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in: Year guides, 1962, Coronation Street year-by-year

Coronation Street in 1962

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Titles 1962

1962 was Coronation Street's third year.

Main characters[]

Ranking Character Played by Duration Number of Episodes Running total Previous year's ranking
1 Len Fairclough Peter Adamson Full year 95 153 12
2 Jack Walker Arthur Leslie Full year 93 181 4
3 Elsie Tanner Patricia Phoenix Full year 92 184 1
3 Annie Walker Doris Speed Full year 92 183 3
3 Minnie Caldwell Margot Bryant Full year 92 172 7
3 Albert Tatlock Jack Howarth Full year 92 161 10
7 Concepta Hewitt Doreen Keogh Full year 91 170 5
8 Ena Sharples Violet Carson Full year 89 181 1
8 Harry Hewitt Ivan Beavis Full year 89 170 7
8 Martha Longhurst Lynne Carol Full year 89 172 5
11 Frank Barlow Frank Pemberton Full year 87 152 11
12 Ken Barlow William Roache Full year 86 147 12
13 Florrie Lindley Betty Alberge Full year 85 144 14
14 Leonard Swindley Arthur Lowe From June 54 94 19
15 Doreen Lostock Angela Crow From June 53 88 21
16 Emily Nugent Eileen Derbyshire From June 49 81 23
16 Sheila Birtles Eileen Mayers From June 49 68 27
18 Lucille Hewitt Jennifer Moss From April 48 81 24
19 Valerie Tatlock/Barlow Anne Reid From July 44 61 28
20 Jerry Booth Graham Haberfield From July 33 33 -
21 Christine Hardman/Appleby Christine Hargreaves June and October onwards 25 83 16
22 Jed Stone Kenneth Cope April and from November 18 26 29
22 Dennis Tanner Philip Lowrie Until March 18 96 9
24 Ivan Cheveski Ernst Walder From November 11 63 17
24 Linda Cheveski Anne Cunningham From November 11 73 15
26 Esther Hayes Daphne Oxenford May and July to September 8 51 19
27 Billy Walker Kenneth Farrington May only 6 39 22
28 Alf Roberts Bryan Mosley October only 4 25 26

Production[]

The Equity strike ends[]

Ena minnie martha publicity

Viewer favourites Ena, Minnie and Martha in the Rovers snug

The Equity actors' strike ended on 3rd April after raging on for over five months. The latter weeks of the dispute saw Coronation Street's cast reduced further, with Philip Lowrie's contract expiring at the end of February (although Lowrie had wanted to leave anyway). The programme's production was also hit, with the demands of creating storylines involving solely the thirteen remaining characters causing writer/storyliner Vince Powell to leave. According to then-writer John Finch, if the strike had gone on long enough that all of the actors' contracts ran out (ie. forcing production to shut down), the return of the programme wasn't guaranteed. Fortunately, ITV reached an agreement with Equity on 28th March, ending the strike two months before contracts ended.

Returning Coronation Street's cast to full capacity was a gradual process which continued for the rest of the year. Storylines were planned so far in advance that it wasn't until mid-May that actors other than the core cast were given starring roles; Jennifer Moss had returned as Lucille Hewitt for one episode on 23rd April, but her appearance didn't affect the plot and was easily slotted in to a completed script. Moss came back permanently with Episode 150 on 21st May. Priority was given to characters who were supposed to have been living in Coronation Street (or close by) for the duration of the strike, and so Esther Hayes, Christine Hardman, Sheila Birtles, Emily Nugent, Doreen Lostock and Leonard Swindley all re-appeared in the following weeks. As actresses Daphne Oxenford and Christine Hargreaves were only available for a few weeks, their characters Esther and Christine moved out of Coronation Street almost as soon as they returned. Hargreaves signed a new contract in October after completing her theatre commitments, while Esther was strictly a recurring character post-strike.

Subsequent returns included Anne Reid as Valerie Tatlock in July, and in November, Kenneth Cope, Anne Cunningham and Ernst Walder as Jed Stone, Linda Cheveski and Ivan Cheveski respectively. Valerie and Jed moved into the street, with Val marrying Ken Barlow and Jed becoming Minnie Caldwell's lodger, but the Cheveskis returned to their new home in Canada after two months. Jack Watson returned as Bill Gregory for two weeks in July to finish off the storyline of Elsie finding out he was married which had been dropped with the commencement of the strike. Some characters didn't return; including Jean Stark, Phil Braithwaite and Norman Dobson, despite all three living in Coronation Street at the onset of the strike.

