Mrs Shaw (1991 character)

Mrs Shaw was a cleaner at Pendlebury Paper Products's Weatherfield plant whose bottom was slapped by manager Derek Wilton in a moment of madness in 1991.

The bottom-slapping took place when Derek and Mrs Shaw were alone in reception after the rest of the workforce had left. Mr Shaw was dusting when Derek - who, in his words, was in the grip of a power stronger than himself (namely the parsnips Mavis had fed him as an aphrodisiac) - leaned over and patted her on the behind. Normally a respectful and reserved man, Derek then snapped out of his trance and apologised to Mrs Shaw.

The following day, company owner Victor Pendlebury visited the plant to implement cost-cutting measures, including laying off Mrs Shaw. The unfortunate timing of her sacking convinced Mrs Shaw that the management was victimising her, and she flew off the handle at Victor. As a result of this, Victor unwittingly made things worse by cancelling Mrs Shaw's notice period and dismissing her on the spot. Only after he saw Derek was Victor put in the picture about the bottom-slapping. After leaving work, Mrs Shaw wasted in no time in having her solicitor write to PPP threatening to sue Derek for sexual harassment.

Tasked with assuaging Mrs Shaw - or else - Derek paid the woman a visit at her home. Mrs Shaw conceded that the offence was out-of-character for Derek and, though bitter about losing her job, was appeased by his offer of a good reference. She appeared to be on the verge of agreeing to drop the tribunal when her husband arrived home. Derek then realised who was the driving force behind the lawsuit against him as Mr Shaw accused him and Victor of instigating a cover-up and escorted him out of the house.

The incident discouraged Derek from trying to get at Mrs Shaw again but Mavis, worried for her husband, secretly tried her luck a few days later. Mavis fared better with Mrs Shaw, telling her about the parsnips to explain Derek's "aberration", suggesting that Victor could be persuaded to re-employ her, and, to seal the deal, flattered Mrs Shaw by saying that she understood how Derek could be tempted by her. After consulting her husband, Mrs Shaw agreed to forget the tribunal. Visiting Mavis at the Kabin to deliver the news, Mrs Shaw shared her own secret - nutmeg in her husband's rice pudding. With parsnips off the menu, Mavis had a new dish with which to experiment...


 * Mrs Shaw's house number was 157 though the street wasn't named.

1991

 * Mon 27th May
 * Wed 29th May
 * Fri 31st May