List of Coronation Street characters (1995)

The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 1995, by order of first appearance.

Daniel Osbourne

Daniel Albert Osbourne is the son of Ken Barlow and Denise Osbourne. Daniel was originally portrayed by Lewis Harney from the his birth in 1995 until he left with his mother in 1997. Upon his return in 2007, the character was portrayed by Dominic Holmes. The character was recast in 2016, with Rob Mallard taking over the role.^[1]

Born when Ken was 55 years old, there is a thirty-four year age gap between Daniel and his oldest half-sibling: Lawrence Cunningham, he is also thirty years between him and his half-brother and half-sister Peter and Susan Barlow and there is an eighteen-year age gap between him and his adoptive half-sister, Tracy Barlow. His parents, Denise and Ken, only dated for a short time, with Daniel being the product of this relationship. Daniel was born on 4 January 1995 and was one of twins, the other of which died. Daniel was seen again in May 2007 when he agreed to meet his father. Daniel's interests include heavy metal and football. He and Ken initially got on well, but Daniel began to resent Ken's presence after he began staying with him and Denise. Ken eventually went back to his wife Deirdre, leaving Daniel and Denise alone once again.

In November 2016, Daniel visits Ken in hospital following his stroke. Peter, Tracy and Adam Barlow (Sam Robertson) visit Ken in hospital. They meet Daniel, who reveals he is Ken's son. Daniel joins his family for a meal. Daniel draws up a rota for Ken's care when he comes home. Daniel is suspected of stealing Adam's car whem Tracy and Adam visit his flat and find student debts. Daniel reveals that Denise left him when he was 15 and struggled paying the bills.

Of his casting, Mallard said, "It feels great to be starting work on Coronation Street and I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone. I grew up watching Coronation Street, so the chance to be in it, especially playing a part like Daniel, is very exciting".^[2] Producer Kate Oates said Daniel "is a different Barlow altogether, more sensitive and bookish, he is clearly a chip off the old block, but there is more to Ken’s youngest son than meets the eye. Rob is a talented young actor who is perfect for the role."^[3]

Elsie Duckworth

Elsie Duckworth was the wife of Clifford Duckworth and sister-in-law of Jack Duckworth. Cliff left his wife just before Christmas 1994 to stay at 9 Coronation Street and reconnect with Jack. However, Elsie tracked him down and, just after new year, barged her way into the Duckworth household. Cliff, having told Jack and Vera that he too was married to a Vera, was shocked. When Elsie introduced herself, Vera said: "I thought you were Vera?" to which Elsie replied "No, you're Vera!" before dragging Cliff home, with Cliff pathetically promising to keep in touch.

Jack was mortified to her that, in June of that year, Cliff and Elsie had died in a car crash abroad. Vera, who had prayed for money the previous day, was guilt-ridden.

Jack and Vera inherited £30,000 from the couple's holiday insurance.

Josie Clarke

Josie Clarke was played by Ellie Haddington. Josie made her first appearance on 16 January 1995 as a taxi fare of Don Brennan's. Don and Josie began dating and eventually moved in together. However, money troubles and Don's bouts of depression and erratic behaviour forced the couple apart and Josie sold the garage to Kevin Webster before leaving Weatherfield.

Ashley Peacock

Ashley Peacock played by Steven Arnold, the character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 1 February 1995.^[4] On 23 April 2010, it was announced that the character had been axed along with his on-screen family by new producer Phil Collinson.^[5] Ashley was a victim of the tram crash and died as part of the show's 50th birthday in December 2010.

Maxine Peacock

Maxine Marion Louise Peacock (née Heavey) first appears in May 1995 as a college friend of Fiona Middleton's, working in Denise Osbourne's salon. She is very much a good-time girl and has relationships, often one-night stands, with several men, including Steve McDonald, to get back at Fiona as he is Fiona's ex-boyfriend, and Curly Watts when she is drunk.

Maxine then embarks on a relationship with Ashley Peacock. Seeking security, Maxine marries Ashley in September 1999. The following year, she suspects Ashley of an affair but realises she was wrong and he has been faithful to her. Difficulties in the marriage emerge, however, when Maxine has trouble getting pregnant until it is discovered a simple operation will solve the problem. On the night of his operation in autumn 2001, Maxine sleeps with local doctor Matt Ramsden and discovers soon afterwards that she is pregnant. Maxine gives birth to her son, Joshua, seven months into the pregnancy after a confrontation with Ashley when he finds out about her one-night stand with Matt. Ashley is furious but is determined not to let anyone else on the street know that the child might not be his. He is determined to get a DNA test done to be certain of Joshua's parentage, despite Maxine's protestations that it is unnecessary and they can mend their relationship. On the day the test is to be done, however, Ashley realises that Maxine is truly sorry for what has happened and that they can, in fact, be a happy family together. He forgives Maxine and takes both her and Joshua home without getting the test done.

Maxine Peacock's memorial plaque

Maxine's demise comes on 13 January 2003, when she is brutally murdered by neighbour Richard Hillman. Richard had planned to kill Emily Bishop in order to sell the house that she is renting from him, and breaks into Ashley and Maxine's house on a night when Emily is babysitting whilst Maxine and Ashley are at Maxine's mother's 50th birthday party, planning to make it seem as if the elderly woman was killed during a bungled burglary. Maxine returns from the party at the Rovers Return Inn and walks in to find Richard attacking Emily with a crowbar. Maxine's final words are to Richard: "Richard! What the hell are you doing?" to which he replies, "you should have stayed at the party, Maxine." As Joshua starts crying upstairs, Maxine tries to run but Richard kills her instead and Ashley comes home to find Maxine's battered and bloodied body. Emily is injured but survives and makes a full recovery.