H.V. Kershaw's first year[]

HV Kershaw

H.V. Kershaw - writer, script editor, producer, Pictured on the Grape Street set

Script editor H.V. Kershaw replaced Derek Granger as producer with Episode 140 on 16th April. Kershaw would be the go-to producer for Coronation Street for the following 11 years, with nine separate stints in the role, and several as executive producer.

Due to the focus on bringing characters back, only one actor joined the main cast in 1962; Graham Haberfield as young builder Jerry Booth, who became Len Fairclough's apprentice. Meanwhile, Len's role grew, with Peter Adamson effectively becoming the programme's leading man with much focus on Len's will-they-won't-they relationship with Elsie Tanner, which arose during the strike, as well as his new joinery business. Meanwhile, Reginald Marsh was first seen as London-born bookie Dave Smith, a role he played on a recurring basis until 1976. The year's biggest storyline featured the snatching of baby Christopher Hewitt - born to Concepta and Harry in August - by Joan Akers (see "Viewing figures" section below).

At the end of the year, the cast size was still lower than it was before the strike hit in October 1961. Having proved that it could function with a cast of thirteen and still attract huge audiences, Coronation Street's casting budget did not rise fast enough to combat the increasing cast salaries. This resulted in several houses in the street lying empty for large portions of the 1960s.

Coronation Street stirred up an unexpected controversy when, in Episode 149, Ena Sharples wrote to Prince Philip asking for his help in stopping Coronation Street from being renamed Florida Street. This contravened a law stating that living members of the Royal Family couldn't be mentioned by name in stage plays or films. The Postmaster-General contacted Granada and told them to drop all references from future scripts but no further action was taken. After this, other programmes began to mention the Royal Family and the law quietly fell into disuse.

In a reflection of the changing lives of people in the working class north, No.9 became the first household in the street other than the Rovers to have a phone installed.

Viewing figures[]

1962 ratings

Ratings chart for the year

Coronation Street was at number one at in the ratings in all but two weeks of the year. Due to several episodes tying for first place, 57 episodes reached the top - the programme's highest ever number.

With an audience of 8,406,000 homes, Episode 189 on 3rd October was the highest-rated episode of Coronation Street up to that point. The record was quickly broken by the following episode, in which Elsie Tanner found the missing Christopher Hewitt alive and well with Joan Akers and convinced her to return the baby to the Hewitts. As well as being the most-watched episode of the year with 8,868,000 homes / 19.509 million viewers, it was the highest ever audience recorded for a British television programme, beating the 8,480,000 homes which had watched the Royal Variety Performance in November 1961. Just three weeks later, the 1962 Royal Variety Performance attracted an audience of 9,255,000 homes, breaking Coronation Street's short-lived record.

In one of Coronation Street's most successful years, every month built upon 1961's audience averages. The yearly average was 16.80 million viewers - a 29% increase on 1961.

Episodes[]

