Coronation Street ''Coronation Street'' (colloquially referred to as ''Corrie'') is a British television soap opera created by ITV Granada, Granada Television and shown on ITV (TV network), ITV since 9 December 1960. The programme centres on a cobbled, terraced ...

'' is a British

soap opera A soap opera (also called a daytime drama or soap) is a genre of a long-running radio or television Serial (radio and television), serial, frequently characterized by melodrama, ensemble casts, and sentimentality. The term ''soap opera'' originat ...

, initially produced by

Granada Television ITV Granada, formerly known as Granada Television, is the ITV (TV network), ITV franchisee for the North West of England and Isle of Man. From 1956 to 1968 it broadcast to both the north west and Yorkshire on weekdays only, as ABC Weekend TV, ...

.Kemp, Abigail. ''60 Years of Coronation Street''. United Kingdom, Octopus, 2020. Created by writer

Tony Warren Anthony McVay Simpson (8 July 1936 – 1 March 2016), publishing under the pen name Tony Warren, was an English television screenwriter and actor, best known for creating the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. He created other television dra ...

, ''Coronation Street'' first broadcast on

ITV ITV or iTV may refer to: Television TV stations/networks/channels ITV *Independent Television (ITV), a British television network and company, including: **ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network in the United Kingd ...

on 9 December 1960. The following is a list of characters introduced in the show's fourth year, by order of first appearance. In April, outgoing series producer

H.V. Kershaw H. V. Kershaw, also known as Harry Kershaw, (29 May 1918England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 – 18 April 1992) from Manchester was a British television scriptwriter and producer best known for his long association with the ...

saw the return of original cast member

Philip Lowrie Colin Philip Lowrie (20 June 1936 – 25 April 2025) was an English stage and television actor. He played Dennis Tanner in the long-running ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' from its inception in 1960 until 1968 and again from 2011 until 20 ...

Dennis Tanner Dennis Tanner is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera Coronation Street, played by Philip Lowrie. The character was created by writer Tony Warren and was introduced in the first episode on 9 December 1960. Lowrie remained in ...

after a year's absence. Kershaw vacated his position a month later, to be replaced by Margaret Morris — who in June secured a short return spot for David Barlow (

Alan Rothwell Alan Rothwell (born 9 February 1937) is an England, English actor and television presenter. He played David Barlow (Coronation Street), David Barlow in the ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'' as a regular from 1960 to 1961, and again from 1963 t ...

), appearing in two episodes. Morris introduced two significant recurring characters in July, as Neil Crossley (Geoffrey Matthews) and

Walter Potts Walter Potts may refer to: * Walter Potts (footballer) (1876–?), English footballer * Walter Potts (character), a Coronation Street character {{DEFAULTSORT:Potts, Walter ...

(Christopher Sandford) made their first appearances, while

Myra Booth ''Coronation Street'' is a British soap opera, initially produced by Granada Television.Kemp, Abigail. ''60 Years of Coronation Street''. United Kingdom, Octopus, 2020. Created by writer Tony Warren, ''Coronation Street'' first broadcast on ...

(

Susan Jameson Susan I. M. Jameson (born 13 August 1941) is an English actress. She is best known for three roles: portraying Esther Lane in the BBC crime drama series ''New Tricks'' between 2003 and 2013, voicing Mrs Wibbsey opposite the Fourth Doctor Tom B ...

) became the only new regular character to be introduced in 1963 when she arrived in September. Myra's father

George Dickenson George Dickenson (first ¼ 1882 – June 1953) was an English professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1900s and 1910s. He played at representative level for Great Britain and England, and at club level for Warrington, as a . Bac ...

(Stan Jay) followed her to Weatherfield in September, and

Laurie Fraser ''Coronation Street'' is a British soap opera, initially produced by Granada Television.Kemp, Abigail. ''60 Years of Coronation Street''. United Kingdom, Octopus, 2020. Created by writer Tony Warren, ''Coronation Street'' first broadcast on ...

(Stanley Meadows) began a five-month stint as a new love interest for

Elsie Tanner Elsie Tanner (also Howard) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', played by Pat Phoenix from the series' inception in 1960 to 1973, and again from 1976 until 1984. Elsie Tanner was one of the original c ...

in November. Jon Rollason also joined the cast as Dave Robbins in December.

Neil Crossley

Neil Crossley came to Weatherfield to take over as manager of Gamma Garments on Rosamund Street. He quickly caught the eye of

Sheila Birtles Sheila Birtles (also Crossley) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. She was portrayed by actress Eileen Mayers. The character is famous for her suicide plot which was ultimately axed. Casting Mayers l ...

