Betty Ridgeway was a hostess at the Orinoco Club whose good looks caught the eye of Billy Walker in the summer of 1961.
Billy had gone to see Dennis Tanner rehearse his singing act at the club before it opened for the evening and confident Londoner Betty was an enthusiastic participant, adding backing vocals to his song. She had to get changed out of her fatigues and into the short skirt and fishnets that manager Sam Johnson insisted she wear for the evening, much to her chagrin. Such was the transformation that Billy initially didn't recognise her as she went amongst the customers with her tray of cigarettes. He asked her if she'd go out with him after the club was closed but she told him that the only thing she would want to do then would be to put her feet in hot water. She didn't close the door fully on his advances though, even though she had to keep moving as Mr Johnson kept a close eye of his staff and ensured that they kept working, otherwise she wouldn't get paid.
At that time, the Rovers Return Inn was on the lookout for a new barmaid as Concepta Riley would be leaving the position when she married Harry Hewitt later in the year. Hearing of the vacancy, Betty came to Coronation Street to inspect the area and called into the corner shop to buy cigarettes. Ena Sharples was there in her usual full-flow but allowed Betty to push in ahead of her, saying he had come far going by her accent. The cocky Betty stood her ground with the old lady using a combination of cheek and chat, telling her and Florrie Lindley that she worked with Dennis at the Orinoco but she was looking for a better job, although she remained tight-lipped as to what it actually was.
Billy Walker had his own plans for advancement as he was moving to Chiswick to run a new branch of the Blue Bell Garage, his present employers, and a leaving party was being held for him in the back room of the Rovers that night. There, Billy told Len Fairclough and Harry that if he'd had a chance with Betty, he might have been persuaded to stay. He was therefore staggered to see her arrive for her interview as he went to leave in his waiting taxi. She was highly amused and teased him that it was a shame that he was moving out, just as she was moving in! In the event, Betty didn't take the offered job but suggested her London friend Nona Willis in her place.
- Betty was played by Barbara Young, forty-six years before she appeared in the programme in the regular role of Doreen Fenwick.