List of Coronation Street characters (1998)
The following is a list of characters that first appeared in the ITV soap opera Coronation Street in 1998, by order of first appearance.
Maggie Veitch
Maggie Veitch | |||||
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Coronation Street character | |||||
Portrayed by | Susan Tordoff | ||||
First appearance | 29 March 1998 | ||||
Last appearance | 17 April 1998 | ||||
Classification | Former; guest | ||||
Introduced by | Brian Park | ||||
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Maggie Veitch (also known as Warder Veitch), portrayed by Susan Tordoff, was a prison guard who bullied Deirdre Rachid (Anne Kirkbride). Her despicable acts were putting Deirdre in an asylum and not informing her of a phone call from her good friend Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs). Eventually, Deirdre's prison mate Jackie Dobbs (Margi Clarke) stood up for Deirdre by punching Veitch in the stomach on her behalf. After that, Veitch wasn't cruel to Deirdre.
Hayley Cropper
Hayley Anne Cropper (née Harold Patterson) is a fictional character from the long-running soap opera Coronation Street. She made her first appearance on 26 January 1998, and is played by Julie Hesmondhalgh. She is the first transsexual character in a British soap opera and was the first permanent transsexual character in the world of soaps. She is probably best known for her marriage to Roy Cropper (David Neilson). On 11 January 2013, Hesmondhalgh announced she had decided to quit Coronation Street, and she filmed her final scenes on 18 November 2013. Hayley's exit storyline saw her take her own life after being diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. Her final appearance was aired on 22 January 2014. Hesmondhalgh has insisted that it was not a "right to die" storyline.
Morgan Middleton
Morgan Middleton | |||||||||||||||||
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Coronation Street character | |||||||||||||||||
Portrayed by | Connor Chatburn (1998) Corey Weekes (2019)[1] | ||||||||||||||||
Duration | 1998, 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
First appearance | 2 February 1998 | ||||||||||||||||
Last appearance | 29 November 2019 | ||||||||||||||||
Classification | Former; recurring | ||||||||||||||||
Introduced by | Brian Park (1998) Iain MacLeod (2019) | ||||||||||||||||
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Morgan Middleton, played by Connor Chatburn,[2] is the son of Alan McKenna and Fiona Middleton. His first appearance was during the episode broadcast on 2 February 1998. When Connor's mother Katrina was pregnant, her mother joked that she looked like Angela Griffin who plays Fiona. She contacted Coronation Street makers with the offer of having her son play Morgan following his birth. They accepted and two weeks after his birth Connor was on set playing the character.[2] In 2019, The character was reintroduced to the series with Corey Weeks taking on the role.[3]
Fiona has a drunken one night stand with Jim McDonald, father of her ex-boyfriend, Steve. Her fling with Jim is revealed on her wedding day as Jim was worried that he was the father of the baby Fiona was expecting. Alan is so angry that he leaves Fiona and refuses to have anything to do with her or the baby, despite medical tests proving that he is Morgan's father. Steve is disgusted with Jim and gets back together with Fiona so he can help her bring Morgan up.
While
More than 20 years later, Morgan attends the funeral of his stepfather, John Brooker (Noel White). When Morgan's half-sister, Emma (Alexandra Mardell) learns that John was not her biological father, Morgan admits he knew this and as a result is banished from the funeral by an angry Emma. Morgan returns three months later and meets with Emma and asks her if she will be joining him and Fiona in Melbourne for Christmas. Emma tells him that she wants to remain in Weatherfield with her biological father, Steve and her half-sister Amy Barlow for the festive season and will visit Fiona in the New Year.
Log Thwaite
Log Thwaite | |
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Coronation Street character | |
Portrayed by | Zoë Henry |
First appearance | 11 March 1998 |
Last appearance | 22 March 1998 |
Classification | Former; guest |
Introduced by | Brian Park |
Log Thwaite was the eco-warrior girlfriend of
Log was portrayed by Zoë Henry, who later returned to Coronation Street to portray Casey Carswell in 2007.[4]
Jackie Dobbs
Jacqueline "Jackie" Dobbs is a fictional character from the long-running soap opera Coronation Street. She made her first appearance on 29 March 1998, and was played by Margi Clarke. Jackie is the mother of Tyrone Dobbs (Alan Halsall), and was originally introduced as the cellmate of Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride). The character left in 1999, but returned again in 2008. Jackie then left again in 2009, before returning for the last time in 2010. She made her final appearance on 18 March 2010.