# Ep.
No.		 Date Writer Director Viewing
Figures
(homes/
viewers)		 Chart
Position
1 110 Monday 1st January H.V. Kershaw Pauline Shaw 6,952,000
15,294,400		 3
2 111 Wednesday 3rd January H.V. Kershaw Pauline Shaw 7,625,000
16,775,000		 1
3 112 Monday 8th January Jack Rosenthal Howard Baker 7,643,000
16,814,600		 2
4 113 Wednesday 10th January Adele Rose Howard Baker 7,867,000
17,307,400		 1
5 114 Monday 15th January Harry Driver
Vince Powell		 Richard Everitt 7,533,000
16,572,600		 2
6 115 Wednesday 17th January Johnny Whyte Richard Everitt 7,758,000
17,067,600		 1
7 116 Monday 22nd January Johnny Whyte Pauline Shaw 7,650,000
16,830,000		 1
8 117 Wednesday 24th January Jack Rosenthal Pauline Shaw 7,650,000
16,830,000		 1
9 118 Monday 29th January Harry Driver
Vince Powell		 Howard Baker 8,331,000
18,328,200		 1
10 119 Wednesday 31st January Jack Rosenthal Howard Baker 7,655,000
16,841,000		 2
11 120 Monday 5th February Tony Warren Christopher McMaster 7,660,000
16,852,000		 2
12 121 Wednesday 7th February H.V. Kershaw Christopher McMaster 8,110,000
17,842,000		 1
13 122 Monday 12th February Robert Holles Richard Everitt 7,664,000
16,860,800		 2
14 123 Wednesday 14th February Jack Rosenthal Richard Everitt 8,114,000
17,850,800		 1
15 124 Monday 19th February Harry Driver
Vince Powell		 Pauline Shaw 7,782,000
17,120,400		 1
16 125 Wednesday 21st February H.V. Kershaw Pauline Shaw 7,782,000
17,120,400		 1
17 126 Monday 26th February John Finch Howard Baker 7,896,000
17,371,200		 2
18 127 Wednesday 28th February Jack Rosenthal Howard Baker 8,122,000
17,868,400		 1
19 128 Monday 5th March H.V. Kershaw Christopher McMaster 7,902,000
17,384,400		 2
20 129 Wednesday 7th March Jack Rosenthal Christopher McMaster 8,127,000
17,879,400		 1
21 130 Monday 12th March John Finch Richard Everitt 7,791,000
17,140,200		 2
22 131 Wednesday 14th March H.V. Kershaw Richard Everitt 8,356,000
18,383,200		 1
23 132 Monday 19th March H.V. Kershaw Pauline Shaw 7,344,000
16,156,800		 2
24 133 Wednesday 21st March Jack Rosenthal Pauline Shaw 7,796,000
17,151,200		 1
25 134 Monday 26th March John Finch Howard Baker 8,024,000
17,652,800		 1
26 135 Wednesday 28th March H.V. Kershaw Howard Baker 8,024,000
17,652,800		 1
27 136 Monday 2nd April H.V. Kershaw Christopher McMaster 8,167,000
17,967,400		 1
28 137 Wednesday 4th April Jack Rosenthal Christopher McMaster 8,054,000
17,718,800		 2
29 138 Monday 9th April John Finch Pauline Shaw 8,053,000
17,716,600		 2
30 139 Wednesday 11th April Robert Holles Pauline Shaw 8,053,000
17,716,600		 2
31 140 Monday 16th April Peter Eckersley Howard Baker 8,171,000
17,976,200		 1
32 141 Wednesday 18th April H.V. Kershaw Howard Baker 8,057,000
17,725,400		 2
33 142 Monday 23rd April Tony Warren Christopher McMaster 6,017,000
13,237,400		 3
34 143 Wednesday 25th April H.V. Kershaw Christopher McMaster 7,379,000
16,233,800		 1
35 144 Monday 30th April John Finch Richard Everitt 7,383,000
16,242,600		 1
36 145 Wednesday 2nd May John Finch Richard Everitt 7,269,000
15,991,800		 2
37 146 Monday 7th May John Finch Pauline Shaw 7,727,000
16,999,400		 1
38 147 Wednesday 9th May Adele Rose Pauline Shaw 7,727,000
16,999,400		 1
39 148 Monday 14th May Tony Warren Christopher McMaster 7,958,000
17,507,600		 1
40 149 Wednesday 16th May John Finch Christopher McMaster 7,844,000
17,256,800		 2
41 150 Monday 21st May Peter Eckersley Richard Everitt 7,734,000
17,014,800		 2
42 151 Wednesday 23rd May Adele Rose Richard Everitt 7,847,000
17,263,400		 1
43 152 Monday 28th May John Finch Pauline Shaw 7,738,000
17,023,600		 1
44 153 Wednesday 30th May Tony Warren Pauline Shaw 7,738,000
17,023,600		 1
45 154 Monday 4th June Adele Rose Christopher McMaster 7,402,000
16,284,400		 1
46 155 Wednesday 6th June Peter Eckersley Christopher McMaster 6,946,000
15,281,200		 2
47 156 Monday 11th June John Finch Richard Everitt 4,785,000
10,527,000		 8
48 157 Wednesday 13th June Jack Rosenthal Richard Everitt 6,950,000
15,290,000		 1
49 158 Monday 18th June Keith Watson Christopher McMaster 7,181,000
15,798,200		 1
50 159 Wednesday 20th June Tony Warren Christopher McMaster 7,181,000
15,798,200		 1
51 160 Monday 25th June John Finch Richard Everitt 7,185,000
15,807,000		 2
52 161 Wednesday 27th June Adele Rose Richard Everitt 7,413,000
16,308,600		 1
53 162 Monday 2nd July John Finch Pauline Shaw 7,077,000
