Coronation Street: Opening of first episode from 1960
Coronation Street has remained a staple on British television for over six decades. First airing on December 9 back in 1960, the ITV show is the longest-running soap in the UK.
Throughout its 63 years, fans of the show have seen a range of characters come and go on the cobbles who have all brought their fair share of drama. From unexpected affairs, boozy bust-ups and shocking deaths, there’s never a dull moment in Weatherfield.
With well-known families from the Barlow’s and Platt’s, the soap has a huge cast of characters who have been keeping the nation entertained. Although when the show first started, there were only 13 people on the cobbles.
One of which has remained a key part of the series since it began all those years ago, the infamous Kenneth Barlow. Although Ken wasn’t the only person causing a stir in Weatherfield in the 1960s.
Express.co.uk has taken a look at where the original cast members of the soap are now, 63 years after its first episode.
Pat Phoenix as Elsie Tanner
Elsie Tanner is one of Coronation Street’s most iconic characters on the show as was dubbed as the siren of the cobbles for her string of romantic rendezvous.
Her last appearance on the soap was in 1984 when she left Weatherfield behind to join her old flame in Portugal.
After leaving the soap she starred in shows such as Constant Hot Water and Unnatural Causes.
Sadly in 1986 the actress died at the age of 62 after a battle with lung cancer.
Anne Margaret Cunningham as Linda Cheveski
Anne played the assertive daughter of Elsie Tanner on the cobbles and took after her mother with her no-nonsense attitude.
Although she left Weatherfield in 1961 for a brief period to emigrate to Canada, Linda returned to the UK a year later.
Her relationship with her husband was turbulent as Linda returned to the soap sporadically over the years with her last appearance in 1984.
Since leaving the soap, the now 86-year-old continued her acting career and starred in King of Bollywood, Henry Otter and the Nineteenth Hole.
She married theatre director Darrol Blake and the pair have three children and are believed to live in London.
William Roache as Ken Barlow
Ken Barlow is the longest remaining resident on the cobbles having featured in the first episode back in 1960.
Then a fresh-faced 18-year-old, fans watched Ken desperate to escape his working-class roots as he became a ladies man over the years.
From love triangles to steamy affairs and near-death experiences, Ken’s character has been part of many dramatic storylines since the soap began 63 years ago.
Still a key part of Coronation Street, the 91-year-old was awarded an OBE by King Charles last year due to his role.
Holding the world record for the longest-serving TV actor in a continuous role, the actor collected his honour from Windsor Castle.
In regards to his personal life, William married Anna Cropper in 1961 and shares two children together Linus and Vanya, who died in 2018.
William went on to marry Sara McEwan in the late 1970s and had two children with her, Verity James and Edwina, who sadly died at 18 months old.
Alan Rothwell as David Barlow
Alan played the youngest son to Frank (Frank Pemberton) and Ida Barlow (Noel Dyson) and was in and out of the soap throughout the duration of his time on the show.
He was on the cobbles until 1968 when he left to start a new life in Australia with wife Irma Ogden (Sandra Gough).
His character was killed off-screen when fans learnt he had died in a car crash in 1970.
Since then, the 86-year-old has gone on to have an incredible career and even starred in rival soap Emmerdale.
Alan appeared as three different characters in Emmerdale, a judge in 1993, a foster father in 1998 and an elderly gentleman in 2015.
Most recently, the actor appeared in the short Gods Guilty Conscience the Directors cut in 2021 and appeared in multiple episodes of BBC’s Doctors.
He’s been married to Maureen Haydon and Marjorie Ward and has two children.
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Philip Lowrie as Dennis Tanner
Dennis was the soap’s first bad boy on the cobbles and made his debut after a six-month prison stint.
He starred in the soap for two years before deciding to leave to start a new career.
In 1963, Philip embarked on a singing career and recorded his single, I Might Have Known.
Sadly his musical ambitions didn’t take off and he returned to the show in 1963 where he stayed until 1968 before briefly reprising his role in 2014.
Outside of Coronation Street, the now 87-year-old has starred in Galloping Galaxies Rules of Engagement and Doctors.
Other cast members featured in the first-ever episode of Coronation Street included Philip Lowrie as Dennis Tanner, Frank Pemberton as Frank Barlow, Noel Dyson as Ida Barlow and Maudie Edwards as Elsie Lappin.
Additional stars include Betty Alberge as Florrie Lindley, Violet Carson as Ena Sharples, Doris Speed as Annie Walker, Jack Howarth as Albert Tatlock and Patricia Shakesby as Susan Cunningham.
Coronation Street continues on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays on ITV from 8pm.
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