Greg Kelly
Greg Kelly | |
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Nieces | Carys Brown (adoptive) Llio Brown (adoptive) |
Gregory Paul "Greg" Kelly was played by
Greg was the result of a holiday romance between Moira Kelly and Les Battersby when he was working on a travelling fairground on the Isle of Wight. Les never kept in touch and it was not until Greg turned up in Weatherfield in April 1998 that Les even knew he had a son. Greg's early years were hard, but when he was around two, his mother started working for Harry Wood whom she subsequently married and he brought Greg up as his own. Moira told Greg about his past when he was 7, but it took Harry's death in September 1997 to spur Greg on to seek his natural father.
Greg previously had played football for Stoke City F.C. when they had been playing at their former ground, Victoria Ground. A cruciate ligament injury however ended his footballing career, and so he followed Harry into the manufacturing and retail fashion business.
With his relationship with his less-than-exemplary biological father expanding, Greg became more involved in the happenings of the Street. He struck up a relationship with Maxine Heavey, the local hairdresser. Always looking for "something better" he had an eye for a business deal and prospective bed partner. Greg convinced Mike Baldwin to take him on as a business partner - he would suss out the deals and Mike would pay him on a commission basis. Mike, seeing this as a win-win proposition agreed. Greg went to work at the factory.
He soon turned his attentions to Sally Webster, who had just lost her mum. Sally had inherited £55,000 and this was very appealing to Greg. He was more interested in her money than her but set his cap to relieve her of some of it. He ended his relationship with Maxine after relieving her of her intended flat above the Corner shop. Sally left her husband Kevin and their daughters behind to enter into what she thought would be a commitment with a new, exciting man. Realizing that she needed her children with her, Sally and the girls moved into the one bedroom flat above the shop. It was a tight fit and one that Greg took an immediate dislike to but he needed Sally's money if he were to make a go of his new underwear venture so he tried to remember the girls' names (unsuccessfully) and play happy families. Greg did not want to be a parent and left the flat as often as he could. It became clear to all but Sally, that Greg was simply using her.
After stealing all the contacts from Mike's computer at the factory, he took Sally's money and started his own company. Mike, not easily taken, fought back and won the contracts back. By now Greg had opened a "shop" and had Sally as his secretary rather than business partner. He felt the "optics" would be better. The loss of the contracts proved a turning point in their relationship however. Unhappy with the living arrangements, and especially with the girls, Greg's temper simmered just below boiling point for weeks. Then upon discovering that Sally had inadvertently told Gail about the contracts, he exploded and hit her, blaming her for the loss.
Sally, stunned at the turn in the relationship, threatened to leave until Greg convinced her it was a one off and that it would not happen again. Of course Greg had spoken to his solicitor to find out what would happen if they broke up. The solicitor informed him that Greg needed Sally and her fast dwindling capital in order to stay in business. Greg needed to come up with another plan - one that would see him financially secure at the expense of Sally. The three of them were crowding his style as well as his apartment and he needed to be shut of the lot - Sally, Rosie and Sophie. But if he had to persevere, to achieve his goal of financial and personal freedom, he would.
It was a short-lived respite from the violence. After a second beating from Greg, Sally took the kids, and what remained of her bank account and fled to Rita's without looking back. Greg, having not paid his rent, was threatened with eviction from the pokey flat over the shop and his life careened out of control. Becoming more and more dishelved the suits looking less smart and his appearance slipping - he turned once again to Maxine who, after a short fashion, cottoned on to his scheme to finagle a free ride and accommodation until something better came along. She quickly sent him off and with nowhere else to go, he ended up at the Battersbys living with his father and his family.
Blaming Sally for all of his problems, Greg began stalking and threatening her. Sally lived in fear for her safety and that of her two young girls. Greg, drunk and unhinged, broke into Rita's apartment and threatened Sally that he would "make her pay for what she did". She escaped what looked to be her final beating, and fled to the safety of the Street. Greg left the Street, after stealing the last of the money from Janice Battersby's leccie tin, at the end of 1998. Greg made a return in May 1999 and held Sally and her two daughters hostage in their own home in an attempt to force her to help him blackmail Mike after he had proof that Mike had been seeing another woman behind his wife Alma's back. The police were called and in a last-ditch attempt to protect her daughters, she hit Greg over the head with a chair, knocking him out cold, the police then stormed the house and Greg was arrested. He was later charged with false imprisonment.
