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 Osbourne is the son of Ken Barlow and Denise Osbourne. Daniel was originally portrayed by Lewis Harney from 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.Born when Denise was 39 years old and Ken was 55, there is a 34-year age gap between Daniel and Ken's son Lawrence Cunningham, there is also 30 years between him and Ken's twin children Peter Barlow and Susan Barlow and there is an 18-year age gap between him and Ken's adoptive daughter 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 appears seen again in May 2007 when he agreed to meet his father. At the time, Daniel's interests included heavy metal and football. He and Ken initially got on well, but Daniel begins to resent Ken's presence after he begins staying with him and Denise, to the extent of Daniel telling a friend that Ken is his grandfather. Ken eventually returns to his wife Deirdre, leaving Daniel and Denise alone once again. In the intervening years, Daniel is mentioned and Ken occasionally visits him.
In November 2016, Daniel, now 21 years old and in his final year of university, visits Ken in hospital following his stroke. Peter, Tracy and Susan's son Adam Barlow visit Ken in hospital. They meet Daniel, who reveals he is Ken's son. Daniel joins his family for a meal and meets Peter's son Simon Barlow and Tracy's daughter Amy Barlow. Daniel draws up a rota for Ken's care when he comes home. Daniel is suspected of stealing Adam's car when 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. Daniel has to move out of his flat and admits he doesn't know of Denise's whereabouts, so he reports her to the police as missing. In early 2017, Daniel begins to develop romantic feelings for local resident Sinead Tinker - who is in a relationship with her boyfriend Chesney Brown, even though she wishes to end it. Daniel begins revising with Sinead when she has to work overtime at the factory, and the following day he is mortified when Adam realises that he is still a virgin. That night, however, Daniel and Sinead have sex in the factory store room. Adam reveals this to Chesney, who confronts Daniel at his house, and resulting in Sinead embarking on a relationship with Daniel. Sinead is later stunned to learn that she has fallen pregnant with Daniel's baby, however Daniel assumes that Chesney is the father. They initially agree to have the pregnancy terminated, however after the couple have a heart-to-heart, Sinead and Daniel agree to keep their unborn child. Ken, having learned that Daniel has been accepted onto a Masters program at Oxford University and fearing that fatherhood will interfere with his studies, persuades Sinead to have the termination after all. Sinead tells Daniel that she had a miscarriage, but when she feels unwell and Daniel calls for a doctor she admits to having an abortion. Daniel is devastated and ends the relationship.
Later that night, Ken is pushed down the stairs by an unknown assailant, and Daniel returns home to find his landlord Pat Phelan standing over Ken's lifeless body. Ken is then rushed to hospital where Daniel, Sinead, with whom Daniel has reunited, and the other Barlows are told that Ken fell down the stairs as a result of being struck over the head with a blunt instrument, and that it will now be treated as an attempted murder investigation. Adam soon finds himself prime suspect and is desperate to shift the blame to anybody else. He kidnaps Daniel en route to one of his university examinations and tries unsuccessfully to make him confess. When Adam persuades the police to interview Sinead again, he is shaken when Daniel threatens to kill him. When Ken later apologises to Sinead at the flat over the abortion, he notices Daniel's red shoes and believes that he is his attacker. However Ken later notices similar red shoes in Adam's belongings, and so Adam is subsequently arrested and charged with the attack. However, Daniel later returns home and retrieves a bloodstained poetry book, and is thus revealed as the real culprit.
Unaware of this, Ken goes to stay with Daniel to help him revise for his remaining examinations and to redecorate his old flat. Daniel is reluctant about, especially when Ken asks specifically about the poetry book that Daniel used to hit him with. The following week Daniel tries to persuade Ken to tell the police that he simply lost his balance and fell down the stairs, but when the conversation moves to Denise, Daniel becomes furious. While Ken goes for a walk, Daniel is shown to be self-harming with a small knife. During his walk, Ken uncovers Denise's belongings buried in the garden and becomes convinced that Daniel has murdered his mother. Upon his return, Daniel reveals that it was he who pushed Ken in his fury at Denise's disappearance and Sinead's termination. As their confrontation turns physical, both Ken and Daniel are stunned when Denise unexpectedly returns. Meanwhile, Sinead and Chesney have found the poetry book in the flat and alerted the police, who arrive and arrest Daniel.
