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Maxine Marion Louise Peacock (née Heavey) was the first wife of Ashley Peacock and mother of Joshua.

A hairdresser by trade, she worked at Denise Osbourne's hair salon after being recruited by her good friend Fiona Middleton in 1995 and continued to work in the salon under the ownership of Fiona and later Audrey Roberts.

She was very much a good time girl, and had relationships, often one-night stands, with several of the street's males including Curly Watts, Des Barnes, Andy McDonald and Tony Horrocks. Her dalliance with Fiona's boyfriend Steve McDonald killed their friendship in 1998. Ultimately though, butcher Ashley was the man for Maxine and although she dumped him when he became involved with Zoe Tattersall in 1997, they later reunited and moved in together.

Maxine married Ashley in 1999 but the newlyweds struggled to conceive a child and it emerged that the issue lay with Ashley. Ashley had surgery to correct his fertility problem in 2001 but Maxine drunkenly slept with local GP Matt Ramsden on the same night and fell pregnant soon after. Ashley would later discover Maxine's infidelity causing her to go into premature labour but he eventually forgave her and resolved to raise baby Joshua as his own.

Just when Maxine had finally gained her perfect family, she was brutally murdered by Richard Hillman after walking in on his attempt to kill babysitter Emily Bishop in 2003.

Biography[]

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1995-2001: Relationship with Ashley Peacock[]

Episode4687

Maxine and Ashley on their wedding day

Maxine came to Coronation Street, Weatherfield in 1995 when she began working at her friend Fiona Middleton's salon. She began dating Ashley Peacock but dumped him when he became involved with Zoe Tattersall and her baby, Shannon. A brief relationship followed with Greg Kelly, but he was two-timing her with Sally Webster and it was a devastated Maxine who was ditched. On the rebound, she slept with Fiona's boyfriend Steve McDonald after the couple had had a row. Maxine confessed to Fiona, but Steve later forced her to say she had been lying out of spite. Fiona was disgusted and disowned her, and when the full story came out she did the same to Steve and left Weatherfield, ending their friendship.

Ashley persuaded Maxine that he really did love her and soon she moved in with him. Seeking security, Maxine married Ashley in 1999. She suspected Ashley of an affair in 2000, but realised he had been faithful to her. Difficulties in the marriage emerged however, when Maxine had trouble becoming pregnant by Ashley. On the night that he had surgery to assist with this problem, a drunken Maxine slept with local doctor - and next door neighbour - Matt Ramsden, and became pregnant.

2002: Joshua Peacock's parentage[]

Maxine gave birth to her only child, Joshua, prematurely after a confrontation with Ashley, during which he found out about her fling with Matt. Ashley was furious with his wife, but was determined not to let anyone else on the Street know that the child might not be his. Ashley was determined to get a DNA test done to be certain of Joshua's parentage, despite Maxine's protestations that the test was unnecessary and that they could mend their relationship. On the day the test was to be done however, Ashley realised that Maxine was truly sorry for what had happened and that they could in fact be a happy family together. He forgave Maxine and took both her and Joshua home without getting the test done.

2003: Maxine's demise and legacy[]

Ashley with Maxine's body

Maxine's body is discovered by Ashley

In January 2003, Maxine and Ashley attended Doreen's 50th birthday party at the Rovers, while Emily Bishop was babysitting Joshua. Richard Hillman, having persuaded Emily Bishop to sign her house over to him in an equity release scheme, staged a robbery at the Peacocks', framing Aidan Critchley for Emily's murder.

However, Maxine returned home alone early to see Richard standing over an unconscious Emily with a crowbar. Maxine asked Richard what's he's doing, and Richard remarked "You should have stayed at the party, Maxine". As Joshua started crying, Maxine tried to run upstairs, but Richard beat her to death with the crowbar. Richard then returned Aidan's clothes with the items he'd stolen and went back to the party with his absence not noticed by anyone. Later, Ashley returned home to see Maxine's battered and bloodied body. It took Ashley a long time to get over the tragedy.

Following Maxine's death, a park bench was dedicated in her memory. Aidan was arrested for the crime, though Richard was later revealed as the actual killer after confessing his crimes to Gail. Ashley took a paternity test determining once and for all that he was not Joshua's father. Despite this, Ashley continued to regard him as his own. Though Matt considered seeking custody for a time, believing that with Maxine dead, Joshua should be with his other natural parent, he eventually realised Joshua was happier with Ashley.

Personality[]

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Relationships[]

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Background information[]

MaxineGhost

Tracy Shaw as the ghost of Maxine.

After leaving Coronation Street, Tracy Shaw reprised the role of the ghost of Maxine Peacock, visiting Norris Cole in a one-off sketch show as part of ITV's Text Santa charity initiative which was broadcast on 21st December 2012.

Before the episode in which she was murdered by Richard Hillman aired, ITV aired a promo about Richard killing one of the residents, though she was not featured in it.

First and last lines[]

"You kept quiet about t'talent round here, kid. I've just seen a right hunk come out one o' them 'ouses." (First line, to Fiona Middleton)

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"Richard... what you doing?" (Final line)

Appendices[]

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"If you've owt to say, spit it out before it flamin' well chokes yer"
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List of addresses[]

Address Duration
2 Douglas Road until 28th July 1995
12a Rosamund Street 28th July 1995 to 29th March 1996
2 Douglas Road 29th March 1996 to 19th November 1997
4 Coronation Street 19th November 1997 to 12th December 1997
2 Douglas Road 12th December 1997 to 21st December 1998
2a Coronation Street 21st December 1998 to 19th July 1999
4 Coronation Street 19th July 1999 to 13th January 2003

See also[]

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