15,569,400		 2
54 163 Wednesday 4th July Adele Rose Pauline Shaw 7,420,000
16,324,000		 1
55 164 Monday 9th July Jack Rosenthal Christopher McMaster 7,235,000
15,917,000		 2
56 165 Wednesday 11th July Tony Warren Christopher McMaster 7,586,000
16,689,200		 1
57 166 Monday 16th July Adele Rose Richard Everitt 7,356,000
16,183,200		 2
58 167 Wednesday 18th July Tony Warren Richard Everitt 7,473,000
16,440,600		 1
59 168 Monday 23rd July John Finch Pauline Shaw 6,303,000
13,866,600		 3
60 169 Wednesday 25th July Peter Eckersley Pauline Shaw 6,887,000
15,151,400		 1
61 170 Monday 30th July John Pennington Christopher McMaster 7,241,000
15,930,200		 1
62 171 Wednesday 1st August Tony Warren Christopher McMaster 7,241,000
15,930,200		 1
63 172 Monday 6th August Jack Rosenthal Derek Bennett 5,141,000
11,310,200		 5
64 173 Wednesday 8th August Adele Rose Derek Bennett 6,426,000
14,137,200		 1
65 174 Monday 13th August John Finch Pauline Shaw 6,896,000
15,171,200		 1
66 175 Wednesday 15th August Jack Rosenthal Pauline Shaw 6,779,000
14,913,800		 2
67 176 Monday 20th August Tony Warren Richard Everitt 7,020,000
15,444,000		 1
68 177 Wednesday 22nd August Ray H. Dunbobbin Richard Everitt 6,669,000
14,671,800		 2
69 178 Monday 27th August John Finch Pauline Shaw 7,377,000
16,229,400		 1
70 179 Wednesday 29th August Jack Rosenthal Pauline Shaw 6,908,000
15,197,600		 2
71 180 Monday 3rd September Adele Rose Richard Everitt 7,616,000
16,755,200		 1
72 181 Wednesday 5th September Peter Eckersley Richard Everitt 7,265,000
15,983,000		 2
73 182 Monday 10th September John Finch Pauline Shaw 7,857,000
17,285,400		 1
74 183 Wednesday 12th September Tony Warren Pauline Shaw 7,623,000
16,770,600		 3
75 184 Monday 17th September John Finch Christopher McMaster 7,982,000
17,560,400		 1
76 185 Wednesday 19th September Adele Rose Christopher McMaster 7,630,000
16,786,000		 4
77 186 Monday 24th September Adele Rose
Jack Rosenthal		 Richard Everitt 7,792,000
17,142,400		 1
78 187 Wednesday 26th September Tony Warren Richard Everitt 7,757,000
17,065,400		 2
79 188 Monday 1st October Clifford Buttrey Pauline Shaw 8,166,000
17,965,200		 2
80 189 Wednesday 3rd October John Finch Pauline Shaw 8,406,000
18,493,200		 1
81 190 Monday 8th October John Finch Christopher McMaster 8,868,000
19,509,600		 1
82 191 Wednesday 10th October Ray H. Dunbobbin Christopher McMaster 8,625,000
18,975,000		 2
83 192 Monday 15th October Alec Travis Richard Everitt 8,390,000
18,458,000		 1
84 193 Wednesday 17th October Adele Rose Richard Everitt 8,147,000
17,923,400		 2
85 194 Monday 22nd October Eddie Maguire
Adele Rose		 Pauline Shaw 8,274,000
18,202,800		 1
86 195 Wednesday 24th October Tony Warren Pauline Shaw 8,274,000
18,202,800		 2
87 196 Monday 29th October John Finch Christopher McMaster 8,524,000
18,752,800		 2
88 197 Wednesday 31st October Peter Eckersley Christopher McMaster 7,306,000
16,073,200		 3
89 198 Monday 5th November Adele Rose Pauline Shaw 7,434,000
16,354,800		 4
90 199 Wednesday 7th November Tony Warren Pauline Shaw 8,409,000
18,499,800		 1
91 200 Monday 12th November Adele Rose Richard Everitt 8,291,000
18,240,200		 1
92 201 Wednesday 14th November Johin Finch Richard Everitt 7,438,000
16,363,600		 3
93 202 Monday 19th November Adele Rose Christopher McMaster 8,424,000
18,532,800		 1
94 203 Wednesday 21st November John Finch Christopher McMaster 8,302,000
18,264,400		 2
95 204 Monday 26th November Tony Warren Pauline Shaw 8,676,000
19,087,200		 1
96 205 Wednesday 28th November John Pennington Pauline Shaw 8,310,000
18,282,000		 2
97 206 Monday 3rd December Jack Rosenthal Christopher McMaster 8,442,000
18,572,400		 1
98 207 Wednesday 5th December Peter Eckersley Christopher McMaster 8,197,000
18,033,400		 2
99 208 Monday 10th December Jack Rosenthal Richard Everitt 8,593,000
18,904,600		 1
100 209 Wednesday 12th December John Finch Richard Everitt 8,347,000
18,363,400		 2
101 210 Monday 17th December Adele Rose Michael Scott 8,233,000
18,112,600		 1
102 211 Wednesday 19th December Jack Rosenthal Michael Scott 7,619,000
16,761,800		 2
103 212 Monday 24th December Peter Eckersley Pauline Shaw 7,134,000
15,694,800		 1
104 213 Wednesday 26th December Tony Warren Pauline Shaw 5,166,000
11,365,200		 14
105 214 Monday 31st December Alan Travis Richard Everitt 8,125,000
17,875,000		 2

