Vera Duckworth

I’ll make Joan Collins look like a lollipop lady in this dress!

1974 A packer at the Mark Brittain warehouse, Vera joins the workers when they go on strike.

1976 Employed by Mike Baldwin in his new denim factory. Briefly dated Fred Gee during a short break from her marriage to Ja

1980 Almost causes an international incident on a work beano to France when her knickers are hoisted up the town hall flag pole by a group of drunk ex-squaddies.

1981 Jack throws her out after discovering she’s sleeping with a brickie called Harry. Imposes herself on the Tilsleys, who force her to return home.

1982 Has a fling with a builder called Vic but discovers Jack has cheated on her with Bet Lynch. Jack moves out – to the Tilsley’s – but they’re soon reconciled.

1983 The Duckies buy No.9 Coronation Street off Chalkie Whitely for £11,000. Ex-Squaddie son Terry moves in.

1985 Terry gets teenager Andrea Clayton pregnant and her parents flee the street to get her away from the rough Duckworths.

1987 Moves mum Amy Burton into the house after Amy falls ill.

1988 Kicks out Amy when the compulsive shoplifter Amy pilfers from the local businesses.

1989 No.9 receives it’s now infamous stone-cladding.

1990 Arranges a second honeymoon in Pwlhelli but has a dalliance with entertainer Lester Fontayne.

1991 Amy dies. Joss Shackleton introduces himself as Vera’s real father at Amy’s funeral and fibs that he’s the illegitimate grandson of King Edward VII!

1992 Tries and fails to track down Terry’s son with Andrea, Paul Clayton. Grandson number two, Tommy, arrives after Terry gets Lisa Horton pregnant. Terry and Lisa marry but he’s sent to jail for GBH.

1993 Lisa is knocked down and killed and Vera takes in Tommy. Terry is out of jail and sells Tommy to maternal grandparents the Hortons. Vera’s dad, Joss, dies.

1994 Bumps into Lester Fontayne in Blackpool while visiting Tommy and turns down his plea to leave Jack for him.

1996 Jack’s brother, Cliff, dies and they inherit £30,000 and buy the Rovers. Swears the pub is haunted by the recently deceased Ivy Brennan.

1997 Caught out by the taxman and forced to sell half the pub to Alec Gilroy. Becomes a grandma for the third time to Terry’s son, Brad, with Tricia Armstrong.

1998 Alec buys them out of the Rovers.

1999 Takes on the B&B from Eunice Gee. Buys a dodgy second hand car from Terry and injures Judy Mallet, who dies.

2000 Long lost grandson, Paul Clayton, reappears, dying of kidney failure. Terry cuts a deal with Jack to provide a kidney but does a runner with the money. Vera has the op instead but nearly dies.

2005 Decides on a new tactic to keep Jack in line and walks out on him. Moves to Blackpool when he won’t beg her to come back, but Jack brings her home.

2007 Vera and Jack both put their backs out and grandson Paul comes to take care of them. Celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in August.

Played by Elizabeth Dawn

Elizabeth, or Liz as she’s known, was born Sylvia Butterfield in Leeds on 8 November 1939. Her mum, Annie, was a machinist and her dad, Albert, was a miner. Liz’s first job was in a clothing factory, age 16, alongside her late mum. Liz also... Read More