Ernest Bishop

Ernest Gordon "Ernie" Bishop was a photographer and husband Emily Bishop from 1972 until his death in 1978.

Ernie was raised in Weatherfield and followed in his late father's footsteps by pursuing photography as a profession, eventually coming to own a camera shop. A shy, kind man, Ernest remained a bachelor into his late thirties, and in 1969 met Emily Nugent, a fellow member of the local Mission circuit. They had a rocky romance but got married in 1972, and bought No.5 Coronation Street.

As well as his photography, Ernie was engaged in work at the local Community Centre, as was Emily. However, neither was a great source of income and when the studio's rent was trebled in 1976 Ernie was forced to put the photography business into liquidation. The Bishops were saved financially when Mike Baldwin opened denim factory Baldwin's Casuals in the Street and gave Ernie a job as wages clerk, and it was at the factory in 1978, when Ernie was making up wage packets, that two men tried to raid the factory and one of them accidentally fired a shotgun at Ernie, killing him.

Something of a serial worrier, Ernie often let his pessimism get the better of him and he was sometimes inadvertantly ignorant of Emily's needs. Despite this, he was a devoted husband and a popular member of the community.

Biography
Ernie met Emily Nugent at his mother's funeral in 1969 and started dating. They had a long courtship before tying the knot in 1972. They always wanted to have children, especially after having a miscarriage in 1972.

While sorting out the wages for the factory girls in 1978, two robbers broke in and demanded Ernest to hand over the money, while he was held at gunpoint. The guy holding the gun, Ed Jackson, accidently set the gun of, and shot Ernest. Ernest was rushed to hospital, but had later died on the operating table, leaving his wife Emily widowed. The two thugs where caught and sent to life in prison.

Background Information

 * Ernest's departure in 1978 came due to actor Stephen Hancock felt he had to resign from Granada what he perceived as the injust way contracts were handled, particularly with the major stars, and wanted a more equitable system.
 * Ernest was first credited as Gordon Bishop, but this was later revealed to being his trade name.

Quotes
"Pardon?" (Final Line)