Fred (1972 character)

Fred was a barman who in January 1972 worked at the Red Lion hotel when Ivy Tilsley and Edna Gee took Elsie Howard there for a night out when her marriage to Alan was going through a bad patch. Elsie found herself the object of unwanted attentions from a drunken, groping Harry Mascall but Fred got rid of him by telling Harry that Elsie’s husband was in jail and hinted that he would be in trouble when he got out.

Two months later, he was working at The Flying Horse when Ernest Bishop was taken there for a drunken stag night. He told Ernie that he was mad to get married and advised him to enjoy his last night of freedom.


 * The character is notable for being played by Fred Feast, three years before he made his debut as Fred Gee, soon afterwards a long-standing barman at the Rovers. No indication is given in either 1972 episode that they are one and the same character, despite appearing with "future wife" Edna Gee in all his scenes in the January episode. In addition, when applying for the job at the Rovers in March 1976, no mention is made of him having previous experience of a barman which would have made a connection between the two characters.