Edna Miller
Edna Miller | |||||||||
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Coronation Street character | |||||||||
Portrayed by | Joan Kempson | ||||||||
Duration | 1998, 2000–2001 | ||||||||
First appearance | 24 June 1998 | ||||||||
Last appearance | 19 September 2001 | ||||||||
Classification | Former; regular | ||||||||
Introduced by | Brian Park (1998) Jane MacNaught (2000) | ||||||||
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Edna Miller first appears in September 1998, when she is interviewed by
It is not long before Edna gets herself into trouble when she gives journalist Ken Barlow (William Roache) a story about the poor working conditions in the factory, which he then publishes in The Weatherfield Gazette. Factory owner Mike Baldwin (Johnny Briggs) is livid at the publication and fires Deirdre Barlow (Anne Kirkbride), believing her to be Ken's source. Eventually, Edna admits that she is the mole, and is fired from the factory.
The Rovers Return landlady
Neil Flynn
Neil Flynn | |||||
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Coronation Street character | |||||
Portrayed by | Tim Dantay | ||||
First appearance | 31 August 1998 | ||||
Last appearance | 4 September 1998 | ||||
Classification | Former; recurring | ||||
Introduced by | Brian Park | ||||
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Neil Flynn, played by Tim Dantay, made his first screen appearance on 31 August 1998.
When Neil was sent to prison for assault and GBH, he began sharing a cell with Ronnie Clegg (Dean Williamson). Years later, when Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) comes looking for Ronnie in London, Neil pretends to be him. Toyah stays with Neil for a couple of days, but when she realises that he is not Ronnie, she tries to leave. However, Neil stops her and ties her up. He then takes her to some woods, but when he is distracted, Toyah manages to escape and is found by her parents.
The storyline attracted the attention of the Independent Television Commission, who believed that the episode featuring Neil's abduction of Toyah should have carried a warning before it was broadcast.[5]
Ronnie Clegg
Ronnie Clegg | |||||||
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Coronation Street character | |||||||
Portrayed by | Dean Wiliamson | ||||||
Appears on | 4 September 1998 | ||||||
Classification | Former; guest | ||||||
Introduced by | Brian Park | ||||||
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Ronnie Clegg, played by Dean Wiliamson, appeared on 4 September 1998.
Ronnie Clegg is the biological father of Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor). Toyah's mother, Janice (Vicky Entwistle), threw him out in 1984 when Toyah was only two years old, calling him "Ronnie Clegg, useless dreg". He ended up in London, spending time in Wormwood Scrubs and sharing a cell with Neil Flynn (Tim Dantay). After his spell in prison he settled down and married a woman named Paula from whom he kept both his prison record and daughter a secret.
In August 1998 after a row with Janice and her stepfather Les Battersby (Bruce Jones), Toyah runs away from home and decides to travel to London to find Ronnie and goes to his old address not knowing that Ronnie has since moved and his mate from prison Neil Flynn now lives there. Toyah, thinking Neil was her father, stays with him for a couple of days but eventually realises he is not Ronnie and tries to escape. However, Neil stops her and ties her up. He then takes her to some woods, but when he is distracted, Toyah manages to escape and is found by Les and Janice.
Ronnie appeared to live up to Janice's reputation as a selfish and useless father as he showed little concern for his daughter, caring only that his wife Paula didn't find out about his past. He also failed to alert Les and Janice that Toyah might have wound up with a dangerous and violent man before it was too late.
Dobber
Dobber | |
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Coronation Street character | |
Portrayed by | John Donnelly |
First appearance | 4 October 1998 |
Last appearance | 1 November 1998 |
Classification | Former; recurring |
Introduced by | Brian Park |
Philip "Dobber" Dobson, played by John Donnelly, made his first screen appearance during the episode broadcast on 4 October 1998. Dobber and Toyah Battersby (Georgia Taylor) were involved in a notable storyline surrounding the subject of under-age sex. After a holiday romance, Dobber persuaded Toyah into losing her virginity to him in the back of his car.[6] Tony Purnell from the Daily Mirror called Dobber "Mr Wrong", while the Daily Record's John Millar stated he was "one of the sleaziest characters to ooze across the cobbles of Weatherfield."[6][7] He added "From the first instant we laid eyes on shifty Philip Dobson, we've known he's no good. But love is blind and so Toyah is prepared to do anything for what she believes is the man of her dreams."[7]
Linda Sykes
Linda Sykes | |
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Dean Sykes | |
Husband | Mike Baldwin (2000–2001) |
Linda Sykes (also Baldwin) is played by Jacqueline Pirie.
Linda arrived in 1998 and immediately found work as a machinist at the Underworld factory. She befriended fellow machinists Janice Battersby (Vicky Entwistle) and Alison Wakefield (Naomi Radcliffe), becoming bridesmaid at Alison's wedding to Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell) in January 2000. She strongly disapproved of Hayley Cropper (Julie Hesmondhalgh), as she was disgusted when she learned that Hayley was a transsexual, but they later became friends.
