Muriel Clough

Muriel Clough is the daughter of Ida Clough and brother of Bernard Clough. Between April and July 1978, she worked alongside her mother Ida as a machinist at Baldwin's Causuals. Muriel had a rather gormless but fiery personality and virtually agreed with everything her mother said; often replying with "Right Mam".

In April 1978, Elsie Tanner left to visit her daughter. As a result, the role of supervisor at the factory became vacant. Ivy Tilsley believed she would be next in line. However, Ida also wanted to apply. In order to do so, Ida instructed Muriel to try and flirt with Steve Fisher. Muriel attempted this but failed miserably. Ivy, Ida and Vera Duckworth all bickered over who should get the supervisor's job. During this argument, Muriel called out Vera for shouting at her mother leading Ivy to say that Ida should stick one on Muriel. Steve and Mike Baldwin break up the argument and call the women into the office. They all decide a selection board is the best way forward to settle the decision.

The following day, Ida and Muriel are in the Rovers, discussing who would be the best candidate. Muriel claims that Vera "thinks she's it" and she would have Ivy calling strikes every five minutes. Muriel then asks Ida about Ivy's chances of getting the job. Ida is adamant that Ivy wouldn't get the job because she was all for the union and Mike hated them like poison. After this, Muriel claims that her pie is funny. This displeases Ida who doesn't take kindly to the thought of being up all night with a sick Muriel. Ida is first to be interviewed and when she tells Ivy that Steve is asking most of the questions, Ivy is uneasy as she called Steve a useless lump earlier on. Muriel pipes up saying that "he's alright". In the end Mike decides to give Steve the supervisor's job and give Ivy the new role of senior machinist. When Ivy is called in to discuss this, Ida claims she would be a fool to take the job. Muriel agrees by saying "right mam".

We don't see Muriel again until June of the same year. After complaints from the factory girls (Including Muriel) about the floor not being swept properly. Hilda Ogden requests some new cleaning equipment such as a new broom. Mike claims she sabotaged the equipment herself and ultimately gets the sack for this. When Hilda comes into collect her things, she told the rest of the factory girls what happened. Ivy, Vera and Muriel in particular came out in support. Muriel pointed out that Mike shouldn't have spoken to Ivy in a bad manner because she was a "proper affiliated shop stewardess" and that Hilda's request was pretty reasonable. After agreeing that they should try to talk to Mike again. Muriel claims that he won't risk trouble over something like this. After Ivy's talk with Mike fails to get anywhere, she threatens to call the entire factory out on strike. The following day, the women vote for or against industrial action. Muriel is one of a majority of the women in favour of action. Eileen Tibson and Ida are not keen. Despite this, when Mike gives the girls a choice of walking out or returning to work, the entire factory except for Mike and Steve walk out. Later on, Ivy organises picket line duty. Muriel is keen and asks Ivy to mark her up for the first shift. Much to the disdain of Ida.

When picket line duty begins, the girls bicker with Ray Langton over who works the hardest. When Mike arrives, Muriel claims that he is not allowed in the factory. Mike reprimands the girls reminding them of what they can and cannot do during the strike. Alf Roberts complains to the girls that there are people trying to sleep. This causes Muriel to answer back shouting "there's folk want justice down here". This causes and angry Bet Lynch to shout back at her and the girls by telling them to shut up. Later on in the day, a car horn can be heard going off. It turns out to be Muriel annoying Steve as he tries to get a van of stock out of the factory. When he tries to drive out, Muriel and the other girls stand in front of the van and Ivy goads him to run them over. He doesn't and he gives in. At the Rover's Muriel reprimands Ida for not being initially supportive of the strike. To which Ida tells Muriel not to talk to her like that or else she'll get a "good hiding".

As the strike progresses, Mike tries to transfer work to another factory. Muriel gets wind of this and tells Ivy immediately. As a result, Ivy telephones the rep of the factory telling them to blacklist any work that Mike sends their way. The agree to do so. During the strike, Hilda Ogden has not done any picket line duty. Ivy and Ida tell her she must to show support. Hilda is reluctant because she has found a new job cleaning offices at an abattoir but not told the girls. She is paired up with Muriel. When Hilda needs to get to work, she gives her placard to Muriel and leaves. Despite Muriel telling her that Ivy will play hell. Just then, a coach of women arrives. They are outside workers. While they get off the coach, Muriel tells them there's a strike on and that she knows two of the women. They become aware they didn't realise there was a strike going on. Despite Muriel telling them they're not allowed in, the outside workers file into the factory. As they do, Muriel angrily shouts that they are nothing but scabs. Steve tries to calm her down; only for Muriel to begin belting him with her placard.

With this, she rushes into the Rovers and frantically tells the other women what's happened. They all rush out to the factory gates. Muriel explains she couldn't stop them on her own and that Hilda cleared off. The women begin chanting and become very hostile when they learn of the outside workers and begin throwing things and breaking windows. Meanwhile, Muriel lets down the tires of the van with help from Vera. All the violence is too much for Annie Walker who phones the police. When they arrive, the outside workers are escorted out. But not without jibes from the factory girls. Muriel can be heard telling to not come back if they know what's good for them. After this, Steve calls Ivy into the factory to have a word with Mike. In the end, he agrees to reinstate Hilda but not pay the factory girls for the time they spent on strike. When Ivy comes back, she tells the girls what Mike has said. All the girls except for Ivy and Muriel want to call it a day. When Ivy puts it to the vote, Muriel is the only who is in favour of continuing the industrial action. All the girls go back to work and everything returns to normal.

Muriel Clough is not seen again after this. It is unclear whether she was fired from her job or resigned.

List of appearances
1978