Elsie Tanner Elsie Tanner Elsie Tanner (also Grimshaw, Howard and Gregory) is a fictional character from the British ITV soap opera, "Coronation Street", played by Pat Phoenix from the series inception in 1960 to 1973 and from 1976 until 1984. Elsie Tanner was one of the original core characters on "Coronation Street" and appeared in the first episode. She is considered something of an icon in soap history and regarded as one of "Coronation Street's" greatest ever characters. Her final appearance came in January 1984, when Elsie emigrated to Portugal. Phoenix decided to quit the series in 1983 to pursue other projects.
Mary Taylor (Coronation Street) delivery that induces side-splitting hilarity – and, brilliantly, hilarity laced with a sense of the sinister." A writer from the "Belfast Telegraph" branded Mary "the wonderful sidekick of Norris" and found her "a joy to watch" compared to other characters. They added "Mary is the gloriously comic yet poignant creation of the brilliant actress Patti Clare who plays her - she conceived the misfit spinster character herself." Mary Taylor (Coronation Street) Mary Cole (also Taylor) is a fictional character from the British television ITV soap opera, "Coronation Street", portrayed by actress Patti Clare. The character first appeared on screen during