Stephen Edward "Steve" Tanner, played by Paul Maxwell, was an old flame of Elsie Tanner's from the war. He returned to Weatherfield in 1967 and rekindled his relationship with Elsie. They married that year and moved back to Steve's hometown in America. In 1968 Elsie returned alone saying her marriage was over. Steve followed Elsie back to the Street but he was pushed down a flight of stairs and killed by Joe Donnelli.
Ernest Bishop
Ernest Gordon Bishop, played by Stephen Hancock, made his first screen appearance on 6 September 1967. Ernest had been educated at Weatherfield Grammar School, and, despite being very academically inclined, he refused a place at Manchester Victoria University, in order to run his own photographic business. Operating under his "professional" name Gordon Bishop, he first appeared at Elsie Tanner's wedding as official photographer in 1967. In 1969, Emily Nugent began working at Ernest's camera shop. Emily and Ernest had many things in common, not least firm religious beliefs, and they began a relationship. After a long courtship, they married on Easter Monday 1972 and moved into No. 3 Coronation Street together. The Bishops were unable to have children of their own but fostered two children at Christmas 1974, which helped mend a rough patch in their marriage. In 1976, Ernest was unable to afford the rent on his camera shop and put his business into liquidation. Emily, however, was a tower of strength, insisting that she go out to work and be the bread winner. Ernest became the Street's first househusband; making him the butt of jokes from the other men on the Street, but Emily was proud of him. Ernest was able to make some spare money by playing the piano in pubs and night clubs —he was accompanist for Rita Littlewood at the Gatsby Club—but, despite being grateful for the money, Emily drew the line when Ernie played the piano for a stripper, who came round to their house to practice her act. Ernest's fortunes changed when factory ownerMike Baldwin offered him a job as wages clerk at Baldwin's Casuals. Mike's trust in Ernest effectively made him a second-in-command. One day in January 1978, when drawing up the workers' wage packets, two young men, one, Tommo, armed with a shotgun, burst into the office and demanded Ernest hand over the money. Ernest obliged, but Mike entered the office and accidentally knocked Tommo's arm, discharging the gun and shooting Ernest in the chest. He was rushed to hospital but later died. The shock of hearing what had happened made Emily faint in the Street. The two criminals were later apprehended and sentenced to life imprisonment. 28 years later, in 2006, Emily became friends with churchgoer Ed Jackson. They became friends and bonded over their strong religious faith until Ed revealed his real name to be Thomas Jackson, the man who killed Ernest. Jackson claimed he had served his sentence and become a born-again Christian and wanted forgiveness from Emily for Ernest's murder. This caused Emily to have a crisis of faith as she couldn't bring herself to forgive him. However, upon learning Jackson was suicidal, she told him she forgave him and gave him one of Ernest's old cameras.
Robert Croft
Robert Croft, played by Martin Shaw, made his first screen appearance on 13 December 1967. The role as "hippy student" Robert marked Shaw's television debut. Robert was the leader of a hippie commune. When Lucille Hewitt develops a crush on Robert, she decides to join the hippies. Lucille asks Dennis Tanner to throw a New Year's party at 11 Coronation Street and Robert and the hippies come along. They stay and begin squatting in the house, causing a ruckus among the Street's other residents. Eventually Annie Walker reports the hippies to the landlord, who demands their removal and Robert decides that it is time for them to leave.