Daniel is released from custody after Ken tells the police that he tripped and fell down the stairs, but is shunned when Peter, Adam and Tracy learn the truth. Despite the turmoil Daniel nevertheless obtains his degree, though without the high distinction that had been expected of him. Denise temporarily moves in with Daniel after Sinead moves out, but after overhearing her say how blissful her life was with no responsibilities, Daniel throws her out of the flat. After rejection from Sinead and a confrontation with Tracy, Daniel purchases cocaine from a drug dealer and overdoses with the drugs and alcohol. He is found and rushed to hospital by Adam and Robert Preston who plead with Daniel to seek professional help regarding his mental health. Daniel later joins forces with a newspaper journalist, Cindy Watson to expose Phelan's wrongdoings. However, when Phelan catches the pair having sex he arranges a violent confrontation between Daniel and the journalist's jealous husband, thus warning Daniel against further interference.
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". 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." In August 2017, Mallard was longlisted for Best Newcomer at the Inside Soap Awards. He made the viewer-voted shortlist, but lost out to his co-star Julia Goulding, who portrays Shona Ramsey.
Elsie Duckworth
Elsie Duckworth was the wife of Clifford Duckworth, and sister-in-law of Jack Duckworth.Cliff walks out on Elsie just before Christmas 1994 to stay at No. 9 Coronation Street and reconnect with Jack. However, Elsie tracks him down and, shortly after New Year's Day 1995, barges her way into the Duckworth household. Cliff, having told Jack and his wife Vera that he too was married to a Vera, is shocked. When Elsie introduces herself, Vera says: "I thought you were Vera?" to which Elsie replies, "No, you're Vera!" before dragging Cliff home, with Cliff pathetically promising to keep in touch.
Jack is mortified to hear that, in June 1995, Cliff and Elsie have been killed in a car accident abroad. Vera, who has prayed for money the previous day, is guilt-ridden.
Jack and Vera inherit £30,000 from the couple's holiday insurance.
Josie Clarke
Josie Clarke is played by Ellie Haddington. Josie makes her first on-screen appearance on 16 January 1995, as a taxi fare of Don Brennan's. Don and Josie begin dating and eventually move in together. However, money troubles and Don's bouts of depression and erratic behaviour force the couple apart and Josie sells the garage to Kevin Webster before leaving Weatherfield.Ashley Peacock
Ashley Peacock was played by Steven Arnold. The character first appeared onscreen during the episode airing on 1 February 1995. On 23 April 2010, it was announced that the character had been axed along with his on-screen family by new producer Phil Collinson. Ashley was a victim of the tram crash and died as part of the show's 50th birthday in December 2010.Maxine Peacock
Maxine Peacock 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'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 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
Billy Williams was Betty Turpin's wartime sweetheart, and during a party at The Rovers Return Inn to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of 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 racehorse Betty's hotshot. In November 1997, Billy died of a heart attack, leaving Betty widowed after just two years of marriage.Roy Cropper
Anne Malone
Anne Malone is the former supervisor of Firman's Freezer Centre and is later promoted to the position of assistant manager. She develops a crush on her manager, Curly Watts, but dates and lives with Andy McDonald for a short time. Anne complains of sexual harassment by Leo Firman to her superior Reg Holdsworth, who is reluctant to report his boss' nephew.Curly rejects Anne's advances, so she sets out a vendetta to destroy Curly's life. One of her attempts at revenge is to pour WD-40 on fish fingers stored inside Frescho's supermarket's freezer. However, her plans backfire fatally when a security guard unknowingly locks her inside the freezer after seeing the door is open. Anne subsequently freezes to death and her body is discovered the following morning.
