Fifty years ago this week, a character much-loved among Coronation Street fans made her debut, played by a certified soap legend. But she didn't return for two years after that.
Fans of the ITV soap, filmed in Salford, know and love actress Liz Dawn for playing Vera Duckworth on the cobbles. The Corrie battleaxe was first seen on screen on August 19, 1974, as a worker at Corrie's factory, then a mail-order warehouse. In her brief first scene, she famously quipped: "I wouldn't know, love, I think he's wet", when asked whether actor Robert Redford had short legs by Gail Platt and Tricia Hopkins.
A Two-Episode Cameo That Became a Legend
At the time, viewers didn't see much of Vera, with Liz originally cast for just a two-episode cameo. But producers spotted the potential of the character and two years later, in 1976, she became a regular.
After leaving school, Liz, who was born in Leeds, had a series of jobs including working in a garment factory and as a cinema usherette. She was also a shoe salesgirl and a light bulb seller in Woolworths. She eventually started her career in showbiz as a nightclub singer. That led her into acting, and after a few appearances in successful adverts, she landed small, often non-speaking roles on a few TV shows, including Open All Hours, Z Cars and All Creatures Great and Small.
The Duckworths Become Corrie Royalty
Liz's breakthrough came when she was cast in Colin Welland's 1974 drama Leeds United, which appeared as part of the BBC's Play for Today. But it was Corrie which ended up completely changing her life. When she returned in December 1976, she was seen having a drink with her friend at the Rovers Return. She joined Baldwin's Casuals workforce, a role she held for seven years, which came after her earlier period of employment at the Mark Brittain Warehouse in the same location.
Though it took a few years before Vera was seen with her beloved husband, ex-lorry driver Jack, played by Ardwick-born actor Bill Tarmey. She didn't want to be seen in public with him, but Vera changed her mind in November 1979 when she and Jack were invited to the wedding of Gail and Brian Tilsley, and she brought him along. Jack would eventually begin making visits to the street from 1981 onwards, and befriended Fred Gee and Stan Ogden. The rest, you could say, is history. The Duckworths bought No.9 Coronation Street in 1983, where they quickly became known for their loving but frequently argumentative relationship, as well as their struggles with their wayward son, Terry Duckworth.
Vera's Emotional Exit and Liz Dawn's Legacy
For decades, the couple, who often rowed about Jack's eye for other women, his betting and his pigeons, went on to become one of the cobbles' best-loved partnerships, even though they once separated for seven months when Vera went to live with a carpet fitter in a flat over a chip shop. The affair ended after four months, and she then dated a series of men, including Rover's cellarman Fred. They even had a stint behind the Rovers' bar. They became the first couple to actually own the freehold of the pub, 35 years after Corrie's first episode aired in December 1960.
But in 2004, Liz was diagnosed with emphysema, an incurable lung disease brought on by a history of smoking. A couple of years later, Corrie announced in 2007 that Vera would be written out of the show, as Liz chose to concentrate on receiving treatment in Manchester for her illness. Bosses kept how Vera would leave a secret, writing three storylines before deciding which to use at the last-minute. "It is going to be very emotional filming Vera's death scenes but I do think it is the right decision for the character," Liz said at the time. "I have had 33 marvellous years in Coronation Street and will miss everyone very much."
There were then emotional scenes, watched by more than 12 million viewers, when Vera died in 2008 from heart failure, while sitting in her lounge armchair. She had been to Blackpool that day in preparation for her and Jack's move there, with both confessing how much they loved each other as they paid a visit to the seaside town. Jack then went to the pub and returned to find that Vera had died of heart failure. He originally thought she was asleep, but failed to wake her, and ended up cuddling her until medics arrived. Jack told a paramedic that he and Vera had been married for 50 years. "And never a cross word?" the man replied. "Nothing but," said Jack.
And she wasn't disappointed with the decision to kill her character off. Liz said at the time: "It is going to be very emotional filming Vera's death scenes, but I do think it is the right decision for the character." A year later, Liz was given the Special Achievement Award at the British Soap Awards, adding to the MBE she was given in 2000, the same year she also served as Lady Mayoress of her home city of Leeds after being asked in recognition of her charity work, having raised more than £500,000 for a breast cancer appeal in her name.
But she did return to Corrie for one last time in November 2010, as a one-off, when she appeared as a ghost when her on-screen husband died from cancer. She told Jack he was going to be late for the bus, and the couple danced together in the incredibly moving scene. And there was another role she came out of retirement for. In 2015, she made a cameo appearance in Emmerdale. She appeared in the Christmas Day episode as a demanding guest named Mrs Winterbottom, who stayed at Eric Pollard's B&B. "There's only one show I'd come out of retirement for, and it's Emmerdale, particularly as I've celebrated my 76th birthday this week, so I wanted to mark the occasion," she said at the time.
Liz, born Sylvia Butterfield in 1939, died at home in September 2017 at 77. Away from playing her Weatherfield alter-ego, she married her first husband, Walter, at 18. They had a son, Graham, in 1958, but a year later, they were divorced, and at 21, Liz was back living at home. She later married her beloved husband, Donald Ibbertson, an electrician, in January 1965. Their first daughter, Dawn Elizabeth, was born two months later, and Ann-Marie and Julie quickly followed.
At the time of her death, her family said they were "devastated" by the loss of the "incredible" woman. They added: "She has been the love, light and inspiration in our lives and we are bereft at her passing." ITV also said everyone at Coronation Street was "heartbroken" at the news. They said in a statement: "We have been blessed to have Liz in our lives, as she was such a kind, considerate and caring friend and colleague. As Coronation Street's Vera Duckworth for 34 years, Liz brought so much joy and happiness to so many. She was a wonderful actress who will forever be a true Coronation Street legend."
Her husband told the Mirror of his pain at no longer having his wife of 52 years at his side. Donald, also known by Don, said that as she neared the end in the bed of her flat, Liz lifted her head and summoned the strength to sit up. Clutching her husband's hand, she said: "You don't know how much I loved you, Don. I did from the very first moment we met," before passing away. Liz was later laid to rest following a funeral at Salford Cathedral. A host of past and present stars of the show packed the cathedral to pay their respects.