Storylines[]

January[]

  • Ena Sharples proves Dennis Tanner's innocence in the matter of the missing £20 from the Rovers till but a furious Elsie decides that they're boycotting the pub, even to the extent of refusing to enter the premises when Linda Cheveski phones from Canada. Annie's attitude and paranoia worsens and she insinuates that Len Fairclough is dishonest. The regulars boycott the pub. A horrified Annie finds the missing money stuck at the back of the till drawer and makes it up with her former customers who return to the fold.
  • Frank Barlow discovers that Ida Barlow had run up debts at the Corner Shop when Florrie Lindley, with Ken's agreement, adds 10/- to each order to pay off the sum.
Episode115

Ena moves into No.11, sharing the house with Elsie!

  • Ena cannot take any more of Minnie Caldwell's mother, Amy Carlton, and wants to move back to the Mission but Albert Tatlock won't vacate. After a short stay at No.11 (to Elsie's horror), Ena moves back to Minnie's.
  • Ken Barlow interviews the residents about their drinking habits for an article that he is writing.
  • Concepta Hewitt grows tired of Harry's whippets and is horrified when he swaps them for a racing greyhound - Lucky Lolita. Dennis is paid to exercise the dog but promptly loses it. The more intelligent animal makes its own way home. The dog wins its first race and the residents, bitten by the bug, go to the next race and place large bets. Dennis steals Elsie's holiday deposit money to make his bet and Elsie finds out.

February[]

  • Dennis's gamble pays off and he is able to return Elsie's money together with a share of his winnings.
  • In a sharp freeze, the water pipes freeze. Dennis thaws the pipes in Minnie's house with a blowtorch but they burst and flood the house leading Martha Longhurst to suggest that she sue for damages. When Concepta is sick and Dennis helps out in the Rovers for a night he serves Minnie a strong cocktail that knocks her out.
Episode122

Len tackles Ken about his article

  • Ken's article appears in a left-wing magazine, earning him twenty-five guineas but there is uproar when the local paper prints extracts leading most of the residents to feel insulted. When Ken tries to explain himself in the Rovers a fight breaks out between him and Len. The notoriety resulting from the articles shames the landlord into undertaking repairs to the houses.
  • Concepta's illness turns out to be morning sickness and she is able to tell a delighted Harry that they are expecting a baby.
  • Albert decides that he no longer wants to be Mission caretaker and he suggests to Mr. Baxter, the committee chairman, that Ena be reinstated. The committee agrees and Ena returns to a "Welcome Home" party from the residents.
  • Lucky Lolita runs again after Harry refuses a large sum of money for the dog and, based on its previous performance, some of the residents place large bets – the animal comes in last.

March[]

Episode129

Sealions in the bath!

