Template:27 January

27th January 1971: Valerie Barlow was electrocuted when attempting to use a hairdryer plug in her Maisonette. She was late for a going-away party for herself and her husband Ken in the Rovers Return Inn, prepared by the regulars as a farewell to the family, who were emigrating to Jamaica so that Ken could take a job there. In a hurry, Val had not been able to get her hairdryer to work and tried to fix the wiring in the plug and then putting the plug in the wall socket, electrocuting herself in the process. She also knocked an electric fire into a packing case, starting a fire, although by the time the fire started, Val was already dead. The incident resulted in Ken abandoning his plans to move and for the council to decide to demolish the Maisonettes in Coronation Street, declaring them unsafe.
 * For more information see Episode 1047 (27th January 1971).