Brenda Nugent was a sister of Emily Bishop. One of six children in the Nugent family, her mother died when she was young and she was taken care of along with her sisters and brother by Emily, without the help of father James. Brenda was the most strident of the children, with Emily in particular recalling her to be the only one of them with any "spark". When their father was struggling with ill health following a stroke in 1966, Brenda was out of contact with her family, with her sister Joan reporting that she did not receive so much as a Christmas card. Last known to be living in Colchester, Brenda was married to a man called Toby, who worked in public relations. Joan and her other two sisters selfishly allowed Emily to take full responsibility for James until they were persuaded, a year later, to each take care of him in turn.
Brenda has never visited Weatherfield to see Emily.