Workshy Jack and his family have caused plenty of scandals since they moved to the street – mostly involving Jack's criminally-minded son Terry. Jack and wife Vera are constantly at war but, despite their differences, they love each other.
"The nearest I've got to a deposit is when I'm cleaning the pigeons out"
Significant Others Bet Lynch; Dulcie Froggatt
Marriages Vera Burton
Jobs Cabbie; window cleaner; cellarman, The Rovers Return; moonlighting job as a pallbearer; as Vince St Clair, nightclub singer at Shirelles; landlord, The Rovers Return; cellarman, The Rovers Return; manager, Park Road B&B; lollipop man
1979 Brassy wife Vera takes him to Gail and Brian Tilsley's wedding reception.
1982 Has a fling with barmaid Bet Lynch, but Vera's also cheating on him.
1983 Buys a house in Coronation Street with Vera. Inherits the previous owner Chalkie's pigeons. Son Terry moves in.
1984 Becomes a window cleaner and beds a customer, Dulcie Froggatt.
1990 Tries to recapture his youth by doing up an old motorbike, much to Vera's displeasure, who forces him to sell it on.
1992 The Duckworths take in Terry's pregnant girlfriend Lisa after Terry is banged up for GBH. Lisa has a boy, Tommy.
1993 He and Vera take on Tommy after Lisa dies. Disowns Terry when he 'sells' Tommy to Lisa's parents.
1995 Inherits £30,000 from brother Cliff and buys into the Rovers.
1996 Terry visits and gets Tricia Armstrong pregnant before leaving again! Jack offers her money for an abortion.
1997 Tricia gives birth to baby Brad. Landed with a huge tax bill and sells a half-share of the pub to Alec Gilroy. Celebrates 40th wedding anniversary to Vera.
1998 Sells Alec the other half of the Rovers to avoid the constant feuding. Chucked out of the pub flat.
1999 Eunice Gee attempts to seduce him and he has a heart attack. Buys the B&B from Eunice when he recovers.
2000 Tyrone Dobbs becomes the Duckworth's lodger – and the son they wish they'd had.
2001 Vera visits Terry in prison as he's on remand for attempted murder. Terry goes on the run and turns up at Christmas.
2003 Is arrested after unwittingly looking after fellow-allotment keeper Maz's marijuana plants!
Born William Piddington on April 4 1941, Bill was brought up in Bradford. Bill's dad William died during the war and his mum Lilian re-married. Bill was apprenticed to his stepfather Bob, an asphalt spreader, after he left school. He met his wife Alma when he was 14 at a local church youth club and they married seven years later.
A talented singer, Bill moved into cabaret, adopting the professional name of Tarmey.
