Roy Cropper

==Background information==
===Creation and casting===
The character Royston Cropper, played by [[David Neilson]], was introduced in [[July 1995]] as "a rather odd and scary loner" living in a block of flats near the long-running character [[Deirdre Rachid]] ([[Anne Kirkbride]]) [http://www.pfc.org.uk/node/23]. Actor David Neilson got the part on the recommendation of ''Coronation Street'' writer [[Stephen Mallatratt]], a close friend of Neilson's who helped to "mould the character". According to Neilson, the character was initially only brought in for six episodes, but the role was extended and Roy was made into a regular character [http://www.corrie.net/profiles/interviews/davidneilson.html].

Described primarily as an "incidental character", Roy was not given any significant storylines until [[1997]]. Behind the scenes, the soap was going through a period of change. A new [[producer]], [[Brian Park]], had been brought in to revitalise the show and attract younger viewers. Aside from multiple axings and introducing various dramatic storylines, Parks also decided to give some of the less prominent existing characters a much higher profile. Among them, Roy Cropper, who was brought to the forefront of the soap throughout 1997 and [[1998]], taking over a share in [[Gail Platt]]'s cafe (changing its name to [[Roy's Rolls]]). This gave the character more screen time and, gradually, he was incorporated into the lives of other characters.

===Becoming more prominent===
Roy was initially perceived as a very different character than he went on to become. Neilson has commented that initially, Roy was "a bit like Norman Bates in the horror film ''Psycho''"[http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/film_and_tv/s/163/163581_roy_is_really_a_rover.html]. Misunderstood, he was almost evicted from his flats for pestering his neighbour Deirdre Rachid, though he was actually only showing concern for her welfare. He was summed up by the character [[Mike Baldwin]] as “a bit of a nutter, but harmless enough”. [http://www.itv.com/Soaps/coronationstreet/castandcharacters/atoe/RoyCropper/default.html].

It has been suggested that Roy has Asperger's syndrome, due to his obsessive compulsive tendencies and because of his literal interpretations and miscomprehension of nuances and subtleties, though this has never been officially confirmed on-screen [http://www.corrieblog.tv/2007/12/character_study_6.html][http://www.angelfire.com/co4/asperger/review2005.html].

Described as "remarkably intelligent, but socially naïve", the character is a stereotypical portrayal of an "anorak"; A fan of buses and trains, dressed like a geek, in a beige anorak, scarf, woollen gloves and clutching a nylon shopping bag with a set of keys taped to the handle [http://blogs.orange.co.uk/tv/2007/08/why-we-love-cor.html][http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4161/is_20010708/ai_n14535971]. Actor David Neilson has since revealed that his character's "infamous old shopping bag", complete with attached keys, were props that he introduced. The bag and keys belonged to Neilson's mother, who died shortly before he took on the role in 1995. He has commented, "My mum sadly passed away just before I started on the show and I wanted to carry something of hers. I also wanted to add my own props and develop the character. The bag carries nothing more than my script."

Despite Roy's initial "creepy" persona, viewers were eventually shown a different side to the character. He was converted from a creep to an eccentric; [http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_qn4159/is_20030810/ai_n12743447] A quiet and shy intellectual man, with few social skills and a penchant for trivial information, but underneath it all, a man with "a heart of gold". He's been described as compassionate, moral, sensitive and full of integrity; taking in waifs and strays and helping his neighbours whenever possible [http://archive.thisisbradford.co.uk/2004/03/26/101849.html][http://www.guardian.co.uk/g2/story/0,3604,1096746,00.html]. Commenting on his character, Neilson has said, "Roy is absolutely his own person and hugely honourable. Some people think he's simple. He's not. He's a very complex man with hidden depths. And there's lots more to explore...There's something tragic about Roy. I think there is a big black cloud that follows him around and one day it is going to really dump on him."

===Romance with Hayley===
As the character became more prominent, producers decided to introduce a romantic interest for Roy. [[Hayley Cropper|Hayley Patterson]] ([[Julie Hesmondhalgh]]) was introduced in 1998, and her relationship with Roy turned out to be one of the more controversial storylines in ''[[Coronation Street]]'s'' history, as it was later revealed that Hayley was a pre-op transsexual, born a man but assuming the identity of a woman [http://archive.thisislancashire.co.uk/1998/3/7/806228.html]. In an article published by "Press for Change" (a political lobbying and educational organisation, which campaigns to achieve equal civil rights and liberties for all trans people in the UK), an advisor who helped studio writers at [[Granada Television]] with this storyline has given an account on its conceptualisation: "It was decided that Roy needed a girlfriend, but what kind of woman would go for Roy, or vice-versa? Ideally, she would have to be a female mirror image of himself. So the character started development and Hayley Patterson...was created. But then someone suggested something; what if she had a dark secret? What if she was transsexual!? Hayley being Harry, in her past life. After some argument and hard thinking, the idea stuck. It was a very controversial move for the long-running show... 'Corrie' had never gone this far."

Hayley's principle purpose was to boost ratings and to act as a "foil" for Roy, "to bring him out of himself a bit and show another side to the man". There were initial criticisms about the storyline and the character of Hayley from the transgender community in the UK, mainly because the actress who played Hayley was not a real trans person. However, as the storyline progressed, viewers and critics warmed to Roy and Hayley's romance. Hayley was finally shown to relay her secret to Roy during a candlelit meal in his cafe. Horrified, Roy rejected her, but after a period of reflection he eventually came around, resolving to remain friends with Hayley until she left the serial for [[Amsterdam]] to undergo a sex change [http://www.hartlepoolmail.co.uk/news/Look-who-cropped-up-at.3213897.jp]. Although the character of Hayley was only meant to be short-term, she and her relationship with Roy were so well received by viewers, that the producers of ''Coronation Street'' decided to reintroduce her. On-screen, Roy traced Hayley and they reunited in a special set of episodes, shot on-location in Amsterdam, Holland; Hayley was persuaded to return to [[Weatherfield]] with Roy and rebuild their relationship.

Actor David Neilson has complimented the storyline, describing the writing as "absolutely beautiful", and Roy and Hayley are now considered to be one of ''Coronation Street's'' "classic" couples.

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