugent and Ernest Bishop, the snatching of Ena Sharples's grandson Jason Lomax, the return of an engaged Concepta Hewitt, Alan Howard's alcoholism, a peeping tom stalking the female residents, the introduction of Norma Ford and her ex-con father Jacko, who is framed for robbing new bookie Benny Lewis's flat, and the establishment of club singer Rita Littlewood and Len Fairclough as the Street's new power couple, with Barbara Mullaney reprising the role of Rita after a one-off appearance in 1964. Rita's arrival heralded a new emphasis on showbusiness, with The Capricorn club featuring as a continuing location in the latter part of the year.

On the casting front, Anne Kirkbride made her first appearance as Deirdre Hunt in Episode 1236, transmitted on 12th November, although she was not a full-time member of the cast until the following year. Future Street stalwart Alec Gilroy, played by Roy Barraclough, appeared in two episodes in June, while William Moore made his final appearance as Cyril Turpin, husband of Betty.

104 new episodes were broadcast on ITV in 1972. The highest rated installment was Episode 1171, shown on 5th April, seen in 8,300,000 homes - the lowest yearly peak since 1961. For the first time since the show initially topped the viewing charts, none of the year's episodes reached number one in the weekly rankings - down from 21 episodes the previous year.

Main cast

 * Len Fairclough - Peter Adamson
 * Hilda Ogden - Jean Alexander
 * Mavis Riley - Thelma Barlow (April)
 * Alec Gilroy - Roy Barraclough (June)
 * Alan Howard - Alan Browning
 * Minnie Caldwell - Margot Bryant
 * Ray Langton - Neville Buswell
 * Ena Sharples - Violet Carson
 * Norma Ford - Diana Davies (May onwards)
 * Emily Nugent/Bishop - Eileen Derbyshire
 * Betty Turpin - Betty Driver
 * Billy Walker - Kenneth Farrington (January)
 * Bet Lynch - Julie Goodyear
 * Jerry Booth - Graham Haberfield
 * Ernest Bishop - Stephen Hancock
 * Albert Tatlock - Jack Howarth
 * Concepta Hewitt - Doreen Keogh (October to November)
 * Deirdre Hunt - Anne Kirkbride (November)
 * Cyril Turpin - William Moore (February to March, July)
 * Alf Roberts - Bryan Mosley
 * Lucille Hewitt - Jennifer Moss
 * Rita Littlewood - Barbara Mullaney (January to February, April onwards)
 * Esther Hayes - Daphne Oxenford (April)
 * Ivy Tilsley - Lynne Perrie
 * Elsie Howard - Patricia Phoenix
 * Ken Barlow - William Roache
 * Edna Gee - Mavis Rogerson (January, April, September, and November)
 * Annie Walker - Doris Speed
 * Maggie Clegg - Irene Sutcliffe
 * Stan Ogden - Bernard Youens

Who lives where
Coronation Street Victoria Street Others
 * Rovers Return Inn - Annie Walker and Lucille Hewitt. Emily Nugent (until April). Billy Walker (from January onwards).
 * 1 Coronation Street - Albert Tatlock. Ken Barlow (from April onwards).
 * 3 Coronation Street - Ken Barlow (until April). Ernest and Emily Bishop (from April onwards)
 * 5 Coronation Street - Minnie Caldwell.
 * 9 Coronation Street - Len Fairclough, Ray Langton and Jerry Booth.
 * 11 Coronation Street - Elsie and Alan Howard. Ivy Tilsley (April only).
 * 13 Coronation Street - Stan and Hilda Ogden. Archie Crabtree (May only).
 * Corner Shop (No.15) - Maggie Clegg. Jacko Ford (July to August and October to December).
 * Corner Shop Flat (No.15a) - Norma Ford (from May onwards).
 * Community Centre Flat - Ena Sharples.
 * 20 Victoria Street - Deirdre Hunt.
 * 44 Victoria Street - Bet Lynch.
 * 23 Jubilee Terrace - Mavis Riley.