  • Dennis organises a charity concert for the Over-Sixties. The "Blue Streak Rockets" are banned from performing by the police and the other main act breaks down on the way to the Mission where the concert audience is waiting. Dennis is forced to cancel the concert and find overnight accommodation for the "Rockets" and two performing sea lions. As the Walkers are away for the night, he thinks that ensconcing them in Rovers is the answer but Jack and Annie return home early. By total coincidence, Dennis soon afterwards moves to London to help Lenny Phillips open a new talent agency office there.
  • Concepta has concerns that she is too old to have a baby.
  • Ken starts to write a novel about three boys growing up in a northern back street (Ken would return to the manuscript in July 2008).
  • Jack collapses behind the bar of the Rovers from overeating but Annie doesn't believe his reassuring news from the doctor. When she investigates herself, she thinks that Jack has been leading her on that he was really ill and loads job after job on him in retaliation.
  • Ena collapses in the Vestry from a stroke one evening and is not found until the next day. She is rushed to hospital also suffering from pneumonia and remains unconscious.
  • Len fits a fireplace for Elsie and causes gossip with the time he spends with her.

April[]

  • Jack's mother dies in Barnsley.
  • Ena comes to in hospital and is soon her old self but is surprised when she receives a visit from a concerned Elsie. Minnie and Martha but her a budgie as a welcome home present but she rejects the gift when it constantly repeats "Ena won't like it". Martha takes the bird in.
  • As gossip spreads about Len and Elsie, Nellie Fairclough leaves her husband, taking son Stanley with her. When Concepta comforts Nellie, she and Len argue leading Harry to step in and the two friends fighting. Soon after Len is sacked for doing foreigners on Elsie's home and Concepta is suspected of telling his boss but it is Martha who confesses. Len becomes self-employed, working from a yard behind his home at 15 Mawdsley Street.
Episode142

Len and Jack deal with car trouble in the Peak District

  • Harry sells Lucky Lolita and uses the money towards a saloon car. Len helps him with a broken headlamp and the two men become friends again. The Hewitts, Len and the Walkers use the car to go to Lyme Park for an Easter Monday picnic but the it breaks down on the way back.
  • There are reports in the press about a night prowler in the area and the women become nervous that there are intruders in the empty No.9. More and more signs become evident that someone is using the house until Len catches someone in the backing.

May[]

  • Len finds out that youngster Billy Makin and his friends of the "Black Hand Gang" have been using No.9 as a hideout.
  • The brewery approves alterations to the Rovers and Len is given the job. Ken helps him out and the two forget their differences.
  • Frank and Florrie start spending time together to overcome their loneliness.
  • Nellie returns to Len.
  • Billy Walker returns to Weatherfield with his fiancée, London Beauty Queen Philippa Scopes. Annie is horrified and tries to dissuade Billy from marrying her. She causes consternation in the street by encouraging Lucille Hewitt to experiment with make-up and by being too friendly with Ken. She breaks off her engagement to Billy when he objects to her continuing with beauty contests and returns to London.
  • Esther Hayes decides to move to Moor Lane and leaves the Street.
  • The council decides to rename the Street as there are too many "Coronation Street"'s in the area. The residents protest and Ena writes to Prince Philip to gain his support.

June[]

Episode156

Christine climbs the roof of Elliston's Raincoat Factory, intending to jump off

  • Christine Hardman becomes clinically depressed at the drudgery of her life. She goes to the roof of Elliston's Raincoat Factory with the intention of committing suicide but Ken talks her down. Soon afterwards she meets old flame Colin Appleby and marries him on impulse, moving away from the area with him.
  • Ken's novel is rejected by the publishers.
  • Frank and Florrie's understated romance continues, with Ken's blessing.
  • Leonard Swindley's shop is taken over by the chain of Gamma Garments. Doreen Lostock is re-employed as sales assistant. Len is employed to convert the loft into a store room and gets stuck in there for the night causing Ena to wonder if he spent the night with Elsie.
  • Sheila Birtles' parents are moving to the country and, wanting to stay, she and Doreen persuade Florrie to let them be tenants in the Corner Shop flat.
  • Len tells Elsie that Bill Gregory is returning to the area.