Linda had a particularly tough background. Her mother,
Shortly after her arrival, Linda's boss
After returning, Linda did almost everything in her power to make her marriage successful and keep Mike happy, so that he would not throw her out for her infidelity. However, it soon became apparent that he still had a soft spot for his ex-wife Alma. This became more apparent when both Mike and Alma and other residents of the street were held hostage on 12 October 2000 at the supermarket Freshco's by two young thugs. The police eventually burst in and one of the young thugs was shot. However, when Linda arrived at the scene, she not only found her husband with his ex-wife, but also recognised that the thug who had been shot was her younger brother
It was then that Mike was introduced to Linda's family at Dean's funeral. Linda was very cold and distant to all her family members, treating them as if she was now above them, and she was especially hard towards her mother Eve. However, after the funeral Linda managed to patch things up with her mother and Eve returned to the street with her, where she met and fell in love with Fred Elliott (John Savident).
In February 2001, Mike confesses to her that his ex-wife Susan Barlow (Joanna Foster) had his son Adam Barlow twelve years earlier and didn't tell him about his existence, Linda was unimpressed.
Linda's marriage continued to go downhill as Mike learned that Alma was
Linda was racked with guilt over the entire incident, and Mike soon made it clear that he could never trust her again. He announced that he wanted a divorce, but Linda was not prepared to go without a fight. After enduring months of heated arguments, Mike finally set his wife up by bringing his son Mark back to the street. As Linda prepared to rekindle their old romance, Mike walked in on them and triumphantly announced that their marriage was over.
They stayed together for an extra only for appearances sake as her mother was preparing to tie the knot with Fred. However, as the wedding took place on 5 September 2001, Mike made it clear to Linda that she would be gone by the end of the ceremony. He called a taxi for her and, along with Mark, dragged her from her hotel room to the taxi and sent her packing. She was never seen again.
After her departure, there was much debate over whether Mike had killed Linda and disposed of her body or not. Her car was found near the canal, and both her mother Eve and her brother Jimmy vowed to find her. However, Eve later discovered from her ex-husband Ray that Linda is alive and well and living in Dublin with a rich fiancé.
Tyrone Dobbs
Tyrone Sylvester Dobbs is a fictional character from the long-running
Billy and Becky Mallett
Billy and Becky Mallett | |
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Joyce Smedley | |
Uncles | Shane Mallett |
William "Billy" Mallett and Rebecca Joyce "Becky" Mallett are the twins born to
Alison Webster
Alison Webster | |
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Jake Webster | |
Stepdaughters | Sophie Webster (2000) Rosie Webster (2000) |
Alison Webster (also Wakefield), played by Naomi Radcliffe, is the second wife of Kevin Webster (Michael Le Vell). She is a friend of Linda Sykes (Jacqueline Pirie) and works with her as a machinist at Underworld.
She dates Kevin for a while and they eventually move in together, causing trouble with Kevin's ex-wife Sally (Sally Dynevor) when their daughters, Rosie (Emma Collinge) and Sophie (Emma Woodward) seem to prefer being with Alison. Eventually Kevin, Sally and Alison sort things out and Alison introduces Kevin to her parents and they tell him that Alison is responsible for the accident that caused the death of her younger sister, Cheryl. Kevin, raising two daughters himself, makes it clear that he believes that Alison, a child herself at the time, is not responsible for her parents' neglect. Unsurprisingly, her parents do not react well.
They eventually marry and look forward to the birth of their first child but when she learns that her newborn son, Jake, died from a Group B streptococcal infection that he probably caught from her during delivery, she has a breakdown. Sadly, a combination of grief and the guilt that she feels about her sister's death lead her to snatch newborn Bethany Platt (Mia Cookson). When found together, Kevin persuades her to give Bethany to him and then she commits suicide by throwing herself under a passing lorry.
References
- ^ "Corey Weekes". Creative Artists Management. 7 August 2019. Retrieved 7 August 2019.
- ^ a b Peake, Jon (21 February – 6 March 1998). "I love you!". Inside Soap (95): 10–11.
- Reach PLC. Retrieved 3 October 2023.
- ^ "Who did Zoe Henry play in Coronation Street and what else has she been in?". Heart London. Global Media & Entertainment. 28 January 2022. Retrieved 20 January 2024.
- ^ "Titanic steams past video sales record". BBC News. BBC. 26 October 1998. Retrieved 10 August 2013.
- ^ Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 5 November 2012.
- ^ Trinity Mirror. Retrieved 5 November 2012.