[|Gary] Mallett
Gary Mallett is played by Ian Mercer. He moves to Weatherfield with his wife, [|Judy], on 2 October 1995, after buying Jack and Vera Duckworth’s house. She and Gary are happy together, but Judy longs for a child. Sadly, nothing happened so when she meets Zoe Tattersall, a young woman who was considering giving her baby up for adoption, Judy convinces Zoe to allow her and Gary to adopt the baby; a girl who she and Gary name Katie Joyce. Zoe, however, regrets her decision and soon takes Katie back and renames her Shannon. Judy and Gary are heartbroken by this, and this did not improve when Shannon died of meningitis a few months later. Eventually, Judy discovers that she is pregnant and is thrilled to discover that she is expecting twins. On 25 December 1998, she gives birth to Rebecca and William Mallett. Nine months later, Judy collapses in the backyard and dies after suffering a pulmonary embolism caused by injuries sustained in a road accident caused by Terry Duckworth. When Terry arrives at his parents', Jack and Vera Duckworth's, house on Christmas Day, Gary punches him and blames him for Judy's death. The following year, Gary decides to leave Weatherfield with Rebecca and William on 1 October 2000. They move to Blackpool to live with Gary's new girlfriend Paula Shipley and her son Warren, selling the house back to Vera and Jack Duckworth.Judy Mallett
Judy Mallett was played by Gaynor Faye from October 1995 until September 1999.She moves to Weatherfield with her husband, Gary in October 1995 after buying Jack and Vera Duckworth’s house. She and Gary are happy together, but Judy longs for a child. Sadly, nothing happened so when she meets Zoe Tattersall, a young woman who was considering giving her baby up for adoption, Judy convinces Zoe to allow her and Gary to adopt the baby; a girl who she and Gary name Katie Joyce. Zoe, however, regrets her decision and soon takes Katie back and renames her Shannon. Judy and Gary are heartbroken by this, and this did not improve when Shannon died of meningitis a few months later. Eventually, Judy discovers that she is pregnant and is thrilled to discover that she is expecting twins. On 25 December 1998, she gives birth to Rebecca and William Mallett.
Judy dies in her backyard 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 road accident caused by Terry Duckworth.
On 1 October 2000, Gary decides to leave Weatherfield. In his last appearance, he is shown looking at a photograph of Judy in his wallet before he and their children, Rebecca and William, leave forever.
Tony Horrocks
Tony Horrocks is a young mechanic who starts working as Kevin Webster's apprentice at MVB motors. In July 1996, Tony nearly goes into partnership with Don Brennan, who buys the garage from Mike Baldwin. Tony's father, Nick, offers to lend Tony the money to buy into the business, but he withdraws his offer when he sees the books and Don's financial problems.Tony begins dating Fiona Middleton and is angry when she visits her ex-boyfriend, Steve McDonald, in prison. He then dates her colleague Maxine Heavey but it does not last long. Tony also hands in his notice at the garage after arguing with Don.
Tony goes to work at the local exhaust centre and is joined by his friend and former colleague, Kevin, when the garage goes bust. In August 1996, Don's former business partner and girlfriend Josie Clarke sells the garage to Kevin and Tony for £25,000 and they become business partners. In December 1996, Tony begins dating a girl called Jill, who is one of Maxine's friends whom he met at Fiona's 21st birthday.
In February 1997, Tony runs over and kills Joyce Smedley in his car after she runs in front of him while walking her dog. Tony is racked with guilt, and states he is never going to drive again and insists to his father that he takes his car to the wreckers for him.
Tony then sells his share of the garage to his mother Natalie and bids farewell to Kevin before moving to Leeds. Off-screen, Tony becomes involved in drug dealing after suffering financial problems. He returns in October 1998 for Natalie's wedding to Des Barnes, before leaving again. The following month, he arrives on Natalie's doorstep asking her for help. A gang of drug dealers, to whom Tony owes money, arrive at Natalie's house and attack Tony in the living room. Des arrives home and comes across the fight. He goes to help his stepson Tony, but is severely beaten by the gang. Des later dies of a heart attack. After leaving in December 1998, Tony is never seen onscreen again.
In March 2000, Tony's badly decomposed corpse is found in a cellar by Natalie's then boyfriend Vinny Sorrell on a building site where he was working. He had been beaten to death by drug dealer Jez Quigley sometime during the previous 15 months. Jez himself finally dies six months later after being attacked by Jim McDonald in revenge for beating up Jim's son, Steve. Natalie is left guilt-ridden as just because his stepfather died defending him.