Coronation Street of youthful rebellion. Though the rest of the original Barlow family were killed off before the end of the 1970s, Ken, who for 27 years was the only character from the first episode remaining, has remained the constant link throughout the entire series. In 2011, Dennis Tanner (Philip Lowrie), another character from the first episode, returned to "Coronation Street" after a 43-year absence. Since 1984, Ken Barlow has been the show's only remaining original character. Emily Bishop (Eileen Derbyshire) had appeared in the series since late-January 1961, when the show was just weeks old, and was the show's longest-serving female
Betty Williams (Coronation Street) Betty Williams (Coronation Street) Betty Williams (also Preston and Turpin) is a fictional character from the ITV soap opera, "Coronation Street", portrayed by former music hall star Betty Driver. Driver was cast as Betty in 1969, after first auditioning for the role of Hilda Ogden, which was given to Jean Alexander. The character arrived in "Coronation Street" to help her sister Maggie Cooke run the corner shop, and has since had a number of storylines which have seen her become twice widowed, and mother to an illegitimate son. For most of the shows run Betty worked as a barmaid in