Billy Williams

William "Billy" Williams was Betty Turpin's wartime sweetheart, and during a party in the Rovers Return to celebrate 50 years since VE day in 1995, he met up with Betty again. Billy proposed to Betty and later that year they were married with Betty's son Gordon Clegg giving his mother away. Billy, along with Jack Duckworth, Fred Elliott, Don Brennan and Alf Roberts was one of the shareholders in the race horse Betty's hotshot. In November 1997 Billy died of a heart attack leaving Betty after just two years of married life.

Roy Cropper

Anne Malone

Anne Malone was the former supervisor of Firman's Freezer Centre and was later promoted to the position of assistant manager. She developed a crush on her manager, Curly Watts, but went out with and lived with Andy McDonald for a short time. Anne complained of sexual harassment by Leo Firman to her superior Reg Holdsworth, who was reluctant to report his boss's nephew.

Curly rejected her advances so she set out a vendetta to destroy his life. One of her attempts at revenge was to pour WD-40 on fish fingers stored inside Frescho's supermarket's freezer. However her plans backfired fatally when a security guard locked her inside the freezer by accident after seeing the door was open. Anne froze to death and her body was discovered the following morning.

Gary Mallett

Gary Mallett was played by Ian Mercer. He moved to the Street with his wife Judy on 2 October 1995 and on Christmas Day 1998, Gary became a father of twins Rebecca and William. Nine months later Judy collapsed and died after she suffered a blood clot caused by injuries sustained in a road accident caused by Terry Duckworth. When Terry arrived at his parents' house on Christmas Day, Gary punched him, blaming him for Judy's death. The following year, Gary decided to leave Weatherfield with his two children on 1 October 2000. His current whereabouts are unknown.

Judy Mallett

Judith "Judy" Mallett (née Smedley), was played by Gaynor Faye from October 1995 until September 1999 when Faye quit the show.

She moved to the Street with her husband Gary in October 1995. She and Gary were happy together but Judy longed for a child. Sadly nothing was happening so when she met Zoe Tattersall, a young woman who was considering giving her baby up for adoption. Judy convinced Zoe to let her adopt the baby, a girl who she and Gary named Katie Joyce. Zoe, however, regretted her decision and soon took Katie back and renamed her Shannon. Judy and Gary were heartbroken by this and this did not improve when Shannon died of meningitis a few months later. Eventually Judy discovered she was pregnant and was thrilled to discover that she was having twins. On 25 December 1998, she gave birth to Rebecca and William Mallett.

Judy died in her back garden whilst hanging out the washing on 24 September 1999, the victim of a pulmonary embolism that developed as a result of an injury she sustained to her leg in a car accident caused by Terry Duckworth.

On 1 October 2000, Judy's husband Gary decided to leave Coronation Street. In his last appearance, he was shown looking at a photo of Judy in his wallet before he and their children left

Tony Horrocks

Anthony James "Tony" Horrocks was a young mechanic who started working as Kevin Webster's apprentice at MVB motors. In July 1996, Tony nearly went into partnership with Don Brennan who had bought the garage from Mike Baldwin. Tony's father Nick offered to lend Tony the money to buy into the business but withdrew his offer when he saw the books and Don's financial problems.

Tony began dating Fiona Middleton and was angry when she visited her ex-boyfriend Steve McDonald in prison. He then dated her colleague Maxine Heavey but it did not last long. Tony also handed in his notice at the garage after arguing with Don.

Tony went to work at the local exhaust centre and was joined by his friend and former colleague Kevin when the garage went bust. In August 1996, Don's former business partner and girlfriend Josie Clarke sold the garage to Kevin and Tony for £25,000 and they became business partners. In December 1996, Tony began dating a girl called Jill, who was one of Maxine's friends whom he met at Fiona's 21st birthday.

In February 1997, Tony ran over and killed Joyce Smedley in his car after she ran in front of him whilst walking her dog. Tony was racked with guilt, and stated he was never going to drive again and insisted to his father that he take his car to the wreckers for him.

Tony then sold his share of the garage to his mother Natalie and said farewell to Kevin before moving to Leeds. Offscreen Tony got involved in drug dealing after suffering financial problems. He returned in October 1998 for his mother's wedding to Des Barnes before leaving again. The following month, he arrived on his mother's doorstep asking her for help. A gang of drug dealers to whom Tony owed money arrived at Natalie's house and attacked Tony in the living room. Des arrived home and came across the fight. He went to help Tony and was badly beaten by the gang. Des later died of a heart attack and Natalie blamed Tony for his death and disowned him. After leaving in December 1998, he was never seen onscreen again.

In March 2000, Tony's badly decomposed body (originally believed to be that of a victim of a local serial killer some 100 years earlier) was found in a cellar by his mother's then boyfriend Vinny Sorrell on a building site where he was working. He had been beaten to death by drug dealer Jez Quigley some time during the previous 15 months. Jez himself finally died six months later after being attacked by Jim McDonald in revenge for beating up Jim's son Steve.

Others

References