July[]

Episode165

Elsie listens as Bill agrees to reconcile with his wife Phyllis

  • Bill arrives and he and Elsie take up their relationship again. Ena is the first one to realise that Bill is married and that Len knows. When he refuses to tell Elsie, Ena takes on the job. A shattered Elsie confronts Bill who tells her that he and Phyllis are separated but when Phyllis turns up and asks for a reconciliation he agrees to her request and they leave the area together.
  • Amy Carlton dies and Minnie Caldwell makes enquiries about moving from 15 Jubilee Terrace to 5 Coronation Street.
  • Valerie Tatlock returns to Weatherfield from Scotland. She and Ken take up where they left off the previous year and quickly become engaged. They set a date for 4th August and decide to buy No. 9. Val's parents can't make the wedding as her mother Edith is ill. Albert is happy to give the bride away and hires a morning suit and top hat for the occasion.
  • Business is good for Len and he takes on twenty-one year old Jerry Booth as his apprentice.
  • Doreen and Sheila move into the flat.
  • Gamma Garments holds a sale but it goes badly when Swindley forgets the key to the shop and Doreen sells hankies at 1/11 a box when the price should be per individual hankie.
  • Annie goes on holiday on her own to Babbacombe when Jack refuses to go with her snobby friends. She returns full of stories about an Arthur Forsyth-Jones.
  • Despite Harry's refusal to do so, Concepta buys a washing machine on HP.

August[]

Kenvalwedding

Ken and Val are married

  • Ken and Val are married and go on honeymoon to London where they meet an old friend of Ken's, Geoffrey Simpson, and spend time with him, much to Val's annoyance. They return to the Street and move into No. 9 where Val opens a hair salon.
  • Concepta goes into labour and gives birth to a son who is named Christopher. Lucille soon shows signs of jealousy over the baby and clashes with Harry when she plays loud records. Ena reminds Concepta that she needs to be a mother to Lucille too.
  • Minnie moves into No. 5.
  • The council drops its plan to rename the Street.
  • Sam Leach, an old man down on his luck is taken on at the Rovers. Jerry recognises him as his Uncle. The regulars start to wonder what happened to his wife and why Sam is on his own and they start to get ideas that perhaps Sam killed her. Sam disappears when the police come looking for him.
  • Swindley holds a fire drill at the shop but locks both himself and the staff out. Len has to smash a window to let them get back in.
  • Ena demands repairs to the Vestry which Len and Jerry carry out.
  • Frank and Florrie's friendship breaks up acrimoniously, not helped when Martha spreads gossip about them. Len threatens her with action for slander if she continues.
  • Swindley joins PPOP (the Progressive Property Owners and Small Traders Party) who are thinking of entering the local elections.

September[]

  • Swindley is shortlisted as a candidate in the future elections. When the sitting councillor dies, the elections are brought forward and Swindley becomes the PPOP candidate when his opponent fails to turn up for the meeting.
  • Ena finds Sam hiding in the Mission. He is wanted for desertion of his wife. Ena persuades him to go to the police of his own free will but the regulars at the Rovers think she shopped him and they send her to Coventry. Sam writes to the Walkers telling them what really happened and, feeling guilty, the regulars apologise to Ena and welcome her back to the Snug.
  • Another London publisher considers Ken's novel. Enthused, Ken plans to give up teaching and become a writer, living off Val's earnings in the meantime. Val is supportive but Esther and Albert oppose the idea.
Episode184

A jealous Len punches Dave Smith over Elsie

  • Elsie meets dodgy bookie Dave Smith when Dot Greenhalgh persuades her to go to the races and she wins on a horse. Dave takes Elsie out but Len is jealous and hits Dave in the Rovers.
  • Ena blackmails Swindley for expensive paper in the vestry by threatening to vote against him in the elections.
  • Lucille reaches breaking point with Christopher when Concepta blames her for making him cry. She runs away from home but is found by Ena and persuaded to return.

October[]

