Jamie Armstrong was the adolescent son of Tricia Armstrong. Along with his mother, who was separated from Jamie's abusive father Carl, Jamie lived at 1 Coronation Street and then at 5 Crimea Street from 1995 to 1997.
An astute and crafty young lad, Jamie didn't always do as he was told but was just about kept in line by his mother. The family left the street to live with Tricia's partner Ray Thorpe soon after the birth of Jamie's half-brother, Brad.
Contents
Biography
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Personality
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Relationships
Tricia Armstrong
Jamie often rowed with and gave cheek to his mother, Tricia, but he was very close to and protective of her. When Mike Baldwin was attempting to evict the Armstrongs from 1 Coronation Street, Jamie assured Tricia that he would sort him out for her, even threatening to get his dad to give him "a good going over". In addition, Jamie was very upset when Tricia was sentenced to seven days in prison for failing to pay her TV license in January 1996, going as far as to run away from his foster home and return to the Crimea Street flats where they lived. When Jamie cried for his mum, his social worker relented and allowed him to stay with reluctant neighbour Deirdre Rachid until Tricia returned. When Bill Webster took Jamie to meet his mum at the prison gates, Tricia was overjoyed and held her son tight.
Jack Duckworth
Jamie also became close to Jack Duckworth during his time in Weatherfield. Their paths first crossed in March 1994 when Jack babysat Jamie while Tricia was out on a date with Curly Watts, only for Jamie's dad Carl to show up and thump Jack thinking he was Tricia's new man. When Jamie and Tricia moved into Coronation Street, Jamie took an interest in Jack's pigeons, cooing and stroking them like Jack. However, the two became closest when Tricia fell pregnant by Jack and his wife Vera's son Terry, later giving birth to his half-brother Brad. The Duckworths took Tricia and Jamie under their wing, considering them family, and they moved in with them at their pub and home, the Rovers Return. When Tricia decided to leave the area with her family and new boyfriend Ray Thorpe, Jamie was devastated and asked Jack if he could stay with him. It took some persuading, but the Armstrongs eventually left the area to start their new life. Just before they departed, Jack confided in Tricia that he would miss Jamie very much.
Background information
Jamie Armstrong, played by Joseph Gilgun and introduced alongside his mother Tricia, first appeared in March 1994 albeit for a stint of just two episodes. The two was introduced more long-term from January 1995, with Jamie reappearing from Episode 3807 broadcast on the 20th.
Jamie was written out alongside his mother when Tracy Brabin decided to quit the programme to look after her new baby. The pair made their final appearances in Episode 4187, broadcast on 2nd May 1997. Jamie was mentioned one last time in Episode 4399 (8th May 1998), when Vera Duckworth arranged for her husband Jack's pigeons to stay with him for a while behind Jack's back.
In 2004, Gilgun was interviewed for the documentary The Kids from Coronation Street about his time on the programme, remembering the look of pride in his grandfather's eyes upon learning he'd got the part. He also recollected how on his first day of filming his mother had instructed the family accompanying him to the set to play it cool, only to go crazy upon spotting Julie Goodyear, well known for playing Bet Lynch. He also revisited the set with other former Corrie child stars, including Warren Jackson (Nick Tilsley) whom he had acted alongside.
First and last lines
"I'm off sick today." (First line, to Curly Watts)
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"Bye!" (Final line, to Vera Duckworth)