, who was dating

Jerry Booth Jerry Booth was an English footballer who played as a winger. He played one match in the Football League for Burnley Burnley () is a town and the administrative centre of the wider Borough of Burnley in Lancashire, England, with a 2021 ...

at the time. Neil was unpopular with the locals, who believed he was no good, but Sheila was infatuated with him. After finding them together, Jerry fought with Neil and knocked him unconscious, prompting Sheila to dump Jerry, telling him she loved Neil. Neil, however, did not feel the same way and quickly dropped her, leaving the area soon after due to

Emily Nugent Emily Bishop (also Nugent and Swain, also credited as Miss Nugent) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street''. Played by Eileen Derbyshire, the character is the longest-standing female character in the seri ...

reporting him to their boss Mr Papagopoulos for stealing from the petty cash. His exit sent Sheila into a downward spiral and she attempted suicide. Luckily

rescued her and she left the Street for her parents' house. Sheila then discovered that she was pregnant and had a son, Danny, in 1964. She gave him up for adoption and eventually returned to Coronation Street, moving in with Elsie Tanner. Neil returned in 1966 and reunited with Sheila. They later married.

Walter Potts

Walter Potts was

's big discovery in his short-lived career as a talent agent. Walter was a window cleaner, who Dennis was determined to turn into a singing sensation. Using the stage name Brett Falcon, he recorded a song 'Not Too Little, Not Too Much' with help from a man from Dennis's agency,

. Laurie soon sacked Dennis for incompetence, and the song proved a hit. Actor

Chris Sandford Christopher Duke Sandford (born 6 June 1939) is a British actor. He has appeared in more than fifty films since 1956. He also worked in the music business for a spell in the 1960s as both a singer and radio DJ, before returning to the acting ...

even got the song to No. 17 in the charts in the real world.

Myra Booth

Myra Booth (née Dickenson) was the wife of

. Typist Myra stunned Jerry by planning their wedding just two weeks after they had met, and Jerry got too carried away with the idea to stop it. They married on 19 October 1963, and moved into number 13 after a brief honeymoon. Jerry and Myra had money troubles due to taking on a mortgage in the purchase on their house, and Myra, who'd been handling the finances, had got the couple into debt. After Myra became pregnant and gave up her job at Gamma Garments, their only choice was to sell the house, and the Booths moved away. Myra returned in 1968 to seek a reconciliation with Jerry but it was not to be, and they were divorced only days later.

George Dickenson

George Dickenson was the over-protective father of

, who turned up several times to sort out their problems, both personally and financially.

Laurie Fraser

Laurie Fraser was a friend of Lenny Phillips, the owner of the theatrical agency of which

was a representative. Laurie knew the business far more than Dennis, and made Dennis' only hope Walter Potts his own project instead.

fell for Laurie, but the romance never lasted when Elsie discovered Laurie was married.

Dave Robbins

Dave Robbins was a colleague of

Ken Barlow Kenneth "Ken" Barlow is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera ''Coronation Street'', played by William Roache. He was created by Tony Warren as one of ''Coronation Street''s original characters and December 2020 marked Ken' ...

's, who moved into number 9 with Ken and his wife Valerie as lodger when he needed a place to stay. Valerie resented having to share her home, and had him move into the flat above Frank's DIY shop. When young

Susan Schofield ''Coronation Street'' is a British soap opera, initially produced by Granada Television. Created by writer Tony Warren, ''Coronation Street'' first broadcast on ITV on 9 December 1960. The following is a list of characters introduced in the show' ...

was knocked down and killed on Rosamund Street, in the exact spot Ken and Dave had been petitioning for a children's crossing, Dave broke down. While Ken took advantage of the situation by appearing on television to debate with a local councillor, Valerie felt compelled to comfort Dave. Valerie began to question her marriage to Ken and she fell deeper for Dave, with the situation coming to a head when Val packed her bags and left, only to turn up on Dave's doorstep. She felt humiliated when Dave turned her down and she was forced to call Ken to take her home. Dave left the flat soon after when Frank sold the property.

Others

References

{{Coronation Street characters, year, state=expanded

1963 Events January * January 1 – Bogle–Chandler case: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation scientist Dr. Gilbert Bogle and Mrs. Margaret Chandler are found dead (presumed poisoned), in bushland near the Lane Cove ...

*, Coronation Street