Episode189

Concepta searches the streets for Christopher

  • The Hewitts make an effort to be more peaceful with each other. Harry and Concepta organise a party to celebrate their first wedding anniversary but a crisis hits the Street when Lucille, running an errand before the party, leaves the pram outside Gamma Garments only to discover that the baby has been taken when she comes out of the shop. The police start an intensive search of the area that the residents join in with. Concepta breaks down at the loss of her baby. Elsie returns from a holiday and meets a young lady called Joan Akers who knew Linda at school. Suspicious of the baby that Joan supposedly has, Elsie visits her and discovers Christopher in her possession – Joan's own baby had previously died and the event had disturbed her mind.
  • Emily socialises with Sheila's cousin Edwin Birtles, causing Swindley to feel jealous. He is preoccupied though with his election campaign. Minnie agrees that her house can be election HQ and he goes canvassing with his agent Mr Spinks. An election meeting in the Mission is curtailed when the boiler in the basement explodes.
  • Mr Spinks finds an abandoned love letter “from Jack” in the Mission and makes the mistake of handing it to Martha who immediately thinks it is to Ena and starts to show it round the Street. Annie realises that it is one of hers that Jack sent her and which she took to the Mission on the night of the gas mains explosion.
  • Albert becomes a lollipop man outside Bessie Street School.
  • Len Fairclough goes to court over his fight with Dave Smith and is bound over to keep the peace.
  • Jerry goes out with Sheila, riding on a tandem bicycle. The date goes badly when the bike falls into a ditch and the two have to walk ten miles back.
  • The Walkers celebrate their silver wedding anniversary with a party in the Rovers but the event goes wrong when Jack and Annie bicker and Swindley accidentally spills a trifle over a dress that Elsie "borrowed" from Miami Modes. She manages to get the dress cleaned and back in the store before her boss Mrs Dumbarton finds out.
  • Frank and Florrie come to an understanding when Frank tells her he only wanted friendship but nothing more. She lies and says she wanted the same thing.
  • Emily joins a literary circle.
  • Christine returns to the area and the residents wonder if she has left Colin. They are shocked to discover that Colin is dead, killed in a car accident only three months into their marriage.

November[]

  • Christine starts working with Elsie at Miami Modes. Jed Stone returns to the area and tries it on with her but Frank comes to her rescue. He, in turn, starts to develop a crush on the younger girl.
  • Martha badgers Ena about the love letter until Jack makes her hand it back.
Episode 202

Sunny Jim moves in

  • Jed lodges with Minnie and tries to sell twenty four wash basins and cons Jerry into buying the lot for the Builder's Yard for £25. Jerry becomes nervous that they’ve stolen. The police investigate but for once Jed is involved in a legitimate deal and made a huge profit from Jerry, having only bought them himself for £6, 10/-.
  • Albert becomes concerned for a young girl who uses his crossing called Susan Schofield. She sports a black eye and, encouraged to tell her troubles to the old man, runs away from home to No. 1 where she tells Albert about her drunken and abusive father. Albert confronts Jim Schofield, backed up by Harry and warns him not to touch the youngster again.
  • The election takes place but Swindley loses, achieving third place.
  • Emily’s literary circle makes plans to put on a play at Christmas for the Over-Sixties but when they back out the residents form the Mission Hall Players and decide to perform an old melodrama, Lady Lawson Loses and Swindley agrees to direct it.
  • Elsie is delighted when the Cheveskis come over for Christmas. It soon becomes clear that Linda doesn’t like Canada.

December[]

  • Linda wants Ivan to get his old job back in Britain but he refuses, preferring their life in Canada. She worries about Elsie being alone and wonders about staying but after a chat with Ena she decides to return once Christmas is over.
  • Sheila's parents try to force her to come and live with them in Rawtenstall but she refuses. Florrie brokers the peace by agreeing to keep them informed as to how Sheila is really coping and not just rely on their daughter's assurances.
  • Val starts to realise that Frank is serious about Sheila and snubs her. Frank tells his son and daughter-in-law that his intentions are serious and they are to mind their own business. He gives Christine a brooch for Christmas.
  • As the Barlows' money situation gets worse, Val starts to worry as her hairdressing business doesn't cover the bills. Albert tells Ken the predicament that they are in and he manages to save his job at Bessie Street at the last moment and not give up teaching.
Ladylawsonloses cast

The Mission Hall players perform Lady Lawson Loses

  • The residents get to grips with putting on the play. Emily's nerves fray as the opening night gets nearer, especially when she is cast in the lead role. Len builds the scenery and Jed provides the costumes but gets ones from the wrong period. The cast make do and despite several errors on the night all goes well. Emily, plied with tranquillisers and whisky, faints when the play is finished and everyone has gone home.
  • The residents worry about Len who is becoming more and more irritable. He finally reveals to Harry that Nellie and Stanley have run off to Nottingham with insurance man Harry Bailey.

Who lives where[]

Coronation Street


Mawdsley Street

Others

Awards and nominations[]

Daily Mirror Television Awards

Coronation Street in the 1960s
1960 • 1961 • 1962 • 1963 • 1964 • 1965 • 1966 • 1967 • 1968 • 1969 →
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